New strategies for germ cell cryopreservation: Cryoinjury modulation

• Published in: Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 213 - 222
• Main Authors: Jung, Sang-Eun, Ryu, Buom-Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 01.12.2023; 대한생식의학회
• Subjects: Review; 산부인과학; Fertility preservation; Cryoinjury; Cryopreservation; Necroptosis; Autophagy; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 2233-8233; 2233-8241
• DOI: 10.5653/cerm.2023.06016

Cryopreservation is an option for the preservation of pre- or post-pubertal female or male fertility. This technique not only is beneficial for human clinical applications, but also plays a crucial role in the breeding of livestock and endangered species. Unfortunately, frozen germ cells, including oocytes, sperm, embryos, and spermatogonial stem cells, are subject to cryoinjury. As a result, various cryoprotective agents and freezing techniques have been developed to mitigate this damage. Despite extensive research aimed at reducing apoptotic cell death during freezing, a low survival rate and impaired cell function are still observed after freeze-thawing. In recent decades, several cell death pathways other than apoptosis have been identified. However, the relationship between these pathways and cryoinjury is not yet fully understood, although necroptosis and autophagy appear to be linked to cryoinjury. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cryoinjury could aid in the development of new strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the freezing of reproductive tissues. In this review, we focus on the pathways through which cryoinjury leads to cell death and propose novel approaches to enhance freezing efficacy based on signaling molecules.