title: Slow freezing coupled static magnetic field exposure enhances cryopreservative efficiency--a study on human erythrocytes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the cryoprotective effect of static magnetic fields (SMFs) on human erythrocytes during the slow cooling procedure. Human erythrocytes suspended in 20% glycerol were slowly frozen with a 0.4-T or 0.8-T SMF and then moved to a -80°C freezer for 24 hr. The changes in survival rate, morphology, and metabolites of the thawed erythrocytes were examined. To understand possible cryoprotective mechanisms of SMF, membrane fluidity and dehydration stability of SMF-exposed erythrocytes were tested. For each test, sham-exposed erythrocytes were used as controls. Our results showed that freezing coupled with 0.4-T or 0.8-T SMFs significantly increased the relative survival ratios of the frozen-thawed erythrocytes by 10% and 20% (p<0.001), respectively. The SMFs had no effect on erythrocyte morphology and metabolite levels. However, membrane fluidity of the samples exposed to 0.8-T SMF decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the hydrophobic regions. For the dehydration stability experiments, the samples exposed to 0.8-T SMF exhibited significantly lower (p<0.05) hemolysis. These results demonstrate that a 0.8-T SMF decreases membrane fluidity and enhances erythrocyte membrane stability to resist dehydration damage caused by slow cooling procedures.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Po-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Wei-Jen
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yung-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sheng-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Che-Tong
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Sheng-Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Haw-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D005990:Glycerol