Reproductive aspects of freshwater unionid mussel sperm: Seasonal dynamics, male-to male variability, and cell quantification

Freshwater unionid mussel diversity is decreasing because of species extirpation or extinction. While little can be done to recover lost species, there is an opportunity to develop techniques to save other species. This can be facilitated through gene banking and assisted reproduction. Unfortunately, limited information is available on mussel reproduction, especially relating to sperm quality. Objectives, therefore, were to quantify seasonal changes in sperm concentration and morphology for two unionid mussels, Ligumia subrostrata and Lampsilisstraminea, measure intra-specific heterogeneity for sperm morphometry, and develop an efficient method to quantify sperm concentration using a microspectrophotometer. There were no differences in sperm concentration when cells were extracted from the center or at a half centimeter on either side of the visceral mass, during the spawning season. There was a seasonal change in sperm concentration, such that concentration for L. subrostrata ranged from 1.1 x 10(9) to 19.60 x 10(9) cells/mL with there being the largest counts between 26 September to 7 November. L. straminea sperm concentration was greatest (20.0 x 10(9) cells/mL) on 13 September and subsequently decreased. Sperm were uniflagellated and SEM results for L. subrostrata and L. straminea showed mean head length and width (mid-spawning) were 3.38 +/- 0.04 mu m and 1.61 +/- 0.01 mu m and 3.37 +/- 0.04 mu m and 1.61 +/- 0.01 mu m, respectively. There were close (R-2 = 0.85) quadratic associations between hemocytometer counts and absorbance (300, 600, 700 nm). These results provide baseline information to further investigate sperm quality, fertilizing capacity, and cryopreservation for freshwater mussels.

Automated summary

The diversity of freshwater unionid mussels is decreasing due to extirpation or extinction of species. Techniques such as gene banking and assisted reproduction provide opportunities to save other species. Research on seasonal changes in sperm concentration and morphology, as well as the development of efficient quantification methods, can help in further investigation of sperm quality, fertilizing capacity, and cryopreservation for freshwater mussels.