Method of lyophilization of mammalian sperm cells
AssigneeCobe Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsGonzalo M. Cabrera, Raymond P. Goodrich, Jr.
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Abstract
A method is provided for the lyophilization of mammalian sperm cells which can be stored and reconstituted to provide morphologically intact cells. The method is advantageous in that the sperm cells may be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods of time and recovered morphologically intact with DNA-containing heads and intact flagella. The lyophilization medium comprises a carbohydrate and a polymer selected from PVP, HES, dextran and poloxamers or mixtures thereof.
Claims14
A method for lyophilizing mammalian sperm cells comprising the steps of mixing a composition containing said sperm cells with a buffered solution comprising;
- a carbohydrate and a polymer or mixture of polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxyethyl starch, dextran and poloxamers, said polymers having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 1K to 600K;
- and drying said cells by sublimation of water.
A method for preparing reconstituted sperm cells comprising the step of lyophilizing said sperm cells with a buffered solution comprising a carbohydrate and a polymer or mixture of polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxyethyl starch, dextran and poloxamers having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 1K to 600K;
- reconstituting the lyophilized composition containing said sperm cells with a sufficient volume of reconstitution buffer to rehydrate said sperm cells in a morphologically intact form with intact DNA containing heads and intact tails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.