# Project

> **NIH NIH P40** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · 2021 · $54,428

## Abstract

Abstract (Applied Research)
The generation of novel genetically modified rat models has greatly accelerated with the availability of rat
embryonic stem cells and the advent of nuclease-based genome-editing technologies such as ZFNs, TALENs,
and CRISPR/Cas9. There is a need for reliable and cost-effective methods of cryopreservation to archive these
models and ensure their future availability. Sperm cryopreservation, which is straightforward and inexpensive
to perform, is ideal for preserving genetically modified rat models; yet, the limited methods for successful
cryorecovery using frozen rat sperm employ methods, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) that are
beyond the means of most research laboratories or transgenic cores and are challenging even for experienced
facilities like the RRRC. The ability to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is a common and highly successful
method of cryorecovery in the mouse, would be ideal for cryorecovery in the rat. Unfortunately, the limited
published protocols for rat IVF have not been reliably repeatable by others, including the RRRC. Based on
preliminary data suggesting amino acid supplementation has a beneficial impact on sperm motility, we propose
to test the addition of various amino acid combinations to media to measure the outcome of this supplementation
on sperm motility, capacitation and in vitro fertilization. The ability of amino acid supplementation to improve
post-thaw sperm motility and increase in vitro fertilization success rates when frozen/thawed sperm is used will
also be evaluated. These studies will be performed with spermatozoa from both outbred stocks and inbred
strains. The data generated will guide optimization of rat sperm cryopreservation and rat IVF, thus enhancing
the RRRC’s ability to archive and reanimate rat models in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10172440
- **Project number:** 2P40OD011062-21
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth C Bryda
- **Activity code:** P40 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $54,428
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2001-06-01 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10172440

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10172440, Project (2P40OD011062-21). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10172440. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*