Why most cells burst if frozen?

Answer 1

The people here are mostly correct, and yes DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) does help at concentrations of up to ~50%. However, this doesn't specifically answer your question.

Cells are comprised of predominantly water and water soluble compounds. However, the cell membrane is composed of a lipid bilayer. When temperatures drop to the freezing point, the water and hydrophilic material will crystalize and expand within the interior of the cell.

However, the lipid bilayer does not freeze/crystalize. It does, however, become very rigid and does not expand to the same extent that the cell interior does. It would be like putting soft butter in the freezer. It becomes relatively rigid and, if the cell is forzen rapidly, the crystalline structure of the water within the cell will expand at a rapid rate and the membrane will be too rigid to expand with it, so the membrane will rupture.

If the cell is frozen at a slower rate, the crystalline matrix formed within the cell will be somewhat smaller and less complex, allowing for fewer cells to rupture. The addition of DMSO or glycerol will essentially aid the membrane in keeping some of it's mosaic fluidity, helping even further to prevent rupture.

Answer 2

While every care is taken to protect the embryos during the process, some embryos will have one or more burst cells after they have been thawed. . This cell loss results either from puncture by tiny ice shards around the embryo or from rupture as water rapidly enters the cell during thawing. At PFC, on average, 2 out of every 3 cells in an embryo tolerate the thawing process. We consider an embryo with 50% or more of their cells surviving as having a normal chance of implanting after transfer. If an embryo thaws with fewer than 50% of its cells alive, we usually recommend thawing another embryo if one is available.

The first baby resulting from a frozen-thawed embryo was born in Australia in 1984. The embryo had 8 cells when frozen, but 2 cells died during thawing. Even though the transferred embryo had only 6 living cells, it was still capable of developing into a normal baby.

We consider that any embryo that survives thawing, even with only one cell intact, has the potential to establish a pregnancy. However, the chance for pregnancy will depend on how well the embryo survives. If an embryo survives with all cells intact, it will have a better chance for pregnancy than an embryo that loses half of its cells. Embryos with less than half of their cells remaining will have significantly lower chances of developing.

Answer 3

Cells tend to burst when frozen because ice crystals that form during the process fracture the process break the cell membranes, which tend to shrink.

Answer 4

Why do bottles full of liquid burst is frozen?
Because water expands as it freezes. Pretty unusual hey.
But thats what it does, thats why ice floats on water. Ice is less dense than water.

Answer 5

I'm gonna say its because cells are filled with fluid/water and when water freezes it expands so the cell is forced to expand beyond the boundaries of its cell wall??????

Answer 6

because when the water in the cells freezes, the water becomes ice when expands and forms crystals, piercing the cell walls.

Answer 7

Water expands when cooled from 4C to 0C as it crystalises/freezes.

faster freezing = smaller crystals = less cell damage

Answer 8

cells are made of 70% water. water expands when it freezes.

Answer 9

ice expands and a frozen outer 'shell' will crack under the pressure.

Answer 10

DMSO or glycerol helps...