Survival and growth rates of wels catfish (Siluris glanis Linnaeus, 1758) larvae originating from fertilization with cryopreserved or fresh sperm

Abstract

Summary Survival and growth of wels catfish (Silurus glanis L. 1758) larvae (both non‐feeding and feeding), originating from fertilization with cryopreserved sperm were investigated. Non‐feeding (yolk sac) larvae (n = 100 individuals distributed over five replicates) were tested in the laboratory; feeding larvae (100 individuals in five replicates) were tested in both the laboratory and at a commercial fish farm (1000 individuals in triplicates). Water temperature was maintained at 22–23°C during the 4‐day test period on non‐feeding larvae and 10 days on feeding larvae. Larvae originated from cryopreserved or fresh sperm of different males collected in different years. In the laboratory experiments with feeding larvae, changes in standard length (SL), weight, condition factor, specific growth and survival rates were determined after 10 days, while at the fish farm survival and length growth were determined after 10 days. Final SL, weight and survival rate were analyzed on the non‐feeding larvae. In all cases, larvae from fertilization with fresh sperm served as a control. A significant difference (P = 0.034) was found in the 10‐day standard length between larvae originating from cryopreserved sperm (1.92 ± 0.13 cm SL, N = 250) and the control (1.89 ± 0.14 cm SL, N = 250). Significant differences were also observed in the final SL (0.96 ± 0.05 cm in larvae from cryopreserved sperm vs 0.94 ± 0.05 cm in the control, P < 0.001) and weight (10.09 ± 0.37 g in the cryopreserved group vs. 9.02 ± 0.30 g in the control, P = 0.018) of non‐feeding larvae. No significant differences were found in either the survival rates of fry derived from fresh or from cryopreserved sperm. It is postulated that the observed differences can be attributed to the effect of individual males or broodstocks; however, genetic studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. This study gives evidence that the developed cryopreservation technology has no unfavorable effects on the viability of wels catfish larvae.

Sperm cryopreservation reduces offspring growth

“…In fish, no effect of sperm cryopreservation on offspring performance could be found in some species [24][25][26][27][28][29], while significant effects on several developmental traits were reported in others [30][31][32][33]. In the latter case, effects of cryopreservation on potential indicators of offspring fitness were sometimes negative [30,31] and sometimes positive [32], and sometimes results were mixed [33]. Most discrepancies among these studies may be explained by nonsufficient controls of potentially confounding parental and/or environmental effects.…”

“…However, effects of cryopreservation could have been confounded with effects of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in their study. In fish, no effect of sperm cryopreservation on offspring performance could be found in some species [24][25][26][27][28][29], while significant effects on several developmental traits were reported in others [30][31][32][33]. In the latter case, effects of cryopreservation on potential indicators of offspring fitness were sometimes negative [30,31] and sometimes positive [32], and sometimes results were mixed [33].…”

Exceptional longevity in northern peripheral populations of Wels catfish (Silurus glanis)

“… 13 , 5 53 , 6 25 ). Growth curves for the references were drawn based on values of K and L∞ with the equation Age = loge ((Length − L∞)/(L0 − L∞))/ − K, with L0 set to size at hatching: 0.7 cm 51 . Estimates of K and L∞ are presented along with 95% confidence intervals (green vertical bars).…”

“…The last recapture with the longest time span between mark and recapture was used for individuals with repeated recaptures such that every individual contributed with one observation of growth. Length at hatching (0.7 cm 51 ) was used as L0 in the VBGC-equation. A reformulated VBGC-equation (Age = log e ((Length − L ∞ )/(L0 − L ∞ ))/ − K) with the L0 and the estimated parameters K and L ∞ was used to predict age at length.…”

Yellow Perch Sperm Motility, Cryopreservation, and Viability of Resulting Larvae and Juveniles

“…Bokor et al. () suggested no significant differences in the survival of European Catfish Silurus glanis obtained from the use of cryopreserved or fresh sperm. Riesco and Robles () provided evidence that the integrity of genetic material following cryopreservation of Zebrafish Danio rerio tissue associated with primordial germ cells is compromised and results in an upregulation of heat shock proteins and downregulation of some of the key genes related to genital ridges (sex differentiation).…”