In this study, the embryonic development of the eggs in the Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank & Solender, 1794) was examined. At the same time, possibilities of arti¢cial breeding through arti¢cial insemination were investigated. Arti¢cial insemination was achieved by mixing the eggs of the mature female and sperm of the mature male samples caught with gill nets (22 Â 22) in Ataturk Dam Lake in Turkey. To this end, ¢rst in a Petri dish (100 Â 20), the testes were cut into small pieces with a lancet and the mixture of sperm^testes-tissue was obtained. The fertilization rate of the eggs was found to be 80%. The diameter of the eggs ranged from 2.015to 1.147 mm. The perivitelline space formed 0.5 h after insemination. The ¢rst cleavage occurred at the animal pool 4 h after insemination. The oil droplets had fused to a single droplet 19 h after insemination. The blastoderm became an embryonic shield 30 h after insemination. The blastoderm covered almost half the egg 40 h after insemination and embryonic body was formed. The blastoderm covered almost the whole egg 50 h after insemination. Some somites were discernible 59 h after insemination. The embryonic body reached two-third of the circumference of the egg 70 h after insemination. The tail bud began to separate from the yolk 77 h after insemination. A newly hatched larva was observed at 85 h after insemination.

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The aim of this study was to determine the spermatological characteristics in male L. abu during the spawning season. Semen was collected weekly by abdominal massage from 26 males in March. In collected semen, volume, motility, duration of motility, concentration and pH were determined. In the L. abu sperm, volume (microl), motility (%), duration of motility (s), concentration (x10(9)/ml), and pH values were found 45.76 +/- 3.55, 54.25 +/- 2.93, 330.15 +/- 37.92, 4.27 +/- 0.40 and 7.87 +/- 0.05, respectively. A correlation was found between semen volume and semen pH. Semen volume and the duration of sperm motility were higher in the 2nd and 3rd sampling dates than in the 1st and 4th sampling dates (P < 0.05; P < 0.01, respectively). Neither sperm motility nor sperm concentration was affected by sampling dates. Major changes in semen pH were observed in the 4th sampling date (P < 0.001). The Pearson correlation test presented significant relationships with the duration of motility, semen volume, and motility. Semen pH values were significantly correlated with the sperm concentration and semen volume. Sperm concentration was inversely correlated with semen volume. Sperm motility and duration significantly correlated with total weight. Total length significantly correlated with the duration of motility and total weight. In conclusion, these characteristics represent a valuable baseline dataset for establishing a semen quality standard and provide background information that may be useful for assisted breeding programs in this species.

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This study was based on the determination of post-thaw semen quality, oxidant–antioxidant status and DNA-damage status of frozen Mesopotamian catfish semen. To this end, the sperm was frozen in diluent containing different inositol concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg). Increasing levels of inositol linearly increased the spermatozoa motility rate and duration significantly (p < 0.05). High doses of inositol increased antioxidants and decreased oxidants. In addition, lower intracellular DNA damage and percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa occurred in high doses of inositol (p < 0.05).Abstract: In this study, the effects of supplemented inositol on sperm extenders were examined on the spermatozoa motility rate and duration, total antioxidant and oxidant status, apoptotic spermatozoa and DNA damage, during the sperm post-thaw process of Mesopotamian Catfish (Silurus triostegus, H. 1843). The semen was frozen in diluents containing different inositol concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg). Increasing levels of inositol linearly improved the spermatozoa motility rate and duration significantly (p < 0.05). MDA and TOS were linearly decreased, however, TAS and GSH linearly increased (p < 0.05). The increasing inositol levels resulted in a linear and quadratic decrease in DNA damage in the comet assay, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and the determined percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa (p < 0.05). These results suggest that there are many positive effects of the use of supplemental inositol on enhancing sperm cryopreservation efficiency in Silurus triostegus.