Effect of Seminal Plasma Protein on Postthaw Viability and Fertility of Arctic Char Spermatozoa

Abstract

Seminal plasma protein of Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus was characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. Twelve protein bands with molecular weights of 7.2, 12.4, 15.3, 20.0, 20.4, 22.6, 39.4, 66.3, 74.0, 92.0, 94.5, and 130.1 kilodaltons (kDa) were detected. The effect of total seminal plasma protein and protein fractions of three categories (<50, 50–100, and >100 kDa) on postthaw sperm motility, viability, and fertility was tested. Incorporation of total seminal plasma protein, the fraction greater than 100 kDa, or the fraction less than 50 kDa into the semen extender (300 mmol of glucose/L of water, plus 10% methanol) had a deleterious effect on postthaw sperm motility, viability, and fertility in comparison with spermatozoa frozen in the semen extender only. However, adding the 50-100-kDa fraction of seminal plasma protein to the semen extender did not affect the postthaw sperm motility and fertility relative to spermatozoa frozen in the extender only. Further experiments are needed to test the effect of different concentrations of seminal plasma proteins alone or in a combination with other seminal plasma constituents on sperm physiology and viability during short-term storage and cryopreservation.