Sperm cryopreservation affects postthaw motility, but not embryogenesis or larval growth in the Brazilian fish Brycon insignis (Characiformes).

Sperm cryopreservation is an important method for preserving genetic information and facilitating artificial reproduction. The objective was to investigate whether the cryopreservation process affects postthaw sperm motility, embryogenesis, and larval growth in the fish Brycon insignis. Sperm was diluted in methyl glycol and Beltsville Thawing solution, frozen in a nitrogen vapor vessel (dry shipper) and stored in liquid nitrogen. Half of the samples were evaluated both subjectively (% of motile sperm and motility quality score-arbitrary grading system from 0 [no movement] to 5 [rapidly swimming sperm]) and in a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA; percentage of motile sperm and velocity). The other half was used for fertilization and the evaluation of embryogenesis (cleavage and gastrula stages), hatching rate, percentage of larvae with normal development and larval growth up to 112 days posthatching (dph). Fresh sperm was analyzed subjectively (percentage of motile sperm and motility quality score) and used as the control. In the subjective analysis, sperm motility significantly decreased from 100% motile sperm and quality score of 5 in fresh sperm to 54% motile sperm and quality score of 3 after thawing. Under computer-assisted sperm analyzer evaluation, postthaw sperm had 67% motile sperm, 122 µm/sec of curvilinear velocity, 87 µm/sec of straight-line velocity and 103 µm/sec of average path velocity. There were no significant differences between progenies (pooled data) for the percentage of viable embryos in cleavage (62%) or gastrula stages (24%) or in the hatching rate (24%), percentage of normal hatched larvae (93%), larval body weight (39.8 g), or standard length (12.7 cm) at 112 days posthatching. Based on these findings, cryopreserved sperm can be used as a tool to restore the population of endangered species, such as B. insignis, as well as for aquaculture purposes, without any concern regarding quality of the offspring.

Effects of extenders, cryoprotectants and freezing methods on sperm quality of the threatened Brazilian freshwater fish pirapitinga-do-sul Brycon opalinus (Characiformes).

The objective was to develop a suitable freezing method to cryopreserve Brycon opalinus (Characiformes) sperm. Extenders (NaCl and glucose at 325 and 365 mOsm/kg), cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulfoxide=dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methyl glycol=methyl glycol (MG)), equilibration times (15 and 30 min), thawing temperatures (30 and 60 °C), and straw sizes (0.5 and 4.0 mL) were tested. Sperm were frozen in a liquid nitrogen vapor vessel at -170 °C and subsequently stored in liquid nitrogen. Post-thaw sperm quality was always evaluated in terms of motility (expressed as percentage of motile sperm), duration of motility and vitality (eosin-nigrosin staining, expressed as percentage of intact sperm). The best freezing method was also tested for fertility and hatching (expressed as the percentage of fertilized eggs). Post-thaw sperm quality was highest when sperm were cryopreserved in Glucose 365 mOsm/kg and MG, after a 30-min equilibration and thawed at 60 °C for 8 s, of regardless straw size: 74±7% motile sperm, 47±4 s of motility duration, 69±3% intact sperm, 64±4% fertilization and 63±3% hatching. The freezing method developed in the present study was efficient and can be used to maximize larvae production for both aquaculture purposes and for conservational programs, since B. opalinus is a threatened species.

Unequivocal NMR assignments: O-methoxy-methyl esters derivatives of acid chromanones from Calophyllum brasiliense CAMB. (Guanandi).

The present work describes the fractionation of the crude hexane extract (EBHEX) from Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) stem bark. Derivatization of DCM(2-9) fraction with diazomethane afforded the chromanones inophylloidic acid, isobrasiliensic acid, as well as, a mixture containing isobrasiliensic and brasiliensic acids, in the form of their more stable O-methoxy-methyl esters derivatives 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The isolation of 1 from C. brasiliense is described for the first time herein. The use of two-dimensional NMR methods ((1)H-COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) allowed the precise determination of (13)C and (1)H chemical shifts of compounds 1, 2, and 3.