Notes: Survival and Continued Normal Development of Fish Embryos after Incubation at Reduced Temperatures

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Abstract
The tolerance of fathead minnow Pimephales promelas embryos to cooling depended upon developmental stage; late blastulae and gastrulae were more tolerant of cooling to 0–5°C from 23°C than were early blastulae. Survival of embryos or their ability to continue development was reduced as temperature declined to 0°C and length of exposure to cold temperatures increased. Embryos survived better after cooling if they were maintained in full-strength fish Ringer's solution than if they were kept in 10% fish Ringer's solution or in 10% fish Ringer's solution with 0.2 M glucose. Embryo survival was greatest when gastrulae were held in 100% fish Ringer's at 10°C, a temperature at which development was slowed but not stopped.