Retracted : Effects of multiple collections on spermatozoa quality of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus : motility, density and seminal plasma composition

In vivo and in vitro aging of common carp Cyprinus carpio sperm after multiple hormonal application and stripping of males

The present study was designed to evaluate sperm phenotypic variables during in vivo and in vitro storage following multiple sperm stripping in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Each male was injected 3 times with carp pituitary 3 days apart. Sperm was stored in vivo in the body cavity for 0.5 days (Fresh sperm) and 3 days (Old sperm) after hormonal stimulation. Then sperm was collected and diluted with a carp extender at a ratio of 1:1, and stored in vitro on ice for 0, 3, and 6 days. The phenotypic parameters, including the number of total motile spermatozoa, number of fast motile spermatozoa, number of motile spermatozoa, percentage of fast motile spermatozoa, and percentage of spermatozoa motility were the major components of principal component analysis (PCA). In general, Fresh sperm from the first stripping showed slightly better quality than Old sperm from the second and third stripping, especially in the phenotypic parameters of a number of total spermatozoa and a number of total motile spermatozoa (P < 0.05). The highest kinetic and quantitative spermatozoa variables were obtained in Fresh and Old sperm just after sperm collection (0-day storage in vitro), and then they were decreased during the period of in vitro storage up to 6 days (P < 0.05). However, the fertilization, hatching, and malformation rates from Fresh sperm were similar compared with the Old sperm. Sperm could be stripped 0.5 days post hormonal treatment and stored in vitro up to 6 days with good fertilization performance (fertility, hatching, and malformation rates were 92.5%, 91.5%, and 1.3%, respectively). Therefore, our results suggested that multiple hormonal treatments with multiple stripping could be used in artificial reproduction in common carp.

Toxicity assessment of silver nanoparticles in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) during early life stages

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in consumer products mainly due to their antimicrobial action. The rapidly increasing use of nanoparticles (NPs) has driven more attention to their possible ecotoxicological effects. In this study, the acute toxicity of colloidal AgNPs was evaluated during the embryonic stage of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/L. Fertilized eggs (75 eggs per replicate) were exposed to aforementioned concentrations for 96 h in triplicate. 96-h LC50 values in Persian sturgeon and starry sturgeon were calculated as 0.163 and 0.158 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, in starry sturgeon, the short-term effects of AgNPs on the hatching rate, survival rate, and Ag accumulation during early life stages (before active feeding commences) were also analyzed at concentrations of 0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/L of colloidal AgNPs. The highest silver accumulation occurred in larvae exposed to 0.1 mg/L AgNPs; however, the body burden of silver did not alter survival rate, and there were no significant differences among treatments. Based on the obtained results from the acute toxicity exposures, AgNPs induced a concentration-dependent toxicity in both species during early life stages, while complementary studies are suggested for investigating their short-term effects in detail.