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Several aspects of animal embryo cryopreservation: anti-freeze protein (AFP) as a potential cryoprotectant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

A. V. Makarevich ,
E. Kubovičová ,
M. Popelková ,
D. Fabian ,
Š. Čikoš ,
J. Pivko  and
P. Chrenek
A. V. Makarevich*
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Centre (APRC) Nitra, 95141 Luzianky near Nitra, Slovak Republic. Animal Production Research Centre (APRC) Nitra, Slovak Republic.6
E. Kubovičová
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Centre (APRC) Nitra, Slovak Republic.6
M. Popelková
Affiliation:
Centre for Assisted Reproduction, Paul Joseph Šafarik University, Košice, Slovak Republic.
D. Fabian
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic.
Š. Čikoš
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic.
J. Pivko
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Centre (APRC) Nitra, Slovak Republic.6
P. Chrenek
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Centre (APRC) Nitra, Slovak Republic.6 Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic.
*
All correspondence to: A.V. Makarevich. Animal Production Research Centre (APRC) Nitra, 95141 Luzianky near Nitra, Slovak Republic. Tel: +421 37 6546 335. Fax: +421 37 6546 480. e-mail: makarevic@cvzv.sk
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Summary

With the development of embryo technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, cloning and transgenesis, cryopreservation of mammalian gametes and embryos has acquired a particular interest. Despite a certain success, various cryopreservation techniques often cause significant morphological and biochemical alterations, which lead to the disruption of cell organelles, cytoskeleton damages, cell death and loss of embryo viability. Ultrastructural studies confirm high sensitivity of the cell membrane and organelle membrane to freezing and thawing. It was found that many substances with low molecular weights have a protective action against cold-induced damage. In this concern, an anti-freeze protein (AFP) and anti-freeze glycoproteins (AFGPs), which occur at extremely high concentrations in fish that live in Arctic waters and protect them against freezing, may be of potential interest for cryostorage of animal embryos at ultra-low temperatures. This mini-review briefly describes several models of AFP/AFGP action to preserve cells against chilling-induced damages and indicates several ways to improve post-thaw developmental potential of the embryo.

Keywords

Anti-freeze glycoproteinAnti-freeze proteinCryoprotectantEmbryoFreezingVitrification
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , May 2010 , pp. 145 - 153
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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