Studies on the Motility and Cryopreservation of Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri) Spermatozoa

Abstract

The very short duration of vigorous movement (1 1/2 to 7 min) in fresh water and physiological solutions make trout spermatozoa difficult subjects for cryopreservation studies. Solutions consisting of 250 to 280 mmol sucrose and 5 to 12% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) (4 parts) did not activate trout spermatozoa (1 part), but after dilution with fresh water vigorous motility could be fully restored. These sucrose-DMSO solutions were employed in cryopreservation studies. Using straws and a fast freezing — fast thawing procedure, post-thaw dilution with fresh water resulted in 25%-60% of spermatozoa becoming motile, all with vigorous forward progression. Some existing methods for the cryopreservation of other freshwater fish spermatozoa were repeated on trout without success.