Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges
Cryopreservation is globally used as a method for long-term preservation, although freeze-thawing procedures may strongly impair the gamete function. The correct cryopreservation procedure is characterized by the balance between freezing rate and cryoprotective agents (CPAs), which minimizes cellula...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/3/359 |
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| author | João C. Ribeiro David F. Carrageta Raquel L. Bernardino Marco G. Alves Pedro F. Oliveira |
| author_facet | João C. Ribeiro David F. Carrageta Raquel L. Bernardino Marco G. Alves Pedro F. Oliveira |
| author_sort | João C. Ribeiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryopreservation is globally used as a method for long-term preservation, although freeze-thawing procedures may strongly impair the gamete function. The correct cryopreservation procedure is characterized by the balance between freezing rate and cryoprotective agents (CPAs), which minimizes cellular dehydration and intracellular ice formation. For this purpose, osmoregulation is a central process in cryopreservation. During cryopreservation, water and small solutes, including penetrating cryoprotective agents, cross the plasma membrane. Aquaporins (AQPs) constitute a family of channel proteins responsible for the transport of water, small solutes, and certain gases across biological membranes. Thirteen homologs of AQPs (AQP0-12) have been described. AQPs are widely distributed throughout the male and female reproductive systems, including the sperm and oocyte membrane. The composition of the male and female gamete membrane is of special interest for assisted reproductive techniques (ART), including cryopreservation. In this review, we detail the mechanisms involved in gamete cryopreservation, including the most used techniques and CPAs. In addition, the expression and function of AQPs in the male and female gametes are explored, highlighting the potential protective role of AQPs against damage induced during cryopreservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:18:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e8d455b57454cc2a99a0d218c8e1e5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:18:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e8d455b57454cc2a99a0d218c8e1e5a2023-11-23T15:48:32ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-02-0112335910.3390/ani12030359Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future ChallengesJoão C. Ribeiro0David F. Carrageta1Raquel L. Bernardino2Marco G. Alves3Pedro F. Oliveira4Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UMIB—Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalClinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UMIB—Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalClinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UMIB—Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalClinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UMIB—Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalQOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCryopreservation is globally used as a method for long-term preservation, although freeze-thawing procedures may strongly impair the gamete function. The correct cryopreservation procedure is characterized by the balance between freezing rate and cryoprotective agents (CPAs), which minimizes cellular dehydration and intracellular ice formation. For this purpose, osmoregulation is a central process in cryopreservation. During cryopreservation, water and small solutes, including penetrating cryoprotective agents, cross the plasma membrane. Aquaporins (AQPs) constitute a family of channel proteins responsible for the transport of water, small solutes, and certain gases across biological membranes. Thirteen homologs of AQPs (AQP0-12) have been described. AQPs are widely distributed throughout the male and female reproductive systems, including the sperm and oocyte membrane. The composition of the male and female gamete membrane is of special interest for assisted reproductive techniques (ART), including cryopreservation. In this review, we detail the mechanisms involved in gamete cryopreservation, including the most used techniques and CPAs. In addition, the expression and function of AQPs in the male and female gametes are explored, highlighting the potential protective role of AQPs against damage induced during cryopreservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/3/359aquaporinassisted reproductive technologycontrolled-rate slow freezingcryobiologycryopreservationcryoprotectant |
| spellingShingle | João C. Ribeiro David F. Carrageta Raquel L. Bernardino Marco G. Alves Pedro F. Oliveira Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges Animals aquaporin assisted reproductive technology controlled-rate slow freezing cryobiology cryopreservation cryoprotectant |
| title | Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges |
| title_full | Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges |
| title_fullStr | Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges |
| title_short | Aquaporins and Animal Gamete Cryopreservation: Advances and Future Challenges |
| title_sort | aquaporins and animal gamete cryopreservation advances and future challenges |
| topic | aquaporin assisted reproductive technology controlled-rate slow freezing cryobiology cryopreservation cryoprotectant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/3/359 |
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