RESUMO
The aim of the present study was to develop a protocol for the successful cryopreservation of Saltwater crocodile spermatozoa. Sperm cells were frozen above liquid nitrogen vapour in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing either 0.3M trehalose, 0.3M raffinose or 0.3M sucrose and compared with glycerol (0.3-2.7M). Although the highest levels of mean post-thaw motility were observed following cryopreservation in 0.3M trehalose (7.6%) and 0.3M sucrose (7.3%), plasma membrane integrity (PI) was best following cryopreservation in 2.7M glycerol (52.5%). A pilot study then assessed the cytotoxicity of glycerol and sucrose prior to cryopreservation and revealed no loss of survival when spermatozoa were diluted in 0.68M glycerol or 0.2-0.3M sucrose once cryoprotectants were washed out with PBS or Biggers, Whitten and Whittingham medium containing sperm capacitation agents (BWWCAP). A final study refined the combined use of permeating (0.68 or 1.35M glycerol) and non-permeating (0.2 or 0.3M sucrose) cryoprotectants. Spermatozoa were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen vapour at rates of approximately -21°Cmin-1 (fast freeze) or -6.0°Cmin-1 (slow freeze). Post-thaw survival was highest with a combination of 0.2M sucrose and 0.68M glycerol and when these cryoprotectants were washed out with BWWCAP, regardless of whether spermatozoa were frozen using a fast (motility 14.2±4.7%; PI 20.7±2.0%) or slow (motility 12.0±2.7%; PI 22±4%) cryopreservation rate.