A simple, inexpensive and successful freezing method for curimba Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes) semen

• Published in: Animal reproduction science Vol. 112; no. 3; pp. 293 - 300
• Main Authors: Viveiros, A.T.M., Orfão, L.H., Maria, A.N., Allaman, I.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-06-2009; [Amsterdam]: Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Characiformes; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cryopreservation; Cryopreservation - economics; Cryopreservation - methods; cryoprotectants; Cryoprotective Agents - pharmacology; culture media; curimba; dimethyl sulfoxide; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - pharmacology; economic costs; Efficiency; Fertilization; fertilization (reproduction); Fertilization - drug effects; Fertilization - physiology; Fish; Fishes - physiology; freeze-thaw cycles; Freezing; Freshwater; germplasm conservation; glucose; glycols; Male; male fertility; methodology; methylglycol; Prochilodus; Prochilodus lineatus; Semen; Semen - drug effects; Semen - physiology; semen extenders; Semen Preservation - economics; Semen Preservation - methods; sodium chloride; Sperm motility; Sperm Motility - drug effects; spermatozoa; temperature; Fish; Sperm motility; Fertilization; Semen; Cryopreservation; Prochilodus lineatus
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.04.025

The cryopreservation of fish sperm provides a tool by which reproduction is optimized and thereby larval production is increased. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of cryosolutions, motility-activation media, straw volumes and thawing temperatures on the post-thaw motility of curimba semen. Furthermore, semen cryopreserved in a simple and inexpensive cryosolution and that yielded excellent post-thaw motility was tested for fertility. Semen was diluted in each of the eight cryosolutions in a factorial of two cryoprotectants (DMSO and methylglycol)
×
four extenders (0.9% NaCl, 5% glucose, BTS™ and M III™). Diluted semen was frozen in 0.5-mL straws in a nitrogen vapor vessel. Sperm motility was evaluated after thawing (60
°C water bath for 8
s) and activation with a total of four different activation media (distilled water, 0.15% NaCl, 0.29% NaCl or 1% NaHCO
3). To evaluate straw volume and thawing temperature, semen was diluted in 5% glucose and methylglycol and frozen in 0.5- and 4.0-mL straws. Half of the 0.5-mL straws were thawed in a water bath at 60
°C for 8
s and the other half at 30
°C for 16
s. The 4.0-mL straws were thawed at 60
°C for 24
s only. In the last experiment, semen cryopreserved in 5% glucose and methylglycol, 0.5-mL straws, and thawed at 60
°C for 8
s was tested for fertility. The results of these comparisons are presented and show that curimba semen can be successfully cryopreserved in a simple glucose solution combined with methylglycol as cryoprotectant, in 0.5-mL straws, yielding motility rates between 86% and 95% and fertilization rates between 47% and 83%.