Jornal de Citologia e Histologia

Analysis of Testis Morphology and Sperm Parameters of Esox lucius (pike) from the River Danube

Abstract

Stefanov Rossen and Desislava Abadjieva

Pike are an important species and declines are a concern, because the species provides predatory balance to many lake ecosystems. The aim of the current study was to examine the testicular morphology and sperm parameters of the freshwater fish Esox lucius (pike). The present study was carried out on 18 male fish, species Esox lucius, which were captured from the beginning of September until of October, throughout the Danube River. Samples were processed for routine semen assessment by sperm class analyzer and light microscopy. Histological testis’ structure follows the general pattern described for other fishes. These descriptions are important for a better understanding of reproductive biology and phylogeny, for which data remain scarce in the literature. Middle sections of the testes were fully filled with spermatozoa different of other two parts as these results correspond with sperm motility. It can be concluded that recommended for insemination to use sperm from middle testicular part of Esox lucuis.