An Innovative Device Integrating Cryopreservation, Storage, and Artificial Insemination of Mouse Sperm

SUMMARY ParaTechs Corporation aims to provide researchers with advanced technology and methods to simplify procedures for laboratory animal models. While actively supporting efforts to ‘reduce, replace and refine’ animal use, ParaTechs provides safe and efficient alternatives for surgical procedures. We have already brought to market a nonsurgical embryo transfer device (NSETTM) which replaces surgical embryo transfers with a nonsurgical method that takes only seconds and does not require anesthesia. We have developed a new protocol for non-surgical artificial insemination (AI) of mice which replaces existing protocols for surgical AI and is a technical advancement for existing nonsurgical AI protocols. We plan to use this newly developed protocol to revolutionize the process of archiving and global distribution of mouse models through a novel sperm cryopreservation and strain recovery system. The use of mouse strains in research is one of the most important tools used to study mammalian gene function. While hundreds of thousands of mouse strains have been catalogued and cryopreserved, sharing of strains is becoming increasingly difficult as regulatory constraints and the cost of shipping live animals increase. We can solve this problem and provide a technically superior alternative with the cryopreservation and insemination (Candamp;I) device. This system will integrate storage and shipment of cryopreserved sperm with non-surgical AI. The device will be suitable for storage of cryopreserved sperm, will be shippable, will allow viable sperm recovery upon thawing, and then will be used directly for non-surgical AI. This device will eliminate the need to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF) upon thawing of cryopreserved sperm; greatly reducing the number of mice required for the procedure and replacing a surgical method of artificial insemination, both of which promote animal health and welfare. Therefore, the goals of this project are to develop protocols for the Candamp;I device to optimize efficiency and ease of use, to test the parameters required for storage and shipping, and expand utility of the device to embryo storage and transfer. This new technological breakthrough will provide an alternative to cryorecovery of mouse strains by in vitro fertilization methods, the currently preferred but technically challenging and labor intensive strain recovery method. In doing so, the Candamp;I device will provide a substantial cost savings to researchers and a convenient method for shipping and strain recovery. The Candamp;I device will replace a technically challenging and labor intensive recovery method, culminating in a fast and easy way to share research models between institutions around the world.NARRATIVE The ability to genetically modify the laboratory mouse is now producing an ever-rising number of increasingly valuable and unique strains to investigate human disease. While maintaining these mouse strains has become a significant budgetary commitment, cryopreservation of strains in sperm repositories has proven successful as a means to permanently and economically preserve them. ParaTechs is developing a cryopreservation and insemination (Candamp;I) device for the purpose of integrating cryopreservation, storage, shipping, and strain recovery by non-surgical artificial insemination; providing a fast, convenient, and easy to use method in mice at a considerably reduced cost.