Androgenetic clones were generated by fertilizing genome inactivated eggs with fresh or cryopreserved sperm of Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Boulenger, 1895) followed by thermal shocking of embryos to arrest Ist mitotic division for diploidization. Androgenesis may be useful for resurrecting an extinct species when only males are available using genome inactivated eggs of heterologous species. In the present study, we optimized protocols for induction of androgenesis in wild type and albino WT strains of G. ternetzi using its cryopreserved sperm. Maternal genome of wild type WT eggs were inactivated by UV-irradiation for 3-min. Irradiated eggs were fertilized with fresh or 60-day old cryopreserved sperm of albino WT. For restoration of diploidy, the 22-min-old fertilized WT embryos were heat shocked at 41C for 2 min to arrest the embryonic cell division. Maternal genomic inactivation was confirmed by albino body colour in haploids and diploids, and karyotyping (n=48). Survival of androgenetic clones generated by ‘fresh’ and ‘cryopreserved’ sperm was 14 and 11 % at hatching, confirming that protocols employed for cryopreserving sperm was successful. Androgenotes underwent normal embryonic division and completed development to become healthy diploid larvae. Effect of cryopreservation and significance of generating androgenetic clones in aquaculture and restoration of endangered species are discussed.
