EVALUATION OF CRYOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OFTURKISH PINE HONEY ON COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO) SPERMATOZOA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The cryopreservation procedures that allow preserving sperm cells have been applied for sperm of many species. A sugar like glucose, fructose and sucrose were frequently used in cryomedia but up to the present pine honey was not used for cryopreservation of sperm cells. OBJECTIVE: The objective of present study is to investigate the effect of pine honey in various concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg ml(-1) solutions on cryopreservation and fertilization ability of spermatozoa of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally 12.5% (v/v) Me2SO as a cryoprotectant and 10% (v/v) egg yolk added all extenders. Pine honey also compared with sugars as glucose, fructose (monosaccharide) and sucrose (disaccharide). Collected semen samples were diluted at the ratio of 1:9 with the extenders. After dilutions, the sperm motility was assessed for each group and then the diluted semen samples were cryopreserved. RESULTS: The extenders containing 300 mg ml-1 pine honey group showed both highest post thaw motility 75.3 +/- 5.1%, motility duration (s) 47.3 +/- 2.5% and hatching ratio 42.6 +/- 4.2% than other cryopreserved groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Using the pine honey in cryomedia is effective for cryopreservation especially about hatching success of egg fertilized by frozen-thawed sperm of common carp.