Predicted permeability parameters of human ovarian tissue cells to various cryoprotectants and water

This study presents a generic numerical model to simulate the coupled solute and solvent transport in human ovarian tissue sections during addition and removal of chemical additives or cryoprotective agents (CPA). The model accounts for the axial and radial diffusion of the solute (CPA) as well as axial convection of the CPA, and a variable vascular surface area (A) during the transport process. In addition, the model also accounts for the radial movement of the solvent (water) into and out of the vascular spaces. Osmotic responses of various cells within an human ovarian tissue section are predicted by the numerical model with three model parameters: permeability of the tissue cell membrane to water (L-p), permeability of the tissue cell membrane to the solute or CPA (omega) and the diffusion coefficient of the solute or CPA in the vascular space (D). By fitting the model results with published experimental data on soluble/water concentrations within an human ovarian tissue section, I was able to determine the permeability parameters of ovarian tissue cells in the presence of 1.5M solutions of each of the following: dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PROH), ethylene glycol (EG), and glycerol (GLY), at two temperatures (4degreesC and 27degreesC). Modeling Approach 1: Assuming a constant value of solute diffusivity (D = 1.0 x 10(-9) m(2)/sec, the best fit values of L-p ranged from 0.35 x 10(-14) to 1.43 x 10(-14) m(3)/N-sec while omega ranged from 2.57 x 10(-14) to 70.5 x 10(-14) mol/N-sec. Based on these values of L-p and omega, the solute reflection coefficient, a defined as sigma = 1 - omega(V) over bar (CPA)/L-p ranged from 0.9961 to 0.9996. Modeling Approach 2: The relative values of omega and sigma from our initial modeling suggest that the embedded ovarian tissue cells are relatively impermeable to all the CPAs investigated (or omega approximate to 0 and sigma approximate to 1.0). Consequently the model was modified and used to predict the values of L-p and D assuming omega = 0 and sigma = 1.0. The best fit values of L-p ranged from 0.44 x 10(-14) to 1.2 x 10(-14) m(3)/N-sec while D ranged from 0.85 x 10(-9) to 2.08 x 10(-9) m(2)/sec. Modeling Approach 3: Finally, the best fit values of D from modeling approach 2 were incorporated into model 1 to re-predict the values of L-p and omega. It is hoped that the ovarian tissue cell parameters reported here will help to optimize chemical loading and unloading procedures for whole ovarian tissue sections and consequently, tissue cryopreservation procedures. (C) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.