Freezing on the beach: A robust coral sperm cryopreservation design

Nikolas Zuchowicz; Jonathan Daly; Claire Lager; Olivia Williamson; Mary Hagedorn

doi:10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.04.005

Freezing on the beach: A robust coral sperm cryopreservation design

Cryobiology. 2021 Aug:101:135-139. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.04.005. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Authors

Nikolas Zuchowicz¹, Jonathan Daly², Claire Lager³, Olivia Williamson⁴, Mary Hagedorn⁵

Affiliations

¹ Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA; Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, USA. Electronic address: nzucho1@lsu.edu.
² Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA; Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, USA. Electronic address: DalyJ@si.edu.
³ Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA; Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, USA. Electronic address: LagerC@si.edu.
⁴ Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA. Electronic address: olivia.williamson@rsmas.miami.edu.
⁵ Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA; Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, USA. Electronic address: HagedornM@si.edu.

PMID: 33887237
DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.04.005

Abstract

Cryopreservation of coral sperm requires reliable, travel-ready, inexpensive hardware. To this end, we developed and tested a robust, second-generation, conduction-based cryovial cooling rack assembled from 3D-printed and commercially available parts. Cooling rates from -10 to -80 °C were found to be repeatable at -22.9 ± 1.9 (rate ± SD) °C/min for 1-mL samples and -35.4 ± 3.3 °C/min for 0.5-mL samples. This represents an improvement on the variability of cooling rates in an older design, which was found to be -31.8 ± 7.1 °C/min for 1-mL samples. Design files and a manual were produced to encourage widespread use and the development of derivative designs.

Keywords: 3D printing; Conservation; Coral sperm; Cryobanking; Cryopreservation; Cryoprotectant; Cryovial; Freezing rate.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthozoa*
Cryopreservation / methods
Cryoprotective Agents
Freezing
Male
Semen Preservation*
Sperm Motility
Spermatozoa

Substances

Cryoprotective Agents