Cite this article as:
Uteshev V. K., Kaurova S. A., Shishova N. V., Kramarova L. I., Gakhova E. N. Hypothermic storage of amphibian oocytes. How long can ovulated oocytes of the common frog Rana temporaria (Ranidae, Amphibia) be stored?. Current Studies in Herpetology, 2025, vol. 25, iss. 3, pp. 221-225. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18500/1814-6090-2025-25-3-4-221-225
Hypothermic storage of amphibian oocytes. How long can ovulated oocytes of the common frog Rana temporaria (Ranidae, Amphibia) be stored?
Currently, there is an unacceptably high rate of decline in the biodiversity of vertebrates, and, first of all, amphibians. This situation requires emergency measures to save the endangered species of these animals. One of such measures is the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including cryopreservation and cryobanking of reproductive cells (sperm and oocytes). However, cryopreservation technologies, successfully used for banking sperm, have not yet been adapted for cryobanking amphibian oocytes. This has spurred interest in studying the possibility of hypothermic storage of amphibian oocytes at low positive temperatures. The objective of this article is to consider and analyze the results of hypothermic storage of ovulated oocytes of tailless amphibians. Our analysis of the literature shows that the duration of storage of ovulated frog oocytes in any aqueous solutions does not exceed tens of hours. The storage duration of oocytes by the “dry” method in closed containers increases up to 9 days, and their preservation in female carcasses can reach 9–10 days. The use of an improved “dry” method employing gas mixtures under pressure increases the storage period of oocytes up to 12–15 days. The maximum duration (2–2.5 months) was observed when storing oocytes in the oviducts of live frogs.
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