Ribeiro João C, Carrageta David F, Bernardino Raquel L, Alves Marco G, Oliveira Pedro F
Clinical 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, Portugal.
QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Animals (Basel). 2022 Feb 2;12(3):359. doi: 10.3390/ani12030359.
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.
冷冻保存作为一种长期保存方法在全球范围内被广泛应用，尽管冻融过程可能会严重损害配子功能。正确的冷冻保存程序的特点是冷冻速率和冷冻保护剂（CPA）之间的平衡，这可使细胞脱水和细胞内冰晶形成降至最低。为此，渗透调节是冷冻保存的核心过程。在冷冻保存期间，水和小溶质，包括可渗透的冷冻保护剂，会穿过质膜。水通道蛋白（AQP）构成了一类通道蛋白家族，负责水、小溶质和某些气体跨生物膜的运输。已描述了13种水通道蛋白同系物（AQP0 - 12）。水通道蛋白广泛分布于男性和女性生殖系统，包括精子和卵母细胞膜。男性和女性配子膜的组成对于包括冷冻保存在内的辅助生殖技术（ART）具有特殊意义。在本综述中，我们详细阐述了配子冷冻保存所涉及的机制，包括最常用的技术和冷冻保护剂。此外，还探讨了水通道蛋白在男性和女性配子中的表达和功能，强调了水通道蛋白对冷冻保存期间诱导的损伤的潜在保护作用。
