1
|
Sciorio R, Campos G, Tramontano L, Bulletti FM, Baldini GM, Vinciguerra M. Exploring the effect of cryopreservation in assisted reproductive technology and potential epigenetic risk. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:420-432. [PMID: 37409505 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199423000345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Since the birth of the first baby by in vitro fertilization in 1978, more than 9 million children have been born worldwide using medically assisted reproductive treatments. Fertilization naturally takes place in the maternal oviduct where unique physiological conditions enable the early healthy development of the embryo. During this dynamic period of early development major waves of epigenetic reprogramming, crucial for the normal fate of the embryo, take place. Increasingly, over the past 20 years concerns relating to the increased incidence of epigenetic anomalies in general, and genomic-imprinting disorders in particular, have been raised following assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatments. Epigenetic reprogramming is particularly susceptible to environmental conditions during the periconceptional period and non-physiological conditions such as ovarian stimulation, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture, as well as cryopreservation procedure, might have the potential to independently or collectively contribute to epigenetic dysregulation. Therefore, this narrative review offers a critical reappraisal of the evidence relating to the association between embryo cryopreservation and potential epigenetic regulation and the consequences on gene expression together with long-term consequences for offspring health and wellbeing. Current literature suggests that epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles are sensitive to the stress induced by vitrification, in terms of osmotic shock, temperature and pH changes, and toxicity of cryoprotectants, it is therefore, critical to have a more comprehensive understanding and recognition of potential unanticipated iatrogenic-induced perturbations of epigenetic modifications that may or may not be a consequence of vitrification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romualdo Sciorio
- Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, EFREC, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Luca Tramontano
- Department of Women, Infants and Adolescents, Division of Obstetrics, Geneve University Hospitals, Boulevard de la Cluse 30, Geneve 14, Switzerland
| | - Francesco M Bulletti
- Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Marina Vinciguerra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Section, University of Bari, Italy
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Santa Caterina Novella', Galatina Hospital, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sciorio R, Manna C, Fauque P, Rinaudo P. Can Cryopreservation in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Induce Epigenetic Changes to Gametes and Embryos? J Clin Med 2023; 12:4444. [PMID: 37445479 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the birth of Louise Brown in 1978, more than nine million children have been conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). While the great majority of children are healthy, there are concerns about the potential epigenetic consequences of gametes and embryo manipulation. In fact, during the preimplantation period, major waves of epigenetic reprogramming occur. Epigenetic reprogramming is susceptible to environmental changes induced by ovarian stimulation, in-vitro fertilization, and embryo culture, as well as cryopreservation procedures. This review summarizes the evidence relating to oocytes and embryo cryopreservation and potential epigenetic regulation. Overall, it appears that the stress induced by vitrification, including osmotic shock, temperature and pH changes, and toxicity of cryoprotectants, might induce epigenetic and transcriptomic changes in oocytes and embryos. It is currently unclear if these changes will have potential consequences for the health of future offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romualdo Sciorio
- Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
| | - Claudio Manna
- Biofertility IVF and Infertility Center, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Patricia Fauque
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté-Equipe Génétique des Anomalies du Development (GAD) INSERM UMR1231, F-21000 Dijon, France
- CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Paolo Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ozimic S, Ban-Frangez H, Stimpfel M. Sperm Cryopreservation Today: Approaches, Efficiency, and Pitfalls. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:4716-4734. [PMID: 37367049 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45060300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The cryopreservation of human spermatozoa has been an option for patients undergoing chemo or radiotherapies since the late 1950s. Presently, there are different techniques for the cryopreservation of spermatozoa. The most commonly used techniques are programmable slow freezing and freezing on liquid nitrogen vapors, while the use of vitrification is still not accepted as clinically relevant. Although there have been many improvements, the ideal technique for achieving better post-thaw sperm quality continues to be a mystery. A major obstacle during cryopreservation is the formation of intracellular ice crystals. Cryodamage generated by cryopreservation causes structural and molecular alterations in spermatozoa. Injuries can happen because of oxidative stress, temperature stress, and osmotic stress, which then result in changes in the plasma membrane fluidity, motility, viability, and DNA integrity of the spermatozoa. To prevent cryodamage as much as possible, cryoprotectants are added, and in some clinical trial cases, even antioxidants that may improve post-thaw sperm quality are added. This review discusses cryopreservation techniques, cryodamage on molecular and structural levels, and cryoprotectants. It provides a comparison of cryopreservation techniques and describes recent advances in those techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Ozimic
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Helena Ban-Frangez
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Stimpfel
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Carboxylated ε-Poly-l-lysine Improves Post-Thaw Quality, Mitochondrial Functions and Antioxidant Defense of Goat Cryopreserved Sperm. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020231. [PMID: 36829509 PMCID: PMC9953348 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Carboxylated ε-poly-l-lysine (CPLL), a novel cryoprotectant, can protect the sperm membranes by inhibiting ice crystal formation during the cryopreservation process. The present study was conducted to investigate the consequence of CPLL supplementation on the post-thaw quality of cryopreserved goat sperm. For this, different doses (0, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%; v/v) of CPLL were added to the cryopreservation medium, and the motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP level, ROS production, anti-oxidant defense system, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and apoptosis in post-thaw sperm were evaluated. It was observed that the addition of 1% CPLL significantly (p < 0.05) increased the total motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and catalase (CAT) activity of post-thaw sperm compared to those of control and other CPLL doses. The ATP content was observed significantly (p < 0.05) higher in 0.5% and 1% CPLL, however, the SOD activity and progressive motility were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by adding CPLL at 1% and 1.5% level. Moreover, the addition of CPLL at 1% dose not only showed a lower percentage of apoptosis, but also significantly (p < 0.05) increased the MMP while reducing ROS production and MDA levels compared to those of other CPLL doses and/or control. Therefore, it is clear that the supplementation of 1% CPLL can remarkably improve the post-thaw goat sperm motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, antioxidant abundance, mitochondrial potentials, and ATP supply by protecting the sperm from cryodamage and undergoing apoptosis. These findings will provide novel insights into sperm cryobiology.
Collapse
|
5
|
Testicular Tissue Vitrification: a Promising Strategy for Male Fertility Preservation. Reprod Sci 2022; 30:1687-1700. [DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-01113-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
6
|
Lin HLH, Blesbois E, Vitorino Carvalho A. Chicken semen cryopreservation: importance of cryoprotectants. WORLD POULTRY SCI J 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00439339.2022.1998816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Lien Herbie Lin
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
- Physiology Division, Livestock Research Institute (LRI), COA, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Effect of Media with Different Glycerol Concentrations on Sheep Red Blood Cells' Viability In Vitro. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061592. [PMID: 34071487 PMCID: PMC8228453 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of high doses of glycerol as a livestock feed supplement is followed by a rapid increase in plasma concentrations and consequently in plasma osmolality. Moreover, glycerol is a highly diffusible molecule that can readily permeate the red blood cell (RBC) membrane following a concentration gradient. A rise in glycerol plasma concentrations can thus alter RBC homeostasis. The present study aimed at investigating both glycerol osmotic effects on sheep RBCs and their oxidative response under in vitro conditions. Sheep blood samples were suspended in media supplemented with increasing glycerol concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 mg/dL), which reflected those found in vivo in previous studies, and incubated at 37 °C for 4h. Thereafter, osmolality and hemolysis were determined in spent media, while cell extracts were used to assay intracellular concentration of glycerol, ATP, Ca2+ ions, oxidative stress markers and reactive oxygen species (ROS).The study confirmed that glycerol intracellular concentrations are directly related with its concentration in the incubation media, as well as hemolysis (p < 0.001) which increased significantly at glycerol concentrations higher form 200 mg/dL. ROS intracellular level increased at all glycerol concentration tested (p < 0.01) and total thiols decreased at the highest concentrations. However, RBCs proved to be able to cope by activating their antioxidant defense system. Superoxide dismutase activity indeed increased at the highest glycerol concentrations (p < 0.001), while total antioxidant capacity and malonyldialdehyde, a typical product of lipid peroxidation by ROS, did not show significant changes. Moreover, no alterations in intracellular Ca2+ ions and ATP concentrations were found. In conclusion, glycerol-induced hemolysis can be related to the induced osmotic stress. In sheep, nutritional treatments should be designed to avoid reaching glycerol circulating concentrations higher than 200 mg/dL.
Collapse
|
8
|
Gloria A, Henning H, Di Francesco L, Contri A. Osmotic tolerance of rabbit spermatozoa is affected by extender composition and temperature. Anim Reprod Sci 2021; 229:106763. [PMID: 33975265 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sperm osmotic adaptability to anisosmotic conditions is important for sperm epididymal maturation, motility activation at ejaculation, and female tract colonization, or for conducting technological procedures such as cryopreservation. Several factors affect this adaptability, including the fluid composition that contributes to water flow dynamics, and the temperature at which osmotic stress is initiated. This study was designed to investigate the effect of medium composition (electrolyte- or sugar-based extender) and temperature (25 and 5 °C) on rabbit sperm adaptability to anisosmotic conditions. Rabbit spermatozoa, therefore, were diluted at both temperatures (25 and 5 °C) in electrolyte- or sugar-based media at increasing osmotic conditions (100 to 1,000 mOsm/kg), and values for sperm variables (sperm kinetics, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential) were estimated as endpoints. Sperm kinetics seemed to be more sensitive to osmotic stress than membrane integrity or mitochondrial function. The effect of moderate hypoosmotic stress did not differ when there was use of sugar- and electrolyte-based extenders at 25 °C (P > 0.05). In hyper-tonic conditions at 25 °C, the sugar-based extender was more effective in protecting sperm membrane integrity and mitochondrial function (P < 0.05). The lesser temperature made the differences more relevant because of the detrimental effect of hyperosmotic stress was more evident in the electrolyte-based extender at 5 °C (P < 0.05). The results from this study indicated rabbit spermatozoa have different adaptability to anisosmotic conditions induced by sugar- and electrolyte-based media and that the temperature at which the osmotic stress is initiated affects the cellular response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Gloria
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, Teramo, 64100, Italy
| | - Heiko Henning
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Höltystrasse 10, Neustadt am Rübenberge, 31535, Germany
| | - Lucia Di Francesco
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, Teramo, 64100, Italy
| | - Alberto Contri
- Faculty of Biosciences and Technologies for Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Teramo, via Balzarini 1, Teramo, 64100, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Aseptic capillary vitrification of human spermatozoa: Cryoprotectant-free vs. cryoprotectant-included technologies. Cryobiology 2021; 99:95-102. [PMID: 33422478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The protocol of aseptic cryoprotectant-free vitrification on human spermatozoa is well documented. However, data about the effect of permeable cryoprotectants at this procedure is limited. Presented study aimed to test the aseptic capillary vitrification technologies using permeable cryoprotectant-included or cryoprotectant-free media. Thirty-two normal samples were included and analyzed after vitrification in three different media and thawing. Three treatment groups were formed: Group 1, basic medium; Group 2, basic medium with 0.25 M sucrose; Group 3, basic medium with glycerol. Before plunging into liquid nitrogen, capillaries were filled by 10 μl of spermatozoa suspension and isolated from liquid nitrogen by location in hermetically closed 0.25 ml straws. Progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, total motility/viability after 24, 48 and 72 h in vitro culture, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were determined after thawing at 42 °C. Progressive motility of spermatozoa in groups 1, 2, 3 was 24.9 ± 1.7%, 34.5 ± 2.8% and 34.0 ± 1.4%, respectively (P1-2,3<0.05). The plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa in groups 2 and 3 (48.4 ± 2.9% and 45.5 ± 3.9%, respectively) was higher than in Group 1 (33.3 ± 2.1%, P < 0.05). After 24 h, 48 h and 72 h in vitro culture, the total motility and viability of spermatozoa in Group 1 was significantly lower than Group 2 and Group 3. The apoptosis rate in Group 3 (44.5 ± 3.0%) and Group 2 (47.7 ± 4.1%) were lower than in Group 1 (52.5 ± 4.4%; P < 0.05). ΔΨm rates in Group 3 and Group 2 were higher than in Group 1 (P < 0.05) with no statistical differences between this parameter in Group 2 and Group 3 (P > 0.1). In conclusion, supplementation of medium for aseptic capillary technology for cryoprotectant-free vitrification of human spermatozoa by permeable cryoprotectant does not improve the quality of spermatozoa after warming.
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhou D, Wang XM, Li RX, Wang YZ, Chao YC, Liu ZZ, Huang ZH, Nie HC, Zhu WB, Tan YQ, Fan LQ. Improving native human sperm freezing protection by using a modified vitrification method. Asian J Androl 2021; 23:91-96. [PMID: 32567578 PMCID: PMC7831840 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_29_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Slow freezing is the most commonly used technique for the cryopreservation of spermatozoa in clinical practice. However, it has been shown to have a negative impact on sperm function and structure. Vitrification as a successful alternative method has been proved to have better protective effects on human embryos, but vitrification of spermatozoa is still subject to low recovery rates. In this study, a modified vitrification method for native spermatozoa was developed. A total of 28 semen samples were included; each sample was divided into three equal parts and assigned to fresh, slow freezing, and vitrification groups. Sperm vitality, motility, morphology, DNA integrity, and acrosome reaction were assessed for each of the groups. The results showed that vitrification achieves better results for several sperm protection parameters than slow freezing; vitrification achieves a higher recovery rate (P < 0.05), motility (P < 0.05), morphology (P < 0.05), and curve line velocity (P < 0.05) than slow freezing. Furthermore, DNA fragmentation was decreased (P < 0.05) and better acrosome protection (P < 0.05) was exhibited in the spermatozoa after vitrification. Principal component analysis of all sperm parameters revealed that the vitrification cluster was closer to the fresh cluster, indicating that spermatozoa are better preserved through vitrification. In conclusion, while both slow freezing and vitrification have negative effects on sperm function and structure, the vitrification protocol described here had a relatively better recovery rate (65.8%) and showed improved preservation of several sperm quality parameters compared with slow freezing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dai Zhou
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xing-Ming Wang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Rui-Xue Li
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yi-Ze Wang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yuan-Chi Chao
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhi-Zhong Liu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Department of Urology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zeng-Hui Huang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Hong-Chuan Nie
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Wen-Bing Zhu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Li-Qing Fan
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410000, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Cryobiology is a multiscale and interdisciplinary field. The scope and scale of interactions limit the gains that can be made by one theory or experiment alone. Because of this, modeling has played a critical role in both explaining cryobiological phenomena and predicting improved protocols. Modeling facilitates understanding of the biophysical and some of the biochemical mechanisms of damage during all phases of cryopreservation including CPA equilibration and cooling and warming. Moreover, as a tool for optimization of cryopreservation protocols, modeling has yielded many successes. Modern cryobiological modeling includes very detailed descriptions of the physical phenomena that occur during freezing, including ice growth kinetics and spatial gradients that define heat and mass transport models. Here we reduce the complexity and approach only a small but classic subset of these problems. Namely, here we describe the process of building and using a mathematical model of a cell in suspension where spatial homogeneity is assumed for all quantities. We define the models that describe the critical cell quantities used to describe optimal and suboptimal protocols and then give an overview of classical methods of how to determine optimal protocols using these models. We include practical considerations of modeling in cryobiology, including fitting transport models to cell volume data, performing optimization with cell volume constraints, and a look at expanding cost functions to cooling regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James D Benson
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Aseptic Cryoprotectant-Free Vitrification of Human Spermatozoa by Direct Dropping into a Cooling Agent. Methods Mol Biol 2020. [PMID: 32797425 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0783-1_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Spermatozoa cryopreservation is used for the management of infertility and some other medical conditions. Routinely applied cryopreservation techniques depend on permeating cryoprotectants and relatively slow freezing rates. Cryoprotectant-free vitrification is an alternative and cost-effective method that is based on rapid cooling of spermatozoa by direct plunging into a cooling agent to prevent lethal intracellular ice crystallization and the detrimental effects of high salt concentrations. One of the problems with this technique is that full sterilization of commercially produced liquid nitrogen, which could be contaminated with different pathogens, is not possible. Here we use a benchtop device for the production of sterile liquid air with the same temperature as liquid nitrogen (-195.7 °C). This has been used to develop aseptic technology for cryoprotectant-free vitrification of human spermatozoa.
Collapse
|
13
|
Aseptic Technology for Cryoprotectant-Free Vitrification of Human Spermatozoa by Direct Dropping into Clean Liquid Air: Apoptosis, Necrosis, Motility, and Viability. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:2934315. [PMID: 32047807 PMCID: PMC7003260 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2934315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the quality of human spermatozoa vitrified by direct plunging into liquid nitrogen vs. liquid air. Spermatozoa were divided into three groups: fresh spermatozoa (Group F) were used as a control. Spermatozoa suspension (20 μl) was vitrified in open granules by direct dropping into liquid nitrogen (Group LN) or clean liquid air (Group LA). After warming at 37°C, the progressive motility rate of Group F was reduced from 65.9 ± 2.5% to 34.0 ± 1.9% (Group LN) and 38.1 ± 2.3% (Group LA), respectively (P1-2,3 < 0.05). The reductions in viability were 65.6 ± 2.2%, 29.0 ± 1.8%, and 36.6 ± 2.6% for Groups F, LN, and LA, respectively (P1-2,3 < 0.05). Comparing spermatozoa vitrified in liquid nitrogen vs. liquid air, no significant differences were detected in motility (34.0 ± 1.9% vs. 38.1 ± 2.3%), viability (29.0 ± 1.8% vs. 36.6 ± 2.6%), early apoptosis (13.8 ± 1.5% vs. 14.3 ± 1.8%), late apoptosis (45.5 ± 1.8% vs. 43.7 ± 2.2%), and necrosis (19.5 ± 2.0% vs. 15.0 ± 1.8%; p > 0.01 for all respective differences). There was a statistical tendency for increasing rates of “progressive motility” and “viability” and decreasing rates of “apoptosis” and “necrosis” when comparing spermatozoa vitrified in liquid air vs. liquid nitrogen. It is concluded that cryoprotectant-free vitrification by the direct dropping of human spermatozoa in a clean cooling agent (liquid air) is a good alternative to the use of nonsterile liquid nitrogen and can be used to cool cells while minimising the risk of microbial contamination.
Collapse
|
14
|
Ezzati M, Shanehbandi D, Hamdi K, Rahbar S, Pashaiasl M. Influence of cryopreservation on structure and function of mammalian spermatozoa: an overview. Cell Tissue Bank 2019; 21:1-15. [DOI: 10.1007/s10561-019-09797-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
15
|
Iussig B, Maggiulli R, Fabozzi G, Bertelle S, Vaiarelli A, Cimadomo D, Ubaldi FM, Rienzi L. A brief history of oocyte cryopreservation: Arguments and facts. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019; 98:550-558. [PMID: 30739329 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The term "cryopreservation" refers to the process of cooling cells and tissues and storing them at subzero temperatures in order to stop all biological activity and preserve their viability and physiological competences for future use. Cooling to subzero temperatures is not a physiological condition for human cells; this is probably due to the high content of water in the living matter, whose conversion to ice crystals may be associated with severe and irreversible damage. Among reproductive cells and tissues, metaphase II oocytes are notably vulnerable to cryopreservation, mainly because of their large size, low surface area to volume ratio, relatively high water content and presence of the meiotic spindle. As human biological systems lack efficient internal defense mechanisms against chilling injuries, it is of the utmost importance to supply adequate external support, in terms of cryoprotectant additives, appropriate cooling/warming rates, and suitable long-term storage. Over the years, scientists have proposed different cryopreservation strategies in the effort to achieve an optimized recipe ensuring cell survival and, at the same time, maintenance of the physiological functions and abilities necessary to continue life. However, despite the first success obtained in the 1980s with frozen oocytes, it was not until recently that notable improvements in the cryopreservation technique, thanks to the advent of vitrification, allowed a breakthrough of this fine procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Iussig
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, G.EN.E.R.A. Veneto, Marostica, Italy
| | - Roberta Maggiulli
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Gemma Fabozzi
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Bertelle
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, G.EN.E.R.A. Veneto, Marostica, Italy
| | - Alberto Vaiarelli
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, G.EN.E.R.A. Veneto, Marostica, Italy.,G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo M Ubaldi
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, G.EN.E.R.A. Veneto, Marostica, Italy.,G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, G.EN.E.R.A. Veneto, Marostica, Italy.,G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abed-Elmdoust A, Rahimi R, Farahmand H, Amiri BM, Mirvaghefi A, Rafiee G. Droplet vitrification versus straw cryopreservation for spermatozoa banking in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) from metabolite point of view. Theriogenology 2019; 129:110-115. [PMID: 30836244 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus), a commercially valuable and critically endangered fish species has been suffering considerable declines in populations in the nature due to over-fishing, habitat destruction and marine pollution during past decades. Since there were no achievements in artificial reproduction programs, genetic resource banking such as gametes and embryo cryopreservation can be a good strategy however, reported resulting gamete qualities were considerably low. In the present study, the metabolome content of Persian sturgeon spermatozoa was investigated during common straw cryopreservation and novel droplet vitrification by the use of 1H NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. Univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (PCA) analysis showed significant differences in the metabolic profiles between cryopreserved and fresh spermatozoa samples. Adenine, creatine, creatine phosphate, glucose, guanidoacetate, lactate, N, N-dimethylglycine, and glycine levels showed no significant differences between these two cryopreservation techniques suggesting these metabolites and their corresponding enzymes and chemical pathways are so vulnerable to the temperature changes and even higher cooling rate in droplet vitrification could not conserve them. However, significant differences were found in acetate, creatinine, betaine, β-alanine and trimethylamine N-oxide suggesting better efficiency of droplet vitrification in protection of some metabolites associated to spermatozoa energetics, redox balance and hypoxia compensation compared to straw cryopreservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amirreza Abed-Elmdoust
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ruhollah Rahimi
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Hamid Farahmand
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Bagher Mojazi Amiri
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Alireza Mirvaghefi
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Rafiee
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Vitrification and conventional freezing methods in sperm cryopreservation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018; 233:84-92. [PMID: 30580229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective is to systematically review and synthesize the literature on the efficacy with two different cryopreservation methods used for human spermatozoa and evaluate whether vitrification protocol and quality of sperm influence effect estimates. DESIGN The following electronic databases were searched up to September 2017: Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science. The search strategy used the following the relevant medical subject heading (MeSH) terms, keywords, and word variants for: sperm parameters, conventional freezing, and vitrification. Queries were limited to those involving humans. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that published in English languages were considered eligible. Studies and references were included if they reported total motility, progressive motility, morphology, or DNA fragmentation index (DFI) for vitrified or conventional cryopreserved human spermatozoa. Patients recruited in RCTs considering sperm vitrification as one of the experimental arms and conventional freezing (including slow freezing or vapor fast freezing) sperm control as the other. Studies that had high risks of allocation concealment were excluded when performing sensitivity analysis. We specified 2 subgroup variables, including vitrification protocol and quality of spermatozoa cryopreserved, to investigate sources of heterogeneity. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects (I2 > 50%) or fixed effects (I2 < 50%) model to calculate weighted mean differences (MD) and 95% CI. RESULT(S) The search yielded a total of 2428 articles and 13 RCTs were included for analysis. They involved 486 vitrified and 486 conventional cryopreserved sperm samples. Four sperm parameters were reported as mean differences and based on adjusted estimates in all included studies. Meta-analysis of these studies showed significantly higher total motility [weighted mean differences (WMD) 6.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.94; 11.02; P < 0.0001] and progressive motility [WMD 4.59; 95% CI 0.78; 8.39; P = 0.02] of past-thawed sperm following vitrification compared with conventional freezing methods. However, DNA fragmentation index (DFI) [WMD -1.18; 95% CI -2.81; 0.45; P = 0.16] and morphology [WMD 0.11; 95% CI -0.42; 0.63; P = 0.69] of past-thawed sperm are similar between two freezing groups. Subgroup analysis shown that the vitrification protocol and quality of spermatozoa are potential risk factors for the efficacy of vitrification. Higher past-thawed sperm parameters following the cryoprotectants-free (CPAs-free) vitrification were observed, as well as a lower past-thawed sperm parameters with the cryoprotectants-presence (CPAs-presence) vitrification, which could reflect the CPAs related cytotoxicity. Meanwhile, vitrification had higher ability in preservation of high quality of spermatozoa compared with vitrification of low quality spermatozoa. CONCLUSION(S) According to the results of present meta-analysis, vitrification is superior to conventional freezing methods in preservation of spermatozoa, regarding total and progressive motility. However, the efficacy of vitrification is influence by using different vitrification protocol and cryopreservation of different quality spermatozoa. It is must emphasized that the results of present meta-analysis is limited by the small number of studies of variable vitrification protocol. Further well conducted studies are required to confirm the efficacy of vitrification in cryopreservation of spermatozoa, in addition, allow the examination of the two cryopreservation methods in terms of pregnancy achievement and determination of the role of clinical variable on efficacy of vitrification.
Collapse
|
18
|
Hezavehei M, Sharafi M, Kouchesfahani HM, Henkel R, Agarwal A, Esmaeili V, Shahverdi A. Sperm cryopreservation: A review on current molecular cryobiology and advanced approaches. Reprod Biomed Online 2018; 37:327-339. [PMID: 30143329 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The cryopreservation of spermatozoa was introduced in the 1960s as a route to fertility preservation. Despite the extensive progress that has been made in this field, the biological and biochemical mechanisms involved in cryopreservation have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. Various factors during the freezing process, including sudden temperature changes, ice formation and osmotic stress, have been proposed as reasons for poor sperm quality post-thaw. Little is known regarding the new aspects of sperm cryobiology, such as epigenetic and proteomic modulation of sperm and trans-generational effects of sperm freezing. This article reviews recent reports on molecular and cellular modifications of spermatozoa during cryopreservation in order to collate the existing understanding in this field. The aim is to discuss current freezing techniques and novel strategies that have been developed for sperm protection against cryo-damage, as well as evaluating the probable effects of sperm freezing on offspring health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Hezavehei
- Department of EmbryologyReproductive Biomedicine Research CentreRoyan Institute for Reproductive BiomedicineACECRTehranIran; Department of Animal BiologyFaculty of Biological SciencesKharazmi UniversityTehranIran
| | - Mohsen Sharafi
- Department of Poultry ScienceFaculty of AgricultureTarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran.
| | | | - Ralf Henkel
- American Centre for Reproductive MedicineCleveland ClinicClevelandUSA
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- Department of Medical BioscienceUniversity of the Western CapeBellvilleSouth Africa
| | - Vahid Esmaeili
- Department of EmbryologyReproductive Biomedicine Research CentreRoyan Institute for Reproductive BiomedicineACECRTehranIran
| | - Abdolhossein Shahverdi
- Department of EmbryologyReproductive Biomedicine Research CentreRoyan Institute for Reproductive BiomedicineACECRTehranIran.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Demyda-Peyrás S, Bottrel M, Acha D, Ortiz I, Hidalgo M, Carrasco J, Gómez-Arrones V, Gósalvez J, Dorado J. Effect of cooling rate on sperm quality of cryopreserved Andalusian donkey spermatozoa. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 193:201-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.04.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
20
|
Liu J, Ding W, Zhou X, Kang Y, Zou L, Li C, Zhu X, Gao D. Deglycerolization of red blood cells: A new dilution-filtration system. Cryobiology 2018; 81:160-167. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
21
|
Benson JD, Higgins AZ, Desai K, Eroglu A. A toxicity cost function approach to optimal CPA equilibration in tissues. Cryobiology 2018; 80:144-155. [PMID: 28966012 PMCID: PMC8183460 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
There is growing need for cryopreserved tissue samples that can be used in transplantation and regenerative medicine. While a number of specific tissue types have been successfully cryopreserved, this success is not general, and there is not a uniform approach to cryopreservation of arbitrary tissues. Additionally, while there are a number of long-established approaches towards optimizing cryoprotocols in single cell suspensions, and even plated cell monolayers, computational approaches in tissue cryopreservation have classically been limited to explanatory models. Here we develop a numerical approach to adapt cell-based CPA equilibration damage models for use in a classical tissue mass transport model. To implement this with real-world parameters, we measured CPA diffusivity in three human-sourced tissue types, skin, fibroid and myometrium, yielding propylene glycol diffusivities of 0.6 × 10-6 cm2/s, 1.2 × 10-6 cm2/s and 1.3 × 10-6 cm2/s, respectively. Based on these results, we numerically predict and compare optimal multistep equilibration protocols that minimize the cell-based cumulative toxicity cost function and the damage due to excessive osmotic gradients at the tissue boundary. Our numerical results show that there are fundamental differences between protocols designed to minimize total CPA exposure time in tissues and protocols designed to minimize accumulated CPA toxicity, and that "one size fits all" stepwise approaches are predicted to be more toxic and take considerably longer than needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James D Benson
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Adam Z Higgins
- School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, USA
| | - Kunjan Desai
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, USA
| | - Ali Eroglu
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zilli L, Bianchi A, Sabbagh M, Pecoraro L, Schiavone R, Vilella S. Development of sea bream (Sparus aurata) semen vitrification protocols. Theriogenology 2018; 110:103-109. [PMID: 29353140 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The long-term goal of this research project is to set up efficient protocol that can be used to develop a standardized approach for vitrification of marine fish spermatozoa. In particular, the aim of the present study was to develop a vitrification protocol for sea bream (Sparus aurata) spermatozoa. To draw up the protocol, we tested two different dilution media (1% NaCl and Mounib medium), three different vitrification devices (loops, drops and cut straws), different cryoprotectants (CPs) and three different equilibration times (30, 60 and 120 s). The effect of the different vitrification procedures on spermatozoa quality was checked by measuring spermatozoa motility rate and viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and the fertilizing ability of both fresh and post-thawed gametes. The best result was obtained by dropping directly into liquid nitrogen 20 μl of spermatozoa suspension (drop-wise method) diluted with Mounib buffer containing 10% Me2SO + 10% glycerol. The addition of a mixture of anti-freezing proteins, AFPI and AFPIII, to Mounib buffer significantly increases the spermatozoa quality following vitrification so confirming the usefulness of AFPs in improving the quality of gametes subjected to the vitrification process. The present study proves that vitrification offers an alternative to conventional sperm cryopreservation also in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Zilli
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le per Monteroni 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Bianchi
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le per Monteroni 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maroua Sabbagh
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le per Monteroni 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Laura Pecoraro
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le per Monteroni 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Roberta Schiavone
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le per Monteroni 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Vilella
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le per Monteroni 73100, Lecce, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abed-Elmdoust A, Farahmand H, Mojazi-Amiri B, Rafiee G, Rahimi R. Metabolic changes in droplet vitrified semen of wild endangered Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus (Borodin, 1997). Cryobiology 2017; 76:111-118. [PMID: 28341134 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Comparative quantitative metabolite profiling can be used for better understanding of cell functions and dysfunctions in particular circumstances such as sperm banking which is an important approach for cryopreservation of endangered species. Cryopreservation techniques have some deleterious effects on spermatozoa which put the obtained results in controversy. Therefore, in the present study, quantitative 1H NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) based metabolite profiling was conducted to evaluate metabolite changes related to energetics and some other detected metabolites in vitrified semen of critically endangered wild Acipenser persicus. The semen was diluted with extenders containing 0, 5, 10, and 15 μM of fish antifreeze protein (AFP) type III as a cryoprotectant. Semen-extenders were vitrified and stored for two days. Based on post-thaw motility duration and motility percentage assessments, two treatments with 10 μM and 0 μM of AFP had the highest and the lowest motility percentages respectively and they were objected to 1H NMR spectroscopy investigations in order to reveal the extremes of the metabolites dynamic range. Univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (PCA) analysis of the resulting metabolic profiles indicated significant changes (P > 0.05) in metabolites. The level of some metabolites including acetate, adenine, creatine, creatine phosphate, lactate, betaine, sarcosine, β-alanine and trimethylamine N-oxide significantly decreased in vitrified semen while some others such as creatinine, guanidinoacetate, N, N-dimethylglycine, and glycine significantly increased. There were also significant differences between vitrified treatments in levels of creatine, creatine phosphate, creatinine, glucose, guanidinoacetate, lactate, N, N-dimethylglycine, and glycine, suggesting how fish AFP type III can be effective as a cryoprotectant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amirreza Abed-Elmdoust
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Hamid Farahmand
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Bagher Mojazi-Amiri
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Rafiee
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ruhollah Rahimi
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Pradiee J, Esteso MC, Castaño C, Toledano-Díaz A, Lopez-Sebastián A, Guerra R, Santiago-Moreno J. Conventional slow freezing cryopreserves mouflon spermatozoa better than vitrification. Andrologia 2016; 49. [DOI: 10.1111/and.12629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Pradiee
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal; INIA; Madrid Spain
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico - Cnpq; Brasilia Brasil
| | - M. C. Esteso
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal; INIA; Madrid Spain
| | - C. Castaño
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal; INIA; Madrid Spain
| | | | | | - R. Guerra
- Zoológico de Córdoba; Ayuntamiento de Córdoba; Córdoba Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
The characterisation and cryopreservation of Venda chicken semen. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjr.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
|
26
|
Pradiee J, Esteso M, Lopez-Sebastián A, Toledano-Díaz A, Castaño C, Carrizosa J, Urrutia B, Santiago-Moreno J. Successful ultrarapid cryopreservation of wild Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2015; 84:1513-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
27
|
Aramli MS, Golshahi K, Nazari RM, Sotoudeh E, Aramli S, Habibi E. Effect of freezing rate for cryopreservation of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2015; 85:734-9. [PMID: 26549121 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the effect of freezing rate (-10 °C, -15 °C, -20 °C, -30 °C, and -40 °C/min) on motility parameters, rates of fertilization and hatching, ATP content, and indices of oxidative stress including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl derivatives of proteins in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) sperm. After sampling, sperm was diluted in an extender composed of 23.4-mM sucrose, 0.25-mM KCl, and 30-mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, containing 10% methanol and subsequently frozen in a programmable freezer. For postthaw sperm that were frozen at a rate of -40 °C/min, sperm motile duration (134 ± 27.01 seconds), sperm motile percent (60 ± 4.1%), fertilizability (72 ± 8.36% for fertilization rate and 65 ± 7.58% for hatching rate), and ATP content (4.8 ± 0.57 nmol/10(8) sperm) were significantly higher than for sperm frozen at any of the four slower rates (P < 0.05). Moreover, sperm cryopreserved using the fastest freezing rate had significantly lower levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (0.5 ± 0.05 nmol/10(8) sperm) and carbonyl derivatives of proteins (41.3 ± 4.9 nmol/10(8) sperm) than sperm cryopreserved using all other freezing rates (P < 0.05). In addition, there is a significant difference (P < 0.05) between fresh sperm and the recovery of cryopreserved Persian sturgeon sperm using programmable freezing with -40 °C/min being the optimal freezing rate among those tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Karim Golshahi
- Young Researchers and Elites Club, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ebrahim Sotoudeh
- Fisheries Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Salim Aramli
- Medicine Laboratory, Alavi Educational and Treatment Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Ensieh Habibi
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University, Karaj, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
High levels of penetrating cryoprotectants (CPAs) can eliminate ice formation during cryopreservation of cells, tissues, and organs to cryogenic temperatures. But CPAs become increasingly toxic as concentration increases. Many strategies have been attempted to overcome the problem of eliminating ice while minimizing toxicity, such as attempting to optimize cooling and warming rates, or attempting to optimize time of adding individual CPAs during cooling. Because strategies currently used are not adequate, CPA toxicity remains the greatest obstacle to cryopreservation. CPA toxicity stands in the way of cryogenic cryopreservation of human organs, a procedure that has the potential to save many lives. This review attempts to describe what is known about CPA toxicity, theories of CPA toxicity, and strategies to reduce CPA toxicity. Critical analysis and suggestions are also included.
Collapse
|
29
|
Zou L, Ding W, Sun S, Tang F, Gao D. Fatigue damage to pig erythrocytes during repeated swelling and shrinkage. Cryobiology 2015; 71:210-5. [PMID: 26143742 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
During the removal of cryoprotectants from cryopreserved-thawed blood with the dialysis-based or dilution-filtration method, due to the change in the extracellular osmolality, erythrocytes usually undergo repeated swelling and shrinkage. However, the erythrocyte fatigue damage induced by this repeated volume change has not yet been studied. In this work, by successively loading hypotonic and hypertonic solutions, we mimicked the repeated swelling and shrinkage of pig erythrocytes and then examined the effect of the number of cycle loops on the steady-state volume and the mortality of the pig erythrocytes. The results suggest that because of cell leakage in the swelling process, the steady-state volume of the pig erythrocytes after one cycle is smaller than the volume before the cycle, even though the cell performs a self-protective regulatory procedure. If the number of cycle loops is increased, the repeated swelling and shrinkage will cause a continuous decrease in the steady-state volume, and the ability of the pig erythrocytes to resist osmotic damage will decrease; as a result, the mortality of the pig erythrocytes increases as the number of cycle loops increases. The viability of the cells is also affected by the hypotonic and isotonic processing times: a short processing time may contribute to a decrease in the mortality of the pig erythrocytes. This work is of significance to optimizing the process of removing cryoprotectants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zou
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Weiping Ding
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Sijie Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Fangqiong Tang
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Dayong Gao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Effect of the polydispersity of RBCs on the recovery rate of RBCs during the removal of CPAs. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2015; 2014:792302. [PMID: 25580156 PMCID: PMC4279270 DOI: 10.1155/2014/792302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the process of removing cryoprotectants from cryopreserved blood, the theoretically optimal operating condition, which is based on the assumption that the distribution of red blood cells is uniform, is often used to reduce or even avoid the hypotonic damage to cells. However, due to the polydispersity of cells, the optimal condition is actually not reliable. In this study, based on the discrete concept developed in our previous work, the effect of the polydispersity on the recovery rate of cells in the dilution-filtration system was statistically investigated by assigning three random parameters, isotonic cell volume, cell surface area, and osmotically inactive cell volume, to cells in small units of blood. The results show that, due to the polydispersity, the real recovery rate deviates from the ideal value that is based on uniform distribution. The deviation significantly increases with the standard errors of cell parameters, and it can be also magnified by high cryoprotectant concentrations. Under the effect of polydispersity, the uniform distribution-based optimized blood or diluent flow rate is not perfect. In practice, one should adopt a more conservative blood or diluent flow rate so that the hypotonic damage to cells can be further reduced.
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
Modeling plays a critical role in understanding the biophysical processes behind cryopreservation. It facilitates understanding of the biophysical and some of the biochemical mechanisms of damage during all phases of cryopreservation including CPA equilibration, cooling, and warming. Modeling also provides a tool for optimization of cryopreservation protocols and has yielded a number of successes in this regard. While modern cryobiological modeling includes very detailed descriptions of the physical phenomena that occur during freezing, including ice growth kinetics and spatial gradients that define heat and mass transport models, here we reduce the complexity and approach only a small but classic subset of these problems. Namely, here we describe the process of building and using a mathematical model of a cell in suspension where spatial homogeneity is assumed for all quantities. We define the models that describe the critical cell quantities used to describe optimal and suboptimal protocols and then give an overview of classical methods of how to determine optimal protocols using these models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James D Benson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Sharma R, Kattoor AJ, Ghulmiyyah J, Agarwal A. Effect of sperm storage and selection techniques on sperm parameters. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2014; 61:1-12. [DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2014.976720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|
33
|
Anderson DM, Benson JD, Kearsley AJ. Foundations of modeling in cryobiology-I: concentration, Gibbs energy, and chemical potential relationships. Cryobiology 2014; 69:349-60. [PMID: 25240602 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mathematical modeling plays an enormously important role in understanding the behavior of cells, tissues, and organs undergoing cryopreservation. Uses of these models range from explanation of phenomena, exploration of potential theories of damage or success, development of equipment, and refinement of optimal cryopreservation/cryoablation strategies. Over the last half century there has been a considerable amount of work in bio-heat and mass-transport, and these models and theories have been readily and repeatedly applied to cryobiology with much success. However, there are significant gaps between experimental and theoretical results that suggest missing links in models. One source for these potential gaps is that cryobiology is at the intersection of several very challenging aspects of transport theory: it couples multi-component, moving boundary, multiphase solutions that interact through a semipermeable elastic membrane with multicomponent solutions in a second time-varying domain, during a two-hundred Kelvin temperature change with multi-molar concentration gradients and multi-atmosphere pressure changes. In order to better identify potential sources of error, and to point to future directions in modeling and experimental research, we present a three part series to build from first principles a theory of coupled heat and mass transport in cryobiological systems accounting for all of these effects. The hope of this series is that by presenting and justifying all steps, conclusions may be made about the importance of key assumptions, perhaps pointing to areas of future research or model development, but importantly, lending weight to standard simplification arguments that are often made in heat and mass transport. In this first part, we review concentration variable relationships, their impact on choices for Gibbs energy models, and their impact on chemical potentials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Anderson
- Applied and Computational Mathematics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8910, United States; Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States.
| | - James D Benson
- Applied and Computational Mathematics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8910, United States; Department of Mathematical Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115-2888, United States.
| | - Anthony J Kearsley
- Applied and Computational Mathematics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8910, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhou X, Gao F, Shu Z, Chung JH, Heimfeld S, Gao D. Theoretical and experimental analyses of optimal experimental design for determination of hydraulic conductivity of cell membrane. Biopreserv Biobank 2014; 8:147-52. [PMID: 24836483 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2010.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Determination of cell hydraulic conductivity (Lp) is required to predict the optimal conditions for cell cryopreservation. One of the critical procedures associated with the determination of Lp is to measure the kinetics of cell volume change in response to a sudden cell exposure to anisosmotic media until the cells achieve an osmotic equilibrium state. To achieve accurate measurement, it should be ensured that (1) the cell osmotic equilibration process is sufficiently slow, and (2) the total cell volume change (ΔV) is much larger than the resolution of the measuring device (δ). In this article, a cell's half volume excursion time (t*) was defined as the time in which osmotically active cell water volume increases or decreases by half of its maximum change. Based on the water transport equations, a series of analytical solutions were derived. The t* and ΔV were expressed as functions of 2 control variables: initial intracellular osmolality (Mo) and extracellular osmolality (Me), and the effects of Me and Mo on t* and ΔV were predicted theoretically. The predictions were confirmed by performing experiments using two different cell types. In the light of this study, a strategy to optimize the experiment design for the Lp determination is suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhou
- 1 School of Mechatronics Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China , Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Osmotic tolerance limits of red blood cells from umbilical cord blood. Cryobiology 2014; 69:48-54. [PMID: 24836371 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2013] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Effective methods for long-term preservation of cord red blood cells (RBCs) are needed to ensure a readily available supply of RBCs to treat fetal and neonatal anemia. Cryopreservation is a potential long-term storage strategy for maintaining the quality of cord RBCs for the use in intrauterine and neonatal transfusion. However, during cryopreservation, cells are subjected to damaging osmotic stresses during cryoprotectant addition and removal and freezing and thawing that require knowledge of osmotic tolerance limits in order to optimize the preservation process. The objective of this study was to characterize the osmotic tolerance limits of cord RBCs in conditions relevant to cryopreservation, and compare the results to the osmotic tolerance limits of adult RBCs. Osmotic tolerance limits were determined by exposing RBCs to solutions of different concentrations to induce a range of osmotic volume changes. Three treatment groups of adult and cord RBCs were tested: (1) isotonic saline, (2) 40% w/v glycerol, and (3) frozen-thawed RBCs in 40% w/v glycerol. We show that cord RBCs are more sensitive to shrinkage and swelling than adult RBCs, indicating that osmotic tolerance limits should be considered when adding and removing cryoprotectants. In addition, freezing and thawing resulted in both cord and adult RBCs becoming more sensitive to post-thaw swelling requiring that glycerol removal procedures for both cell types ensure that cell volume excursions are maintained below 1.7 times the isotonic osmotically active volume to attain good post-wash cell recovery. Our results will help inform the development of optimized cryopreservation protocol for cord RBCs.
Collapse
|
36
|
Kashuba CM, Benson JD, Critser JK. Rationally optimized cryopreservation of multiple mouse embryonic stem cell lines: II--Mathematical prediction and experimental validation of optimal cryopreservation protocols. Cryobiology 2014; 68:176-84. [PMID: 24560712 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2013.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In Part I, we documented differences in cryopreservation success measured by membrane integrity in four mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) lines from different genetic backgrounds (BALB/c, CBA, FVB, and 129R1), and we demonstrated a potential biophysical basis for these differences through a comparative study characterizing the membrane permeability characteristics and osmotic tolerance limits of each cell line. Here we use these values to predict optimal cryoprotectants, cooling rates, warming rates, and plunge temperatures. We subsequently verified these predictions experimentally for their effects on post-thaw recovery. From this study, we determined that a cryopreservation protocol utilizing 1M propylene glycol, a cooling rate of 1°C/minute, and plunging into liquid nitrogen at -41°C, combined with subsequent warming in a 22°C water bath with agitation, significantly improved post-thaw recovery for three of the four mESC lines, and did not diminish post-thaw recovery for our single exception. It is proposed that this protocol can be successfully applied to most mESC lines beyond those included within this study once the effect of propylene glycol on mESC gene expression, growth characteristics, and germ-line transmission has been determined. Mouse ESC lines with poor survival using current standard cryopreservation protocols or our proposed protocol can be optimized on a case-by-case basis using the method we have outlined over two papers. For our single exception, the CBA cell line, a cooling rate of 5°C/minute in the presence of 1.0M dimethyl sulfoxide or 1.0M propylene glycol, combined with plunge temperature of -80°C was optimal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corinna M Kashuba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA.
| | - James D Benson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - John K Critser
- University of Missouri Comparative Medicine Center, 4011 Discovery Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bagchi A, Woods EJ, Critser JK. Cryopreservation and vitrification: recent advances in fertility preservation technologies. Expert Rev Med Devices 2014; 5:359-70. [DOI: 10.1586/17434440.5.3.359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
38
|
Kashuba CM, Benson JD, Critser JK. Rationally optimized cryopreservation of multiple mouse embryonic stem cell lines: I--Comparative fundamental cryobiology of multiple mouse embryonic stem cell lines and the implications for embryonic stem cell cryopreservation protocols. Cryobiology 2013; 68:166-75. [PMID: 24384367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2013.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The post-thaw recovery of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) is often assumed to be adequate with current methods. However as this publication will show, this recovery of viable cells actually varies significantly by genetic background. Therefore there is a need to improve the efficiency and reduce the variability of current mESC cryopreservation methods. To address this need, we employed the principles of fundamental cryobiology to improve the cryopreservation protocol of four mESC lines from different genetic backgrounds (BALB/c, CBA, FVB, and 129R1 mESCs) through a comparative study characterizing the membrane permeability characteristics and membrane integrity osmotic tolerance limits of each cell line. In the companion paper, these values were used to predict optimal cryoprotectants, cooling rates, warming rates, and plunge temperatures, and then these predicted optimal protocols were validated against standard freezing protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corinna M Kashuba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA.
| | - James D Benson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - John K Critser
- University of Missouri Comparative Medicine Center, 4011 Discovery Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Martorana K, Klooster K, Meyers S. Suprazero cooling rate, rather than freezing rate, determines post thaw quality of rhesus macaque sperm. Theriogenology 2013; 81:381-8. [PMID: 24239181 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sperm become most sensitive to cold shock when cooled from 37 °C to 5 °C at rates that are too fast or too slow; cold shock increases the susceptibility to oxidative damage owing to its influence on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which are significant stress factors generated during cooling and low temperature storage. In addition, ROS may be a main cause of decreased motility and fertility upon warming. They have been shown to change cellular function through the disruption of the sperm plasma membrane and through damage to proteins and DNA. The objective of this study was to determine which cryopreservation rates result in the lowest degree of oxidative damage and greatest sperm quality. In the rhesus model, it has not been determined whether suprazero cooling or subzero freezing rates causes a significant amount of ROS damage to sperm. Semen samples were collected from male rhesus macaques, washed, and resuspended in TEST-yolk cryopreservation buffer to 100 × 10(6) sperm/mL. Sperm were frozen in 0.5-mL straws at four different combinations of suprazero and subzero rates. Three different suprazero rates were used between 22 °C and 0 °C: 0.5 °C/min (slow), 45 °C/min (medium), and 93 °C/min (fast). These suprazero rates were used in combination with two different subzero rates for temperatures 0 °C to -110 °C: 42 °C/min (medium) and 87 °C/min (fast). The different freezing groups were as follows: slow-med (SM), slow-fast (SF), med-med (MM), and fast-fast (FF). Flow cytometry was used to detect lipid peroxidation (LPO), a result of ROS generation. Motility was evaluated using a computer assisted sperm motion analyzer. The MM and FF treated sperm had less viable (P < 0.0001) and motile sperm (P < 0.001) than the SM, SF, or fresh sperm. Sperm exposed to MM and FF treatments demonstrated significantly higher oxidative damage than SM, SF, or fresh sperm (P < 0.05). The SM- and SF-treated sperm showed decreased motility, membrane integrity, and LPO compared with fresh semen (P < 0.001). Slow cooling from room temperature promotes higher membrane integrity and motility post thaw, compared with medium or fast cooling rates. Cells exposed to similar cooling rates with differing freezing rates were not different in motility and membrane integrity, whereas comparison of cells exposed to differing cooling rates with similar freezing rates indicated significant differences in motility, membrane integrity, and LPO. These data suggest that sperm quality seems to be more sensitive to the cooling, rather than freezing rate and highlight the role of the suprazero cooling rate in post thaw sperm quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Martorana
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Katie Klooster
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stuart Meyers
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Benson JD, Woods EJ, Walters EM, Critser JK. The cryobiology of spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2013; 78:1682-99. [PMID: 23062722 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Revised: 05/17/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The impact of successful cryopreservation of spermatozoa can be found in many fields, including agriculture, laboratory animal medicine, and human assisted reproduction, providing a cost-effective and efficient method to preserve genetic material for decades. The success of any cryobiologic protocol depends critically on understanding the fundamentals that underlie the process. In this review, we summarize the biophysical fundamentals critical to much of the research in sperm cryobiology, provide a synopsis of the development of sperm cryobiology as a discipline, and present the current state and directions for future research in sperm cryobiology in the three major areas outlined above-agriculture, laboratory animal medicine, and human clinical assisted reproduction. There is much room for new research, both empiric and fundamental, in all areas, including refinement of mathematical models, optimization of cryoprotective agent addition and removal procedures for spermatozoa from many species, development of effective, efficient, and facile cryopreservation protocols and freezing containers for agricultural sperm cryopreservation, and tailoring cryopreservation protocols for individual human samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J D Benson
- Department of Mathematics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Lusianti RE, Benson JD, Acker JP, Higgins AZ. Rapid removal of glycerol from frozen-thawed red blood cells. Biotechnol Prog 2013; 29:609-20. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ratih E. Lusianti
- School of Chemical; Biological and Environmental Engineering; Oregon State University; Corvallis OR 97331
| | - James D. Benson
- Dept. of Mathematical Sciences; Northern Illinois University; DeKalb IL 60115
| | - Jason P. Acker
- Research and Development; Canadian Blood Services; Edmonton AB T6G 2R8 Canada
- Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; University of Alberta; Edmonton AB T6G 2R8 Canada
| | - Adam Z. Higgins
- School of Chemical; Biological and Environmental Engineering; Oregon State University; Corvallis OR 97331
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Mara L, Casu S, Carta A, Dattena M. Cryobanking of farm animal gametes and embryos as a means of conserving livestock genetics. Anim Reprod Sci 2013; 138:25-38. [PMID: 23477753 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2013.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 02/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In the last few decades, farm animal genetic diversity has rapidly declined, mainly due to changing market demands and intensification of agriculture. But, since the removal of single species can affect the functioning of global ecosystems, it is in the interest of international community to conserve the livestock genetics and to maintain biodiversity. Increasing awareness on the reduction of breed diversity has prompted global efforts for conservation of farm animal breeds. The goals of conservation are to keep genetic variation as gene combinations in a reversible form and to keep specific genes of interest. For this purpose two types of strategies are usually proposed: in situ and ex situ conservation. In situ conservation is the breed maintaining within the livestock production system, in its environment through the enhancement of its production characteristics. Ex situ in vivo conservation is the safeguard of live animals in zoos, wildlife parks, experimental farms or other specialized centres. Ex situ in vitro conservation is the preservation of genetic material in haploid form (semen and oocytes), diploid (embryos) or DNA sequences. In the last few years, ex situ in vitro conservation programs of livestock genetic resources have focused interest on cryopreservation of gametes, embryos and somatic cells as well as testis and ovarian tissues, effectively lengthening the genetic lifespan of individuals in a breeding program even after the death. However, although significant progress has been made in semen, oocytes and embryo cryopreservation of several domestic species, a standardized procedure has not been established yet. The aim of the present review is to describe the cryobanking purposes, the collection goals, the type of genetic material to store and the reproductive biotechnologies utilized for the cryopreservation of farm animal gametes and embryos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Mara
- Agris-Sardegna, DIRPA, Reproduction Division, S.S. 291 Km 18.6, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Sara Casu
- Agris-Sardegna, DIRPA, Genetic and biotechnology division, S.S. 291 Km 18.6, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - A Carta
- Agris-Sardegna, DIRIP, Production and Technology Division, Italy
| | - M Dattena
- Agris-Sardegna, DIRPA, Reproduction Division, S.S. 291 Km 18.6, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Rives N, Sibert L, Perdrix A, Hennebicq S, Julliard JC. [Assisted reproductive technologies with sperm donation]. Prog Urol 2012; 22:561-7. [PMID: 22920333 DOI: 10.1016/j.purol.2012.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Revised: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this review is to relate to the operating rules of CECOS in France and the legal, medical and ethical issues raised by sperm donation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of articles and consensus conferences on this subject published in Medline (PubMed) selected from 1973 and 2011 according to their relevance and Acts recorded on official legislative French websites. RESULTS The operating rules of CECOS were established by the Act of July 29, 2004, revised 6 August 2004 and July 7, 2011. Of the 21,759 children born of ART in France in 2009, 5.1% are from a sperm donation. From 1973 to 2006, 44,045 children are born after a sperm donation. Between 1973 and 2006, 16,971 donors are presented in the CECOS and only 10,347 donors have completely made their donation process. The main indication for use of donor sperm (75% of applications) is represented by men of infertile couples with nonobstructive azoospermia, the second indication is infertile men with oligospermia. In azoospermia, the application is usually performed after failure of testicular or epididymal surgical specimen. In oligozoospermia, claims made most often after several failures of intraconjugal ART. CONCLUSION Many questions are still present around the conception of children by sperm donation. The legitimacy of maintaining anonymity in the gift remains widely debated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Rives
- Laboratoire de biologie de la reproduction-CECOS, CHU-hôpitaux de Rouen, université de Rouen, CHU Charles-Nicolle, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Benson JD, Chicone CC, Critser JK. Analytical optimal controls for the state constrained addition and removal of cryoprotective agents. Bull Math Biol 2012; 74:1516-30. [PMID: 22527943 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-012-9724-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cryobiology is a field with enormous scientific, financial, and even cultural impact. Successful cryopreservation of cells and tissues depends on the equilibration of these materials with high concentrations of permeating chemicals (CPAs) such as glycerol or 1,2 propylene glycol. Because cells and tissues are exposed to highly anisosmotic conditions, the resulting gradients cause large volume fluctuations that have been shown to damage cells and tissues. On the other hand, there is evidence that toxicity to these high levels of chemicals is time dependent, and therefore it is ideal to minimize exposure time as well. Because solute and solvent flux is governed by a system of ordinary differential equations, CPA addition and removal from cells is an ideal context for the application of optimal control theory. Recently, we presented a mathematical synthesis of the optimal controls for the ODE system commonly used in cryobiology in the absence of state constraints and showed that controls defined by this synthesis were optimal. Here we define the appropriate model, analytically extend the previous theory to one encompassing state constraints, and as an example apply this to the critical and clinically important cell type of human oocytes, where current methodologies are either difficult to implement or have very limited success rates. We show that an enormous increase in equilibration efficiency can be achieved under the new protocols when compared to classic protocols, potentially allowing a greatly increased survival rate for human oocytes and pointing to a direction for the cryopreservation of many other cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James D Benson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL 60178, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kim S, Lee Y, Yang H, Kim YJ. Rapid freezing without cooling equilibration in canine sperm. Anim Reprod Sci 2012; 130:111-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2011] [Revised: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/29/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
46
|
Isachenko V, Isachenko E, Petrunkina AM, Sanchez R. Human spermatozoa vitrified in the absence of permeable cryoprotectants: birth of two healthy babies. Reprod Fertil Dev 2012; 24:323-6. [DOI: 10.1071/rd11061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2011] [Accepted: 05/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report the birth of two healthy babies to a woman following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using motile spermatozoa vitrified without permeable cryoprotectants. Spermatozoa (in a case of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) were cooled in cut standard straws in human tubal fluid supplemented with 0.5% human serum albumin and 0.25 M sucrose. Sperm motility, capacitation-like changes, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were compared in fresh and vitrified spermatozoa. Eight mature (MII) oocytes were microinjected with the vitrified–warmed motile spermatozoa. Although the motility of vitrified–warmed spermatozoa was markedly lower than that of fresh spermatozoa (60% v. 90%, respectively), there were no immediate visible differences in the percentages of capacitated and acrosome-reacted vitrified and fresh spermatozoa (10% v. 8% and 5% v. 8%, respectively). However, the MMP in vitrified spermatozoa was apparently adversely affected in the ejaculate used for ICSI compared with fresh spermatozoa (63% v. 96% spermatozoa with high MMP). Eighteen hours later, six oocytes showed signs of normal fertilisation. Two-pronuclear oocytes were cultured in vitro for 24 h and two four-blastomere embryos were transferred. Two healthy girls were born at term. Our findings suggest that permeable cryoprotectant-free vitrification can be applied successfully for some procedures in assisted reproduction, in particular in ICSI with motile vitrified spermatozoa, to achieve normal pregnancy and birth.
Collapse
|
47
|
Merino O, Sánchez R, Risopatrón J, Isachenko E, Katkov II, Figueroa E, Valdebenito I, Mallmann P, Isachenko V. Cryoprotectant-free vitrification of fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spermatozoa: first report. Andrologia 2011; 44 Suppl 1:390-5. [PMID: 21806657 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01196.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The aims of this investigation were to test a novel technology comprising cryoprotectant-free vitrification of the spermatozoa of rainbow trout and to study the ability of sucrose and components of seminal plasma to protect these cells from cryo-injuries. Spermatozoa were isolated and vitrified using three different media: Group 1: standard buffer for fish spermatozoa, Cortland(®) medium (CM, control); Group 2: CM + 1% BSA + 40% seminal plasma; and Group 3: CM + 1% BSA + 40% seminal plasma + 0.125 m sucrose. For cooling, 20-μl suspensions of cells from each group were dropped directly into liquid nitrogen. For warming, the spheres containing the cells were quickly submerged in CM + 1% BSA at 37 °C with gentle agitation. The quality of spermatozoa before and after vitrification was analysed by the evaluation of motility and cytoplasmic membrane integrity with SYBR-14/propidium iodide staining technique. Motility (86%, 81% and 82% for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively) (P > 0.1) was not decreased significantly. At the same time, cytoplasmic membrane integrity of spermatozoa of Groups 1, 2 and 3 was changed significantly (30%, 87% and 76% respectively) (P < 0.05). All tested solutions can be used for vitrification of fish spermatozoa with good post-warming motility. However, cytoplasmic membrane integrity was maximal in Group 2 (CM + 1% BSA + 40% seminal plasma). In conclusion, this is the first report about successful cryoprotectant-free cryopreservation of fish spermatozoa by direct plunging into liquid nitrogen (vitrification). Vitrification of fish spermatozoa without permeable cryoprotectants is a prospective direction for investigations: these cells can be successfully vitrified with 1% BSA + 40% seminal plasma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- O Merino
- Center of Biotechnology in Reproduction, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Merino O, Risopatrón J, Sánchez R, Isachenko E, Figueroa E, Valdebenito I, Isachenko V. Fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spermatozoa cryoprotectant-free vitrification: stability of mitochondrion as criterion of effectiveness. Anim Reprod Sci 2011; 124:125-31. [PMID: 21392903 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Revised: 02/04/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present investigations was to test a novel technology comprising cryoprotectant-free vitrification of the spermatozoa of rainbow trout and to study the ability of sucrose and components of seminal plasma to protect these cells from cryoinjuries. Spermatozoa were isolated and vitrified using five different mediums: Group 1: standard buffer for fish spermatozoa, Cortland(®)-medium (CM, control); Group 2: CM+1% bovine serum albumin (BSA); Group 3: CM+1% BSA+0.125 M sucrose; Group 4: CM+1% BSA+40% seminal plasma; and Group 5: CM+1% BSA+40% seminal plasma+0.125 M sucrose. For cooling, 20 μL suspensions of cells from each group were dropped directly into liquid nitrogen. For warming, the spheres containing the cells were quickly submerged in CM+1% BSA at 37 °C with gentle agitation. The quality of spermatozoa before and after vitrification was analysed by the evaluation of motility, cytoplasmic membrane integrity (SYBR-14/propidium iodide staining technique), and mitochondrial membrane integrity (JC-1 staining). Motility (86%, 71%, 80%, 81%, and 82%, for Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively) and cytoplasmic membrane integrity (90%, 82%, 83%, 84%, and 87%, respectively) of spermatozoa in all the 5 groups were not decreased significantly. All tested solutions can be used for vitrification of fish spermatozoa with good post-warming motility and cytoplasmic membrane integrity. However, mitochondrial membrane potentials of the spermatozoa in Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were changed significantly (6%, 50%, 37%, 55%, and 34%, respectively) (P(1,2,3,4,5)<0.001; P(2,3,4,5) <0.01)(P(3-5)>0.1). This rate was maximal in Group 4 (CM+1% BSA+40% seminal plasma). In conclusion, this is the first report about successful cryoprotectant-free cryopreservation of fish spermatozoa by direct plunging into liquid nitrogen (vitrification). Vitrification of fish spermatozoa without permeable cryoprotectants is a prospective direction for investigations: these cells can be successfully vitrified with 1% BSA+40% seminal plasma without significant loss of important physiological parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- O Merino
- Center of Biotechnology in Reproduction, La Frontera University, P.O. Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Gupta S, Agarwal A, Sharma R, Ahmady A. Recovery, Preparation, Storage and Utilization of Spermatozoa for Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients and Sub-Fertile Men. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1177/205891581000100204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation is an important part of an infertility program for patients undergoing infertility treatments, fertility assurance for vasectomy cases, and for fertility preservation due to cancer or other medical conditions. With recent developments in reproductive technology, even men with severely impaired sperm parameters can benefit from cryopreservation as procedures such as intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) require only a few sperm to achieve fertilization and pregnancy. The increasing success of cancer treatment and concerted efforts to ensure quality of life after successful treatment have placed great emphasis on the need to preserve the reproductive capability of young men. It is a highly effective method of protecting male fertility potential, and involves collection, freezing, and long-term storage of sperm. Based on the etiological condition of the patients, sperm can be collected by ejaculation or by surgical retrieval from epididymis or testes. The option to bank sperm should be offered systematically to all patients who may benefit. However, this is not a standard of practice yet; it may be overlooked due to lack of physician awareness regarding the need for fertility preservation and the effectiveness of this option, and/or overestimating the limitations of poor baseline sperm quality leading physician to view cryopreservation as futile. Failure to offer cryopreservation ignores the only possible reproductive option available to certain patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sajal Gupta
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, & Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, & Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Reecha Sharma
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, & Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ali Ahmady
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- MacDonald IVF and Fertility program, University Hospitals Case Medical Centre, Cleveland, OH
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Weng L, Li W, Zuo J. Kinetics of osmotic water flow across cell membranes in non-ideal solutions during freezing and thawing. Cryobiology 2010; 61:194-203. [PMID: 20654609 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2010.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2010] [Revised: 07/07/2010] [Accepted: 07/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation requires quantitatively analytical models to simulate the biophysical responses of biomaterials during cryopreservation. The Mazur model and other improved ones, such as Karlsson model concerning solutions containing cryoprotectants (CPA), are somehow precluded by some minor points, particularly, the assumption of ideal solutions. To avoid the ideal solution assumption, in this study a new method is developed to simulate water transport across cell membranes in non-ideal solutions during cooling and thawing. The comparison between osmolalities calculated by the linear freezing-point depression used in this new method and other non-ideal ones is conducted and a good agreement is achieved. In addition, in an ideal case, besides a theoretical agreement, this new approach has been validated by its numerical simulation results. Comparisons between this new approach and the traditional ones with an ideal solution assumption have been conducted based on a spherical hypothetical cell. The main results are (1) the predicted non-ideal intracellular water content is larger than the ideal results; (2) the concentration of CPA solutions is directly proportional to the deviation between the non-ideal and ideal curves. In the end, this study presents a direct description of the degree of subcooling of the protoplasm during dynamic cooling. This study demonstrates that our experimental data-based method is a valid one with clear physical interpretations, convenient expressions and a more extensive application room than traditional ones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindong Weng
- Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Province, PR China
| | | | | |
Collapse
|