Murine Sperm Cryopreservation

Acceptance of requests to cryopreserve and store strains is determined by the Scientific Advisory and Access Committee of the APN. Unique strains and strains with high value to the community will be given preference.

Cryopreservation is available at $350/strain for strains that are distributable to other researchers within Australia. The ongoing maintenance costs, e.g. liquid nitrogen, are also covered.

However, the depositor will need to pay for shipping of the mice to the APF and the caging of the mice for up to one week, if required.

For those strains that are not freely distributable depositors will be charged for the cryopreservation, ongoing maintenance (a yearly fee) and for shipment.

A fee will not be charged for strains on delayed release however if the block on distribution is not removed at the completion of the agreed period of time, the depositor will be charged for cryopreservation and ongoing maintenance costs.

Requests for cryopreservation will be processed in the order the requests are received.

Please note during periods of high demand it may take more than 4 weeks for the APB to be able to receive and process your mice.

Photo courtesy of APN

Mouse Requirements

5 male mice, 10-16 weeks of age are required. For strains on the C57BL/6 background the optimum age range is 14 - 20 weeks.
This is the optimal age for sperm cryopreservation but older mice may be cryopreserved depending upon the onset of reproductive decline. Please note sperm concentration and quality may decline in older animals.

All 5 mice do not need to be received at the same time.

Mice will be shipped to either facility at the researcher or animal facility's expense. Shipping details will be provided once the strain has been approved for cryopreservation.

Each mouse is assigned a barcode.
The sperm from each animal is not pooled.
Approximately 11 straws of sperm will be frozen from each male.
Half of the straws will be stored at each APB node.
Liquid Nitrogen Storage tanks are vapour phase. Each tank is monitored by a building management and an alarm system.

Quality Control

One straw of sperm from each and every mouse will be thawed and examined by microscopy.
Samples will be given scores for concentration, motility, forward motility and gross physical characteristics, e.g. damage to sperm head or tail.

IVF will be performed regularly. Strains will be randomly selected for testing. You may request your strain to be tested by IVF. A small fee will be charged.