Cryogenic and Refrigerated Storage of Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax Spermatozoa |
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| Authors: | J Dana DeGraaf David L Berlinsky |
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| Institution: | Department of Zoology, University of New Hampshire. Durham, New Hampshire 03824 USA |
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| Abstract: | The effects of extender composition, cryoprotectant, and freezing rate on post-thaw rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax sperm motility were examined, and the fertilization capacity of fresh and post-thaw sperm were compared. The highest post-thaw motility (75%) was obtained when milt was diluted 1:3 with an extender containing 600 mM sucrose supplemented with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide and 1.5% bovine serum albumin and frozen at a rate of –20 C/min. Post-thaw motility for sperm stored in this extender was similar to fresh sperm and did not change after 90 d of storage. Furthermore, there were no differences in fertilization rate or embryo survival to the eyed stage between fresh and post-thaw sperm frozen in this extender. The lowest post-thaw motility was observed when sperm were frozen with methanol at a rate of -30 C/min. Refrigerated sperm diluted 1:3 with the 600 mM sucrose extender remained motile for 30 d. These data demonstrate that rainbow smelt spermatozoa can be effectively used following short and long-term storage using a simple, sucrose-based extender. |
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