Effect of Fetal Bovine Serum on the Sperm Quality of Depik (Rasbora tawarensis) after Short-term Cryopreservation

Abstract

Background: Sperm cells are susceptible to oxidative stress during cryopreservation. Therefore, an antioxidant is necessary to protect them from damages. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is one of potent antioxidants for fish sperm cryopreservation. Hence, the aims of this study are to examine the effect of FBS on sperm quality after a short period and to determine its optimum concentration on depik (Rasbora tawarensis). Methods: Depik fish were obtained from the Fish hatchery of Lukup Badak, Aceh Tengah District, Indonesia. Sperms collected from the fish were diluted in Ringer extenders containing FBS concentration of 10% (P1), 20% (P2), 30% (P3), 40% (P4), 50% (P5) and 60% (P6), filled into 2 ml cryotubes and equilibrated prior immersed into liquid nitrogen for 15 days. The parameters observed were sperm motility, consistency, pH, fertilization and hatching rates and DNA fragmentation post-thawing. Result: The ANOVA test indicates that the application of FBS in Ringer had a significant effect on sperm motility, fertilization and hatching rates (P less than 0.05). The highest motility (58.33%) was recorded at FBS 60% and significantly different from those at other concentrations. The laddering analysis showed that applying FBS protected the integrity of depik sperms DNA. It is concluded that the optimum concentration of FBS on depik sperm led to a short-term cryopreservation of 60%.