Sperm Cryopreservation

The facility is employing the new technique for sperm cryopreservation published by the Jackson Laboratory (2008):

Sacrifice male(s), harvest testes and collect sperm in cryoprotectant medium.
Sperm will be pooled from all males submitted for a line.
Freeze and store 15 straws in liquid nitrogen.
Thaw sperm within 7 days to record post-freezing viability (%) and motility (+, ++, +++).
Record (pre- and post-freezing) sperm viability and motility.
Males sperm will be deemed acceptable if fresh sperm has a < 40% viability and “++ or +++” motility or thawed sperm has a < 20% viability and “++ or +++” motility.

Provide the facility with one or two males (2-4 months old) for each line.
If you require that sperm from more than one male be frozen individually (rather than pooled), submit a requisition for each male as a separate line.
Submit a “service request form” asking for strain, age, and successful mating record.
Even though we request a 2-4 month old male, we can process any strain or age of mouse; however, it should be noted that age and mouse strain can affect the viability, motility, and recovery quality of the sperm.