Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification

B. Bernal Juarez; Dominique Meunier; Kennosuke Ichikawa; Marcel H. Blank; Guillermo Tellez; Bence Lazar; Barbara Vegi; Eszter Varkony; Elen Gocza; Krisztina Liptoi; S.J. Hiemstra; H. Woelders; Mike McGrew

doi:10.5281/zenodo.16791775

Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification

B. Bernal Juarez, Dominique Meunier, Kennosuke Ichikawa, Marcel H. Blank, Guillermo Tellez, Bence Lazar, Barbara Vegi, Eszter Varkony, Elen Gocza, Krisztina Liptoi, S.J. Hiemstra, H. Woelders, Mike McGrew

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Abstract

Abstract

Although oocyte and embryo cryopreservation in chickens remains unfeasible, preserving embryonic gonads provides a promising alternative. Gonadal germ cells (GGCs) within embryonic gonads can develop into functional sperm or eggs. When injected into sterile 2.5-day-old embryos, cryopreserved GGCs can colonize recipient gonads and produce donor-derived gametes. However, freeze/thaw damage prolongs the in vitro culture of cryopreserved GGCs compared to fresh cells, emphasizing the need to improve gonad cryopreservation. This study presents a vitrification protocol that preserves functional GGCs and improves derivation rates (DR) compared to slow-freezing with STEM-CELLBANKER.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Abstract book: 61st meeting Society for Low Temperature Biology
Publisher	Polish Academy of Sciences
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16791775
Publication status	Published - 11 Sept 2025
Event	SLTB2025: 61st Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology - Olsztyn, Poland Duration: 11 Sept 2025 → 13 Sept 2025

Conference/symposium

Conference/symposium	SLTB2025: 61st Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology
Abbreviated title	SLTB2025
Country/Territory	Poland
City	Olsztyn
Period	11/09/25 → 13/09/25

Access to Document

10.5281/zenodo.16791775Licence: CC BY

1 Finished
1 Active

Genenbank voor landbouwhuisdierrassen en aquatische soorten (WOT-03-001-069)
Rattink, A. (Project Leader)
1/01/22 → 31/12/26
Project: LVVN project
CRYOCHICK: Innovative cryopreservation methods for chicken germplasm
10/04/23 → 9/04/25
Project: EU research project

Cite this

Bernal Juarez, B., Meunier, D., Ichikawa, K., Blank, M. H., Tellez, G., Lazar, B., Vegi, B., Varkony, E., Gocza, E., Liptoi, K., Hiemstra, S. J., Woelders, H., & McGrew, M. (2025). Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification. In Abstract book: 61st meeting Society for Low Temperature Biology Polish Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16791775

@inbook{92b961b7dc43483580577dd01178c11b,

title = "Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification",

abstract = "Although oocyte and embryo cryopreservation in chickens remains unfeasible, preserving embryonic gonads provides a promising alternative. Gonadal germ cells (GGCs) within embryonic gonads can develop into functional sperm or eggs. When injected into sterile 2.5-day-old embryos, cryopreserved GGCs can colonize recipient gonads and produce donor-derived gametes. However, freeze/thaw damage prolongs the in vitro culture of cryopreserved GGCs compared to fresh cells, emphasizing the need to improve gonad cryopreservation. This study presents a vitrification protocol that preserves functional GGCs and improves derivation rates (DR) compared to slow-freezing with STEM-CELLBANKER.",

author = "\{Bernal Juarez\}, B. and Dominique Meunier and Kennosuke Ichikawa and Blank, \{Marcel H.\} and Guillermo Tellez and Bence Lazar and Barbara Vegi and Eszter Varkony and Elen Gocza and Krisztina Liptoi and S.J. Hiemstra and H. Woelders and Mike McGrew",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "11",

doi = "10.5281/zenodo.16791775",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Abstract book: 61st meeting Society for Low Temperature Biology",

publisher = "Polish Academy of Sciences",

note = "SLTB2025: 61st Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology, SLTB2025 ; Conference date: 11-09-2025 Through 13-09-2025",

}

Bernal Juarez, B, Meunier, D, Ichikawa, K, Blank, MH, Tellez, G, Lazar, B, Vegi, B, Varkony, E, Gocza, E, Liptoi, K, Hiemstra, SJ, Woelders, H & McGrew, M 2025, Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification. in Abstract book: 61st meeting Society for Low Temperature Biology. Polish Academy of Sciences, SLTB2025: 61st Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology, Olsztyn, Poland, 11/09/25. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16791775

TY - CHAP

T1 - Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification

AU - Bernal Juarez, B.

AU - Meunier, Dominique

AU - Ichikawa, Kennosuke

AU - Blank, Marcel H.

AU - Tellez, Guillermo

AU - Lazar, Bence

AU - Vegi, Barbara

AU - Varkony, Eszter

AU - Gocza, Elen

AU - Liptoi, Krisztina

AU - Hiemstra, S.J.

AU - Woelders, H.

AU - McGrew, Mike

PY - 2025/9/11

Y1 - 2025/9/11

N2 - Although oocyte and embryo cryopreservation in chickens remains unfeasible, preserving embryonic gonads provides a promising alternative. Gonadal germ cells (GGCs) within embryonic gonads can develop into functional sperm or eggs. When injected into sterile 2.5-day-old embryos, cryopreserved GGCs can colonize recipient gonads and produce donor-derived gametes. However, freeze/thaw damage prolongs the in vitro culture of cryopreserved GGCs compared to fresh cells, emphasizing the need to improve gonad cryopreservation. This study presents a vitrification protocol that preserves functional GGCs and improves derivation rates (DR) compared to slow-freezing with STEM-CELLBANKER.

AB - Although oocyte and embryo cryopreservation in chickens remains unfeasible, preserving embryonic gonads provides a promising alternative. Gonadal germ cells (GGCs) within embryonic gonads can develop into functional sperm or eggs. When injected into sterile 2.5-day-old embryos, cryopreserved GGCs can colonize recipient gonads and produce donor-derived gametes. However, freeze/thaw damage prolongs the in vitro culture of cryopreserved GGCs compared to fresh cells, emphasizing the need to improve gonad cryopreservation. This study presents a vitrification protocol that preserves functional GGCs and improves derivation rates (DR) compared to slow-freezing with STEM-CELLBANKER.

U2 - 10.5281/zenodo.16791775

DO - 10.5281/zenodo.16791775

M3 - Abstract

BT - Abstract book: 61st meeting Society for Low Temperature Biology

PB - Polish Academy of Sciences

T2 - SLTB2025: 61st Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology

Y2 - 11 September 2025 through 13 September 2025

ER -

Improved Cryopreservation of Chicken Gonadal Germ Cells via Vitrification

Abstract

Conference/symposium

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Projects

Genenbank voor landbouwhuisdierrassen en aquatische soorten (WOT-03-001-069)

CRYOCHICK: Innovative cryopreservation methods for chicken germplasm

Cite this