Induction of Potential for Sperm Motility by Bicarbonate and pH In Rainbow Trout and Chum Salmon

Spermatozoa of rainbow trout and chum salmon, which have no potential for motility in the testis, acquire that potential in the sperm duct. This paper demonstrates that there is little difference between the levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and osmolality of the seminal plasma in the testis and in the sperm duct. However, the bicarbonate concentration of the seminal plasma and the pH value of semen were higher in the sperm duct than in the testis. When immotile spermatozoa obtained from the testis were incubated in artificial seminal plasma with a high pH and containing HCO3-, spermatozoa became motile within 1 h. These results suggest that spermatozoa of salmonid fish acquire the potential for motility as a result of the increase in seminal bicarbonate concentration and pH that occurs as spermatozoa pass from the testis to the sperm duct.