Chapter 17
Cryopreservation of Mouse Sperm for Genome Banking
Yuksel Agca and Cansu Agca
Abstract
Germplasm cryobanking of transgenic rodent models is a valuable tool for protecting important genotypes
from genetic drift, genetic contamination, and loss of breeding colonies due to disease or catastrophic
disasters to the housing facilities as well as avoiding stress associated with domestic and international live
animal shipment. Furthermore, cryopreservation of germplasm enhances management efficiencies by
saving animal room space, reducing workload for staff, reducing cost of maintaining live animals, reducing
the number of animals used to maintain a breeding colony, and facilitating transportation of genetics by
allowing distribution of frozen germplasm rather than live animals which also reduces the risk of transfer of
pathogens between facilities. Thus, effective long-term preservation methods of mouse spermatozoa are
critical for future reconstitution of scientifically important mouse strains used for biomedical research.
Key words Mouse, Sperm, Genome banking, Cryopreservation
1 Introduction
Since the introduction of the first transgenic mouse, thousands of
genetically modified mouse strains have been generated to study
the genetic origins of human diseases and disorders [1–3]. On the
other hand, the live maintenance of the growing number of mouse
strains and their transportation presents many logistical challenges
associated with live mice transportation domestically or internationally due to extreme weather conditions, increased airport security as well as issues associated with animal welfare [4].
Germplasm cryopreservation provides a valuable means of
maintaining transgenic mouse strains used in biomedical research
[5]. Historically, embryo cryopreservation served as the gold standard for maintaining transgenic mice strains with single, multiple
mutations, or complex genetic background [6, 7]. However, it is
often more expensive due to costly and time-consuming superovulation procedures and subsequent cryopreservation. However,
mouse sperm cryopreservation for long-term storage is simple
and inexpensive, and it requires only a few donor animals for
Willem F. Wolkers and Harrie ¨ tte Oldenhof (eds.), Cryopreservation and Freeze-Drying Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology,
vol. 2180, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0783-1_17, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
401
Cryopreservation of Mouse Sperm for Genome Banking
Yuksel Agca and Cansu Agca
Abstract
Germplasm cryobanking of transgenic rodent models is a valuable tool for protecting important genotypes
from genetic drift, genetic contamination, and loss of breeding colonies due to disease or catastrophic
disasters to the housing facilities as well as avoiding stress associated with domestic and international live
animal shipment. Furthermore, cryopreservation of germplasm enhances management efficiencies by
saving animal room space, reducing workload for staff, reducing cost of maintaining live animals, reducing
the number of animals used to maintain a breeding colony, and facilitating transportation of genetics by
allowing distribution of frozen germplasm rather than live animals which also reduces the risk of transfer of
pathogens between facilities. Thus, effective long-term preservation methods of mouse spermatozoa are
critical for future reconstitution of scientifically important mouse strains used for biomedical research.
Key words Mouse, Sperm, Genome banking, Cryopreservation
1 Introduction
Since the introduction of the first transgenic mouse, thousands of
genetically modified mouse strains have been generated to study
the genetic origins of human diseases and disorders [1–3]. On the
other hand, the live maintenance of the growing number of mouse
strains and their transportation presents many logistical challenges
associated with live mice transportation domestically or internationally due to extreme weather conditions, increased airport security as well as issues associated with animal welfare [4].
Germplasm cryopreservation provides a valuable means of
maintaining transgenic mouse strains used in biomedical research
[5]. Historically, embryo cryopreservation served as the gold standard for maintaining transgenic mice strains with single, multiple
mutations, or complex genetic background [6, 7]. However, it is
often more expensive due to costly and time-consuming superovulation procedures and subsequent cryopreservation. However,
mouse sperm cryopreservation for long-term storage is simple
and inexpensive, and it requires only a few donor animals for
Willem F. Wolkers and Harrie ¨ tte Oldenhof (eds.), Cryopreservation and Freeze-Drying Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology,
vol. 2180, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0783-1_17, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
401