Cryopreservation of sperm from natural and sex-reversed orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

The shortage of males and/or sperm has been an impediment to the aquaculture of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). This study reversed orange-spotted grouper females into males using hormone implants. A cryopreservation protocol for sperm was developed using normal males, and then using similar procedures the cryopreservation of sperm from sex-reversed males was compared. Immature, young and mature female fish were injected with 4 mg kg-1 BW 17 alpha methyltestosterone as implants and the gonad development stage was monitored over a 120-day period. All treated females converted into functional males within 120 days of the experimental period. Younger females (2Y) were all males within 30 days, although not all were capable of fertilizing fresh ova until day 60. The time after injection to sex reversal in immature fish was 50% shorter than in older females. Postthaw fertilization (81%, 82%) and hatching (45%, 47%) of cryopreserved sperm from natural males were the highest in trehalose (15-20%) with 150 mmol NaCl treatment; however, it was less than the control (89% fertilization and 69% hatch). There was no difference in the postthaw fertilization and the hatch percentages between sex-reversed male sperm (64% and 46% respectively) compared with natural male sperm (59% and 49%). The findings of this study suggest the potential use of sex-reversed males and cryopreserved sperm for commercial production of orange-spotted grouper seed for aquaculture.