Investigation of spermatological and biochemical parameters of seminal plasma in Sistan's loach Schizothorax zarudnyi Nikolskii, 1897

For optimization of artificial breeding of Sistan’s loach Schizothorax zarudnyi in culture condition, the relation between spermatological and biochemical parameters of seminal plasma was examined. The percentage of motile spermatozoa and sperm motility duration of 20 cultured male breeder fish were measured according to standard protocol. Sperm density was evaluated through standard hemocytometry. The levels of Na, K, Ca2, Mg2, glucose and cholesterol of seminal plasma were also measured by standard methods. According to the results, the mean sperm motility duration, percentage of motile spermatozoa, mean sperm density, percentage of spermatocrit and milt pH were 51.21±5.51s, 73.32±8.01%, 0.78±0.11×109 sperm per mL, 36.39±6.22% and 7.83±0.2, respectively. Mean Na, K, Mg2, Ca2, glucose and cholesterol were recorded 76.84±11.75 (mmol/L), 63.83±11.73 (mmol/L), 2.58±0.76 (mmol/L), 6.88±0.83 (mmol/L), 0.027±0.01 (mg/dL) and 0.05±0.02 (mg/dL), respectively. The results showed that there was a significant relation between sperm density and the percentage of motile spermatozoa. Moreover, sperm motility duration was significantly related with milt volume, percentage of motile spermatozoa and pH. There was a significant relation between milt volume and pH, between sperm motility duration and milt biochemical parameters, between Na and K ions and between percentage of motile spermatozoa and Na and K ions. The results of this research in proving the significant relation between sperm motility and seminal plasma components specially Na and K ions in Sistan’s loach could be used in artificial breeding of this fish for preparation of appropriate preservative and diluent solutions.