Preliminary Study: A New Approach for Improving the Cryopreservation of Mammalian Sperm

Abstract

Gamete preservation is a necessary and routine procedure practiced in the 21st century in both humans and animals using the cryopreservation technique. However, cryopreservation methods can cause cryoinjury. Therefore, new approaches to help extend the viability of mammalian sperm in vitro are essential. This preliminary study explored the effect of reproductive fluids (RFs) and body fluids (BFs) from two species of desert snails—Sphincterochila zonata and Sphincterochila prophetarum—on mammalian cryopreserved sperm parameters. These desert snails are active only 5% of the year. Spermatogenesis occurs during the aestivation ecophysiological stage when testosterone levels are high, and sperm is preserved in the oviduct until mating during the active ecophysiological stage in winter. RFs from S. zonata and S. prophetarum during the aestivation ecophysiological stage reduced sperm motility to 0%, while sperm viability (SV) was similar to the controls. Moreover, the motility of thawed mouse sperm was 1.34- and 2.02-fold higher (p S. zonata in the active ecophysiological stage than in the control medium after 5- and 30-min incubation. SV was higher in S. zonata RF medium than in control after 30 min incubation. Our results indicate the potential protective effect of desert snail RFs on cryopreserved and thawed mammalian sperm cells. Further study should be conducted to advance the fulfillment of RF potential in reproductive technologies.