Influence of an exogenous androgen, testosterone propionate on milt quality and short-term preservation of milt of Asian seabass Lates Calcarifer
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Authors
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Sambhu Chithambaran
Faculty of Marine Sciences
King Abdulaziz University
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Mamdouh Al Harbi
Faculty of Marine Sciences
King Abdulaziz University
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer is widely used for pond and cage culture practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A study
was carried out to understand the influence of an exogenous androgen, Testosterone propionate (TP) on milt quality of
L. calcarifer. Intramuscular injection of TP at dose 1.0 ml kg-1 was given to mature male fishes grown in a brood stock
pond. A control was also maintained without giving hormone injection. After 36 h of injection, milt was collected and milt
quality was assessed for colour, sperm cell concentration, motility and viability of spermatozoa. Short-term preservation of
milt was carried out in oxygen and marine teleost Ringer’s medium at 4oC for 120 h. No significant change was observed
in colour and pH of milt, but nature of milt changed from thick to watery due to hormone injection. Enhanced milt volume
(14%) and sperm cell concentration (4%) was noticed in fishes from the treatment group 36 h post-injection, when compared
to control. Sperm motility duration and percentage motility were high in treatment fishes than control. Milt preserved in
oxygen medium showed high sperm motility and viability when compared to Ringer’s medium. Intramuscular injection of
TP at 1.0 ml kg-1 improved milt volume and quality and therefore can be used for induced breeding of Asian Seabass.
Keywords: Asian Seabass, Hormone, Intramuscular injection, Milt quality, Ringer’s medium, Sperm motility, Testosterone
propionate