Improved approach for the cryopreservation of mouse sperm by combining monothioglycerol and l-glutamine

The CryoPreservation Media (CPM) for mouse sperm using raffinose and skim milk have been improved by adding either monothioglycerol (MTG) or l-glutamine to reduce the oxidative damage during sperm freezing and thawing. The CARD-CPM utilizing l-glutamine, but not MTG, has been widely used to meet the rising demand for cryopreservation of genetically modified mice, as the CARD method also improved sperm capacitation and in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, the viability of sperm frozen in the CARD-CPM is highly variable, indicating a room for improvement. To develop a more dependable technique for mouse sperm cryopreservation, we investigate whether combining MTG and l-glutamine in the CPM (MG-CPM) can produce a synergistic impact on sperm thawing and IVF rate. We found that MG-CPM reduced the incidence of infertility and increased the IVF success rate. Therefore, cryopreservation of mouse sperm in MG-CPM is a reliable method to ensure embryo generation from frozen sperm.