Gonadotropin releasing hormone-analogue treatment increases sperm motility, seminal plasma pH and sperm production in yellowtail flounder Pleuronectes ferrugineus

Compared to control fish, gonadotropin releasing hormone-analogue (GnRHa) treatment delivered either by microspheres or cholesterol pellets successfully increased sperm production (cells kg–1) and milt volume (ml kg–1) in mature yellowtail flounder Pleuronectes ferrugineus during the spawning season. Spermatocrit decreased in both treated and control groups between 12 and 29 days post-implantation, indicating a seasonal decrease in sperm concentration, rather than an effect of the GnRHa treatments.Plasma levels of testosterone, 11-ketotestoterone and 17,20dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (1720P) showed no clear pattern either across treatments or over days, however this does not exclude the possiblity that GnRHa had its effect on milt volumes via the stimulation of steroid production since the sampling protocol did not allow for the rapid clearance of steroids from the plasma. GnRHa treatment did not have a negative effect on sperm fertilizing ability, percentage hatch or larval morphology. Sperm motility and seminal plasma pH were increased by GnRHa treatment.