[Investigation of membrane permeability of carp spermatozoa for water molecules].

The fundamentals of a photometry method for determination of membrane permeability of some fish spermatozoa for water molecules are presented. Osmotic tolerance of carp spermatozoa membranes was studied using EPR-spectroscopy and photometric analysis methods. It was shown that carp spermatozoa look like the ideal osmometers in their reaction on media of different osmolarity. The value of membrane permeability of carp spermatozoa for water molecules was determined. Data obtained can be used in cryobiology for creating cryoprotective media and regimes of fish sperm cryopreservation.

Relationship between the changes in cellular volume of fish spermatozoa and their cryoresistance.

We have investigated the hypothesis that the spermatozoa of marine fish are more resistant than freshwater species to the dynamic changes in osmotic pressure that occur during the process of cryopreservation. We show that while the spermatozoa of marine fish can be successfully activated across a wide range of osmotic pressures (0-2000 mOsmol/l), those of the freshwater species only survive activation within a more restricted range (0-300 mOsm/l). After freeze-thawing, up to 30 percent of motile cells were found in silver carp samples, while up to 90 percent of motile cells were observed in samples from the haarder (Mugil soiuy B). Haarder spermatozoa showed no change of cell volume after dilution in activating or cryoprotective media, while the silver carp spermatozoa responded by swelling and eventual cell disruption. We propose that the differences in cryoresistance of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix V.) and haarder spermatozoa may be determined by the ability to preserve cellular volume under non-isotonic conditions.

Effect of cryopreservation on lipids and some physiological features of spermatozoa from rams pastured in highlands and in valleys.

The effect of low temperature preservation on the motility and morphology of acrosomes, acrosomal proteolytic activity, phospholipid and fatty acid composition of phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), and the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio in sperm from rams housed in the highlands or in the valleys, were studied. The indices of motility and morphological integrity of sperm from highland rams were much greater compared with those of valley rams. Phosphatidyl choline (PC) of the highland rams was more unsaturated, while PE was more saturated compared with those of valley rams. Cryopreservation of the sperm from highland rams significantly increased the content of choline plasmalogen, accompanied by a slight rise in the levels of lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI) in their sperm. The fatty acid composition altered following cryopreservation. These variations were mainly due to a decrease in the amount of docosahexaenic acid and an increase in the amounts of linoleic and palmitic fatty acids. The results may be indicative of the fact that the alterations in the sperm of the valley rams were more pronounced and they may be attributed to the structural features of the sperm, as well as a reduced concentration of oxygen in the organs and tissues of the highland rams.

The influence of cryopreservation on parameters of energetic metabolism and motility of fowl spermatozoa.

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of cryopreservation on the main pathways of energetic metabolism and motility of fowl spermatozoa. Sperm diluted 1:5 with the cryoprotective medium containing ethylene glycol (1.4 M final concentration) was frozen at the rate of 2-3 degrees C/min to -25 degrees C with a pause on the plateau of crystallization and then at an exponentially increasing rate to -196 degrees C. The frozen sperm was thawed in two successive water baths at 0 and at 41 degrees C. After cryopreservation, the rate of radioactive glucose oxidation to 14CO2 slightly decreased, the rate of labeled glutamate oxidation remained unchanged, and the rate of labeled succinate oxidation increased two-fold. After freeze-thawing, the rates of endogenous respiration with and without 2,4-dinitrophenol decreased; the oxidation rate of exogenous succinate in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol, rotenone, and digitonin slightly decreased; and the rate of respiration in the presence of ascorbate, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, antimycin A, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and digitonin did not differ from that seen in control. Sperm respiration was highly sensitive to rotenone; antimycin A and cyanide blocked oxygen consumption completely. Succinate, added after 2,4-dinitrophenol and rotenone, stimulated respiration of thawed spermatozoa, which indicated plasma membrane damage. The addition of exogenous malate in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol and digitonin restored the respiration rate of thawed spermatozoa to that of unfrozen cells. The rate of respiration of thawed spermatozoa with oligomycin was higher than that of control cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)