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Nipot O. E., Ershova N. A., Fedosova S. M., Chabanenko O. O., Ershov S. S., Shpakova N. M. Study of the characteristics of cryopreservation of rabbit and canine erythrocytes using the cryoprotectant DMSO. Bìol Tvarin. 2025; 27 (2): 3–6. DOI: 10.15407/animbiol27.02.003.
https://doi.org/10.15407/animbiol27.02.003
Received 04.02.2025 ▪ Revision 19.05.2025 ▪ Accepted 23.05.2025 ▪ Published online 10.06.2025

Study of the characteristics of cryopreservation of rabbit and canine erythrocytes using the cryoprotectant DMSO

O. E. Nipot¹, N. A. Ershova¹, S. M. Fedosova², O. O. Chabanenko¹, S. S. Ershov¹, N. M. Shpakova¹
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¹Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine NAS of Ukraine, 23 Pereyaslavska str., Kharkiv, 61016, Ukraine
²V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine

Transfusion of blood and its components is used in veterinary medicine for both emergencies and chronic diseases. Long-term preservation of animal red blood cells will help to establish blood banks and respond more quickly to clinical needs. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of damage to rabbit and dog erythrocytes during cryopreservation at different concentrations of the permeable cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (7.5% and 10%) and using two volumes of the frozen sample (2 ml and 10 ml). The results showed that for erythrocytes of both mammalian species, the level of damage is lower with a smaller sample volume and a higher concentration of cryoprotectant. However, there are certain species-specific characteristics. For example, 7.5% DMSO does not protect rabbit erythrocytes at all, but protects 45% to 60% of dog erythrocytes, depending on the sample volume (10 ml and 2 ml, respectively). The 10% DMSO provides protection of 35% to 76% of rabbit erythrocytes and 64% to 73% of dog erythrocytes for 10 ml and 2 ml samples, respectively. These data indicate that the investigated cryoprotectant is more effective for canine than for rabbit erythrocytes and that sample volume has a much smaller effect on the level of overall damage to these erythrocytes. The data obtained indicate the need to develop adapted cryopreservation protocols taking into account the species characteristics of animal erythrocytes.

Key words: Mammalian erythrocytes, DMSO, cryopreservation, sample volume, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Canis lupus familiaris

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