Optimal Conditions and Comparative Effectiveness of Dimethyl Sulphoxide and Polyvinylpyrrolidone in Preservation of Bone Marrow

Abstract

THE growing interest in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as an effective additive in low-temperature preservation of bone marrow prompted us to gather more information on the optimal conditions of its protective action. Several factors were examined: the concentration of the protective additive in the freezing medium, the length of the equilibration period of the cells with the additive at 0° C and at room temperature, and the toxicity of DMSO to bone marrow. A series of parallel experiments with polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) was conducted to compare its effects with those of DMSO in the preservation of bone marrow.