Research

Publications
Title: Enhancing Cryopreserved Sperm Quality in Chinese Rare Minnow Gobiocypris rarus: The Impact of Antifreeze Proteins
First author: Ye, Huan; Li, Xin; Shen, Li; Du, Hao; Zhang, Qing; He, Yongfeng; Wu, Jinming
Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Years: 2024
Volume / issue: /
DOI: 10.3390/ijms251910364
Abstract: The Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus), an important model fish in China, faces endangerment in the wild. Sperm cryopreservation facilitates the development of new strains and germplasm conservation, but the quality of its cryopreserved sperm remains low. This study evaluates the protective effects of different concentrations of antifreeze proteins (AFP I and AFP III) on the cryopreservation of Chinese rare minnow sperm. Cryopreserved sperm showed significant declines in progressive motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), and lifespan compared to fresh sperm, except for straight-line velocity (VSL). The cryomedium containing 10 mu g/mL AFP I improved these parameters to their highest levels. However, no significant difference was found in progressive motility and kinetic parameters between cryopreserved sperm with and without AFPs. Cryopreserved sperm with 10 mu g/mL AFP I showed the highest plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, and DNA integrity, significantly better than without AFPs; importantly, the fertilization rate of cryopreserved sperm with 10 mu g/mL AFP I was not significantly different from that of fresh sperm. These results indicate that the addition of 10 mu g/mL AFP I to the cryomedium for Chinese rare minnow sperm does not improve kinetic parameters but significantly enhances sperm quality, aiding in its new strain development and germplasm conservation.