On December 3, 2020，the hypothermia-research team of the Reproductive Medicine Department of The First Affiliated hospital of AHMU, led by Prof. Cao Yunxia, published an article entitled Melatonin Improves the Effect of Cryopreservation on Human Oocytes by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Maintaining the Permeability of the Oolemma on the world-renowned Journal of Pineal Research （IF = 14.528）, exploring the effect of melatonin on the developmental potency of the frozen-thawed human oocytes and the molecular mechanism, providing a new theoretical and technical support for safe and efficient cryopreservation of human oocytes and advancing its practical application, which is socially beneficial.
The research team developed an effective oxidation-resistant cryopreservation technology, evidently inhibiting the cryo-injury, successfully maintaining the quality of oocytes after the freeze-thaw process, and getting favorable results. By testing the mitochondrial function, ultrastructure, oolemma permeability, developmental capacity and molecular mechanism of the frozen-thawed oocytes，the researchers have found that melatonin improves the effect of cryopreservation on human oocytes by suppressing oxidative stress and maintaining the permeability of the oolemma， which provides the fundamental support for the establishment of “oocyte bank” and is a significant breakthrough in reproductive medical technology.