Incorporation of lipids improves cryo-tolerance of vitrified gorgonian coral oocytes

Abstract

Coral reefs, which are crucial to the health and diversity of the global marine ecosystem, have experienced substantial declines due to climate change and human activities. Cryopreservation, the long-term storage of biological material at ultra-low temperatures, represents a novel strategy for coral conservation. The current study investigated the effects of integrating specific liposomes into vitrification solutions (VS) on the viability of oocytes from two coral species, oocytes were vitrified using a VS containing one of eight lipids. The study results indicate that incorporating PE and erucic acid considerably enhances the viability of J. juncea oocytes, whereas incorporating PC reduces their viability. However, incorporating palmitoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, linoleic acid, and eicosatrienoic acid did not substantially affect the viability of J. juncea oocytes. In J. fragilis , erucic acid yielded the highest viability (54.12% ± 2.99%), with oleic acid and docosahexaenoic acid also showing positive effects. Among the tested liposomes, erucic acid led to the highest overall viability in both species. Lipid-enhanced vitrification can assist coral conservation by facilitating cryobanking of coral gametes and supporting their postthaw development, which can assist with coral reef restoration.