Background: The storage of spermatozoa and eggs of the sea urchin Lytecninus variegatus can meet the demand of different human activities.
Objective: To develop a protocol easy to reproduce for spermatozoa cryopreservation and cooling of the eggs of the sea urchin.
Materials and methods: Different formulations of artificial sea water were tested for their effectiveness in the freezing of sea urchin spermatozoa and storage of the eggs.
Results: Protocol for freezing of spermatozoa in liquid nitrogen presented the positive results when the cryoprotectant solution was diluted in artificial seawater free of calcium and magnesium. For the conservation of the eggs by cooling, the calcium-free artificial sea water, the calcium- and magnesium-free sea water, and the low-sodium water proved more efficient in preserving the integrity of the eggs.
Conclusion: The results showed success in the freezing protocol of spermatozoa and cooling of the eggs mainly in artificial calcium- and magnesium-free sea water.