Abstract:Viable sperm cells of Ulmus pumila L. were isolated and preserved as follows. Prehydrated pollen were germinated in the 25 % surcose medium solidified with 1% agar for 1.5 to 2 h. The sperm cells were released from the pollen tube by osmotic shock, and purified by surcose density gradient centrifugation. The yield of sperm cells was 2.0 x 106/mL. The effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the viability and longevity of isolated sperm cells were investigated. BSA could increase the viability of isolated sperm cells and also greatly prolonged the life-span of sperm cells at both 0 to 4 ℃ and room temperature (23 ℃ ) whereas PVP exerted adverse effect on the viability of the sperm cells. The sperm cells could survive for 12 days at 0 to 4 ℃ and for 54 hours at room temperature in 25 % surcose medium supplemented with 0.6% BSA.