X-Message-Number: 24520
From: "Basie" <>
Subject: Evidence for non-mechanical ice crystal damage
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 19:19:45 -0400

Trying to stop ice crystal mechanical damage is akin to trying to catch the
wind.

Basie

The Effects of Freezing on Cells in Suspension

This section examines the effects of freezing on cells suspended in
cryoprotectants, with the special effects of supercooling examined in
detail. Vitrification, described in Appendix E , is an alternative approach
to cryopreservation which avoids ice formation. The special case of freezing
cellular tissues is discussed elsewhere (ovarian and testicular tissue)

Following ice nucleation in the suspending medium, cells in suspension are
not mechanically damaged by ice nor are they punctured by ice crystals. This
is clearly shown in the following video sequence which shows the growth of
extracellular ice induced at a low level of undercooling around a human
oocyte.

This paper can be found at
http://www.asymptote.co.uk/process/cryo/cryoguide/report/effects.htm

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