Improving Cell Recovery: Freezing and Thawing Optimization of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Achieving good cell recovery after cryopreservation is an essential process when working with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Optimized freezing and thawing methods are required for good cell attachment and survival. In this review, we concentrate on these two aspects, freezing and thawing, but also discuss further factors influencing cell recovery such as cell storage and transport. Whenever a problem occurs during the thawing process of iPSC, it is initially not clear what it is caused by, because there are many factors involved that can contribute to insufficient cell recovery. Thawing problems can usually be solved more quickly when a certain order of steps to be taken is followed. Under optimized conditions, iPSC should be ready for further experiments approximately 4-7 days after thawing and seeding. However, if the freezing and thawing protocols are not optimized, this time can increase up to 2-3 weeks, complicating any further experiments. Here, we suggest optimization steps and troubleshooting options for the freezing, thawing, and seeding of iPSC on feeder-free, Matrigel™-coated, cell culture plates whenever iPSC cannot be recovered in sufficient quality. This review applies to two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell culture and to iPSC, passaged, frozen, and thawed as cell aggregates (clumps). Furthermore, we discuss usually less well-described factors such as the cell growth phase before freezing and the prevention of osmotic shock during thawing.

Cryopreservation of Prochilodus lineatus semen: effect of cryoprotectants combination / Criopreservação do sêmen do Prochilodus lineatus: efeito da combinação de crioprotetores

The study was conducted with the objective of comparing the toxicity and the effect of the combination of intra and extracellular cryoprotectants in curimba Prochilodus lineatus sperm cells subjected to cryopreservation. Semen from 19 males were analyzed and diluted in four solutions comprise of intra and extracellular cryoprotectants in the following combinations: methanol+lactose, methanol+egg yolk, DMSO+lactose and DMSO+egg yolk. A portion of the diluted semen was frozen while the remaining fraction was kept in repose and evaluated after 10 min. For freezing, the diluted samples were packaged in 0.50 mL straws and placed into liquid nitrogen vapor for 24 h and, after this time, submerged into liquid nitrogen for 10 days. The combination of DMSO+lactose was less toxic to the diluted semen, resulting in higher motility rates and durations when compared to the other treatments. After thawing, the highest motility rate and duration were obtained using lactose as extracellular cryoprotectant, regardless of its combination. There was no significant difference between treatments when analyzing sperm morphology after thawing. Considering the effects of the tested treatments, the use of lactose as an extracellularcryoprotectant added with DMSO or methanol is the most suitable, since these combinations presented the highest motility rates and durations and low morphological change rate after thawing.(AU)

O estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de comparar a toxicidade e o efeito da combinação de crioprotetoresintra e extracelulares em espermatozóides de curimba Prochilodus lineatus submetidos à criopreservação. O sêmen de 19 machos foi analisado e diluído em quatro soluções com crioprotetores intra e extracelulares nas seguintes combinações: metanol+lactose, metanol+gema de ovo, DMSO+lactose e DMSO+gema de ovo. Uma porção do sêmen diluído foi congelada enquanto que a fração remanescente foi mantida em repouso e avaliada após 10 min. Para o congelamento, as amostras diluídas foram envasadas em palhetas de 0,50 mL e colocadas em vapor de nitrogênio líquido durante 24 h e, após este tempo, submersas em nitrogênio líquido durante 10 dias. A combinação de DMSO+lactose se mostrou menos tóxica para o sêmen diluído, resultando em taxas mais elevadas de motilidade e duração espermática quando comparadas com os outros tratamentos. Após descongelamento, as maiores taxas de motilidade e duração foram obtidas usando lactose como crioprotector extracelular, independentemente da sua combinação. Não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos ao analisar a morfologia espermática após a descongemento. Considerando-se os efeitos dos tratamentos utilizados, o uso de lactose como crioprotector extracelular, adicionada ao DMSO ou metanol, é o mais adequado, uma vez que estascombinações apresentaram maiores taxas de motilidade e duração espermática, e baixa taxa de alteração morfológica após o descongelamento.(AU)

Cryopreservation of Prochilodus lineatus semen: effect of cryoprotectants combination / Criopreservação do sêmen do Prochilodus lineatus: efeito da combinação de crioprotetores

The study was conducted with the objective of comparing the toxicity and the effect of the combination of intra and extracellular cryoprotectants in curimba Prochilodus lineatus sperm cells subjected to cryopreservation. Semen from 19 males were analyzed and diluted in four solutions comprise of intra and extracellular cryoprotectants in the following combinations: methanol+lactose, methanol+egg yolk, DMSO+lactose and DMSO+egg yolk. A portion of the diluted semen was frozen while the remaining fraction was kept in repose and evaluated after 10 min. For freezing, the diluted samples were packaged in 0.50 mL straws and placed into liquid nitrogen vapor for 24 h and, after this time, submerged into liquid nitrogen for 10 days. The combination of DMSO+lactose was less toxic to the diluted semen, resulting in higher motility rates and durations when compared to the other treatments. After thawing, the highest motility rate and duration were obtained using lactose as extracellular cryoprotectant, regardless of its combination. There was no significant difference between treatments when analyzing sperm morphology after thawing. Considering the effects of the tested treatments, the use of lactose as an extracellularcryoprotectant added with DMSO or methanol is the most suitable, since these combinations presented the highest motility rates and durations and low morphological change rate after thawing.

O estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de comparar a toxicidade e o efeito da combinação de crioprotetoresintra e extracelulares em espermatozóides de curimba Prochilodus lineatus submetidos à criopreservação. O sêmen de 19 machos foi analisado e diluído em quatro soluções com crioprotetores intra e extracelulares nas seguintes combinações: metanol+lactose, metanol+gema de ovo, DMSO+lactose e DMSO+gema de ovo. Uma porção do sêmen diluído foi congelada enquanto que a fração remanescente foi mantida em repouso e avaliada após 10 min. Para o congelamento, as amostras diluídas foram envasadas em palhetas de 0,50 mL e colocadas em vapor de nitrogênio líquido durante 24 h e, após este tempo, submersas em nitrogênio líquido durante 10 dias. A combinação de DMSO+lactose se mostrou menos tóxica para o sêmen diluído, resultando em taxas mais elevadas de motilidade e duração espermática quando comparadas com os outros tratamentos. Após descongelamento, as maiores taxas de motilidade e duração foram obtidas usando lactose como crioprotector extracelular, independentemente da sua combinação. Não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos ao analisar a morfologia espermática após a descongemento. Considerando-se os efeitos dos tratamentos utilizados, o uso de lactose como crioprotector extracelular, adicionada ao DMSO ou metanol, é o mais adequado, uma vez que estascombinações apresentaram maiores taxas de motilidade e duração espermática, e baixa taxa de alteração morfológica após o descongelamento.

Efeito do resfriamento do sêmen eqüino sobre sua congelabilidade / Effect of freezing and thawing protocols on post-thaw quality of equine semen

Utilizaram-se 25 ejaculados de cinco garanhões da raça Mangalarga Marchador, para avaliar dois protocolos de congelamento. No primeiro tratamento, resfriou-se o sêmen até 5ºC (curva de resfriamento - CR) antes do congelamento, no segundo, congelou-se o sêmen sem resfriamento (SC). Compararam-se duas formas de descongelamento, a 37ºC e a 75ºC/sete segundos. Os protocolos foram avaliados pelo teste de termo resistência (TTR - motilidade total e vigor) e pela funcionalidade da membrana plasmática (teste hiposmótico e eosina nigrosina). A motilidade total no tempo zero do TTR foi melhor (P<0,05) para o sêmen do tratamento CR, quando comparado com o do SC, em ambas as temperaturas de descongelamento, respectivamente, 46,7% e 21,0% (descongelamento a 37ºC), e 44,2% e 24,6% (descongelamento a 75ºC). Na mesma ordem, o número de espermatozóides vivos foi maior (P<0,05) no tratamento CR, 71,0% e 54,6% (descongelamento a 37ºC), e 77,4% e 54,1% (descongelamento a 75ºC). O sêmen do tratamento CR apresentou maior reação (P<0,05) ao teste hiposmótico e maior vigor (P<0,05) que o do SC. O sêmen descongelado a 75ºC apresentou melhor vigor (P<0,05) que o descongelado a 37ºC, independentemente do protocolo de congelamento. Os resultados mostraram, in vitro, o efeito benéfico do resfriamento do sêmen antes do congelamento.(AU)

Two freezing protocols and two thawing methods were evaluated on 25 ejaculates from five stallions of the Mangalarga Marchador breed. In the first freezing method, semen was cooled to 5ºC before freezing (CR); and in the second, semen at room temperature was frozen directly (SC). The two thawing methods were thawing semen at 37ºC for 30 seconds versus thawing at 75ºC for 7 seconds. Thawed semen was evaluated by the thermal resistance test (TRT- total motility and vigor) and by integrity of sperm membranes (the hypo-osmotic test and the eosine-nigrosine test). Semen that was cooled before freezing had higher (P<0.05) motility immediately post-thaw than semen that was more abruptly frozen (46.7% versus 21.0% for semen thawed at 37ºC and 44.1% versus 24.5% for semen thawed at 75ºC, respectively). At both thawing temperatures, the percentage of live spermatozoa was higher (P<0.05) in CR treatment than in the SC method (71% versus 54.6% for semen thawed at 37ºC and 77.3% versus 54.1% for semen thawed at 75ºC, respectively). The CR treatment also resulted in better hypo-osmotic test results and better semen vigor than did the SC treatment. Semen thawed at 75ºC showed better (P<0.05) vigor than semen thawed at 37ºC, independent of the semen freezing method. In conclusion, there were substantial benefits on subsequent semen quality from cooling of semen before it was frozen.(AU)