Principles of Genetics and Breeding

9.1.9 Cryopreservation of eggs and embryos

Unlike spermatozoa, attempts to cryopreserve fish eggs and embryos have been unsuccessful.

• The fundamental problem of sufficient dehydration during cooling due to the relatively large size (1-6 mm) of fish eggs which contain relatively large volume of yolk and impermeable perivitelline membranes are challenging problems.
• However, in recent years methods for the cryopreservation of the eggs, embryos and larvae of many invertebrates such as oysters, mussels, rotifers and ragworms have been reported.