Abstract
BackgroundTo create hypothesis, which can give a logical explanation related to the benefits of freezing/thawing embryos. Cryopreservation is not only a technology used for storing embryos, but also a method of embryo treatment that can potentially improve the success rate in infertile couples.MethodsFrom the analysis of multiple results in assisted reproductive technology, which have no satisfactory explanation to date, we found evidence to support a ‘therapeutic’ effect of the freezing/thawing of embryos on the process of recovery of the embryo and its subsequent implantation.ResultsFreezing/thawing is a way to activate the endogenous survival and repair responses in preimplantation embryos. Several molecular mechanisms can explain the higher success rate of ET using thawed embryos compared to fresh ET in women of advanced reproductive age, the higher miscarriage rate in cases of thawed blastocyst ET compared to thawed ET at early cleavage embryo, and the higher perinatal parameters of born children after thawed ET. Embryo thawing induces a stress. Controlled stress is not necessarily detrimental, because it generates a phenomenon that is counteracted by several known biological responses aimed to repair mitochondrial damage of membrane and protein misfolding. The term for favorable biological responses to low exposures to stress is called hormesis.ConclusionsThis thesis will summarize the role of cryopreservation in the activation of a hormetic response, preserving the mitochondrial function, improving survival, and having an impact on the process of implantation, miscarriage, and the development of pregnancy.
Highlights
In the last 30 years, assisted reproductive technologies have become among the fastest-growing in medicine
The results show a significant increase in the delivery rate in recent years after the cryopreservation of embryos, which is related to improved methodology by implementing vitrification
On the basis of the theory described above, the freezing and thawing of embryos reduces the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial activity, respectively, producing more embryos with a value that is below the threshold of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quantities that were described in one relevant study.[36]
Summary
In the last 30 years, assisted reproductive technologies have become among the fastest-growing in medicine. Whereby freezing and thawing has a therapeutic effect, concerns the increased mitochondrial activity that occurs during the process of embryo implantation.
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