R. Baeza, I. Mazzeo, M.C. Vílchez, V.
Gallego, D.S. Peñaranda, L. Pérez, J.F. Asturiano
This
study looks at the correlations of fatty acids has on different tissues in the European
eel (Anguilla anguilla, L.) during
hormonally-induced sexual maturation, with different sperm quality parameters. In
order to evaluate the different dynamics of the use of fatty acids, a categorization of the
results from each sperm quality parameter (volume, concentration, motility and
velocity) was performed.
Low and
moderate correlations were observed between muscle tissue and some sperm
quality parameters but no high correlations were found. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3, EPA) in the liver seems
to have a role in determining the volume of sperm produced. This can be
explained by the fact that EPA is a major requirement in the early phases of
sperm production (probably as a component of the spermatozoa membrane). In
addition, the levels of α-linolenic acid (18:3-n3, ALA) and linoleic acid
(18:2-n6, LA) in the liver decreased when sperm motility increased. In all the tissues,
a negative correlation was observed between arachidonic acid (20:4n-6,
ARA) and the different sperm velocity parameters. The
fact that an increase in the consumption of ARA coincides with an increase in the
speed of spermatozoa, highlights the important role that this fatty
acid plays not only in sperm production, but also in sperm velocity.
All
this information could prove useful in the development of suitable broodstock diets to improve sperm quality and subsequently, the larval
development of this species.
doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.11.022
doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.11.022
