ABSTRACT
Spermatozoa were the first cells to be cryopreserved over 50 years ago, following
the serendipitous discovery of the cryoprotective compound glycerol. This pioneering
work was followed by the introduction of a series of other cryoprotectant chemicals
referred to collectively as cryoprotective agents. Glycerol has been widely used in
the cryopreservation of bull and human spermatozoa, although results are still highly
variable across species as well as among individuals within a species. Recently, significant
information has been gained with regard to the fundamental cryobiology of several
mammalian species' spermatozoa that can be used to reduce this variability and develop
improved methods for cryopreservation. In this concise review, we will discuss the
fundamental cryobiology of cells in general and of mammalian spermatozoa in particular.
KEYWORD
Cryopreservation - spermatozoa - cryoprotectant
