Effect of extender composition on sperm cryopreservation of Asian catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) and Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus).

Air breathing catfish species Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) and Clarias batrachus (Linn.) are important table fish and fetch high market price. Cryopreservation of spermatozoa can be a useful tool in captive seed production for domestication and aquaculture of these catfish species. The objective of the present study was to identify optimum extender composition for sperm cryopreservation of the two species, H. fossilis and C. batrachus. Four extender compositions Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), Modified Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (M-HBSS), Modified Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution with hen’s egg yolk (M-HBSS with EY) and European catfish were evaluated for cryopreservation of catfish sperm and 10 % Dimethyle Sulphoxide (DMSO) was used as a cryoprotectant. The pooled milt exhibiting 70-80% motile sperm was used for cryopreservation experiment. After storage for 48 hrs at -196oC, the milt was thawed and evaluated for fertility test. The percentage of hatching was used as a parameter for the comparative evaluation of different extender composition. In H. fossilis extender M-HBSS indicated highest hatching rate (49.06%), followed by HBSS (42.76%), M-HBSS with EY (37.46%) and European catfish (29.47%). The hatching success with extender M-HBSS did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) from the control group (51%). In C. batrachus extender HBSS exhibited highest hatching (62.1 %), followed by M-HBSS with EY (51.6%), European Catfish (46.3%) and M-HBSS (40.9%). The hatching rate in control was 90% in C. batrachus. The results indicated that the two species differ in the protocol for sperm cryopreservation. The paper presents successful cryopreservation of sperm with the production of viable hatchlings of H. fossilis and C. batrachus for the first time. The protocol reported in the study can be used for scaling up of seed production of these two catfish species.

[1]  T. Tiersch,et al.  Improved Cryopreservation of Sperm of Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) , 2006 .

[2]  A. Bart,et al.  Cryopreservation of black ear catfish, Pangasius larnaudii, (Bocourt) sperm , 2006 .

[3]  W. S. Lakra,et al.  Cryopreservation and fertility trials of Clarias batrachus spermatozoa , 2006 .

[4]  M. Rodina,et al.  Cryopreservation of European catfish Silurus glanis sperm: sperm motility, viability, and hatching success of embryos. , 2005, Cryobiology.

[5]  A. Bart,et al.  Effect of cryoprotectants, extenders and freezing rates on the fertilization rate of frozen striped catfish, Pangasius hypophthalmus (Sauvage), sperm , 2003 .

[6]  Á. Horváth,et al.  The effect of cryoprotectants on the motility and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) sperm , 2000 .

[7]  Patricia M. Mazik,et al.  Cryopreservation in aquatic species , 2000 .

[8]  Á. Horváth,et al.  Effect of extenders on sperm cryopreservation of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) , 1999 .

[9]  S. Shivaji,et al.  Computerized analysis of motility, motility patterns and motility parameters of spermatozoa of carp following short‐term storage of semen , 1997 .

[10]  W. S. Lakra,et al.  Preliminary trials for cryopreservation of spermatozoa of selected carps and catfishes , 1997 .

[11]  K. Rana.  Cryopreservation of fish spermatozoa. , 1995, Methods in molecular biology.

[12]  Terrence R. Tiersch,et al.  Cryopreservation of Channel Catfish Sperm: Storage in Cryoprotectants, Fertilization Trials, and Growth of Channel Catfish Produced with Cryopreserved Sperm , 1994 .

[13]  J. Kouril,et al.  Increased rate of egg fertilization in artificial propagation of sheatfish (Silurus glanis L.) by means of suppressing the movements of spermatozoa with immobilization solution , 1987 .

[14]  K. Tiews.  Selection, hybridization, and genetic engineering in aquaculture , 1987 .

[15]  F. C. Withler.  Cryopreservation of spermatozoa of some freshwater fishes cultured in South and Southeast Asia , 1982 .