Animal Sperm Bank

A team of scientists from Kyoto University’s Institute of Laboratory Animals Graduate School of Medicine have created a one-of-its-kind sperm storage method for endangered animals that stores sperm for a longer time using a unique mixture. In doing so, scientists used a freeze dry technique.

In this method, scientists successfully preserved sperm taken from two endangered primates and a giraffe. A special preservation method was used wherein their sperms were mixed with a liquid and freeze-dried in a way that allowed it to be stored at a temperature of only 4 degree Celsius. The temperature used therein was much higher than conventional sperm storing ways. The team had previously freeze-dried sperms from rats and mice without the use of bulky liquid nitrogen equipment which proved the viability of the spermatozoa for more than five years.

This technique presents a way to obtain genetic information more easily which in turn would help to preserve endangered animal species. They however claim that at present there is no human application for the technology but further exploration into it would present new avenues. The technique also allows sperm to be stored at room temperature for shorter duration in the event of a power failure.

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