Assessment in Vitro Oocyte Maturation and Blood-Circulating Steroid Hormones in Persian Sturgeon (Acipenser Persicus) Spawning

The in vitro effect of 17α, 20β-Dihydroxyprogesterone on the maturation of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) oocytes for 7, 10, 12, 24 and 30th hours of incubation were investigated. Blood serum, testosterone (T), progesterone (P4) and 17-β estradiol concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The oocytes were incubated in SIS, RM2, L-15 and PSACF media in the presence of 17α, 20β-Dihydroxyprogesterone at 1 μg/ml concentration. The relationship between the fertilization rate and incubation time of the studied media during in vitro maturation of Persian sturgeon oocytes was investigated. In all four media, fertilization rate decreased with increasing duration of incubation. The highest fertilization rate was recorded in the oocytes incubated in SIS medium for 12 h. Fertilization rate decreased significantly with incubation time in SIS medium averaging 84±5.65% after 12 h and reaching 8.3±14.43% after 30 h (P<0.05). No significant correlations were observed between 17-β estradiol (R2 = 0.0134), progesterone (R2 = 0.0159) and testosterone (R2 = 0.0652) and fertilization rate (P>0.05). The obtained results in the present study support the role of 17α, 20β-Dihydroxyprogesterone on oocyte maturation in the Persian sturgeon and also suggest that in vitro oocyte maturation assay can be used as practical tool for improving breeding management of the Persian sturgeon.