The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of vitamin E and phosphatidylcholine on rainbow trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) milt. One hundred and twelve rainbow trout (RB) broodstock (2n, 1030± 20g
body weight, male:female ratio = 50:50) were fed four isoproteic and isolipidic diets for 110 days. Diets
were differing for the type of vitamin premix and phosphatidylcholine supplied: Control (vitamin premix
without Vit. E, no phosphatidylcholine); Vit.E (a premix with Vit. E, no phosphatidylcholine); PhC, (vitamin
premix without Vit. E, phosphatidylcholine 2.5%); Vit.E +PhC, (vitamin premix with Vit. E and phosphatidylcholine
2.5%).
Sperm total volume, in sexually mature males (3+; 966±114g body weight), ranged between 18.57ml
(Control) and 34.31ml (Vit. E). Sperm density varied between 1.76x109 Szoa/ml (Control) and 1.16x109
Szoa/ml (Vit. E+PhC), while relative density (related to male body weight) tended to increase with Vit. E
(>50x109 Szoa/ml) and to reduce with Vit. E + PhC (<30x109 Szoa/ml). Percentage motility was >85%
in all treatments, while motility duration was around 2.37min for Vit. E and Control reached only 0.97min.
After overnight storage (+4°C, for 18 hours) motility decreased, 75-80% in gamete motility and 3.39-
56.7% in time motility.
PhC dietary supplements significantly increased arachidonic acid contents of sperm with respect to
Control (>120 vs 73μg/ g), while Vit. E caused a huge increase in C20:3 n-3 (10.25 vs 2.27ppm).
DHA/EPA ratio was significantly lower in Control (>2; p<0.05), while n-3/n-6 ratio was significantly the
highest for Vit. E (9.46 vs <7.3).
