DNA fragmentation and membrane integrity in sperm of farmed Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Despite the relatively long history of captive breeding, Arctic charr still exhibits a generally low, but highly variable reproductive performance in aquaculture. A recent publication exposed potential paternal factors influencing outcome broodstock from Swedish breeding program. Interestingly, factor appeared to be more closely connected embryo survival than fertilisation rates. This lead speculations on whether e.g. chromatin related issues, potentially oxidative stress could involved. In order investigate this hypothesis present study assessed levels DNA fragmentation, using SCD-method, and membrane integrity, flow cytometry, sperm farmed charr. Moreover, existence associations was tested between fragmentation integrity individual semen samples viability their resulting progeny. We found high sires, ranging 24% 86% with median 67%. Membrane values were high, 93.1% 99.6% viable cells, 98.8%. moderately correlated (r = 0.304, p < 0.05). Fertilisation rates proportions eyed eggs showed substantial variation 0.497, However, large differences proportion rate, 52% 81.6% respectively, highlight that main loss occurred due mortality rather failed fertilisation. No correlation either or (fertilisation rate eggs) sires. Overall, our identified very which influence fertility question thereby mitigating mechanism involved low success most often observed Further exploration relationship would needed, though.