Gorgonian coral (Junceella juncea and Junceella fragilis) oocyte chilling sensitivity in the context of adenosine triphosphate response (ATP).

Gorgonian corals are suffering continued decline in population and reproductive ability because of environmental changes. Cryopreservation can play an important role in ex situ conservation for these corals. In the present study, oocyte chilling sensitivity in the context of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) response in two gorgonian species (Junceella juncea and Junceella fragilis) and the effectiveness of cryoprotectants in protecting coral oocytes from chilling injury were studied in an attempt to develop protocols for their cryopreservation. Oocytes of two gorgonian corals were exposed to methanol (1 M, 2 M) and EG (1 M) at 5, 0 and -5 degree C for up to 216 hours, and ATP levels in oocytes were then determined. ATP levels decreased gradually with exposure time and 1M methanol was more effective in protecting oocytes from chilling injury than other cryoprotectant treatments tested. J. juncea oocytes were less sensitive to chilling than J. fragilis oocytes. This study provided useful information for development of cryopreservtion protocols for the two gorgonian coral oocytes.