The influence of ovarian fluid on the gamete physiology in the Salmonidae

The present study investigated the influence of ovarian fluid (OV) on the gamete physiology in the brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario). In comparison to water OV prolongs the duration of sperm motility for >'5 min and the fertilizability of eggs for >'10 min independent from the quality of the egg batch from which the OV derived. These stabilizing effects are related to the inorganic composition of OV as similar results are obtained in buffered artificial saline solution (AFS). OV compensates also for sub-optimal environmental conditions as demonstrated in fertilization experiments with mixtures of OV and buffer solutions of different pH. At a dilution ratio of OV: water of 1:1 the stabilizing effect on gametes is significantly decreased and at a dilution ratio of 1:8 it is completely lost. Due to the described effects significantly higher fertilization rates are obtained in OV than in water. In OV the fertilization rates are also higher than in AFS but only at low sperm to egg ratios or when semen with low motility rates and swimming velocities is used. This is considered to be due to a semen dependent egg activation which is partly suppressed by a OV protein with a molecular weight between 20 and 62 kdaltons. The phenomen is discussed in detail.