Long-term cryopreservation of mouse sperm

Theriogenology. 2006 Sep 15;66(5):1098-101. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.02.049. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

Abstract

The objective was to determine if mouse sperm can maintain their fertilizing ability after being frozen for >10 y and whether the offspring derived from these sperm had normal fertilizing ability and phenotype. We cryopreserved sperm from six strains of mice (C57BL/6J, DBA/2N, BALB/cA, C3H/HeJ, B6D2F1 and B6C3F1) in a solution containing 18% (w/v) raffinose and 3% (w/v) skim milk, and preserved them in liquid nitrogen for >10 y. To assess the normality and fertilizing ability of these sperms, they were thawed and used for in vitro fertilization of oocytes of the same strains. Fertilization rates for C57BL/6J, DBA/2N, BALB/cA, C3H/HeJ, B6D2F1 and B6C3F1 were 66.4, 92.3, 72.8, 32.9, 60.3 and 53.7%, respectively. Furthermore, 38.3, 15.0, 43.3, 26.1, 38.3 and 16.7% of the embryos transferred to pseudopregnant females developed and produced live offspring that had normal phenotype and fertility.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryopreservation / methods
  • Cryopreservation / veterinary*
  • Embryo Transfer / veterinary
  • Female
  • Fertility*
  • Fertilization in Vitro / veterinary
  • Litter Size
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains*
  • Phenotype
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Semen Preservation / methods
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary*
  • Spermatozoa / physiology*
  • Time Factors