Identification of new cryoprotective agents for cultured mammalian cells

Summary Thirty-one compounds have been identified that act as cryoprotective agents for cultured mammalian cells. Eight compounds were comparable to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in cryprotective effectivenes. Many of the cryoprotective compounds studied also (a) promote cell fusion and (b) induce cell differentiation in erythroleukemia and other cell systems. Thus previously unrecognized effects on the differentiated state of cells may occur when cells are treated with cryoprotective agents. This study was supported, in part, by grants CA 33074 from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, and GM 31056 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.