Cryobanking and Recovery of Genetically Modified Mice

Cryobanking of sperm, oocytes, and embryos is a useful means to efficiently maintain mouse colonies without breeding live animals. Cryopreserved cells can be permanently stored in well-managed systems in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196 °C and quickly reanimated for use via in vitro fertilization and/or embryo transfer. Recent improvements of reproductive technology markedly enhanced the efficiency of recovering and producing animals using cryopreserved cells. The establishment of a cryobanking system will increase the performance of animal experiments, meet the principles of 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement), and reduce labour and costs. In this chapter, we described the latest techniques of sperm cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, and oocyte and two-cell embryo vitrification developed at the Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD).