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Vitrification Solutions: Historical Development

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Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction

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Abstract

Fertility is one of the medical areas having a very rapid evolution. This chapter is about the history and evolution of cryoprotectants and vitrification. The beginnings of cryopreservation, dating from the early eighteenth century to date, are described in detail. The history of cryopreservation has evolved from the plant cells in the beginning to animals, vitrified germ cells, embryos, oocytes, and to even other tissues to be used for transplantation.

This process has not been easy. It is not enough to know that a cell can survive after being frozen to −286 °C. It is important to ensure that the least possible damage is done to the cell during this process. This chapter offers a revision from the first steps of cryopreservation to what we know today as the ultrarapid vitrification method, which lasts a few seconds, achieving rates of freezing up to −23,000 °C/min using permeating and nonpermeating cryoprotectants, in order to avoid damage to the cell structure by the formation of ice crystals within. This chapter mentions the latest technologies and techniques available for the vitrification nowadays, as well as the objectives and forward-looking in vitrification area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Laparoscopic Surgery and Hysteroscopy, Fertility and Sterility, Centro Medico Puerta De Hierro, Mexican Infertility Institute (IMI), Puerta De Hierro Blvd. 5150 Int 503., C Tower, 5th Floor, Zapopan, JAL, 45116, Mexico

    Luis Arturo Ruvalcaba Castellon MD & Alfonso Gerardo Castañeda Loya MD

Authors
  1. Luis Arturo Ruvalcaba Castellon MD
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  2. Alfonso Gerardo Castañeda Loya MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis Arturo Ruvalcaba Castellon MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rotunda, The Centre for Human Reproduction, Mumbai, India

    Gautam Allahbadia

  2. Repro-Support Medical Research Centre, Tokyo, Japan

    Masashige Kuwayama

  3. Rotunda, The Center for Human Reproduction, Mumbai, India

    Goral Gandhi

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© 2015 Springer India

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Castellon, L.A.R., Loya, A.G.C. (2015). Vitrification Solutions: Historical Development. In: Allahbadia, G., Kuwayama, M., Gandhi, G. (eds) Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1527-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1527-1_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-1526-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-1527-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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