Cryopreservation of Tambaqui ( Colossoma macropomum) Semen: Extenders, Cryoprotectants, Dilution Ratios and Freezing Methods

• Published in: Cryo-Letters Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 385 - 393
• Main Authors: Carneiro, Paulo C.F., Azevedo, Hymerson C., Santos, Jadson P., Maria, Alexandre N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cryoletters 01.09.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Characiformes - physiology; Cryoprotective Agents - metabolism; Egg Yolk - metabolism; Fish; Freezing; Glucose - metabolism; Male; Motility; Osmolar Concentration; Protocol; Semen Preservation - methods; Semen Preservation - veterinary; Sperm; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa - cytology; Spermatozoa - metabolism; Viability
• ISSN: 0143-2044

The tambaqui is an Amazonian fish of great economic and environmental importance to Brazil and other South American countries. Several semen cryopreservation methodologies have been tested for different Brazilian fish species; however, there is little information on the use of this technique on tambaqui semen. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of osmolarity and activation solutions on sperm kinetics and, glucose solutions, cryoprotectants, dilution ratios, egg yolk and freezing methods on tambaqui semen freezing. The osmolarity of 230 mOsm was suitable for simultaneously yielding higher sperm motility (85%) and motility time (54 sec.) and osmolarities above 360 mOsm maintain immobile tambaqui sperm. The tambaqui semen can be successfully cryopreserved when diluted 1:9 in freezing medium composed of 5% glucose solution (290 mOsm) with 10% methylglycol and 5% egg yolk, and frozen directly in a dry shipper container.