title: Effects of sperm concentration and egg number on fertilization efficiency with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) eggs and blue catfish (I. furcatus) spermatozoa.
abstract: The mean sperm concentration of 10 blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus ) was 1.03 x 10(10) per gram of testis. Testis weighed 3.9 and 17.2 g, with a mean of 6.6 g per fish. Fertilization rate of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus ) eggs fertilized with 5.00 x 10(4) to 1.20 x 10(7) blue catfish spermatozoa per egg was 17 to 87%, with an overall mean of 65%. Sperm concentrations of 5.0 x 10(4)/egg exhibited a lower, 16.6% (P < 0.05) fertilization rate than higher sperm concentrations (1.25 x 10(5) to 1.20 x 10(8)/egg). Batches of 450, 2,000, 5,000, 8,000 and 11,000 eggs were similarly fertilized with various sperm concentrations. Mean fertility rate ranged from 25 to 67%, with an overall mean of 53%. The largest egg mass produced the lowest (P < 0.05) fertilization rate. A combination of 450 eggs per batch and 5.0 x 10(5) to 1.20 x (8) sperm per egg produced the highest rate of fertilization (67 to 87%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bart
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dunham