Effect of season on proteases and serine protease inhibitors of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869) semen. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Słowińska, M.; Liszewska, E.; Dietrich, G. J.; Judycka, S.; Szczepkowski, M.; Ciereszko, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied ichthyology. Volume 31(2015)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fish culture -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Ichthyology -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jai.12718
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0175-8659

Abstract

Summary: Electrophoretic profiles of proteolytic activity, acrosin and protease inhibitors were studied in the semen of Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii, collected in December 2012, February and April 2013. The use of gelatin zymography allowed the demonstration of the presence of numerous metalloproteinases with a molecular weight of 59‐64 kDa and serine proteinase with a molecular weight of 36–49, 82, 140 and 144 kDa. These profiles were affected by the time of semen collection; seminal plasma from December was characterized by higher (P < 0.05) anti‐trypsin activity (87.33 ± 17.05 U L −1 ) in comparison to February (12.61 ± 1.43 U L −1 ) and April (12.42 ± 2.71 U L −1 ). Electrophoretic profiles of this activity revealed the presence of several bands affected by season. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of bands recognized by anti‐acrosin antibodies. The results suggest that the proteolytic system is involved in the spermatogenesis and sperm maturation of sturgeons. Proacrosin‐acrosin system is likely present in sturgeon spermatozoa.