Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)

Cryogenetics Services Inc. provides services and technology for short- and long-term storage of fish sperm forx000D
research, conservation and aquaculture applications, and they have an interest in applying this technology tox000D
zebrafish because of the growing importance of this model species for biomedical research. As an extension ofx000D
this, they also wish to develop technologies for short- and long-term storage of zebrafish eggs and embryos. Tox000D
support their zebrafish program, Cryogenetics requires information on (1) the best rearing protocols to primex000D
adult zebrafish for breeding, and (2) the best protocols for collecting and storing zebrafish eggs prior tox000D
fertilization. Having captive females produce high quality eggs at a predictable frequency requires optimizingx000D
their abiotic and biotic rearing conditions. The objectives of this project are therefore to develop protocols forx000D
maximizing egg production frequency and quality in zebrafish and to optimize the use of extender solution forx000D
in vitro fertilization. Research will focus on determining optimum adult feeding amount and frequency,x000D
between-spawning time interval, within-tank sex ratio, use of hormones to induce ovulation, andx000D
egg-to-extender ratio for storing eggs prior to fertilization.