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 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=24520