Fracture phenomena in an isotonic salt solution during freezing and their elimination using glycerol

Optimization of Annealing and Metal Films Radiofrequency Heating Procedures for Vitrified Umbilical Arteries

Vitrification is well known for its application in the cryopreservation of blood vessels, which will address the supply-demand imbalance in vascular grafts for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Thermal stress damage and devitrification injury in umbilical arteries (UAs) require attention and resolution during the vitrification and rewarming process. In this study, we validated several cooling annealing protocols with temperatures (-130 to -100 °C) and annealing duration durations (10-20 s). Among these, the umbilical artery subjected to annealing at -110 °C for 10 s exhibited the most favorable glass transition and retained 93% of its elastic modulus (0.625 ± 0.030 MPa) compared to the fresh group. Extended annealing temperatures and durations can effectively reduce thermal stress damage, leading to improved mechanical properties by minimizing temperature gradients during cooling. Furthermore, three metal radiofrequency methods were utilized for rewarming, including the use of additional metal films and different magnetic field strengths (20, 25 kA/m). Metal radiofrequency (adding an extra metal film for cryoprotectants rewarming, 20 kA/m) achieved faster and more uniform rewarming, preserving the extracellular matrix (ECM), collagen fibers, and elastic fibers without significant differences compared to the fresh group (P < 0.05). Moreover, its preservation of the biomechanical properties of blood vessels was better than that of water bath heating. Theoretical analysis supports these findings, indicating that radiofrequency heating (RFH) with metal films reduces temperature gradients and thermal stresses during arterial rewarming. RFH contributes to the cryopreservation and clinical application of large-lumen biomaterials, overcoming challenges associated with vascular vitrification and rewarming.

Effects of partially replacing glycerol with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin on protamine deficiency, in vitro capacitation and fertilization ability of frozen-thawed Yanbian Yellow cattle sperm

Glycerol is widely used as a cryoprotectant to protect the sperm from freezing damage during cryopreservation. However, glycerol at a high concentration has toxic effects on the sperm. Therefore, we explored the effects of partially replacing glycerol with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) in a cryoprotectant on protamine deficiency, in vitro capacitation, and fertilization ability of freeze-thawed Yanbian Yellow cattle sperm. We used fresh semen, control (6% glycerol), and four treatment-I, II, III, and IV (3% glycerol + 0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 mg/mL CLC, respectively)-groups. Computer-assisted semen analysis; JC-1, CMA3, and FluoZin-3-AM staining; flow cytometry; and IVF were conducted. Replacing a portion of glycerol with 1.5 mg/mL CLC significantly improved sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and membrane lipid disorders, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), capacitation, and fertilization ability (P < 0.05) compared with the control. Additionally, in group I and III, the protamine deficiency were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group. It was found that 6% glycerol has a higher degree of damage to sperm DNA integrity than 3% glycerol. Overall, this study revealed that partial replacement of glycerol with CLC can be used as a novel cryoprotection method to reduce the toxicity of glycerol and improve the quality of thawed Yanbian Yellow cattle sperm.

Synergistic effect of royal jelly in combination with glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide on cryoprotection of Romanov ram sperm

Sperm fertility decreases significantly after freezing. Providing a suitable and useful diluent compound for freezing ram sperm can increase the efficiency of artificial insemination and consequently, the reproductive performance of sheep. Various biological properties such as antibacterial, anti-cancer, immunosuppressive, antioxidant and reproductive properties of royal jelly (RJ) are well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible synergistic effect of royal jelly in combination with glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in sperm cryopreservation extender of Romanov ram. The pooled semen samples from 5 Romanov rams were allocated into 3 experiments. The effect of 6% DMSO, 6% glycerol and a combination of 3% DMSO +3% glycerol co-supplemented with 1, 2 and 3% RJ was evaluated in 3 experiments. Samples were frozen by conventional slow freezing method and post-thaw parameters of total motility, progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, DNA damage, apoptosis, enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated. The results showed that the percentage of motility, progressive motility, TAC, GPx, SOD and all sperm kinematic parameters except LIN in the group containing 2% RJ + 6% DMSO was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Some parameters such as progressive motility, sperm membrane integrity, TAC, GPx, VAP, VCL, STR and SRT in the group containing 2% RJ + 6% DMSO were more than (p < 0.05) in the sperm group containing 1% RJ + 6% DMSO. MDA values in sperm groups containing 2% RJ + 6% DMSO were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the sperm containing 1% royal jelly and the control group. In the sperm group containing 2% RJ + 6% glycerol, sperm membrane integrity, TAC, GPx, SOD, progressive motility and all sperm kinematic parameters except VAP were higher and MDA values and sperm abnormalities were lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The sperm group containing 1% RJ and 3% DMSO +3% glycerol had higher motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, and all sperm kinematic parameters except VSL; and lower sperm abnormalities, DNA damage, apoptosis and MDA than the control group (p < 0.05). As a general conclusion of this study, the addition of 2% RJ + 3% DMSO and 3% glycerol to the freezing extender improved microscopic and biochemical ram sperm parameters after the freeze-thaw process. Hence, moderate concentrations of royal jelly (2%) are sufficient to protect sperm from freezing damage, and high (3%) and low (1%) concentrations do not have a good cryoprotective effect.

Effects of crocin on frozen-thawed sperm apoptosis, protamine expression and membrane lipid oxidation in Yanbian yellow cattle

Glycerol is used as a bovine semen osmotic cryoprotectant that greatly improves the quality of frozen and thawed bovine sperm. However, high glycerol concentrations can have a toxic effect on frozen and thawed bovine sperm. Therefore, this experiment investigated the effect of replacing a portion of the glycerol in a cryoprotectant solution with crocin on the sperm apoptosis, protamine deficiency and membrane lipid oxidation of frozen and thawed Yanbian yellow cattle sperm. The experiment included a control group (6% glycerol) and four treatment groups: I (3% glycerol), II (3% glycerol +0.5 mM crocin), III (3% glycerol + 1 mM crocin) and IV (3% glycerol + 2 mM crocin). Computer assisted semen analysis was used to detect sperm motility, Hoechst 33,342, propidium iodide, and JC-1 staining were used to analyse sperm viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, chromomycin A3 staining was used to detect protamine deficiency and DNA damage, flow cytometry was used for sperm membrane lipid disorder detection and analysis, and real-time quantitative RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of protamine-related genes (PRM2, PRM3), sperm acrosome-associated genes (SPACA3), oxidative stress-related genes (ROMO1) and apoptosis-related genes (BCL2, BAX). Compared to the control group, replacing a portion of glycerol with 1 mM crocin significantly improved sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, membrane lipid disorders (p < .05) and viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, protamine deficiency (p < .01). The expression level of PRM2, PRM3, SPACA3 and BCL2 significantly increased (p < .05), while the expression levels of ROMO1 and BAX significantly decreased (p < .05). Accordingly, the BCL2/BAX ratio significantly increased (p < .05). In summary, the substitution of a portion of glycerol with crocin in cryoprotective solution improved the quality of Yanbian yellow cattle sperm after freezing and thawing.

Egg yolk-free cryopreservation of bull semen

Egg yolk is a common ingredient of mammalian semen extender to protect sperm against initial cold shock. However, egg yolk has biosecurity risks. Our main objectives were to cryopreserve bull semen without egg yolk using exogenous cholesterol and to study the protective role of glycerol in egg yolk-free semen extender. Other objectives were to compare protein profiles and in vitro fertilization potential of bull sperm frozen with and without egg yolk. In first experiment, semen was either diluted in conventional tris-egg yolk glycerol (TEYG control) extender or first treated with cholesterol-cyclodextrin complex (CC, 2 mg/ml semen) followed by dilution in egg yolk-free tris-glycerol (TG) extender (collectively called as "CC+TG") at 22°C or 4°C, and frozen. Post-thaw sperm motion characteristics were similar between CC+TG and TEYG control extenders, and temperature of glycerol addition. In second experiment, semen was frozen in CC+TG extender varying in glycerol concentration (7 to 0%; v/v). Post-thaw sperm quality decreased with the decline in glycerol concentration in TG extender, even higher concentration of CC complex (3 or 4 mg/ml semen) could not protect sperm in the absence of glycerol in TG extender. In third experiment, SDS electrophoresis of proteins from fresh sperm and sperm frozen in CC+TG, and TEYG control extenders was conducted. Protein profiles in fresh sperm and CC+TG frozen sperm were almost similar. Egg yolk proteins bound tightly with sperm plasma membrane. In fourth experiment, in vitro fertilization potentials of sperm frozen in TEYG control and CC+TG extenders were tested. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of semen frozen in CC+TG and TEYG control extenders were similar. In conclusion, cholesterol-cyclodextrin replaced egg yolk from the semen extender; glycerol remained essential for egg yolk-free sperm cryopreservation; and CC+TG extender did not modify sperm plasma membrane CC+TG whereas egg yolk extender changed the plasma membrane composition of bull sperm.

Antagonist effect of DMSO on the cryoprotection ability of glycerol during cryopreservation of buffalo sperm

The objective of the present study was to investigate the synergistic effect of DMSO and glycerol added at various temperatures on the post-thaw quality of buffalo sperm. Pooled ejaculates from four Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls were divided into 18 aliquots and extended (1:10) in Tris-citric acid extender differing in glycerol:DMSO ratios (0:0, 0:1.5, 0:3; 3:0, 3:1.5, 3:3; and 6:0, 6:1.5, 6:3, respectively; %, v:v) either at 37 or 4 degrees C. Semen was packaged in 0.5 mL French straws and frozen in a programmable cell freezer. Thawing was performed at 37 degrees C for 50s. Post-thaw motion characteristics, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome morphology of buffalo sperm were determined using computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA), hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) assay and phase-contrast microscopy, respectively. Glycerol (6%) in extender yielded better post-thaw sperm motility, velocities (straight-line and average path), plasma membrane integrity, and normal acrosomes (P<0.05). Post-thaw sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity declined in the presence of DMSO (P<0.01). The addition of glycerol (6%) at 37 degrees C yielded better post-thaw sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and velocities than addition at 4 degrees C (P<0.05). In conclusion, glycerol is still an essential cryoprotectant for buffalo sperm. The addition of DMSO antagonized the cryoprotection ability of glycerol and reduced the post-thaw quality of buffalo sperm. Furthermore, 6% glycerol added at 37 degrees C, provided better cryoprotection to the motility apparatus and plasma membrane integrity of buffalo sperm.

The Effect of Temperature Gradients on Stress Development During Cryopreservation via Vitrification

This study addresses the problem of thermal stress development in bulky specimens during cryopreservation via vitrification (vitreous means glassy in Latin). While this study is a part of an ongoing effort to associate the developing mechanical stress with the relevant physical properties of the cryopreserved media and to its the thermal history, the current paper focuses exclusively on the role of temperature gradients. Temperature gradients arise due to the high cooling rates necessary to facilitate vitrification; the resulting non-uniform temperature distribution leads to differential thermal strain, possibly resulting in cracking. The cooling rate is assumed constant on the outer surface in this study, and the material properties are assumed constant. It is demonstrated that under these assumptions, mechanical stress develops only when the temperature distribution in the specimen approaches thermal equilibrium at a cryogenic storage temperature. It is shown that the maximum possible stresses for a given cooling rate can be computed with a simple thermo-elastic analysis; these stresses are associated with cooling to sufficiently low temperatures and are independent of the variation of viscosity with temperature. Analytic estimates for these stresses are obtained for several idealized shapes, while finite element analysis is used to determine stresses for geometries used in cryopreservation practice. Stresses that develop under a wider range of storage temperatures are also studied with finite element analysis, and the results are summarized with suitable normalizations. It is found that no stresses arise if cooling ceases above the set-temperature, which defines the transition from viscous-dominated to elastic-dominated behavior; the set-temperature is determined principally by the dependency of viscosity upon temperature. Strategies for rapidly reaching low temperatures and avoiding high stresses are inferred from the results.

Cryopreservation of Mexican fruit flies by vitrification: Stage selection and avoidance of thermal stress

This report presents details of a vitrification methodology for the cryopreservation of embryos of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens. The overall summary of the data indicates that selecting the correct developmental stage for cryopreservation is the most important criterion. The key aspect in selection of the correct stage is to balance depletion of the gut yolk content against development of the embryonic cuticle. Embryogenesis was divided into four stages between 90 and 120 h after incubation at 21.7 degrees C. The classification was based on the intestinal yolk content and the initial development of mandibular-maxillary complex. Stages having low mid-gut yolk content and the appearance of mouth hooks were found to be the most suitable for cryopreservation. Embryos developing at 30 degrees C had premature cuticle formation relative to gut development and significantly lower hatching after cryopreservation. Vitrification of embryos by direct quenching in liquid nitrogen was less effective than quenching after annealing the samples in liquid nitrogen vapor. Quenched samples of vitrification solutions containing 1,2-ethanediol as the major component exhibited fractures. Fracturing occurred less frequently when the solutions were annealed and when containing polyethylene glycol. Hatching of vitrified embryos stored in liquid nitrogen for over 12 months was not statistically different from those held for only 15 min. Our protocol yielded normalized hatching rates that ranged as high as 61%. Selecting the exact stage for cryopreservation from a population of embryos obtained by collection from ovipositing females during a span of just 30 min resulted in nearly 80% of the embryos hatching into larvae.

Effects of freezing rates and dimethyl sulfoxide concentrations on thermal expansion of rabbit aorta during freezing phase change as measured by thermo mechanical analysis

Thermal expansion data are essential for thermal stress analysis in order to predict the likelihood of fracture formation in tissues during cryopreservation as well as cryosurgery. The current study focuses on examining the thermal expansion behavior of rabbit aorta during freezing, especially phase change processes. Thermo mechanical analysis (TMA) was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) cryoprotective agent (CPA) (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% (v/v) DMSO) and different freezing rates (3, 5 and 10 degrees C/min). The results showed that (1) the maximum of thermal strain for 10 degrees C/min was approximately four times greater than that for 3 degrees C/min, and 1.4 times greater than that for 5 degrees C/min, and the higher the freezing rate, the larger the corresponding thermal expansion coefficient; (2) the maximum thermal strain of sample permeated by 5% DMSO approached that of 0% DMSO (i.e., no DMSO was added); however, it showed very significant difference from that of 15% DMSO (only half of that with 5% DMSO), and the thermal expansion coefficient decreased when the concentration of DMSO solution increased; (3) comparison with data available from the literature and with theoretically calculated values illustrated that the thermal expansion change was not equal to the volume change from free water to ice during freezing, but was related to the freezing rate of samples and the DMSO concentration.

Comparison of glycerol, other polyols, trehalose, and raffinose to provide a defined cryoprotectant medium for mouse sperm cryopreservation

Most procedures for mouse sperm cryopreservation have utilized raffinose to provide hypertonicity for cell desiccation prior to freezing and glycerol to block intracellular ice formation. Trehalose has been shown in other cell systems to provide positive protection to the plasma membrane and so was examined as a replacement for raffinose. Comparison of 3 and 6% glycerol and 7.5 and 20% sugar showed that 6% glycerol and 7.5% sugar gave maximal protection consistently and so were adopted as standard. Comparison of raffinose and trehalose at this concentration showed trehalose to give significantly better recovery of intact cells: 48 +/- 6% for trehalose, 36 +/- 9% for raffinose (+/- SE, n = 5; arc sine transformed data; P < 0.01). Less hydrophilic polyols should prove more permeant to the membrane than glycerol, enter the cell rapidly, and so possibly inhibit lethal intracellular ice formation effectively. We hypothesized that one of these polyols plus glycerol would be a more effective cryoprotectant than glycerol alone. The polyols tested as supplements to 6% glycerol were propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, 1,1,1-tris-(hydroxymethyl)ethane (THME), and 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-1,3-diol (EHMP). With 6% glycerol and 7.5% raffinose or trehalose, the two diols and THME gave less cryoprotection than with glycerol alone, and EHMP reduced postthaw membrane integrity to nil, thus invalidating the hypothesis. Comparison of bicarbonate-containing medium MJB to bicarbonate-free medium NTP, both with 6% glycerol/7.5% trehalose, showed no difference in recovery of membrane-intact cells. For ease of pH maintenance, NTP was chosen for studies of addition prefreeze and removal postthaw of 6% glycerol/7.5% trehalose cryoprotectant with in vitro fertilization as endpoint. Three protocols for cryoprotectant handling were tested: serial addition/dilution; dialysis addition and removal; and dialysis addition and direct insemination without cryoprotectant removal. The last proved significantly superior (P < 0.01), giving 62% fertilized eggs, normalized to controls, compared to 21% for dialysis addition and removal and 32% for serial addition and dilution. The glycerol/trehalose combination thus provides a defined cryoprotectant which, when used with addition by dialysis prefreeze and direct insemination postthaw, yields a satisfactory yield of fertilized eggs in an in vitro fertilization system.

Thermal expansion measurements of frozen biological tissues at cryogenic temperatures

Thermal expansion data are essential for analyses of cryodestruction associated with thermal stresses during cryopreservation protocols as well as during cryosurgery. The present study tests a commonly used hypothesis that the thermal expansion of frozen tissues is similar to that of pure water ice crystals. This study further provides insight into the potential effect of the presence of cryoprotectants on thermal expansion. A new apparatus for thermal strain measurements of frozen biological tissues within a cryogenic temperature range is presented. Results are presented for fresh tissue samples taken from beef muscle, chicken muscle, rabbit muscle, rabbit bone, and pig liver. Pilot studies of the effect of cryoprotectants on thermal expansion are further presented for rabbit muscle immersed in dimethyl sulphoxide (2 mols/l) and glycerol (2 mols/l), and for pig liver perfused with dimethyl sulphoxide (2 mols/l). Thermal expansion of frozen soft biological tissues was found to be similar to that of water ice crystals in the absence of cryoprotectant. Thermal expansion of the rabbit bone was found to be about one half of that of frozen soft tissues. A significant reduction in the thermal expansion at higher temperatures was observed in the presence of cryoprotectants. A rapid change of thermal strain near -100 degrees C was also observed, which is likely to be associated with the glass transition process of the cryoprotectant solutions.

Water permeability, Lp, of the mouse sperm plasma membrane and its activation energy are strongly dependent on interaction of the plasma membrane with the sperm cytoskeleton

Two parameters fundamental to cell cryobiology are the water permeability (hydraulic conductivity), Lp, and its activation energy, EA. The Lp can be calculated from two experimental determinations: the critical osmolality, Osmcrit, at which 50% of the cells lyse, and the time, tcrit, to 50% lysis in a highly hyposmotic medium, based on the assumption that the cells swell to lysis with minimal resistance to swelling. We have reported [Cryobiology 32, 220-238 (1995)] that mouse sperm in hyposmotic medium show minimal swelling and so fail to meet this assumption. The concept that resistance to swelling was due to anchoring of the plasma membrane through cytoskeletal interaction was examined by treating mouse sperm with 5 microM cytochalasin D to depolymerize the cytoskeletal filamentous actin (f-actin), whose presence was established by staining with fluorescently labeled phalloidin. Diminution of fluorescence due to loss of f-actin induced by cytochalasin D was shown by flow cytometry. Mouse sperm treated with cytochalasin D showed tail curling in hyposmotic medium, similar to that observed with bovine and human sperm, indicating that the standard swelling model was applicable to these cells. Two sets of Lp values were calculated from tcrit: one using individual means of Osmcrit and one using the mean of means of Osmcrit between 37 and 4 degrees C, as these individual means were not significantly different. Values (micron.min-1.atm-1), respectively, were 9.95, 7.15 (37 degrees C); 1.51, 0.91 (22 degrees C); 0.54, 0.78 (12 degrees C); 0.47, 0.50 (4 degrees C); 0.33 (0 degree C); and 0.36 (-3 degrees C). Arrhenius plots gave EA = 13.7 and 11.7 kcal/mol, respectively. Values of t1/2 were calculated from the first-order rate constants characterizing the kinetics of cell lysis at the higher four temperatures; Lp values calculated from these, and the two sets of Osmcrit values described were 5.70, 4.09 (37 degrees C); 1.18, 0.71 (22 degrees C); 0.62, 0.90 (12 degrees C); and 0.34, 0.37 (4 degrees C). Arrhenius plots gave EA = 14.2 and 11.0 kcal/mol, respectively. We propose that these EA values are characteristic of the plasma membrane relatively unperturbed by cytoskeletal interactions. In untreated sperm, decrease of Lp with decreasing temperature and presence of cryoprotectant and the cytoskeletal interactions all act to hamper the sperm cells' ability to respond to osmotic stress encountered during freezing and thawing, such that these cells are especially sensitive to cryodamage.