title: The effects of storing and transporting cryopreserved semen samples on dry ice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to test the effects on sperm viability of transporting cryopreserved semen samples on dry ice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty normozoospermic semen samples were cryopreserved and divided into five groups. The samples in Group 1 were immersed in liquid nitrogen throughout the experiment in cryogenic storage tanks; the cryopreserved straws in Group 2 were placed in a Styrofoam box containing dry ice and kept under these conditions for 48 hours; the samples in Group 3 were kept for 48 hours on dry ice under the same conditions as the Group 2 samples, and were then moved to a storage tank filled with liquid nitrogen; Group 4 samples were also kept for 48 hours in dry ice storage, and the Styrofoam box containing the samples was shipped by plane to assess the effects of shipping; the samples in Group 5 were shipped together with the Group 4 samples and were placed in a storage tank with liquid nitrogen after spending 48 hours stored on dry ice. After thawing, sperm parameters were analyzed for viability, vitality, and motility; spermatozoa were also tested for mitochondrial activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decreases in motility recovery rates (P=0.01) and vitality (P=0.001) were observed in all groups when compared to the control group. Mitochondrial activity was significantly decreased only in Group 5 (P=0.04), as evidenced by greater numbers of sperm cells not stained by reagent 3,3'-diaminobenzidine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transportation did not affect the quality of cryopreserved semen samples, but dry ice as a means to preserve the samples during transportation had detrimental effects upon the sperm parameters assessed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Vale do Itajaí University - UNIVALI - Itajaí/SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Til
authors.affiliation: Vale do Itajaí University - UNIVALI - Itajaí/SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera L L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Vale do Itajaí University - UNIVALI - Itajaí/SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: F.A.B.E.R Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland - Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.affiliation: Sapientiae Institute - São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais S de
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Paula
keywords: Cryopreservation; dry ice; sperm