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Email the author (Login required) Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on semen quality in Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (Teleostei: Characidae)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol43-issue1-fulltext-18
Abstract
This study was set out to: i) characterize the morphometry of spermatozoa of M. sanctaefilomenae; and ii) evaluate the effect on the quality of semen by astaxanthin supplementation in the diet. The morphometry of the sperm was analyzed by optical microscopy (nigrosin-eosin staining). Semen quality of 360 fish was evaluated by spermograms (volume, total number, motility and viability). The length of the sperms was 16.83 ± 2.33 μm, the head diameter was 1.93 ± 0.21 μm without acrosome, the midpiece diameter was 0.91 ± 0.23 μm and the length of the flagellum was 13.18 ± 1.76 μm. In fish unexposed to astaxanthin (control group) the seminal volume and the total number of sperms was 2.14 ± 1.55 μL and 6.8x108 ± 29, respectively. The addition of astaxanthin in the diet significantly increased (P < 0.05) these parameters to 3.87 ± 1.06 μL and 13x108 ± 26, respectively. The motility of the sperms and the sperm viability did not differ between both groups (P > 0.05). The results suggest that astaxanthin improves some parameters of the semen quality (volume and total number). This improvement may be attributable to the antioxidant properties (i.e., protection against oxidative stress in testicular cell structures) of astaxanthin.
