Sperm vitrification of Prochilodus brevis using Powder Coconut Water (ACP‐104) in association with different cryoprotectant concentrations

Abstract

Currently, aquaculture has been growing due to factors such as increased fish consumption and production, population growth, higher family income and urbanization (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2019). Therefore, studies that focus on investigating the reproductive biology of fish have been intensified to develop species conservation and genetic improvement programmes (Denniston, Michelet, & Godke, 2000), as well as to enable an increase in aquaculture production and reduce pressure on natural stocks. Thus, species belonging to genus Prochilodus, like Prochilodus brevis, a rheophilic species native to Northeast Brazil, have shown increasing potential for use in Brazilian aquaculture (Peixe Br, 2019) to meet the great demand for fish, as they are among the most important species in both commercial and subsistence continental

Sperm cryopreservation of Prochilodus brevis using different concentrations of non-permeable cryoprotectants

“…In the present work, DNA integrity was analyzed using the test that verifies sperm chromatin dispersion. This is an important analysis since, after cryopreservation, despite being mobile and morphologically normal, sperm may have their DNA fragmented (Almeida-Monteiro et al, 2020). This means that, even if they are able to fertilize the oocyte, they can later lead to dysfunctions in the development of embryos and larvae (Figueroa et al, 2016).…”

“…The sperm DNA integrity was assessed using the SCD (Sperm Chromatin Dispersion) test, which analyzes the rate of sperm chromatin fragmentation, following the methodology of Fernandez et al (2005) adapted and described by Almeida-Monteiro et al (2020). Two hundred and fifty sperm cells per pool (n = 5) were analyzed by sliding through visual fields until reaching this count, and classified as having intact DNA (when a halo was observed around sperm head) and fragmented DNA (when no halo was observed).…”

Use of glycosaminoglycans from Oreochromis niloticus skin as an antioxidant supplement for milt cryopreservation of Brazilian bocachico

“…As this is a pioneering study, and because there are few reports in the literature on the use of O. niloticus skin GAGs, we suggest that further research should be carried out to test longer sample storage times and to evaluate the interaction of GAGs with other diluents, such as powdered coconut water, specific to fish (ACP-104). ACP-104 has already been successful in freezing, cooling, and vitrification of P. brevis milt (Nascimento et al, 2017;Almeida-Monteiro et al, 2020). In addition, it is also relevant to use GAGs in other seminal conservation methods, such as cooling and vitrification, and to perform other analyses, such as mitochondrial activity, fertilization assay, and antioxidant activity.…”