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Effects of very rapid versus vapor phase freezing on human sperm parameters

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two freezing methods, vapor phase and very rapid freezing, with and without cryoprotectant on semen parameters in men with normal semen criteria. Cryopreservation was done on semen samples from 31 men by two methods of vapor phase freezing and very rapid freezing, with and without Test Yolk buffered glycerol (TYBG) as cryoprotectant. The motility, viability, acrosome and DNA integrity were evaluated on fresh and post-thaw samples. Post-thaw sperm progressive motility was significantly higher in the presence of TYBG in the vapor phase cryopreservation (%6.30 ± 3.74) compared with the very rapid freezing method (%2.2 ± 1.97 and %4.00 ± 2.42 in the presence and absence of TYBG, respectively). There was no significant difference in viability, acrosome status and DNA integrity between two methods in presence or absence of TYBG. The very rapid freezing method in the absence of TYBG showed better sperm motility but viability, acrosome and DNA integrity were similar to the presence of TYBG. The results show that cryopreservation of human spermatozoa together with seminal plasma by using vapor phase method is better than very rapid freezing method to preserve sperm progressive motility; however very rapid freezing method is quick and simple and do not require special cryoprotectant. It can be used for cryopreservation of small number of spermatozoa in IVF centers.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank M. Mobaraki and M. Hodjat for their excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Payame Noor University, Talesh, Guilan, Iran

    Hamid Darvishnia

  2. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Shahid-Beheshti, Tehran, Iran

    Hamid Darvishnia & Maryam Shams Lahijani

  3. Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran

    Niknam Lakpour

  4. Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran

    Hamed Heidari-Vala & Mohammad A. Akhondi

  5. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hojjat Zeraati

  6. Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), P.O. Box: 19615-1177, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Sadeghi

Authors
  1. Hamid Darvishnia
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  2. Niknam Lakpour
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  3. Maryam Shams Lahijani
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  4. Hamed Heidari-Vala
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  5. Mohammad A. Akhondi
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  6. Hojjat Zeraati
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  7. Mohammad Reza Sadeghi
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Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Sadeghi.

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Darvishnia, H., Lakpour, N., Lahijani, M.S. et al. Effects of very rapid versus vapor phase freezing on human sperm parameters. Cell Tissue Bank 14, 679–685 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-012-9351-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-012-9351-z

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