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Fertility of mouse spermatozoa retrieved from cadavers and maintained at 4 degrees C
H Kishikawa1, H Tateno, R Yanagimachi
1Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, University of Hawaii School of Medicine, Honolulu 96822, USA.
Abstract:
After male animals die, the spermatozoa within the testis and epididymis eventually disintegrate. In this study, the motility, viability and fertility of mouse spermatozoa were examined after retrieval from the epididymis at various days after death. Cadavers were maintained in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C. About 30% of the spermatozoa collected 10 days after death were viable, but they had limited ability to fertilize oocytes in vitro. However, when the spermatozoa were injected into oocytes, the fertilization rate was over 80%. Normal live fetuses were even obtained using immotile spermatozoa retrieved 20 days after death. Therefore, when valuable male animals die unexpectedly and sperm cryopreservation is not possible immediately, temporal storage of cadavers (or epididymis and vas deferens) at 4 degrees C in a regular refrigerator followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection may help to preserve the genome of individuals. This procedure could be particularly important in endangered species.
Insights
Spermatozoa remain viable for extended periods after male animal death when stored refrigerated. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection enables successful fertilization and live fetuses even with immotile sperm retrieved days later.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cryobiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Spermatozoa degrade post-mortem, limiting reproductive material preservation.
- Cryopreservation is the standard but not always immediately feasible method for sperm banking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the viability and fertility of mouse spermatozoa retrieved from refrigerated cadavers at various post-mortem intervals.
- To assess the potential of refrigerated sperm storage followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for preserving valuable genetic material.
Main Methods:
- Mouse cadavers were refrigerated at 4°C.
- Spermatozoa were collected from the epididymis at different days post-mortem.
- Sperm motility, viability, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity were assessed.
- ICSI was performed using retrieved spermatozoa.
Main Results:
- Approximately 30% of spermatozoa remained viable 10 days post-mortem, with limited IVF capability.
- ICSI resulted in over 80% fertilization rates.
- Live fetuses were obtained using immotile spermatozoa retrieved 20 days post-mortem.
Conclusions:
- Refrigerated storage of male animal cadavers is a viable short-term strategy for sperm preservation when immediate cryopreservation is impossible.
- ICSI can overcome motility issues, enabling successful fertilization with aged, refrigerated spermatozoa.
- This method offers a crucial alternative for preserving the genomes of valuable or endangered species.