This paper reviews the most important steps that have generated consistent progress in principles and developmental progress of embryo cryopreservation, and also study on freezing procedure and its application by conventional method and current improved method for freezing procedure and its appilcation of embryo cryopreservation in farm animals. Four were of particular interest: 1.The transport of water across the ccli membrane (zona pellucida) during freezing and thawing accordinglyplays a role in determing whether the celi survives. This movement of water is controlied mainly by extracellular phase changes and by the nature and concentration of any cryoprotective agent present. Therates of cooling, freezing and warming, and the intervals over which they are applied are further decisi've factors in determining whether a cryopreservation procedure allows survival after thawing. 2.The first successful deep freezing experiments with sheep morula and blastocysts during the seventies were based on the early procedures used for mouse embryos.Current research during the eighties is developed with the aim of simplifying and improving current procedures such as one-step dilution and rapid or ultra-rapid cooling by using the model of laboratory animals. 3.The conventional method for the embryo cryopreservation is described. An alternative to this method which may result in high survival and also in reducing of the freezing and thawing time is done by combing a permeable cryoprotectant such as glycerol, DMSO or propanediol and a non-permeable compound such as sucrose, trehalose, raffinose or lactose. 4.Finally a different approach to the preservation of embryos, named vitrification, is introduced. This procedure depends upon the ability of concentrated solutions of cryoprotective agents such as glycerol and propanediol to supercool to very low temperature (-196) during rapid cooling before solidifying without formation of ice. However, more complete data are necessary for successful vitrification of blastocysts.

• 석호봉(단국대학교)