Fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm of Chirostoma jordani (Woolman, 1894)

Abstract

The genus Chirostoma is endemic from the Mesa Central of Mexico. It is conformed of 18 species and six subspecies. Five species are in some category of risk, because of this, Chirostoma jordani is an excellent model species to implement biotechnologies like gametes cryopreservation. Aim of present study was to evaluate fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved C. jordani sperm, as alternative to conservation and assisted reproduction in this specie and genus. Males and females were collected from wild Atlangatepec dam stock, Tlaxcala State, Mexico. Seminal quality was evaluated in fresh and cryopreserved semen with three cryoprotective agents (CPAs): 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 10% methanol (MeOH), 14% ethylene glycol (EG) and it was determined its post-thaw fertilizing capacity. Sperm motility percentage decreased during cryopreservation process (p < 0.05). There were not significant differences in post-thaw motility percentage between EG (53.5 ± 1.9%) and MeOH (53.3 ± 1.3%), but DMSO (50.3 ± 0.5%) was significantly different (p < 0.05). Results showed that 0.2 µL fresh semen were enough to fertilize 100% oocytes (n = 60). 10 µL DMSO and 5 µL MeOH and EG cryopreserved semen were necessary to fertilize oocytes 100% (n = 60) (p < 0.05). Cryopreservation and fertilization protocol for C. jordani sperm was efficient and it could be used for its assisted reproduction.

Keywords

• Sperm cryopreservation
• Cryoprotective agents
• Fertilizing
• Assisted reproduction