Spermatological properties of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill, 1814) and short term pereservation of sperm

In this study, the determining the main spermatological properties of the brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill, 1814) by the changes in sperm quality during the spawning season and the effect of semen extenders on sperms which diluted with different diluents were investigated. Twenty brook charr brood stock males were used during the spawning season. Sperm was collected with abdominal massaging method. The sperm volume, spermatozoa motility, duration of spermatozoa movement, spermatozoa concentration, spermatokrit rate and semen pH in obtained were determined. The live weight and length of the fish were determined and the correlation between the spermatological features and live weight and live length were evaluated. It was observed that the production of sperm in trout begins in October and ends in March. The increasing in amount of sperm stared in October and the maximum level (8,10±0,86 ml) was recorded in December with statistically significant differences between months (p<0,05). During the spawning season, average motility ranged from 64,60±10,03% to 98,30±1,67%; motility duration varied from 38,30±4,26 to 60,70±4,70 s with not statistically significant (p>0,05). The highest density of spermatozoa were obtained as 9,10±1,16x109 sp/ml in November, whereas the lowest in March as 2,42±1,30x109 sp/ml; the highest rate of spermatokrit was found as 23,71±2,26% in January and the lowest in March as 13,28±4,67%. The differences among the months were not statistically significant (p>0,05). The lowest pH value was observed as 6,87±0,03 in November and the highest value was obtained as 7,67±0,17 in March with statistically significant differences (p<0,05). In short-term preservation of sperm was diluted at the rate of 1:3 with 4 different diluents and established four different experimental groups. Undiluted sperm was used as control group and stored at +4°C. It was seen that the diluents used in this study were not appropriate for short term storage of brook charr. Keywords: Brook charr, extender, Salvelinus fontinalis, sperma