Long-term preservation of freeze-dried mouse spermatozoa.
Many genetically engineered mice strains have been generated worldwide and sperm preservation is a valuable method for storing these strains as genetic resources. Freeze-drying is a useful sperm preservation method because it requires neither liquid nitrogen nor dry ice for preservation and transportation. We report here successful long-term preservation at 4 °C of mouse spermatozoa freeze-dried using a simple buffer solution (10mM Tris, 1mM EDTA, pH 8.0). Offspring with fertility were obtained from oocytes fertilized with freeze-dried spermatozoa from C57BL/6 and B6D2F1 mouse strains stored at 4 °C for 3 years. This freeze-drying method is a safe and economical tool for the biobanking of valuable mouse strains.
Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606 8501, Japan. tkaneko@anim.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Takehito
T
Kaneko
Tadao
T
Serikawa
D000818:Animals; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D002021:Buffers; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D005612:Freeze Drying / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D002021:Buffers; D004492:Edetic Acid