Cryopreserved Semen Motility of South American Neotropical Fish: A Meta-Analysis

Systematic review and meta-analysis (MA) were performed to summarize scientific evidence of the effects of cryopreservation of sperm from South American species of freshwater fish using the motility rate as an indicator. The search strategy was applied to four electronic databases, and the inclusion criteria were studies conducted on neotropical fish, including semen, that were submitted to cryopreservation. Meta-analysis for random effects was performed for each indicator according to the general average of fresh (control) and cryopreserved (treated) semen. A total of 25 publications reporting 26 studies and 116 trials were included in the MA. Heterogeneity was observed between studies for all variables. In general, cryopreserved semen showed lower advanced motility, an increase of which was observed (P < 0.01) in a greater proportion of semen dilution. Results showed that cryopreservation with the use of cryoprotectants such as alcohols and amides seem to favor the motility rates of the cryopreserved semen of neotropical South American freshwater species.