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. 2022 Feb;39(2):321-325.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-021-02392-x. Epub 2022 Jan 4.

Long-term storage of gametes and gonadal tissues at room temperatures: the end of the ice age?

Pierre Comizzoli  1 , Pasqualino Loi  2 , Pasquale Patrizio  3 , Allison Hubel  4
Affiliations

Long-term storage of gametes and gonadal tissues at room temperatures: the end of the ice age?

Pierre Comizzoli et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Long-term preservation of viable spermatozoa, eggs, embryos, and gonadal tissues of good quality is essential in human reproductive medicine and for the population management of livestock, laboratory, and wild species. Instead of using freezing temperatures, encouraging findings indicate that structures and functions of gametes or gonadal tissues can be suspended in trehalose glass after dehydration and then preserved at supra-zero temperatures. As a new era in fertility preservation and biobanking is about to start, the advantages, needs, and implications of germplasm storage at room temperatures must be carefully examined. Although very promising, the development of alternate biobanking strategies does not necessarily mean that the end of the "ice age" (cryopreservation) is near.

Keywords: Anhydrobiosis; Biobanking; Cryopreservation; Freezing temperatures; Room temperature storage.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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