Vitrification Technique - New Possibilities for Male Gamete Low-Temperature Storage

Kinetic Vitrification of Spermatozoa of Vertebrates: What Can We Learn from Nature?

“…Most importantly, the results led to the birth of healthy babies and at least one group has repeated the Isachenko method and has obtained good results completely independently-they report their data in Chapter 3 [Moskovtsev et al, 2012]. The authors dedicate a separate Chapter 2 in this Book for summarizing their achievements [Isachenko et al, 2012]. Below, we not only briefly explore progress of the method but also show that even as the staunchest opponent of the method (more precisely, interpretation of the results) as Dr. Fahy has also evolved in his perception of "legitimacy" of kinetic vitrification, which we had never doubted at the beginning.…”

“…That marked the "second wind" in the kinetic VF of spermatozoa. The history of the development is described in numerous papers [Isachenko et al, 2004a;Isachenko et al, 2008;Isachenko et al, 2004b;Isachenko et al, 2005] and several reviews by the authors Isachenko et al, 2010;Katkov et al, 2007] and briefly touched in this Book in Chapter 2 [Isachenko et al, 2012]. The method has been involved from a cryo loop (pellicle) through droplets in LN 2 to quite elaborated "aseptic technology".…”

“…The Isachenko group has recently expanded K-VF method to other mammalian species (dogs) and to an even more distance vertebrate taxon, the fish (see below and also a separate Chapter [Isachenko et al, 2012] We have defined 5 major ways of cell stabilization that all lead to low-or high-temperature VF of intracellular milieu as we outlined in [Katkov et al, 2006], which are shown on a schematic phase diagram ( Fig. 1) adapted from [Devireddy & Thirumala, 2011] with some corrections and additions.…”

Vitrification: the pioneering past to current trends and perspectives of cryopreserving human embryos, gametes and reproductive tissue

“…140,143,145,146 It was proven that sperm functionality, as measured by acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial activity, plasma membrane function, DNA fragmentation, motility and fertilizability, was similar to or better than conventional slow freezing. 141,142,144,[147][148][149] Clinical efforts have further shown that vitrification of sperm in higher volumes (up to 0.5 mL) can be a practical and effective treatment achieving pregnancies and live births by IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures. 141,142,145,147,[150][151][152][153][154] Although kinetic sperm vitrification has been proven effective for over 15 years, 5,147 it has not been met with the same large-scale acceptance and industry application afforded to eggs and embryos.…”

“…141,142,144,[147][148][149] Clinical efforts have further shown that vitrification of sperm in higher volumes (up to 0.5 mL) can be a practical and effective treatment achieving pregnancies and live births by IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures. 141,142,145,147,[150][151][152][153][154] Although kinetic sperm vitrification has been proven effective for over 15 years, 5,147 it has not been met with the same large-scale acceptance and industry application afforded to eggs and embryos. However, as experimentation continues and more users become familiar with this technology, a trend away from traditional sperm freezing in the presence of toxic CPAs could well occur overtime.…”