Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning ›› 2024, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (3): 222-227.doi: 10.12280/gjszjk.20230512

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Research Progress on the Cryopreservation of Small Numbers of Human Sperm

WU Zhu-lian, WANG Cai-zhu, ZHOU Hong, CHEN Huan-hua, LIN Ruo-yun, SHU Jin-hui()   

  1. Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530003, China
  • Received:2023-12-20 Published:2024-05-15 Online:2024-05-14
  • Contact: SHU Jin-hui, E-mail: jhshuxyz@126.com

Abstract:

The samples of small numbers of human sperm are not only difficult to obtain (testicular/epididymal puncture surgery or microsurgical sperm extraction), but also few in number and poor in quality. Both the sperm recovery rate and the retrieval rate are low using traditional freezing methods. The existing technology of sperm cryopreservation has been improved in many aspects in order to enhance the cryopreservation effect of small numbers of sperm. The newly developed freezing vectors have made great progress in improving the recovery rate of motile sperm, the recovery rate of sperm and the convenience of operation. The cofactors of cryophosphate, such as antifreeze proteins, lecithin, nanoparticles and antioxidants, improved the cryophosphate effect to some extent. Sperm vitrification cryopreservation technology has gradually shown its development potential. This paper reviews the research progress of cryopreservation of small numbers of sperm, focusing on the optimization of cryopreservation vectors, cryopreservation protectant and cryopreservation program.

Key words: Spermatozoa, Cryopreservation, Freezing, Semen preservation, Cryoprotectant