With advances in assisted reproductive technologies, specifically in-vitro fertilization, sperm cryopreservation has become the preferred method for preserving important mouse lines. This service offers the advantage of safeguarding mouse lines from losses due to unforeseen vivarium outbreaks, while also reducing housing costs and cage space requirements for lines no longer needed in active research. Unless the mouse lines must remain homozygous, sperm cryopreservation is the fastest and most cost-effective preservation option available.
Service Request Checklist
Below is a checklist to follow to submit a request:
- Submit a sperm cryopreservation service request online
- We ask that you arrange the transfer of 3-5 males (proven breeders that are 2-8 months of age, if possible) from your animal colony to our Core using the ULAR transfer request form. The males must be tested for pinworms and the results sent to ULAR-DX@lists.upenn.edu before ULAR will approve the transfer.
- For mice located outside a PSOM barrier facility, contact Kathy Moosbrugger to discuss the procedure for non-barrier organ harvest.
Sperm will be isolated from males and frozen in 13 straws, with one straw used for quality control. The Core will store the frozen samples and maintain records of your cryopreserved lines at a fee of $24.00/line/year.
Memo July 2024 regarding PSOM Subvention Requests for Mouse Cryopreservation Services (refer to link from core overview tab).
