Long‐term cryopreservation of sperm of Japanese eel

Abstract

After cryopreservation in a diluent (D#5‐D), containing 76·2 mM NaHCO3, 137·0 mM NaCl, 1·4% soya lecithin and 10% dimethyl sulphoxide, for 30–180 days, Japanese eel Anguilla japonica sperm was 61·4–70·6% motile compared with fresh sperm. Cryopreserved sperm was used for fertilizing three batches of eggs and hatchability ranged from 20·7 to 69·1%. These results indicate that D#5‐D is an useful diluent for sperm cryopreservation in Japanese eel.