The effect of pressure and cooling rate on spermatoza, kidney tissue, and the whole kidney

Application of high hydrostatic pressure as a cryoprotective was evaluated for the bovine sperm cell, kidney tissue, and the whole kidney. Spermatozoa samples were pressurized between 172 and 1724 bar for various lengths of time. The effect of pressure and cooling at 5 °C/min, 35 °C/min, and 55 °C/min to ?60 °C was investigated. Application of pressure to sperm cells resulted in extensive damage, as shown by a decrease in motility, an increase in morphological a bnormalities, and the release of enzymes. Freezing of sperm cells, kidney tissue, and the whole kidney under high pressure was significantly more damaging than freezing at the same rates at atmospheric pressure. Pressure did not act as a cryoprotective agent but instead led to gross cellular damage, either when applied at 4 °C or during freeze-thaw procedures.