黄鳝精液-80℃超低温冷冻保存试验

采用-80℃超低温冷冻方法对黄鳝精液冷冻保存技术进行了研究.获得如下结果:黄鳝精子在冻存前不需低温平衡过程;10%DMSO作为抗冻保护剂效果最好,以200 μL离心管为冻存容器,保存168 h,精子相对活力可达79%;以细管为冻存容器,精子相对活力可达88%.此结果为黄鳝精子冷冻保存库的建立提供了实验依据.     

大熊猫精液超低温冷冻的比较

对卧龙自然保护区大熊猫研究中心的9只雄性大熊猫电刺激采精,比较研究了稀释液中甘油含量、精液离心、不同稀释液和冷冻方法对大熊猫精液超低温冷冻保存后的活力、运动状态和顶体的影响。稀释液中甘油的含量为4％－5％较好,冻精解冻后的活力和顶体的正常率能保持鲜精的一半。离心和未离心的精液经超低温冷冻,解冻后的活力和运动状态都较接近。TEST和SFS两种稀释液的效果没有明显的差异。细管的冷冻过程较颗粒方便、快捷,时间容易控制,是一种较好的超低温冷冻精液的方法。     

圈养黑熊精液的冷冻保存

将采自23 头成年圈养黑熊的精液,分别用3 种稀释液(Ⅰ:Tris - 乳- 果- 卵;Ⅱ:柠- 葡- 蔗- 卵;Ⅲ:Tris - 柠- 果- 葡- 卵)稀释并在4℃ 下保存,通过检测精液在不同稀释液稀释条件下的保存时间,筛选出最适稀释液用于精液的冷冻保存;从精液解冻后精子的活率、活力、畸形率、顶体完整率4 个指标,分别从3种冷冻保护剂(甘油3%、3.5% 、4% )、两种冷冻方法(两步冷冻法和自动冷冻法)两个方面进行了比较试验。结果表明:精子活力在0.3 以上时,稀释液Ⅲ保存时间为175.42 ± 3.04 h,显著高于稀释液Ⅰ和稀释液Ⅱ(P ﹤0.01),稀释液Ⅱ保存时间也明显高于稀释液Ⅰ (P ﹤0.01);含3.5% 甘油浓度的稀释液解冻后精子活率(41.75 ± 3.46% )、活力(32.63 ±5.27% )和顶体完整率(85.62 ± 4.58% )显著高于其他两组(P ﹤0.01),并且精子畸形率(29.32 ± 8.22% )明显低于其他两组(35.95 ± 8.04% ,36.07 ±7.72% )(P ﹤0.01);采用自动冷冻法冷冻保存圈养黑熊精液,解冻后精子活率、活力和顶体完整率分别为41.75 ±3.46% 、32.63 ± 5.27%和85.62 ±4.58% ,都明显高于两步冷冻法(P ﹤0.01);解冻后畸形率为29.32 ± 8.22% ,明显低于两步冷冻法(P ﹤0.01)。     

兰州鲇精液超低温冷冻保存技术研究及细胞损伤检测

为保护兰州鲇(Silurus lanzhouensis Chen)种质资源, 促进新品种选育, 文章开展了兰州鲇精液超低温冻存抗冻剂筛选及程序保存技术研究, 并通过精子解冻激活率、核DNA检测、扫描电镜和透射电镜检测技术对冻存效果和冻存损伤情况进行了评测。结果表明: 兰州鲇精液以10% DMSO为抗冻剂, 4℃平衡20min, –80℃平衡30min后立即置于液氮超低温保存, 并于40℃水浴解冻时精子冻存效果较佳, 冻精激活率达(75.56±3.91)%。SCGE检测DNA损伤结果显示超低温冻存10d、20d及30d兰州鲇精液的彗星率和损伤系数无显著差异。扫描电镜检测显示兰州鲇精子明显分头部, 中段及尾部3部分, 属于单鞭毛型, 无顶体, 无侧鳍, 中心粒相互垂直呈“T”形, 鞭毛为典型的“9+2”微管结构。冻存结构损伤主要表现为膜损伤, 细胞质膜与染色质膜发生破损、折皱、囊泡化或整体脱落, 细胞核膜与质膜空隙加大, 核发生变形, 核质疏散, 线粒体结构弥散, 线粒体内容物外流, 中心粒复合体易位, 鞭毛外膜变形脱离, 中段位置断裂, 微管结构基本完好。研究筛选的超低温冷冻保存技术可长期有效保存兰州鲇精液, 为兰州鲇种质资源保护及今后精液超低温冷冻保存技术改良提供理论依据和技术基础。     

软鳍新光唇鱼(Neolissochilus benasi)的人工繁殖与胚胎发育

2009—2011年,使用促黄体素释放激素类似物(LHRH-A2)及马来酸地欧酮(DOM)混合催产剂共催产软鳍新光唇鱼(Neolissochilus benasi)雌鱼60尾及雄鱼100尾,其中,雌鱼成功47尾(78.3%),雄鱼成功92尾(92.0%)。雌鱼产卵量为1 986~5 854粒/尾,卵径为2.2~2.8 mm,平均核偏位率为73.2%。精子密度为(16.32±2.89)×109个/ml,鲜精平均活力为(60.6±3.2)%,平均寿命为(70.2±5.3)s。胚胎发育过程需120 h,分为受精卵期、分裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、体节期和孵化期等6个阶段,平均孵化率为32.4%,45日龄仔鱼存活率为86.5%。胚胎发育过程中,畸形部位主要为口部、胸腔、脊索和眼部,且以脊索畸形较为常见,卵黄蘘吸收异常及双头亦为畸形表现形式。在上述数据的基础上,分析了软鳍新光唇鱼畸形的原因,并提出在亲鱼培育过程中应尽量提供适合的养殖条件,最大限度降低捕获诱发的压力,以提高繁殖效率。     

秦岭大熊猫精液的细管冷冻保存

2008年3月1日至4月27日和2009年3月3日至5月1日,在陕西省珍稀野生动物抢救饲养研究中心对处于繁殖期内的4只雄性秦岭大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis)精液进行了细管冻精实验。比较组成不同的4种稀释液:葡萄糖-果糖-柠檬酸三钠-卵黄-甘油-双抗(稀释液1)、葡萄糖-蔗糖-柠檬酸三钠-卵黄-甘油-双抗(稀释液2)、葡萄糖-柠檬酸三钠-卵黄-甘油-双抗(稀释液3)和美国进口的TEST(加入3.5%甘油),以及直接降温平衡法(方法 1)与逐级降温平衡法(方法 2)2种冷冻保存操作方法,对秦岭大熊猫精液进行细管冷冻保存后精子活力和顶体完整率的影响。结果表明:稀释液1的精子活力为46.25%±11.67%,顶体完整率为80.75%±7.89%,TEST的精子活力为48.75%±8.54%,顶体完整率为84.50%±7.59%,两者的精子活力和顶体完整率均无明显差异(P0.05),但是都明显高于稀释液2(P﹤0.01)和稀释液3(P﹤0.01);采用方法 1冷冻保存秦岭大熊猫精液,解冻后精子的活力和顶体完整率分别为45.67%±10.54%和81.37%±8.42%,都显著高于方法 2(P﹤0.01);方法 1解冻后畸形率为23.50%±3.51%,明显低于方法 2(P﹤0.01)。经比较确定,方法 1(用稀释液1)是一种较好的细管冷冻保存秦岭大熊猫精液的方法。     

一种简单实用的猪颗粒冻精制作技术

本实验以年龄在2.5岁左右的长白种公猪的精液为材料,在比较了常用的Ⅰ号、Ⅱ号、Ⅲ号猪精液冷冻稀释液和Ⅰ号、Ⅱ号解冻液及冷冻———解冻程序对猪精液的冷冻效果后,依据解冻后精子的活力、质膜完整性等指标,发现:1、Ⅱ号冷冻稀释液的稀释效果(精子活力42.5±5.2精子弯尾率44.7±3.5)和Ⅱ号解冻液的解冻效果(精子活力43.8±2.6精子弯尾率36.2±4.3)明显较好;2、根据制作经验总结,发现了一种与以往资料上介绍的完全不同的猪精液冷冻颗粒制作方法,从而筛选出了一种简单实用的猪颗粒冻精制作技术。     

提高精子转染外源DNA效率的山羊精液冷冻方法

目的筛选一种既提高精子转染外源DNA效率,又保持解冻后精子活力的山羊精液冷冻—解冻方法。方法应用正交设计L9(34),因素分别为稀释液种类、稀释比例、降温时间和解冻液,每个因素选择3个水平,检测和比较解冻后精子转染外源DNA效率和精子活力。结果所选冷冻—解冻各因素对精液转染效率影响不显著[F(8,18)=1.032,P=0.449];平衡时间对冷冻—解冻活力影响极显著[F(2,24)=9.972,P=0.001],平衡1h极显著小于平衡2 h和4 h的精液活力(P=0.003,P=0.000),以平衡4 h最好。用筛选的冷冻—解冻方法处理精液,解冻后精子的活力极明显降低(P=0.002);生存指数降低,GOT释放量增加,菌落数减少,与鲜精相比差异显著(P=0.018;P=0.016;P=0.018);精子畸形率增加,顶体完整率降低,与鲜精相比差异不显著(P=0.494;P=0.084)。结论优化了提高精子转染外源DNA效率的山羊精液冷冻—解冻方法。     

逆行射精精子冷冻保存在宫腔内人工授精技术中的应用

目的:探讨逆行射精患者尿液中回收精子的冷冻保存及其在宫腔内人工授精(IUI)周期中的应用效果。方法:2008年12月至2011年1月逆行射精患者共计7例,嘱其按要求留取射精后的尿液,充分洗涤后实施液氮蒸汽法超低温精子冷冻,共冻存精液标本14人份。IUI周期时将冻存精子解冻、优化后行宫腔内人工授精。结果:冷冻前、解冻后前向运动精子总数分别为(19.9±10.4)×106和(6.9±4.2)×106,存在显著性差异(P<0.05),解冻优化后前向运动精子总数为(2.6±1.7)×106,实施IUI 8个周期,临床妊娠1例。结论:超低温冷冻会明显降低前向运动精子总数,但多次冷冻后一次复苏行IUI可能是治疗逆行射精所致不育的一种较为理想的方法。     

文昌鱼胚胎的程序化冷冻保存

文昌鱼在进化和发育生物学中有重要科学研究价值,然而由于文昌鱼实验室繁殖受产卵季节等因素的限制,以其胚胎为材料的研究工作受到局限,胚胎冷冻保存是解决这一问题的有效途径之一。本文首次对文昌鱼(Branchiostoma japonicum)胚胎的程序化冷冻保存进行了研究,通过筛选合适的程序化抗冻液、适宜的胚胎发育阶段,以及比较不同平衡处理时间、植冰温度、保存温度和洗脱时间对文昌鱼胚胎冷冻保存的影响。结果表明:几种抗冻液中,A2的效果较好,对胚胎的毒性小;原肠中期胚胎较其它时期对抗冻液的耐受力更强,适宜进行冷冻保存;胚胎在抗冻液中的最佳平衡处理时间为40-50min;冷冻降温时,适宜的植冰温度为-7.0℃--10.0℃;植冰后进行程序化冷冻,目前能稳定得到存活胚胎的最低保存温度为-15℃;此外,不同的洗脱时间对胚胎的存活率无显著影响。根据优化后的条件,对文昌鱼胚胎进行程序化冷冻保存(-196℃)实验,获得1粒存活的胚胎,并孵化出膜,发育至两鳃裂时期,幼鱼共存活了8d,但形态畸形。结果提示文昌鱼胚胎冷冻保存的可行性,但需要进一步优化包括抗冻液在内的各种条件,以提高存活率。     

Preliminary study on the cryopreservation of tropical bagrid catfish (Mystus nemurus) spermatozoa; the effect of extender and cryoprotectant on the motility after short-term storage

The effects of different extenders, and cryoprotectants on the motility of tropical bagrid catfish (Mystus nemurus) spermatozoa were evaluated after short-term storage. Three extenders, physiological saline, Ringer or saline at three levels of sperm to extender dilutions (1:20, 1:30, or 1:40) and four cryoprotectants (DMSO, ethanol, glycerol or methanol) at three concentrations (5, 10, or 15%) were examined in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, milt was suspended in the respective extender at the three milt to extender dilution ratios in two sets of tubes. Extended milt in the first set of tubes was stored at -4 degrees C, and motility assessed after 24h, while the second set was kept at 23 degrees C and sperm motility was assessed immediately and at 30-min intervals thereafter. Ringer retained sperm motility better than the other extenders at all dilution levels at temperatures of 23 and -4 degrees C respectively. At 23 degrees C, the sperm motility was almost completely lost after 150 min except for those in Ringer at 1:20 dilution level which still had a motility of 18% (compared to those kept at -4 degrees C for 24, which had motility from 39 to 71%, regardless of extender). In the second experiment, various cryoprotectants were added to solutions of milt (that was diluted in Ringer at 1:20 ratio and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for 15 days). Sperm cryopreserved in 10% methanol had the highest motility (58%) compared with those in the other cryoprotectants at all concentrations.     

Post-thawed motility and fertility from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) sperm frozen with four cryodiluents in straws or pellets

The cryopreservation of salmonid sperm is a complex process involving the interplay of many factors. Although cryopreservation protocols can be evaluated through a range of responses at various stages in the process, the number of progeny is the ultimate indicator of success. We compared reproductive success from freezing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) sperm using the eight combinations of (1) the penetrating cryoprotectants, 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or methanol (MeOH); (2) the nonpenetrating cryoprotectants glucose (0.3 M) or sucrose (0.6 M), and freezing in 0.1 mL pellets or 0.25 mL straws. All cryodiluents were supplemented with 10% (v/v) of hen's egg yolk. Response variables were the percentage and degree of motility of thawed and activated sperm using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and rates of eyed embryos, hatch and egg sac larvae. Growth rates of alevins were assessed to two months post hatch. Atlantic salmon milt cryopreserved in straws had higher spermatozoa motility and fertilization success than milt cryopreserved in pellets (P < 0.05). Type of sugar tested did not significantly affect the response variables. In the MeOH treatment, thawed spermatozoa achieved higher speed and a higher fertilization rate evaluated at the eyed embryo stage than spermatozoa subjected to the DMSO treatment. Higher mortality rate (especially before hatching) of MeOH offspring than DMSO offspring led to equal numbers of progeny for the two treatments from the swimming stage to the end of the study. Moreover, during feeding fish from the MeOH group produced significantly lower weight larvae than the DMSO and control groups. Even so, the weight of the MeOH group was satisfactory. Length and the condition factors did not differ significantly among the larvae groups. Significant positive correlations were found between fertilization success (measured in number of eyed eggs) and both motility (rs = 0.81), and velocity (rs = 0.49). Freezing in straws gave betters results than freezing in pellets for cryopreservation of salmon milt; whereas type of sugar tested (glucose vs sucrose) did not have significant effects. Penetrating cryoprotectants DMSO and MeOH differed in their effect on post-thawed sperm velocity, fertilization rate and mortality rate of progeny, suggesting the need for further research on the influence of these cryoprotectants on frozen sperm and and post-fertilization devopmental processes.     

Cryopreservation of sperm of two European percid species, the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and the Volga pikeperch (S. volgensis)

Experiments were carried out on sperm cryopreservation of two European percid fish species, the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and the Volga pikeperch (S. volgensis). Two experiments were conducted on pikeperch sperm. In the first, the effects of three extenders (Glucose, KCl, Sucrose) and two cryoprotectants (dimethyl-sulfoxide: DMSO, methanol: MeOH) were tested on motility and fertilization. In the second, the effects of two dilution ratios (1 : 1, 1: 9) and two cryoprotectants (DMSO, MeOH) on hatching were investigated. In the experiment on Volga pikeperch the suitability of using cryopreservation for fertilization was investigated. In the first experiment on pikeperch the highest post-thaw motility (28 +/- 21%) and fertilization rate (43 +/- 12%) was found with DMSO as cryoprotectant in combination with Glucose extender. In the second, the highest hatch rate (41 +/- 22%) was observed with MeOH as cryoprotectant and 1 : 1 sperm dilution ratio, however no significant difference was found among the results. In the experiment on Volga pikeperch hatch rates with cryopreserved sperm (60 +/- 2%) did not significantly differ from the control (60 +/- 6%). Contamination of sperm with urine seems to be a key problem in the success of sperm cryopreservation of these species.     

Gene banking of the neotropical fish Leporinus obtusidens (Valenciennes, 1836): a protocol to freeze its sperm in the field

A practical sperm cryopreservation protocol using a dry-shipper and a diluent of simple composition is described for the neotropical fish Leporinus obtusidens (Valenciennes, 1836). The cooling rate of the dry-shipper and its period of useful time, established under laboratory conditions, were respectively 25.7-30.8 degrees C/min (between 0 and -60 degrees C) and 9 days after charging. Sperm donors were selected on the basis of their hyperemic genital papilla and the ability to ooze milt under gentle manual pressure, during the reproductive months of November to January. Milt volume (1.3+/-0.3 mL; n=9 fish), fresh sperm motility rate (93.3+/-2.5%; n=6 fish), and sperm concentration (10.9+/-3.0 x 10(9)spermatozoa/mL of milt) were obtained. The sperm cryopreservation experiments were conducted with the following cryoprotectants (all at 10%, before mixing with milt): dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO; n=10 fish), methanol (n=6 fish), propanediol (n=6 fish) and ethylene glycol (n=5 fish). Glucose (5%) and hen's egg yolk (10%) made up the diluents containing DMSO, ethylene glycol or propanediol. Milk powder (10%) replaced hen's egg yolk in the diluent containing methanol. Distilled water (up to 100%) completed the diluent solutions. Milt freezing (in 0.5-mL straws) was performed in the dry-shipper after 1:5 (milt:diluent) dilution. Thawed sperm cryopreserved in DMSO-containing diluent and activated by 119 mM NaHCO(3) gave the highest motility rate (62+/-14%). The fertilizing capacity of L. obtusidens sperm was tested using the combination of DMSO-containing diluent as the cryoprotectant and 119 mM NaHCO(3) as the activating solution. Oocytes were obtained from artificial spawning and fertilized with different proportions of spermatozoa. The greatest rate of fertilization (74%) occurred when the ratio of about 112,000 motile spermatozoa:oocyte was used. Thus, a protocol to freeze L. obtusidens sperm can be elaborated as follows. Milt (<1.5 mL fish(-1)) was readily available only in November to January; a simple solution, composed of 10% DMSO (concentration before adding milt), 5% glucose, and 10% hen yolk egg, in distilled water, was used as sperm diluent; cooling rate of 25-30 degrees C/min, yielded in a portable dry-shipper, was adequate to freeze diluted milt (1:5; milt:diluent), in 5-mL straws; about 112,000 thawed motile spermatozoa:oocyte activated by 119 mM NaHCO(3) assured a fertilization rate of 74%.     

Initial studies on sperm cryopreservation of a live-bearing fish, the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri

Swordtails and platyfish of the genus Xiphophorus are valuable models for biomedical research and are also commercially raised as ornamental fish valued by aquarists. While research use and commercial interest increases yearly in these fish, cryopreservation of sperm is unexplored in this genus. Xiphophorus are live-bearing fishes characterized by small body sizes, limited sperm volumes, and internal fertilization, an atypical reproductive mode for fish. These attributes make research involving cryopreservation of Xiphophorus germplasm challenging. To explore methods for sperm cryopreservation, this study evaluated the effect of different loading volumes of sperm suspension in 0.25-ml French straws, different dilution ratios of sperm to extender, an osmolality range of extender without cryoprotectant and with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectant, and short-term storage at room temperature and 4 degrees C after thawing. No significant difference in sperm motility due to straw loading volume was observed after thawing. Sperm motility was observed to decrease with increasing dilution. The osmolality of Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) without cryoprotectant in which the highest sperm motility (67%) was observed was 320 +/- 3 mOsm/kg, which was also the osmolality of X. helleri blood plasma. When cryopreserved with 10% DMSO, however, the highest motilities within 10 min after thawing were observed with HBSS in the range of 240-300 mOsm/kg. Sperm suspended in HBSS at 320 mOsm/kg with a dilution factor of 100 maintained motility for 24h at room temperature, but persisted for 10 days when stored at 4 degrees C. These results provided the first evidence that cryopreservation may be applied to conservation of genetic resources in live-bearing fishes.     

Cryopreservation of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) sperm using different extenders and cryoprotectants. Short communication

Experiments were carried out on the sperm cryopreservation of artificially induced eels. The effects of several extenders and two cryoprotectants on the motility of spermatozoa were investigated. The highest post-thaw motility was observed with the combination of Tanaka's extender and DMSO as cryoprotectant. Further dilution after thawing resulted in complete loss of motility in samples frozen in presence of DMSO while sperm frozen with methanol as cryoprotectant retained its motility after further dilution.     

Successful fertilization of Varicorhinus macrolepis eggs with sperm subjected to two freeze-thaw cycles

Although sperm from several fish species have been successfully cryopreserved, few studies have been done in small and/or endangered species. The aim of the present work was to develop a method of freezing and refreezing Varicorhinus macrolepis semen in 1.8 mL cryovials. The effect of extenders and cryoprotectants on the motility of post-thaw sperm was examined. The motility of frozen-thawed sperm in extender D-15 was higher than that in MPRS and fish Ringer solution (P<0.05). Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol provided greater protection to sperm than methanol during freezing and thawing; the most effective concentration of DMSO and glycerol was 10%. The fertilization rate of frozen-thawed sperm was not significantly different from that of fresh sperm. Furthermore, mean (+/-S.D.) hatching rate did not differ significantly between frozen-thawed (82.7+/-12.4%) and fresh sperm (90.7+/-4.5%). Although frozen-thawed sperm that was immediately refrozen had 0% post-thaw motility, frozen semen that was refrozen after dilution with D-15 (containing DMSO at a ratio of 1:2) had post-thaw motility of 38.3+/-2.9%. Motility was lower for refrozen than for frozen sperm (P<0.05). Furthermore, fertilization and hatching rates of refrozen sperm were 42.9+/-6.7 and 34.1+/-10.5%, respectively, which were lower than that of fresh sperm (P<0.05).     

Viability and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm from three North American acipenseriform species: a retrospective study

Populations of sturgeon across the globe are threatened due to unregulated harvest and habitat loss, and the status varies among species across North America. Ready access to viable and functional sperm would contribute to recovery programmes for these species. In this study, we examined the motility, viability (cell membrane integrity) of cryopreserved sperm from three North American acipenseriform species and fertilizing capacity. Milt samples were collected from captive shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), wild paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and cryopreserved using combinations of Modified Tsvetkova’s (MT) extender, Original Tsvetkova’s extender, and modified Hanks’ balanced salt solution, along with the cryoprotectants methanol (MeOH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A dual‐staining technique using the fluorescent stains SYBR‐14 and propidium iodide was employed with flow cytometry to determine the percentages of spermatozoa that were viable by virtue of having intact membranes. The percentage of viable spermatozoa ranged from 5% to 12% in shortnose sturgeon, 30–59% in paddlefish, and 44–58% in pallid sturgeon. In the first experiment with shortnose sturgeon sperm, methanol allowed for higher values for dependent variables than did DMSO, and sperm viability generally correlated with post‐thaw motility. However, fertilization rate, neurulation, or hatching rates were independent from these factors. In the second experiment with shortnose sturgeon, 5% MeOH combined with MT yielded higher values for all parameters tested than the other combinations: viability was correlated with motility, fertilization rate, and hatching rate. Overall, viability and post‐thaw motility was not affected by the use of hyperosmotic extenders (OT) or cryoprotectants (DMSO), but their use decreased fertilization percentages. For paddlefish sperm (experiment 3), MT combined with 10% MeOH was clearly a good choice for cryopreservation; viability and motility results were correlated, but independent of fertilization. For pallid sturgeon sperm (experiment 4), MT with 5–10% MeOH showed significantly higher sperm quality and fertilization parameters. Membrane integrity can be used as a predictor of fertilization by cryopreserved sperm, however additional sperm quality parameters, supplementary to motility and membrane integrity, would be useful in the refining and optimizing cryopreservation protocols with acipenseriform sperm.     

Quality control of refrigerated and cryopreserved semen using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), viable staining and standardized fertilization in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

A new integrated approach including computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), viability staining and fertilization was used to study the quality of cryodiluents used in fish sperm cryopreservation. As an example the sperm quality of an African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), was assessed by its fertilizing ability, motility and viability at day 0 (fresh), after 2 days' storage at 4 degreesC and after 2 days, 5 months and 10 months frozen at -196 degreesC using solutions containing dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) or glycerol as permeating cryoprotectants. Four of the best freezing solutions were used, namely, Steyn's extender (S1, S4) and Mounib's extender (M3, M4) associating 10% hen's egg yolk. Progressive sperm movement measured by CASA and expressed by the straight line velocity (VSL), the average path velocity (VAP) and the curvilinear velocity (VCL) was highly correlated with hatching rates obtained from fertilization using minimal sperm:egg ratios. After 2 days, the motility of spermatozoa frozen with DMSO and 10% egg yolk had deteriorated less than that of spermatozoa stored at 4 degreesC. Post-thaw hatching rates reflected the post-thaw sperm viability, which was cryodiluent dependent: 14.9+/-2.0% (S4), 17.0+/-4.2% (S1), 25.9+/-3.7% (M4) and 52.1+/-3.4% (M3) after 5 months of cryopreservation. The percent motility of 10-months-frozen spermatozoa was high in M3 (70.7+/-11.4%) and M4 (64.0+/-2.0%) cryoprotected sperm when measured between 5 and 20 sec after activation, but decreased rapidly to 24.3+/-8.3% (M3) and 23.0+/-9.0% (M4) between 21 and 35 sec after activation. Mounib's extender (M3, M4) provided the best cryoprotection to the spermatozoa for all post-thaw sperm quality measurements and at all freezing durations. Sperm motility was positively related to fertility. Our method will make it possible to develop even better extenders and cryoprotectants.     

Cryopreservation of the endangered mahseer (Tor khudree) spermatozoa: I. Effect of extender composition, cryoprotectants, dilution ratio, and storage period on post-thaw viability

Several in situ and ex situ conservation strategies have been suggested for the revival of stocks of Tor khudree (Sykes), a threatened species. Cryopreservation of spermatozoa is crucial for the conservation of stocks of endangered species so that sustainable production can be ensured. Among the different extenders, modified fish Ringer (E1) was found to be the best for cryopreservation of T. khudree spermatozoa. Extender E2 appeared the next best. Extenders based on chicken egg yolk and milk powder were found to be unsuitable for the cryopreservation of T. khudree spermatozoa. Among the cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide provided maximum protection to spermatozoa during freezing and thawing. Propylene glycol and methanol were found to be less effective. Of the four spermatozoa dilutions, 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20 showed better motility rates than 1:5. At the former dilution ratios, the motility rates which were more than 95% prior to freezing were reduced to 80-81 and 43-67%, 10 and 70 days after cryopreservation, respectively. The motility duration did not differ much with increasing storage period at all the dilution ratios. Motility rates generally decreased with an increase in frozen storage. When spermatozoa were thawed and stored at 25 degrees C for varying periods, motility percentage, and duration decreased gradually as the storage period increased; spermatozoa stored up to 40 min after thawing retained 55% motility and were motile up to 77s; these values declined further leading to the complete cessation of motility 70 min after storage. The importance of extender-cryoprotectant mixture, milt dilution, and storage period in developing a protocol for T. khudree spermatozoa cryopreservation is discussed.