Cryopreservation and revitalization
Cryopreservation has various areas of application:
- Safeguarding genetic material from contamination with comparatively low maintenance costs.
- Dispensing with permanent vital maintenance if there is no current scientific interest. This makes sense for both animal welfare and economic reasons.
- Embryos or sperm can be shipped worldwide instead of live animals.
The following cells can be cryopreserved for stem cell preservation:
Pre-implantation embryos from mice and rats
Mouse and rat sperm
Mouse and rat ovaries
For the revitalization of cryopreserved cells
- the embryos or
- sperm are thawed (subsequent in vitro fertilization is required for sperm),
followed by embryo transfer to foster mothers who raise the young.
The revitalization of ovaries is more difficult and requires a transplantation of the ovarian tissue to an immunodeficient or histocombatant recipient. After about two months, the function of the transplanted ovary is restored and the recipient animal can be used for breeding.