The lipid composition of sperm membranes is crucial for fertilization and differs among species. As the evolution of internal fertilization modes in fishes is not understood, a comparative study of the sperm lipid composition in freshwater representatives of externally and internally fertilizing fishes is needed for a better understanding of taxa-specific relationships between the lipid composition of the sperm membrane and the sperm physiology. The lipidomes of spermatozoa from stingray, a representative of cartilaginous fishes possessing internal fertilization, and sterlet, a representative of chondrostean fishes with external fertilization, have been studied by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), electrospray MS, gas chromatography-(GC) MS, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). NMR experiments revealed higher cholesterol content and the presence of phosphatidylserine in stingray compared to sterlet sperm. Unknown MS signals could be assigned to different glycosphingolipids in sterlet (neutral glycosphingolipid Gal-Cer(d18:1/16:0)) and stingray (acidic glycosphingolipid sulpho-Gal-Cer(d18:1/16:0)). Free fatty acids in sterlet sperm indicate internal energy storage. GC-MS experiments indicated a significant amount of adrenic acid, but only a low amount of docosahexaenoic acid in stingray sperm. In a nutshell, this study provides novel data on sperm lipid composition for freshwater stingray and sterlet possessing different modes of fertilization.

• MeSH
• Chromatography, Thin Layer MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Fertilization physiology   MeSH
• Glycosphingolipids chemistry   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization MeSH
• Docosahexaenoic Acids chemistry   MeSH
• Lipidomics MeSH
• Lipids chemistry   MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy MeSH
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Fishes physiology   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization MeSH
• Spermatozoa chemistry   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Influence of in vitro temperature on sperm antioxidant enzyme activity, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) content and motility parameters was evaluated in sterlet Acipenser ruthenus and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Sperm activation was conducted at 4, 14 and 24 °C in both species. Duration of motility was significantly longer at 4 °C than at 14 and 24 °C in both species. At 60 s post-activation, the velocity of sterlet spermatozoa was highest at 24 °C. This trend continued to 420 s post-activation. In rainbow trout, at 10 s post-activation, the highest velocity was observed at 14 °C. Significantly higher catalase activity was seen at 4 °C in both species. No significant difference in spermatozoon superoxide dismutase activity among temperatures was observed. In sterlet, TBARS content was significantly higher at 24 °C compared to other temperatures, but, in rainbow trout, it was highest at 4 °C. The results presume species-specific level of antioxidant enzyme activity and TBARS content at studied temperatures.

• MeSH
• Antioxidants metabolism   MeSH
• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances metabolism   MeSH
• Sperm Motility * MeSH
• Oncorhynchus mykiss physiology   MeSH
• Lipid Peroxidation MeSH
• Fishes physiology   MeSH
• Spermatozoa enzymology   MeSH
• Superoxide Dismutase metabolism   MeSH
• Temperature * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH