The objective of the present study was to determine the proper insemination dose of dourado (Salminus brasiliensis) oocytes. The oocytes were placed in a randomized complete design and fertilized with one of the spermatozoa.oocytes-1 ratio, 6.0×10³, 6.0×10(4), 6.0×10(5), 6.0×10(6), 3.0×10(7) SPZ:OOC, each one with four replications. An experimental unit was considered to be an incubator with a 2.5L useful volume containing 2.0 mL non-hydrated oocytes. The fertilization rates were measured eight hours after the start of fertilization. In order to ascertain the possible effects of seminal dilution on the spermatozoa motility, the duration time of the spermatic motility of the dourado spermatozoa was measured when activated by different dilution ratios 6.8×10-5; 6.8×10-4; 6.8×10-3; 6.8×10-2; 3.4×10-1 and 1.0 mL semen.mL water-1. The motility duration time was assessed in a randomized complete design, with six treatments and three repetitions. The fertilization rates showed a quadratic relationship with the number of spermatozoids per oocyte. The semen dilution ratios had an inversely proportional affect on the spermatic motility time. The spermatozoa:oocytes ratio that provided the best artificial fertilization rates of dourado (Salminus brasiliensis) oocytes was 30,722 spermatoids per oocyte.
artificial insemination; fish; reproduction; Salmininae; Salminus brasiliensis; semen; spermatozoa
