History

How did it Start?

Cryopreservation of tissue and cells is a technique that has been utilized by scientists since the 1700's. In the mid 1900's, the science of cryobiology improved rapidly with the discovery of the beneficial effects of cryoprotectant substances that are added to cell freezing solutions. Cryopreservation is now routinely used to store semen, embryos and all types of cells/tissue from animals and humans.

One of the most important early workers on the theory of cryopreservation was James Lovelock [meet him] who came up with the Gaia theory fame. Dr. Lovelock's work suggested that damage to red blood cells during freezing was due to osmotic stresses.

 

Picture of Dr. Lovelock

---

Brief Timeline of Cryopreservation History:

• 1700 - Cryopreservation of tissue and cells is a technique that has been utilized by scientists since the 1700's

• 1900 - In the mid 1900's, the science of cryobiology improved rapidly with the discovery of the beneficial effects of cryoprotectant substances that are added to cell freezing solutions

• 1977 - G.M. Fahy [meet him] and A. M. Karow Jr. published "Ulturastructure-function correlative studies for cardiac cryopreservation.". He is the first to mention the method of using cryoperservation to treat injuries

• 1984 - publication of scientific paper: Cryopretectant Toxicity Reduction by G.M Fahy

• 1993 - "The Fate of Cryopreserved Nerve Isografts and Allografts in Normal and Immunosuppressed Rats" is published by Andrew A. Zalewski, Gregory M. Fahy, Nabil A. Azzam, Rita N. Azzam

• 1996 - Organ Cryoperservation paper by G.M Fahy PhD

• 1997- Cryopreservation of Mammalian Kidneys paper by G.M Fahy and S. Ali

• 2004 - Cryopreservation of Organ by Vitrification Perspective and Advance paper by G.M. Fahy

• Now - Cryopreservation is now routinely used to store semen, embryos and all types of cells/tissue from animals and humans

---

Timeline of Semen Cryopreservation History:

• 1776 - First observations on the effects of freezing temperatures on human sperm

• 1866 - First banks for frozen human semen suggested

• 1938 - Sperm survives at temperatures as low as -269°C, and stored at -79°

• 1949 - Glycerol first used as protective agent for bovine spermatozoa

• 1953 - "Dry Ice" preservation method developed

• 1953 - First successful human pregnancy using frozen sperm

• 1957 - Tyler Medical Clinic/Westwood Cryobank offers freezing of semen

• 1960 - Sperm frozen and stored using liquid nitrogen

• 1972 - First commercial cryobanks founded

• 1973 - Normal child born from semen stored for over one year

• 1998 - Successful birth at Tyler Medical Clinic using sperm frozen for 20 years