title: Effects of dietary supplementation with astaxanthin and β-carotene on the semen quality of goldfish (Carassius auratus).
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of two carotenoids (astaxanthin and β-carotene) on the sperm quality of goldfish Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758). For this purpose, six diets containing concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of synthetic astaxanthin and β-carotene were added to a basic carp diet. One group of fish was also fed with a control diet (no added carotenoids). Osmolality, spermatocrit value, and sperm concentration significantly increased in the treatment supplemented with 150 mg/kg of astaxanthin (296.6 ± 1.1 mOsm/kg; 29.2 ± 0.6%; 17.2 ± 0.4 × 10(9) cells/mL, respectively) and β-carotene (295.2 ± 2.1 mOsm/kg; 32.5 ± 1.6%; 17.9 ± 0.5 × 10(9) cells/mL, respectively). The highest concentration of astaxanthin (10.4 ± 1.4 mg/kg) was recorded in the treatment of A150 (P < 0.05) and did not differ between β-carotene treatments. The highest motility was observed in the A150 and B150 treatments, and the lowest was observed in the control group (P < 0.05). The artificial fertilization of the treated males with the similar females (fed with the control diet) showed that the fertilization rate in the A150 treatments was higher than in the other treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 150 mg/kg of astaxanthin improves osmolality, motility, fertilization rate, and sperm concentration.
authors.affiliation: Mirza Koochak Khan Higher Education Center for Fisheries Science, Applied University, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tizkar
authors.affiliation: Dadman International Sturgeon Research Institute, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: Dadman International Sturgeon Research Institute, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran. Electronic address: alirezaseidavi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seidavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biology, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Naseralavi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Coastal Bioengineering, National School of Fisheries Engineering, Multidisciplinary Center Bay of Banderas, Autonomous University of Nayarit Tepic, Nayarit, México. Electronic address: jesus.ponce@usa.net.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ponce-Palafox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D006054:Goldfish; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; C005948:astaxanthine
keywords: Carotenoid; Diet; Goldfish; Reproductive; Sperm quality