Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) like arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) constitute one-third to half of fish sperm lipids. Fish sperm is rich in phospholipid (PL)-primarily phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin. DHA is generally the most abundant LC-PUFA in each PL class, followed by competition between ARA and EPA. While the total n-6: n-3 PUFA ratio does not correlate significantly with sperm biomechanics, LC-PUFA do. DHA positively influences sperm biomechanics, while ARA and EPA may be negatively associated. Fish sperm maintains lower (≤1) total n-6 PUFA per unit of n-3 PUFA but keep a higher (>1) ARA per unit EPA. A weak dietary influence on sperm EPA and DHA exists but not on ARA. The DHA: EPA ratio in fish sperm is often >1, though values <1 occur. Certain species cannot fortify DHA sufficiently during spermatogenesis, diverging through whole genome duplications. Fish sperm can show ARA: EPA ratios greater or less than 1, due to shifts in prostaglandin pathways in different evolutionary eras. DHA-rich PL bilayers provide unique packing and fusogenic properties, with ARA/EPA-derived eicosanoids guiding sperm rheotaxis/chemotaxis, modulated by DHA-derived resolvins. Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) sometimes substitutes for DHA in fish sperm.

School of Agriculture Food and Ecosystem Sciences Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne VIC 3010 Australia

Université de Pau Et Des Pays de L'Adour E2S UPPA INRAE NUMEA 64310 Saint Pée sur Nivelle France

University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses Institute of Aquaculture and Protection of Waters České Budějovice 370 05 Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org