Transcriptomic profiling of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) larvae obtained with cryopreserved sperm used shortly after thawing and after 30 min post-thaw storage

This study investigates the transcriptomic effects of post-thaw storage (PTS) of cryopreserved sperm on early larval development in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), with the goal of identifying candidate paternal-effect genes (PEGs). Using controlled in vitro fertilization, larvae were generated from sperm used either immediately after thawing (0 min; control) or following a 30-minute storage period at 4 degrees Celsius (PTS). RNA was extracted from whole larvae at the mouth-opening stage (1 day post-hatching), a developmental point chosen to minimize environmental noise and maternal transcript interference. A total of 12 libraries (6 biological replicates per group) were sequenced using paired-end Illumina technology. These data contribute to the understanding of how cryopreservation and sperm quality influence offspring gene expression and support the identification of PEGs in a non-model aquaculture species.