Spermatic abnormalities of piracanjuba Brycon orbignyanus (Valenciennes, 1849) after cryopreservation.

The objective of this research was to verify the presence of spermatic abnormalities on semen of Brycon orbignyanus after cryopreservation. Semen was collected from ten four-year-old males who presented secondary reproductive characteristics for migrating fish. Sperm was evaluated for motility, vigor and spermatic morphology before and after cryopreservation. A cryoprotectant solution was made of 20 mL of yolk egg, 5.0 g of glucose and dimethyl sulfoxide diluted in distilled water (10 mL: 90 mL). The diluted semen (1:3, semen:solution) was submitted to nitrogen steam for 24 hours and then to liquid nitrogen (-196 ºC) for 60 days. Cryopreservation decreased the percentage of normal spermatozoa from 62.20% to 54.60%. Consequently, the percentage of spermatozoa with secondary abnormalities increased from 8.50% to 15.00%. However, there was no difference in primary abnormalities. Both spermatic motility and vigor were decreased in cryopreserved semen compared with fresh semen. In conclusion, cryopreservation of semen of B. orbignyanus increased the percentage of secondary abnormalities and decreased the spermatic motility and vigor.