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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
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Collection and Cryopreservation of Hamster Oocytes and Mouse Embryos
Published on: March 27, 2009
Decrease of fertilizing ability of mouse spermatozoa after freezing and thawing is related to cellular injury
Hirofumi Nishizono1, Masaki Shioda, Toru Takeo
1Kyudo Company Limited, Kumamoto 861-0104, Japan.
Biology of Reproduction
|May 21, 2004
Summary
Cryopreserved mouse sperm have reduced fertilizing ability, especially C57BL/6 strain. This study links increased sperm damage to lower fertilization rates in cryopreserved mouse sperm.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cryobiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cryopreservation of mouse spermatozoa is crucial for transgenic mouse production.
- C57BL/6 strain spermatozoa exhibit particularly low fertilizing ability after cryopreservation.
- Understanding sperm damage is key to improving cryopreservation outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cell damage and fertilizing ability in cryopreserved mouse spermatozoa.
- To identify specific sites of damage in cryopreserved mouse sperm.
- To provide insights for enhancing sperm cryopreservation protocols.
Main Methods:
- Sperm motility analysis post-thawing.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) assays.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural analysis.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in sperm motility were observed among C57BL/6J, BALB/cA, and DBA/2N strains after thawing.
- A strong negative correlation was found between the frequency of aberrant spermatozoa (FAS) and fertilization rates (FR).
- Spermatozoal damage was predominantly localized to the acrosome and mitochondria.
Conclusions:
- Sperm motility alone does not accurately predict fertilizing ability in cryopreserved mouse sperm.
- Ultrastructural damage, particularly to the acrosome and mitochondria, significantly impairs the fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved mouse spermatozoa.
- Targeting acrosomal and mitochondrial integrity may improve cryopreservation protocols for mouse sperm.
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