Mouse sperm desiccated and stored in trehalose medium without freezing

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Cryobiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Preserving sperm viability after desiccation is crucial for assisted reproductive technologies.
• Trehalose, a disaccharide, is known for its protective effects on biological structures during dehydration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of trehalose in preserving the developmental potential of partially desiccated mouse sperm.
• To determine optimal desiccation and storage conditions for trehalose-treated sperm.

Main Methods:

• Mouse sperm were partially desiccated under nitrogen gas with or without trehalose.
• Sperm were stored at different temperatures (4°C and 22°C) for varying durations.
• Rehydrated sperm were used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and subsequent embryonic development to blastocyst stage was assessed.
• Implantation and live fetus rates were determined after transferring resulting embryos to pseudopregnant recipients.

Main Results:

• Sperm desiccated and stored with trehalose showed significantly higher blastocyst development rates compared to those without trehalose.
• Shorter desiccation times (5 min) and storage at 4°C yielded better developmental outcomes.
• Storage with trehalose at 4°C for up to 3 months maintained significant developmental potential, with implantation rates up to 81% and live fetus rates up to 26%.

Conclusions:

• Trehalose significantly enhances the preservation of mouse sperm developmental potential after partial desiccation and storage.
• Storage at 4°C is superior to 22°C for maintaining sperm viability and developmental capacity.
• Partial desiccation combined with trehalose offers a promising method for sperm preservation at temperatures above freezing.