Preservation of Mammalian Germ Plasm by Freezing

摘要

Embryos of several mammalian species can be frozen to -196 exp 0 C (or below) by procedures that result in the thawed embryos being indistinguishable from their unfrozen counterparts. The survival often exceeds 90%, and in liquid nitrogen it should remain at that high level for centuries. Sublethal biochemical changes are also precluded at -196 exp 0 C. No developmental abnormalities have been detected in mouse offspring derived from frozen-thawed embryos, and, since all the manipulations are carried out on the preimplantation stages, none would be expected. (ERA citation 03:048749)