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High post-thaw survival of ram sperm after partial freeze-drying

  • Technological Innovations
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Abstract

Background

Recrystallization damages occur when a frozen sample is held at high subzero temperatures and when the warming process is too slow.

Methods

In this work, ram semen diluted in two different concentrations of sugar solutions (Lyo A consisted of 0.4 M sorbitol and 0.25 M trehalose, and the second, Lyo B composed of 0.26 M sorbitol and 0.165 M trehalose) in egg yolk and Tris medium were compared after freezing 10 μL samples to: (1) − 10, − 25, and − 35 °C and thawing. (2) Freezing to − 10 and − 25 °C, holding for 1 h and then thawing, and (3) freezing to − 10 and − 25 °C and drying for 1 h at these temperatures at a vacuum of 80 mTorr, prior thawing. For drying, we used a new freeze-drying apparatus (Darya, FertileSafe, Israel) having a condensation temperature below − 110 °C and a vacuum pressure of 10–100 mTorr that is reached in less than 10s.

Results

Results showed that samples in Lyo B solution frozen at − 25 °C had significantly higher sperm motility in partially freeze-dried samples than frozen samples (46.6 ± 2.8% vs 1.2 ± 2.5%, P < 0.001). Moreover, partially dried samples in Lyo B showed higher motility than Lyo A at − 25 °C (46.6 ± 2.8% vs 35 ± 4%). Cryomicroscopy and low-temperature/low-pressure environmental scanning electronic microscope demonstrated that the amount of the ice crystals present in partially dried samples was lower than in the frozen samples.

Conclusion

Holding the sperm at high subzero temperatures is necessary for the primary drying of cells during the freeze-drying process. Rapid freeze-drying can be achieved using this new device, which enables to reduce recrystallization damages.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Monica Strina for the proofreading and editing of the manuscript. This work was supported by Progetto RAS MIGLIOVIGENSAR 2016/2018 and by Programma visiting professor RAS 2016. This work was also supported by FertileSafe Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FertileSafe Ltd, 11 HaHarash st, 7403118, Nes-Ziona, Israel

    Amir Arav & Yehudit Natan

  2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    Antonella Idda, Stefano Mario Nieddu & Sergio Ledda

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  1. Amir Arav
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  2. Antonella Idda
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  4. Yehudit Natan
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Correspondence to Amir Arav.

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Arav, A., Idda, A., Nieddu, S.M. et al. High post-thaw survival of ram sperm after partial freeze-drying. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 1149–1155 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1145-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1145-1

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