The Cryopreservation of Aurelia aurita Polyps

The purpose of this research was to determine if cryopreservation could be effective for Cnidarians, such as the polyps of Aurelia aurita (Moon Jelly). It was proposed that the use of cryoprotectants would increase the survival of the polyps over that of the controls. Toxicity trials of the cryoprotectants were used to determine what concentrations and duration of exposure the polyps could withstand. After going through the toxicity trials in duplicate, the cryoprotectants that worked the best were ten minute exposures to 1.75 instant ocean saltwater, 20% sucrose, 5% DMSO. Regular instant ocean salt water was used as the conrol becuase it was the environment that the polyps were in orginally before going through the individual toxicity trials. After the cryoprotectant concentrations were analyzed, the polyps were cryopreserved with liuid nitrogen, using a slow and fast freezing method after 10 minutes exposure to the cryoprotectants. After being frozen for 24 hours, the polyps were thawed and put into a stable environment at a constant temperature with food until the results were taken five days post freeze. The results show that 20% sucrose using the fast freezing method was the only group that had polyp survival. Two polyps survived in 20% sucrose and successfully asexually reproduced before they reached the end of their life.