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Osmoregulation in fish sperm

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Abstract

In most fish exhibiting external fertilization, spermatozoa become motile after release into water, triggered by differences between intracellular and extracellular conditions such as osmotic pressure, ion composition, and pH. The rapid change in osmolarity initiating spermatozoon motility induces osmotic pressure, resulting in active water movement across the cell membrane. Mechanisms of ion and water transport across the plasma membrane and cell volume regulation are important in maintaining structure and functional integrity of the cell. The capacity of the fish spermatozoon plasma membrane to adapt to dramatic environmental changes is an essential prerequisite for motility and successful fertilization. Adaptation to change in external osmolality may be the basis of spermatozoon function and an indicator of sperm quality. The involvement of specific water channels (aquaporins) in cell volume regulation and motility is highly likely. The goal of this review is to describe basic mechanisms of water transport and their role in fish spermatozoon physiology, focusing on osmoresistance, cell volume regulation, motility, and survival.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Lucidus Consultancy, UK, for English correction and suggestions.

Funding

The study was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic - projects “CENAKVA” (LM2018099), by project Biodiversity (CZ.02.1.01./0.0/0.0/16_025/0007370 Reproductive and genetic procedures for preserving fish biodiversity and aquaculture), and by the Czech Science Foundation (No. 18-12465Y) and by project NAZV (No. QK21010141) and by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 652831 (AQUAEXCEL2020).

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Correspondence to Fabio Herrera.

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Herrera, F., Bondarenko, O. & Boryshpolets, S. Osmoregulation in fish sperm. Fish Physiol Biochem 47, 785–795 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-00958-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-00958-1

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