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Summary

A public research organisation and a university from Spain have designed a method for preserving the sperm of cephalopods, either isolated or within the spermatophores and spermatangia, by inclusion in a cryoprotective solution based on sea water and a cryoprotective compound (e.g. dimethyl sulfoxide) and gradual freezing to reach a temperature = 80ºC. Industrial partners of the aquaculture field interested in developing and marketing this technology under a patent licence are looked for.

Full description

Aquaculture of cephalopods is yet underdeveloped, despite its industrial potential due to their fast growing and high protein content. Freeze storage of sperm to extend indefinitely its life is most relevant for a better management of the life cycle (especially due to the low survival rate of para-larvae and juveniles) and for facilitating genetic selection.

We have designed a procedure to preserve whole or cut into pieces spermatophores and spermatangia, or the isolated sperm by adding a cryoprotective solution consisting of filtered sea water and a cryoprotectant (preferably, dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO), conditioning during 30 min and freezing at a rate in the range of 5ºC/min to 40ºC/min by exposure to liquid nitrogen vapours or by using a freezer, until a temperature lower than 20ºC (preferably lower than 80ºC) is reached, and keeping it at 80ºC or under liquid nitrogen (at 196ºC).

Thawing is by incubation at 30ºC during 2 min and washing with the cryoprotective solution increasingly diluted with filtered sea water at 4ºC.

Innovative Aspects

" It is the first time that the sperm of cephalopods is preserved by freezing
" Cryopreservation of spermatophores and spermatangia improves spermatic motility and well as handling and storage in comparison to cryo-preservation of free sperm
" Higher sperm viability than cryo-preservation in deep cold freezers at 80°C
" Applicable to a wide range of cephalopods species having different spermatophore and spermatangia sizes (from 1 cm to 20 cm)
" A simple method that can be used in field conditions (i.e. fishing vessels) without the need for setting up large facilities such as programmable freezers

Partner expertise sought:

- Type of partner sought:
Aquaculture companies

- Specific area of activity of the partner:
Aquaculture companies involved in the production of cephalopods.

- Task to be performed by the partner sought:
Testing and developing of the patent.