A simple and economic protocol for efficient in vitro fertilization using cryopreserved mouse sperm

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 28;16(10):e0259202. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259202. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The advent of genome editing tools like CRISPR/Cas has substantially increased the number of genetically engineered mouse models in recent years. In support of refinement and reduction, sperm cryopreservation is advantageous compared to embryo freezing for archiving and distribution of such mouse models. The in vitro fertilization using cryopreserved sperm from the most widely used C57BL/6 strain has become highly efficient in recent years due to several improvements of the procedure. However, purchase of the necessary media for routine application of the current protocol poses a constant burden on budgetary constraints. In-house media preparation, instead, is complex and requires quality control of each batch. Here, we describe a cost-effective and easily adaptable approach for in vitro fertilization using cryopreserved C57BL/6 sperm. This is mainly achieved by modification of an affordable commercial fertilization medium and a step-by-step description of all other necessary reagents. Large-scale comparison of fertilization rates from independent lines of genetically engineered C57BL/6 mice upon cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization with our approach demonstrated equal or significantly superior fertilization rates to current protocols. Our novel SEcuRe (Simple Economical set-up for Rederivation) method provides an affordable, easily adaptable and harmonized protocol for highly efficient rederivation using cryopreserved C57BL/6 sperm for a broad application of colony management in the sense of the 3Rs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Cryopreservation / economics
  • Cryopreservation / methods*
  • Cryopreservation / veterinary
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods
  • Fertilization in Vitro / veterinary
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Semen Preservation / economics
  • Semen Preservation / methods*
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary

Grants and funding

The research was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, https://www.dfg.de) under (1) KFO 329 to BZ, (2) Germany´s Excellence Strategy – EXC 229 – Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, Research Area F01 to BZ, (3) Germany´s Excellence Strategy – EXC 2030/1 – 390661388 to BZ. The funders had and will not have a role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.