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Sperm Vitrification

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Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction

Abstract

Sperm cryopreservation has immense potential and serves as a powerful tool in the field of assisted reproductive technology. Slow-freezing protocol has been routinely used for cryopreservation of human spermatozoa. This method exerts detrimental effect on spermatozoa that leads to a significant decrease in sperm viability and motility and ultimately in decreased fertilization potential. Whether sperm is cryopreserved as a fertility preservation measure or as a backup for assisted reproduction, the recovery rate of functionally competent spermatozoa is critical. The exact nature of cryodamage stills remains to be elucidated; however, major causes include osmotic imbalance, hypothermic injury, loss of membrane integrity, and extracellular ice crystal formation. Vitrification, an ultrarapid method of cryopreservation, is now considered as a potential alternative to slow freezing. Vitrification involves direct immersion of the cells into liquid nitrogen. It makes use of high concentration of the cryoprotectant thus creating a vitrified glass-like state, thus preventing the formation of ice crystals. The present chapter includes the fundamentals of cryobiology, benefits and limitations of sperm vitrification, and finally its clinical applications and outcome.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IVF Department, Rotunda – The Center for Human Reproduction, 36, Turner Road, 101, 1st Floor, B Wing, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 4000050, India

    Sakina Kagalwala MSc

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  1. Sakina Kagalwala MSc
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Correspondence to Sakina Kagalwala MSc .

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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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Kagalwala, S. (2015). Sperm Vitrification. 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_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1527-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-1526-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-1527-1

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