Effect of short-term preservation of sea lamprey gametes on fertilization rate and embryo survival

We assessed the effect of short-term (4.7-75.3 h) storage at low temperature (approximately 1 degreesC) on the liability of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.) gametes. Hatching success decreased with storage time, but more than 20% eggs hatched even after 75.3 h of preservation. However. storage time drastically reduced the survival rate to the burrowing stage (i.e. the last prelarval stage), which decreased from 76% when the gametes were stored for 4.7 h to 0% after 75.3 h of storage.