Osmolality and composition of the activating solution affects motility of fresh and frozen Prochilodus lineatus sperm differently.

Osmolality and composition of the activating solution on motility of fresh and frozen Prochilodus lineatus sperm were evaluated. Sperm was triggered in 11 solutions prepared with reverse osmosis (RO) water (∼0mOsmkg(-1)), and glucose or NaCl adjusted to 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250mOsmkg(-1). Sperm motility rate and velocities (curvilinear=VCL, among others) were evaluated in fresh sperm at 10, 30 and 50s post-activation (spa), and in frozen sperm at 10 spa only. Sperm was frozen under a standardized methodology for this species. Fresh sperm motility was higher in samples triggered in RO (91%), in glucose at all osmolalities (90-92%) and in 50-150mOsmkg(-1) NaCl (88-91%) than that in 200-250mOsmkg(-1) NaCl (74-80%). Motility decreased (P<0.05) as a function of time after activation in samples activated in RO and in NaCl but not in glucose. Samples activated in 100-250mOsmkg(-1) glucose yielded motility above 80%, at 50 spa. Curvilinear velocity was higher (P<0.05) in glucose-activated samples (322-357µms(-1)) compared to that activated in NaCl (192-283µms(-1)) and in RO (298µms(-1)). Frozen sperm motility and velocities were similar when triggered in RO, glucose or NaCl and were higher at 0-150 mOsm kg(-1) (69-78% motility; 163-208µms(-1) VCL) than at 200-250mOsmkg(-1) (34-59% motility; 127-168µms(-1) VCL). High sperm motility with fast velocity for a long period is achieved at 100-150mOsmkg(-1), in glucose solution for fresh sperm and in glucose or NaCl for frozen sperm.

Structural analysis of oocytes, post-fertilization events and embryonic development of the Brazilian endangered teleost Brycon insignis (Characiformes).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oocytes, post-fertilization events and embryonic development in Brycon insignis, under both scanning electron microscopy and stereomicroscopy. Oocytes and embryos were sampled from spawning up to hatching. Stripped oocytes were spherical, non-adhesive, greenish-brown, possessed a single micropyle, pore-canals and had a mean diameter of 1.46 mm. In 63% of oocytes the germinal vesicle was peripheric. The main post-fertilization events were the fertilization cone formation (20 s), micropyle closure (100-180 s) and agglutination of supernumerary spermatozoa (100-180 s). Embryonic development lasted 30 h at ~24 °C and was characterized by seven stages. Zygote, cleavage, blastula and gastrula stages were first observed at 0.25, 1, 3 and 6 h post-fertilization, respectively. Fertilization rate was determined at the moment of blastopore closure, 10-11 h post-fertilization. The segmentation stage began at 11 h post-fertilization and comprised the development of somites, notochord, optic, otic and Kupffer's vesicles, neural tube, primitive intestine, and development and release of the tail. The larval stage began 21 h post-fertilization and was characterized by the presence of somites, growth and elongation of the larvae. At the hatching stage, embryos presented vigorous contractions of the tail and body leading to chorion rupture (30 h). The morphological characteristics described for B. insignis were similar to that described for other teleost species, and such knowledge is important for a better understanding of reproductive features of a species and useful for ecological and conservational studies.