Core–Shell Microfiber Encapsulation Enables Glycerol‑Free Cryopreservation of RBCs with High Hematocrit

Cryopreservation of red blood cells(RBCs)provides great potential benefits for providing transfusion timely in emergencies.High concentrations of glycerol(20%or 40%)are used for RBC cryopreservation in current clinical practice,which results in cytotoxicity and osmotic injuries that must be carefully controlled.However,existing studies on the low-glycerol cryopreservation of RBCs still suffer from the bottleneck of low hematocrit levels,which require relatively large storage space and an extra concentration process before transfusion,making it inconvenient(time-consuming,and also may cause injury and sample lose)for clinical applications.To this end,we develop a novel method for the glycerol-free cryopreservation of human RBCs with a high final hematocrit by using trehalose as the sole cryoprotectant to dehydrate RBCs and using core–shell alginate hydrogel microfibers to enhance heat transfer during cryopreservation.Different from previous studies,we achieve the cryopreservation of human RBCs at high hematocrit(>40%)with high recovery(up to 95%).Additionally,the washed RBCs post-cryopreserved are proved to maintain their morphology,mechanics,and functional properties.This may provide a nontoxic,high-efficiency,and glycerol-free approach for RBC cryopreservation,along with potential clinical transfusion benefits.

Vitrification cryopreservation of ligaments based on zwitterionic betaine

Ligament cryopreservation enables a prolonged shelf life of allogeneic ligament grafts,which is fundamentally important to ligament reconstruction.However,conventional cryopreservation techniques fail to eliminate the damage caused by ice crystal growth and the toxicity of cryopreservation agents(CPAs).Here,we report a novel CPA vitrification formulation primarily composed of betaine for ligament cryopreservation.Comprehensive optimization was conducted on the methods for vitrification and rewarming,as well as the loading and unloading conditions,based on the critical cooling rate(CCR),critical warming rate(CWR),and permeation properties of the CPA.Using biomechanical and histological level tests,we demonstrate the superior performance of our method in ligament cryopreservation.After 30 days of vitrification cryopreservation,parameters such as the Young's modulus,tensile stress,denaturation temperature,and glycosaminoglycans content of the ligament remained essentially unchanged.This work pioneers the application of ice-free cryopreservation for ligament and holds great potential for improving the long-term storage of ligament,providing valuable insights for future cryopreservation technique development.

Culture in vitro and Cryopreservation of Shouguang Black Chicken Fibroblasts

[Objective] The aim of this study was to establish the in vitro culture system of chicken fibroblasts.[Method] Tissue explant method and enzymatic digestion method were used to separate and culture chicken skin fibroblasts respectively.The rate of cell growth,cryopreservation and recovery were compared.[Result] The primary chicken fibroblasts prepared by enzymatic digestion grew faster and converged together to form monolayer on 5 d post preparation;the passage cells prepared by these 2 methods grew at similar speed and formed monolayer within 2-3 d;homogeneous fibroblasts could be obtained by trypsin digestion and repeated attachment for 3-4 passages;there were 75%-80% of cells survived after cryopreservation and recovery;the growth curves of embryonic fibroblasts and skin fibroblasts were all normal and the two kind of cells still retained the normal number of chromosomes even at the twelfth passage.[Conclusion] The feeder layer cells needed for establishing ES cell lines could be obtained by culturing chicken fibroblasts through both tissue explant method and enzymatic digestion method.This study provided a basis for the successful establishment of ES cell lines.

Cryopreservation of cynomolgus monkey (Macacafascicularis)spermatozoa in a chemically defined extender

Aim:To establish a method for cynomolgus monkey sperm cryopreservation in a chemically defined extender. Methods:Semen samples were collected by electro-ejaculation from four sexually mature male cynomolgus monkeys. The spermatozoa were frozen in straws by liquid nitrogen vapor using egg-yolk-free Tes-Tris (mTTE) synthetic extender and glycerol as cryoprotectant.The effects of glycerol concentration (1%,3 %,5 %,10 % and 15 % [v/v]) and its equilibration time (10 min,30 min,60 min and 90 min) on post-thaw spermatozoa were examined by sperm motility and sperm head membrane integrity.Results:The post-thaw motility and head membrane integrity of spermatozoa were significantly higher (P<0.05) for 5 % glycerol (42.95±2.55 and 50.39±2.42,respectively) than those of the other groups (1%:19.19±3.22 and 24.84±3.64;3 %:34.23±3.43 and 41.37±3.42;10 %: 15.68±2.36 and 21.39±3.14;15 %:7.47±1.44 and 12.90±2.18).The parameters for 30 min equilibration (42.95±2.55 and 50.39±2.42) were better (P<0.05) than those of the other groups (10 min:31.33±3.06 and 38. 98±3.31;60 min:32.49±3.86 and 40.01±4.18;90 min:31.16±3.66 and 38.30±3.78).Five percent glycerol and 30 min equilibration yielded the highest post-thaw sperm motility and head membrane integrity.Conclusion: Cynomolgus monkey spermatozoa can be successfully cryopreserved in a chemically defined extender,which is related to the concentration and the equilibration time of glycerol.

Cryopreservation of Gametophytes of Laminaria japonica (Phaeophyta) Using Encapsulation-Dehydration with Two-Step Cooling Method

Gametophytes of Laminaria japonica were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen using encapsulation-dehydration with two-step cooling method. Gametophytes cultured at 10℃ and under continuous irradiance of 30 μmol m^-2 s^-1 for 3 weeks were encapsulated in calcium alginate beads. The beads were dehydrated in 0.4 molLl sucrose prepared with seawater for 6 h, desiccated in an incubator set at 10℃ and 70% relative humidity for 4 h, pre-frozen at either -40℃ or -60℃ for 30 min, and stored in liquid nitrogen for 〉24 h. As high as 43% of survival rate was observed when gametophytes were thawed by placing the beads in 40℃ seawater and re-hydrated in 0.05 molL^-1 citrate sodium prepared using 30‰ NaCl 7 d later. More cells of male gametophytes survived the whole procedure in comparison with female gametophytes. The cells of gametophytes surviving the preservation were able to grow asexually and produce morphologically normal sporophytes.

Effect of sucrose on cryopreservation of pig spermatogonial stem cells

Sucrose is known to play an important role in the cryopreservation of sperm and female gonads; however, its effect on the cryopreservation ofpig spermatogonial stem cells （pSSCs） has not been tested. The aim of this work was to study the effect of sucrose during pSSC cryopreservation and to find the most effective concentration in freezing medium, pSSCs were cryopreserved with freezing media containing different concentrations of sucrose （70, 140, 210, and 280 mmol L^-1） and a control group without sucrose. The survival rates, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of thawed cells were detected by trypan blue （TB） staining, SYBR-14/propidium iodide （PI） dual staining, and JC-1 staining, respectively. All the staining results showed an obvious increase in cell survival in the sucrose-treated groups as compared to that in the control group, with the exception of 280 mmol L^-1 sucrose. Moreover, the 210 mmol L^-1 sucrose group yielded the highest survival rate among all the groups （P〈0.05）. The results of SYBR-14/PI dual staining and JC-1 staining were consistent with those of TB staining as above described. Quantitative real-time PCR （qRT-PCR） indicated that the mRNA levels of three apoptosis-promoting genes （BAX, APAF1 and CASPASE9） were significantly higher in thawed cells than in cells before freezing （P〈0.05）. Moreover, the mRNA level of one anti-apoptotic gene （XIAP） was significantly lower in thawed cells than in cells before freezing （P〈0.05）. When comparing the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes in thawed cells, the mRNA level of the anti-apoptotic genes in the control group was significantly lower than that in the sucrose-treated groups （P〈0.05）. Western blot analyses showed that the expression levels of cleaved CASPASE9, CASPASE3 and PARP-1 in the sucrose-treated groups were lower than those in the control group and were the lowest in the 210 mmol L-1 sucrose group. Both qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses suggested that sucrose inhibited cell apoptosis during freezing and thawing. Briefly, sucrose promoted pSSCs survival after freezing and thawing, especially at a concentration of 210 mmol L^-1, which possibly assisted pSSC dehydration and inhibited cell apoptosis. These findings hold great promise for further studies of the regulatory mechanism of proliferation and differentiation of pSSCs.

Characteristics of neural growth and cryopreservation of the dorsal root ganglion using three-dimensional collagen hydrogel culture versus conventional culture

In vertebrates, most somatosensory pathways begin with the activation of dorsal root ganglion(DRG) neurons. The development of an appropriate DRG culture method is a prerequisite for establishing in vitro peripheral nerve disease models and for screening therapeutic drugs. In this study, we compared the changes in morphology, molecular biology, and transcriptomics of chicken embryo DRG cultured on tissue culture plates(T-DRG) versus three-dimensional collagen hydrogels(C-DRG). Our results showed that after 7 days of culture, the transcriptomics of T-DRG and C-DRG were quite different. The upregulated genes in C-DRG were mainly related to neurogenesis, axon guidance, and synaptic plasticity, whereas the downregulated genes in C-DRG were mainly related to cell proliferation and cell division. In addition, the genes related to cycles/pathways such as the synaptic vesicle cycle, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway were activated, while those related to cell-cycle pathways were downregulated. Furthermore, neurogenesis-and myelination-related genes were highly expressed in C-DRG, while epithelial–mesenchymal transition-, apoptosis-, and cell division-related genes were suppressed. Morphological results indicated that the numbers of branches, junctions, and end-point voxels per C-DRG were significantly greater than those per T-DRG. Furthermore, cells were scattered in T-DRG and more concentrated in C-DRG, with a higher ratio of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine(EdU)-positive cells in T-DRG compared with C-DRG. C-DRG also had higher S100 calcium-binding protein B(S100 B) and lower α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) expression than T-DRG, and contained fewer terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)-positive cells after 48 hours of serum starvation. After cryopreservation, C-DRG maintained more intact morphological characteristics, and had higher viability and less TUNEL-positive cells than T-DRG. Furthermore, newly formed nerve bundles were able to grow along the existing Schwann cells in C-DRG. These results suggest that C-DRG may be a promising in vitro culture model, with better nerve growth and anti-apoptotic ability, quiescent Schwann cells, and higher viability. Results from this study provide a reference for the construction, storage, and transportation of tissue-engineered nerves. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Aier School of Ophthalmology, Central South University, China(approval No. 2020-IRB16), on March 15, 2020.

Improved cryopreservation of human hepatocytes using a new xeno free cryoprotectant solution

AIM:To optimize a xeno-free cryopreservation protocol for primary human hepatocytes.METHODS:The demand for cryopreserved hepatocytes is increasing for both clinical and research purposes.Despite several hepatocyte cryopreservation protocols being available,improvements are urgently needed.We first compared controlled rate freezing to polystyrene box freezing and did not find any significant change between the groups.Using the polystyrene box freezing,we compared two xeno-free freezing solutions for freezing of primary human hepatocytes:a new medium(STEM-CELLBANKER,CB),which contains dimethylsulphoxide(DMSO) and anhydrous dextrose,both permeating and non-permeating cryoprotectants,and the frequently used DMSO-University of Wisconsin(DMSOUW) medium.The viability of the hepatocytes was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method as well as a calcein-esterase based live-dead assay before and after cryopreservation.The function of the hepatocytes was evaluated before and after cryopreservation by assessing enzymatic activity of 6 major cytochrome P450 isoforms(CYPs):CYP1A2,CYP2C9,CYP2C19,CYP2D6,CYP3A4 and CYP3A7.RESULTS:The new cryoprotectant combination preserved hepatocyte viability significantly better than the standard DMSO-UW protocol(P < 0.01).There was no significant difference in viability estimation between both the trypan blue(TB) and the Live-Dead Assay methods.There was a correlation between viability of fresh hepatocytes and the difference in cell viability between CB and DMSO protocols(r 2 = 0.69) using the TB method.However,due to high within-group variability in the activities of the major CYPs,any statistical between-group differences were precluded.Cryopreservation of human hepatocytes using the cryoprotectant combination was a simple and xeno-free procedure yielding better hepatocyte viability.Thus,it may be a better alternative to the standard DMSO-UW protocol.Estimating CYP activities did not seem to be a relevant way to compare hepatocyte function between different groups due to high normal variability between different liver samples.CONCLUSION:The cryoprotectant combination may be a better alternative to the standard DMSO-UW protocol in primary human hepatocyte cryopreservation.

Study on Cryopreservation of Porphyra yezoensis Conchocelis

Cryopreservation of Porphyra yezoensis conchocelis was conducted with cryoprotectants and a proposed pretreatment procedure and thawing methods explored. Six cryoprotectants combined by DMSO with ethylene glycol(EG),propylene glycol(PEG),sorbitol and sucrose were developed. The effect of prefreezing at - 40℃ or -20℃ for different time durations was compared and the thawing methods were screened. It was shown that the cryoprotectant including 10% DMSO with 0.5 molL-1 sorbitol exhib-ited the optimal effect. The ideal pretreatment was that conchocelis segments were stayed for 20 min at - 40℃ before stored in liquid nitrogen,and 40℃ water bath was proper for quick thawing. The highest recovery rate of cryopreserved P. yezoensis conchocelis reached 89.41%.

Isolation, Purification and Cryopreservation of Cells from Neonatal Bovine Testis

The development and application of spermatogonial stem cell technology have an important significance in animal cloning, preservation of endangered species and spermatogenesis research. In this study, the seminiferous epithlium cells were isolated and purified, the ceils were cryopreserved after identification, and the effects of different purification and cyopreservation methods on bovine testicular cells were studied. The results showed that there were spermatogonial stem cells and sertoli cells in the neonatal bovine seminiferous tubules, differential adherent selection methods could effectively separate these two cell types. Spermatogonial stem cells were positive after AKP, C-kit, and OCT-4 identification; sertoli ceils were positive after oil red O and vimentin identification. Frozen stock solution supplemented with 10% DMSO had the best effect in spermatogonial stem cell cryopreservation, while fxozen stock solution supplemented with 10% of ethylene glycol and 0.1 mmol. L^-1 trehalose had the best effect in sertoli cells crvooreservation.

Cryopreservation of strip spawned sperm using programmable freezing technique in the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

In this study, a programmable freezing technique has been developed for strip spawned sperm in the blue mussel, M ytilus galloprovincialis. The optimized key parameters include cooling rate, endpoint temperature, thawing temperature, sugar addition and sperm to oocyte ratio. The sperm quality was assessed by the fertilization rate or the integrity of sperm component and organelle. The highest post-thaw sperm fertilization rate was 91%, which was produced with sperm cryopreserved in 8% dimethyl sulfoxide at the cooling rate of-4°C/min from 2°C to-30°C before being plunged into liquid nitrogen for at least 12 h, thawed in a 20°C seawater bath and fertilized at sperm to egg ratio of 50 000:1. The addition of glucose, sucrose or trehalose to 8% dimethyl sulfoxide could not further improve fertilization rates. The fluorescent assessments showed that the post-thaw sperm plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity were significantly damaged in comparison with fresh sperm.

Advances in Cryopreservation of Organs

Organ transplantation is an effective approach for the treatment of end-stage organ failures. Currently, the donor organs used for clinical transplantation are all preserved at above-zero temperatures. These preservation methods are well-established and simple but the storage time lasts for only 4–12 h. Some researchers tried to extend the organ storage time by improving protectant and HLA matching to raise the use of stored organs and prolong the long-term survival of organs. These efforts still fall short of the clinical demand for organ transplantation. Moreover, a great many organs were wasted due to limited storage time, HLA mismatch, patients＇ conditions or distance involved. Therefore, preserving organs for several weeks or even months and establishing Organ Bank are the tough challenges and have become a shared goal of global scholars. This article reviews some issues involved in the cryopreservation of organs, such as use of cryoprotecting agents, freezing and thawing methods in the cryopreservation of hearts, kidneys and other organs.

Long-term culture-induced phenotypic difference and efficient cryopreservation of small intestinal organoids by treatment timing of Rho kinase inhibitor

To investigate a suitable long-term culture system and optimal cryopreservation of intestinal organoid to improve organoid-based therapy by acquiring large numbers of cells.METHODSCrypts were isolated from jejunum of C57BL/6 mouse. Two hundred crypts were cultured in organoid medium with either epidermal growth factor/Noggin/R-spondin1 (ENR) or ENR/CHIR99021/VPA (ENR-CV). For subculture, organoids cultured on day 7 were passaged using enzyme-free cell dissociation buffer (STEMCELL Technologies). The passage was performed once per week until indicated passage. For cryopreservation, undissociated and dissociated organoids were resuspended in freezing medium with or without Rho kinase inhibitor subjected to different treatment times. The characteristics of intestinal organoids upon extended passage and freeze-thaw were analyzed using EdU staining, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, qPCR and time-lapse live cell imaging.RESULTSWe established a three-dimensional culture system for murine small intestinal organoids using ENR and ENR-CV media. Both conditions yielded organoids with a crypt-villus architecture exhibiting Lgr5+ cells and differentiated intestinal epithelial cells as shown by morphological and biochemical analysis. However, during extended passage (more than 3 mo), a comparative analysis revealed that continuous passaging under ENR-CV conditions, but not ENR conditions induced phenotypic changes as observed by morphological transition, reduced numbers of Lgr5+ cells and inconsistent expression of markers for differentiated intestinal epithelial cell types. We also found that recovery of long-term cryopreserved organoids was significantly affected by the organoid state, i.e., whether dissociation was applied, and the timing of treatment with the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632. Furthermore, the retention of typical morphological characteristics of intestinal organoids such as the crypt-villus structure from freeze-thawed cells was observed by live cell imaging.CONCLUSIONThe maintenance of the characteristics of intestinal organoids upon extended passage is mediated by ENR condition, but not ENR-CV condition. Identified long-term cryopreservation may contribute to the establishment of standardized cryopreservation protocols for intestinal organoids for use in clinical applications.

Cryopreservation of Veliger Larvae of Trumpet Shell, Charonia sauliae: an Essential Preparation to Artificial Propagation

Trumpet shell, Charonia sauliae, is an endangered and valuable species, but its artificial propagation protocol has not been successfully established. To estimate the possibility of cryopreservation for larvae of C. sauliae, which is a potential preparation for its artificial reproduction and further research, in this study a protocoi for the cryopreservation of veliger larvae of trumpet shell was optimized. Through a two-step cryopreservation procedure, four kinds of cryoprotectants （ethylene glycol, 1, 2-propanediol, dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol） were employed at three concentrations （1.0, 1.5 and 2.0molL^-1） respectively and survival rates of larvae were determined after a storage of lh. The larvae frozen with these four cryoprotectants after 1 h storage were cultured, and then survival rates were determined at 24, 72 and 120 h after thawing. Dimethyl sulfoxide at a concentration of 1.5 molL^-1 showed the best protective effect in all experiments （p〈0.05）. And survival rates of larvae frozen with dimethyl sulfoxide were determined after 1, 7 and 15 d of storage. The survival rates of larvae frozen with 1.5 molL^-1 dimethyl sulfoxide after 1 h, 1 d, 7 d and 15 d of storage were 80.77% ±7.51%, 80.34%±11.28%, 83.10%±9.14% and 77.23%±6.22% respectively. No significant differences in survival rates of larvae frozen with dimethyl sulfoxide were observed after various storage periods （p〉0.05）.

Low density lipoprotein in cryopreservation of semen

Artificial insemination made a predominant contribution towards the improvement of genetic potential and increased productivity in animal husbandry sectors. In frozen semen technology, about 50% of sperm died because of cryoinjury or cryodamage during the process of cryopreservation and thawing of the semen. These cryo-damages can be minimized by use of various cryoprotective agents or cold shock absorbers in the frozen semen technology. Of which, egg yolk (EY) is most primarily important in the extender preparation for various mammalian species for longer period and it works against the cold shock during the cryopreservation process due to the presence of low density lipoproteins (LDL). Further, EY contains substances other than LDL that affect the sperm quality parameters especially reduced motility and inhibit the respiration of sperm;therefore, there was heavy demand on replacement of the EY with the particular responsible substances (LDL) in the semen extender. Later on, various investigators tried to extract the LDL from the EY of hen and finally succeeded to extract the LDL from the EY of hen for semen preservation of various species. The concentration of LDL used in various species is varied and this may be due to the composition and concentration of phospholipids, cholesterol and its proportion in the sperm membrane. In bovine species, the concentration of LDL was standardized as 8% (w/v) on dry matter basis. This is equal to 20% EY used in conventional semen extender. As it is explained that the 20% EY contains 68% LDL (13.6 g) and on dry matter basis, it is approximately 60% (8.16 g). This calculation indicates 20% EY contains 8% LDL on dry matter basis. The LDL protects the sperm by various mechanisms to maintain the integrity of sperm membrane, which is explained in the present review. It was concluded that the investigation is still to be carried out to find out the exact roles of apoproteins and lipids of LDL and to indentify and isolate the detrimental substances presented in the whole EY.

Cryopreservation of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) spermatozoa

Amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri, a closest relative of vertebrates, is at a high risk of extinction due to a combination of low effective population size, altered native habitats and environmental pollution, yet little is known about cryopreservation of its gametes. This study deals with the cryopreservation of amphioxus senlen. The main findings are that （1） the extender of Yao et al. is the best one among the four extenders examined; （2） the appropriate ratio of semen to extender of Yao et al. plus cryoprotectant is from 1：5 to 1：7; （3） dimethyl sulfoxide （DMSO） and methanol are the better cryoprotectants than glycerol, with DMSO giving the best results; （4） the eggs fertilized with post-thaw spermatozoa are capable of developing to at least hatching stage, and the highest hatching rate is （12.4±3.0）%. This is the first report on freezing and thawing of amphioxus spermatozoa, providing a simple and practical protocol for cryopreservation of amphioxus spermatozoa and laying a foundation for safeguarding this endangered species.

IN VITRO STUDY ON CRYOPRESERVATION OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD STEM CELLS WITH UNCONTROLLED FREEZER

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cryopreservation of APBSCs in ?80°C un-controlled freezer and liquid nitrogen, and to search for the efficient combined cryoprotectant and the highest cell concentration for cryopreservating peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC). Methods: To compare the effect of three combined cryoprotectants, evaluation of in vitro proliferative capacity by colony-forming unit-Granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and burst-forming Unit-erythroid (BFU-E) assay, immunophenotyping for CD34+/CD38? cells by FCM, and viability assessment by trypan blue exclusion were performed. Results: The cryoprotectant 10%DMSO+HES+auto-Plasma resulted in the highest recovery rates. CFU-GM and BFU-E were (78.7±9.8)%, (69.8±14.1)%, respectively. The recovery rates of CFU-GM and BFU-E in A/C groups were (68.3±6.2)%/ (65.8±7.2)% and (63.4±9.7)%/ (60.4±10.5)%, respectively. The recovery rates of CD34+/CD38? cells and cell viability with the three combined reagents were 90% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion: 5%DMSO+ HES+auto-PLASMA is an ideal combined cryoprotectant for cryopreserving PBSC. The cell concentrations may be cryopreserved at 4×108 ml?1.

Cryopreservation of Queen Honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica) Born Worker Eggs by Vitrification

Many species of insect egg can be targeted individually or （and） collectively for cryopreservation by vitrification. However, there has been no report on cryopreservation of honeybee eggs by vitrification. In an attempt to define a preliminary procedure of cryopreservation of honeybee eggs by vitrification, queen honeybee born worker eggs （worker eggs） were stored through vitrification in liquid nitrogen up to 1 h, and then post-vitrification survival of the vitrified worker eggs in vitro and their hatching rates during maturation in vivo were observed using microscopic and close visual inspections. The procedure of cryopreservation by vitrification included dechorionation with sodium hypochlorite and permeabilization with isopropyl alcohol; equilibration by addition of loading solution （i.e., 25% vitrification storage solution） and dehydration by gradual replacement of loading solution with vitrification storage solution; cooling in liquid nitrogen vapor right before droplet vitrification in liquid nitrogen; and recovery in liquid nitrogen vapor right after storage in liquid nitrogen, thawing at temperature of thawing medium （5% sucrose in TC 100-insect medium） and rehydration by gradual replacement of vitrification storage solution with rehydration solution （5% fetal bovine serum in TC 100-insect medium）. It was found that among the worker eggs experiencing cyropreservation by vitrification, 1.25% of them were successfully passed through the four life stages, viz., egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In summary, it can be inferred that although a majority of worker eggs were dead after cyropreservation by vitrification, a few of them were developed into larvae, pupae, and finally emerged as adults.

Comparison of conventional and directional freezing for the cryopreservation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIM:To compare conventional slow equilibrium cooling and directional freezing(DF) by gauze package for cryopreservation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).METHODS:HUVECs were randomly assigned to conventional freezing(CF) and DF by gauze package group. The two groups of HUVECs were incubated with a freezing liquid consisting of 10% dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO), 60% fetal bovine serum(FBS) and 30%Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium(DMEM) and then put into cryopreserved tubes. CF group, slow equilibrium cooling was performed with the following program:precool in 4℃ for 30 min,-20℃ for 1h, and then immersion in-80℃ refrigerator. DF group, the tubes were packaged with gauze and then directional freezing in-80℃ refrigerator straightly. One month later, the vitality of HUVECs were calculated between two groups.RESULTS:There was no significant difference in the survival rate and growth curve between CF and DF groups. The DF group was significantly better than CFgroup in adherent rates, morphological changes and proliferative ability.CONCLUSION:In the conventional cryopreserved method, cells are slow equilibrium cooling by steps(4℃,-20℃ and finally-80℃), which is a complicated and time-consuming process. But the improved DF by gauze package method is better than conventional method, for which is convenient and easy to operate.