Dry Preservation of Spermatozoa: Considerations for Different Species

Abstract

The current gold standard for sperm preservation is storage at cryogenic temperatures. Dry preservation is an attractive alternative, eliminating the need for ultralow temperatures, reducing storage maintenance costs, and providing logistical flexibility for shipping. Many seeds and anhydrobiotic organisms are able to survive extended periods in a dry state through the accumulation of intracellular sugars and other osmolytes and are capable of returning to normal physiology postrehydration. Using techniques inspired by nature's adaptations, attempts have been made to dehydrate and dry preserve spermatozoa from a variety of species. Most of the anhydrous preservation research performed to date has focused on mouse spermatozoa, with only a small number of studies in nonrodent mammalian species. There is a significant difference between sperm function in rodent and nonrodent mammalian species with respect to centrosomal inheritance. Studies focused on reproductive technologies have demonstrated that in nonrodent species, the centrosome must be preserved to maintain sperm function as the spermatozoon centrosome contributes the dominant nucleating seed, consisting of the proximal centriole surrounded by pericentriolar components, onto which the oocyte's centrosomal material is assembled. Preservation techniques used for mouse sperm may therefore not necessarily be applicable to nonrodent spermatozoa. The range of technologies used to dehydrate sperm and the effect of processing and storage conditions on fertilization and embryogenesis using dried sperm are reviewed in the context of reproductive physiology and cellular morphology in different species.

A novel atypical sperm centriole is functional during human fertilization

“…1a). Therefore, the current prevailing dogma is that the sperm has a single functional centriole, the PC 9–13 , and therefore the zygote inherits only one centriole. Yet, the zygotic somehow provides four centrioles, two for each daughter cell.…”

Long-term preservation of germ cells and gonadal tissues at ambient temperatures

“…Protectants and supplements used in this procedures include trehalose (Martins et al 2007, Sánchez-Partida et al 2008, Ito et al 2019, Shahmoradi et al 2021, buffers like EGTA (Liu et al 2004, Martins et al 2007, Ringleb et al 2013 or EDTA (Mercati et al 2020), fetal bovine serum (Choi et al 2011), or media/ buffer only (Keskintepe et al 2002, Kwon et al 2004). Sperm cells from many species have been preserved using that method (Patrick et al 2017a, Saragusty et al 2020. Embryos or live birth have been obtained from freezedried spermatozoa stored at non-freezing temperatures in mouse (Wakayama & Yanagimachi 1998, Kusakabe & Tateno 2011, Ito et al 2019, pig (Kwon et al 2004), monkey (Sánchez-Partida et al 2008), sheep (Olaciregui et al 2017, Anzalone et al 2018, Arav et al 2018, horse (Choi et al 2011), or cattle (Keskintepe et al 2002).…”

Recuperação e conservação de espermatozoides epididimários: Perspectivas e aplicações na espécie felina doméstica

“…O emprego da injeção intracitoplasmática de espermatozoide (ICSI) também pode auxiliar quando as amostras espermáticas apresentam motilidade insatisfatória (Prochowska et al, 2018). Assim, o investimento na ICSI associada com métodos de criopreservação por liofilização é uma opção atraente, visto que é uma técnica altamente promissora para a geração de criobancos com menores custos de manutenção e flexibilidade de armazenamento e transporte (Patrick et al, 2017).…”