Evaluation of activation and storage conditions for sperm of yellow drum Nibea albiflora

The yellow drum (Nibea albiflora) is a commercially important fish species in East Asia and artificial propagation has recently been initiated due to the rapid decrease of wild capture. To facilitate artificial insemination in aquaculture, sperm activation and storage conditions were evaluated in this study. Our findings revealed that yellow drum sperm can be activated with calcium-free Hankꞌs balanced salt solution (C-F HBSS), KCl, NaCl, and glucose at an osmolality range of 300–1200 mOsm/kg with the highest motility observed at 600–800 mOsm/kg. The average motility duration was less than 6 min. For sperm storage, C-F HBSS, fish Ringer solution, KCl, NaCl, and glucose at 150, 270, and 300 mOsm/kg were compared for selection of the optimal extender, and results showed detrimental effects of KCl, NaCl, and glucose. In contrast, C-F HBSS and fish Ringer solution or sperm stored undiluted in seminal plasma could retain motility for up to 48 h when samples were stored at 4 °C. The highest sperm motility was found with treatments at 150 mOsm/kg for both C-F HBSS and fish Ringer solution. Sperm samples stored at 4 °C were also found to retain motility longer than those stored at room temperature (25 °C). Our findings provide the basic information on sperm handling in yellow drum.

► We examined sperm activation and storage in yellow drum (Nibea albiflora).
► Yellow drum sperm can be activated with a wide osmolality range of 300–1200 mOsm/kg.
► Activation with various solutions at 600–800 mOsm/kg yielded the highest motility.
► Samples can be best stored at 150 mOsm/kg C-F HBSS or fish Ringer solution at 4 °C.