Effects Of Short Term Storage On The Viability Of Mudfish <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> (Burchell 1844) Testicular Homogenate

Freshly prepared testicular homogenate of sexually mature mudfish Clarias gariepinus stored undiluted, diluted with distilled water or with acetone (1: 1 by volume) at -0.5 to – 20C was tested for its viability in fertilizing the eggs of the female brood fish of the same species. Results show that the homogenate retained its initial fertility up to 24 hours of storage in all media used. After 24 hours of storage at – 0.5 t0 – 20C, its fertility decreased significantly (P> 0.5) such that at 30 hours it was no longer fertile. The ability of the testicular homogenate to retain its initial fertility for 24 hours is of immense benefit to artificial fertilization in the culture of this species. Keywords:Testicular homogenate, Clarias gariepinus, viability, short-term storage. The Zoologist Vol. 6 2008: pp. 39-44