<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>With the development of biotechnological methods that allow the manipulation and free exchange of genetic material, the methods for collecting and storing such material need to be improved. To date, freezing in liquid nitrogen has allowed the storage of cells and entire plant and animal tissues for practically unlimited times. However, alternatives are still being sought to eliminate the constant need to maintain samples at a low temperature. Lyophilization or freeze drying is an alternative to standard freezing procedures. The storage of samples (lyophilisates) does not require specialised equipment but only refines the preservation method itself. In the case of cells capable of movement e.g., sperm, they lose the ability to reach the oocyte <italic>in vivo</italic> and for <italic>in vitro</italic> fertilization (IVF) because of the lyophilization process. However, freeze-dried sperm may be used for <italic>in vitro</italic> fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), based on the results obtained in cleavage, embryo development and the production of live born offspring after embryo transfer. Studies on the lyophilization of sperm have been performed on many animal species, both in the laboratory and in livestock. This conservation method is considered to create biobanks for genetically valuable and endangered species with the simultaneous application of ICSI. This review article aimed to present the issues of the freeze-drying process of mammalian semen and help find solutions that will improve this technique of the long-term preservation of biological material.</p></abstract>

With the development of biotechnological methods that allow the manipulation and free exchange of genetic material, the methods for collecting and storing such material need to be improved. To date, freezing in liquid nitrogen has allowed the storage of cells and entire plant and animal tissues for practically unlimited times. However, alternatives are still being sought to eliminate the constant need to maintain samples at a low temperature. Lyophilization or freeze drying is an alternative to standard freezing procedures. The storage of samples (lyophilisates) does not require specialised equipment but only refines the preservation method itself. In the case of cells capable of movement e.g., sperm, they lose the ability to reach the oocyte in vivo and for in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of the lyophilization process. However, freeze-dried sperm may be used for in vitro fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), based on the results obtained in cleavage, embryo development and the production of live born offspring after embryo transfer. Studies on the lyophilization of sperm have been performed on many animal species, both in the laboratory and in livestock. This conservation method is considered to create biobanks for genetically valuable and endangered species with the simultaneous application of ICSI. This review article aimed to present the issues of the freeze-drying process of mammalian semen and help find solutions that will improve this technique of the long-term preservation of biological material.

Freeze Drying as a Method of Long-Term Conservation of Mammalian Semen – A Review

Department of Reproductive Biotechnology and Cryoconservation

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

With the development of biotechnological methods that allow the manipulation and free exchange of genetic material, the methods for collecting and storing such...

Freeze Drying as a Method of Long-Term Conservation of Mammalian Semen – A Review

Published Online: Oct 28, 2021

Page range: 1209 - 1234

Received: Jul 13, 2020

Accepted: Dec 11, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0122

Keywords
lyophilization, sperm, ICSI, mammalian

© 2021 Iwona Rajska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Freeze Drying as a Method of Long-Term Conservation of Mammalian Semen – A Review

Published Online: Oct 28, 2021

Page range: 1209 - 1234

Received: Jul 13, 2020

Accepted: Dec 11, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0122

Keywordslyophilization, sperm, ICSI, mammalian

© 2021 Iwona Rajska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
lyophilization, sperm, ICSI, mammalian