Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks

Abstract Atlantic salmon are facing population declines and loss of productivity within populations due to anthropogenic impact factors and reduced survival at sea. Biobanking is an increasingly used tool to conserve the genetic integrity and diversity of populations threatened by extirpation. The a...

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Main Authors: Kristin Bøe, Bjørn Bjøru, Marthe Tangvold Bårdsen, Anveig Nordtug Wist, Steffen Wolla, Arne Sivertsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-12-01
Series:Conservation Science and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.552
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author Kristin Bøe
Bjørn Bjøru
Marthe Tangvold Bårdsen
Anveig Nordtug Wist
Steffen Wolla
Arne Sivertsen
author_facet Kristin Bøe
Bjørn Bjøru
Marthe Tangvold Bårdsen
Anveig Nordtug Wist
Steffen Wolla
Arne Sivertsen
author_sort Kristin Bøe
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Atlantic salmon are facing population declines and loss of productivity within populations due to anthropogenic impact factors and reduced survival at sea. Biobanking is an increasingly used tool to conserve the genetic integrity and diversity of populations threatened by extirpation. The aim of the current article is to discuss the opportunities and challenges that increased use of cryopreservation brings to biobanking activities, using the Norwegian Gene Bank (NGB) for Atlantic salmon as a model system. The NGB was established in 1985 and involves a traditional living gene bank, as well as “frozen gene bank” where paternal germplasm is stored as cryopreserved sperm. Cryopreservation is a method where cells or tissues are frozen in liquid nitrogen to temperatures where all biological processes are paused, thus allowing the cells to remain viable after later warming/thawing to temperatures above 0°C. Cryopreservation is therefore used in long‐term preservation of genetic diversity and characteristics of wild populations. Until recently, implementation of large scale use of cryopreserved sperm in the live gene bank has been limited by a lack of protocols/capacity to preserve larger portions of sperms. More recent developments in cryopreservation methodologies, now enables preservation of samples sufficient for mass fertilization. Mass fertilization by cryopreserved sperm opens new opportunities to gene bank operations, including increased capacity to restore lost populations, mitigation of genetic changes in broodstock fish, as well as increased capacity at live gene bank facilities through the replacement of older males with frozen sperm. Knowledge demands regarding potential genetic damage to cryopreserved milt and potential epigenetic effects caused by the cryopreservation procedure should, however, be addressed.
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spelling doaj.art-13837b94a3ae4fcca22c2747776d54b02022-12-21T21:48:13ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542021-12-01312n/an/a10.1111/csp2.552Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banksKristin Bøe0Bjørn Bjøru1Marthe Tangvold Bårdsen2Anveig Nordtug Wist3Steffen Wolla4Arne Sivertsen5Department of Fish Health and Fish Welfare Norwegian Veterinary Institute Trondheim NorwayDepartment of Fish Health and Fish Welfare Norwegian Veterinary Institute Trondheim NorwayNorwegian Environmental Agency Trondheim NorwayDepartment of Fish Health and Fish Welfare Norwegian Veterinary Institute Trondheim NorwayCryogenetics AS Hamar NorwayNorwegian Environmental Agency Trondheim NorwayAbstract Atlantic salmon are facing population declines and loss of productivity within populations due to anthropogenic impact factors and reduced survival at sea. Biobanking is an increasingly used tool to conserve the genetic integrity and diversity of populations threatened by extirpation. The aim of the current article is to discuss the opportunities and challenges that increased use of cryopreservation brings to biobanking activities, using the Norwegian Gene Bank (NGB) for Atlantic salmon as a model system. The NGB was established in 1985 and involves a traditional living gene bank, as well as “frozen gene bank” where paternal germplasm is stored as cryopreserved sperm. Cryopreservation is a method where cells or tissues are frozen in liquid nitrogen to temperatures where all biological processes are paused, thus allowing the cells to remain viable after later warming/thawing to temperatures above 0°C. Cryopreservation is therefore used in long‐term preservation of genetic diversity and characteristics of wild populations. Until recently, implementation of large scale use of cryopreserved sperm in the live gene bank has been limited by a lack of protocols/capacity to preserve larger portions of sperms. More recent developments in cryopreservation methodologies, now enables preservation of samples sufficient for mass fertilization. Mass fertilization by cryopreserved sperm opens new opportunities to gene bank operations, including increased capacity to restore lost populations, mitigation of genetic changes in broodstock fish, as well as increased capacity at live gene bank facilities through the replacement of older males with frozen sperm. Knowledge demands regarding potential genetic damage to cryopreserved milt and potential epigenetic effects caused by the cryopreservation procedure should, however, be addressed.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.552Atlantic salmoneffective population sizefish conservationfrozen gene bankslive gene bankspopulation restoration
spellingShingle Kristin Bøe
Bjørn Bjøru
Marthe Tangvold Bårdsen
Anveig Nordtug Wist
Steffen Wolla
Arne Sivertsen
Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks
Conservation Science and Practice
Atlantic salmon
effective population size
fish conservation
frozen gene banks
live gene banks
population restoration
title Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks
title_full Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks
title_fullStr Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks
title_full_unstemmed Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks
title_short Opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon gene banks
title_sort opportunities and challenges related to sperm cryopreservation in atlantic salmon gene banks
topic Atlantic salmon
effective population size
fish conservation
frozen gene banks
live gene banks
population restoration
url https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.552
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