Vitrification of Boer Goat Morulae and Early Blastocysts by Straw and Open-Pulled Straw Method

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different vitrification solutions [EFS30 or EFS40 contains 30% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG), 40% (v/v) EG; EDFS30 or EDFS40 contains 15% (v/v) EG and 15% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 20% (v/v) EG and 20% (v/v) DMSO], equilibrium time during vitrification (0.5-2.5 min) and vitrification protocols [one-step straw, two-step straw and open-pulled straw (OPS)] on in vivo development of vitrified Boer goat morulae and blastocysts after embryo transfer. In the one-step straw method, the lambing rates of vitrified embryos in EFS30 (37.5%), EFS40 (40.5%) or EDFS30 (38.2%) group were similar to that of fresh embryos (57.5%) and conventional freezing method (46.7%) when the equilibrium time was 2 min. In the two-step straw method, the highest lambing rate was obtained when embryos were pretreated with 10% EG for 5 min and then exposed to EFS40 for 2 min (51.4%), showing similar lambing rates compared with fresh embryos (56.1%) or the embryos cryopreserved by conventional freezing method (45.2%). In the OPS method, the lambing rate in EFS40, EDFS30 or EDFS40 groups were similar to that (57.1%) of fresh embryos, or to that (46.0%) of embryos cryopreserved by conventional freezing method. The highest lambing rate (51.4%) of the group of OPS was obtained when the embryos were vitrified with EDFS30. In conclusion, either the two-step straw method in which embryos were pretreated in 10% EG for 5 min and then exposed to EFS40 for 2 min, or the OPS method in which embryos were pretreated in 10% EG + 10% DMSO for 30 s and then exposed to EDFS30 for 25 s was a simple and efficient method for the vitrification of Boer goat morulae and blastocysts.     

水牛卵母细胞冷冻保存初步研究

①用EFS30、EFS40、EDFS30、EDFS40四种玻璃化冷冻液对MⅡ期水牛卵母细胞进行毒性试验,结果表明:试验组卵母细胞形态正常率与对照组均无显著性差异(P>0.05);对卵母细胞孤雌激活后EDFS30、EDFS40组的卵裂率与对照组(75.28%)及EFS30、EFS40组差异显著(P<0.05);利用4种冷冻保护剂采用OPS法冷冻保存MⅡ期水牛卵母细胞,其中以EDFS40作为冷冻液时,卵母细胞冷冻解冻后孤雌激活卵裂率最高,达31.60%;以EDFS40作为冷冻液,比较了GMP法和OPS法的冷冻效果,结果表明GMP法冷冻效果好于OPS法。②采用不同预处理时间和平衡时间使用细管法常规冷冻G V期卵母细胞,结果表明预处理5 min、平衡15min组的形态正常率和极体排出率相对较高,分别为72.73%、27.27%。     

Viability of OPS Vitrified Sheep Embryos After Direct Transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability in the effect of open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification procedure of sheep embryos after direct transference. Embryos were produced in vivo and cryopreserved in slow freezing or OPS vitrification. The survival rates of cryopreserved embryos were compared to non-frozen standard pattern. In a first set of experiments, embryos at morula and blastocyst stages were dived in ethylene glycol (1.5 M) and frozen in an automatic freezer. After being thawed, they were directly or indirectly transferred to ewes recipient. A second group of embryos were drawn into OPS and plunged into liquid nitrogen after being exposed at room temperature for 1 min and 45 s in 10% EG plus 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), then again for 30 s in 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose. After being warmed, embryos were also directly transferred using a French mini straw as the catheter for the transplantation process or after in vitro dilution of cryoprotectants (two-step-process). No significant difference was observed among fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos on pregnancy rate (50.0%, 38.6% and 55.8%). However, when we evaluated only the direct transference, the pregnancy rate of OPS vitrified embryos was higher than that of frozen embryos (57.1% vs 34.8%) (p = 0.07). In addition, vitrified morulae had a higher pregnancy rate than the one with frozen embryos (64.0% vs 38.9%) (p = 0.07). Finally, our results indicate that OPS vitrification technique in association with direct transference improves the viability of sheep embryos with potential applications to field conditions.     

影响玻璃化冷冻兔胚胎效果的一些因素

试验对影响玻璃化冷冻兔胚胎效果的一些因素进行探讨，以找出理想的玻璃化冷冻方法。在测试的５种玻璃化溶液中，含３５％乙二醇（ＥＧ）和１．０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖的溶液（ＶＳ１）对胚胎的毒性最小。用ＶＳ１冷冻桑椹胚和囊胚的理想程序是：在室温下使胚胎分别在２０％ＥＧ和３５％ＥＧ中平衡２、３分钟后，移入ＶＳ１中，０．５分钟内（囊胚也可在２分钟后）投入液氮中冷冻。桑椹胚的存活率为９１．７％（３３／３６），囊胚的存活率为９７．１％（３３／３４）～９７．３％（３６／３７）。８～１６细胞胚胎的理想冷冻程序为：在室温下使胚胎在２０％ＥＧ、３５％ＥＧ中平衡２、３分钟，移入４℃的３７％ＥＧ＋１．０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖溶液中平衡２分或１０分钟后冷冻，胚胎存活率分别为１００％（３７／３７）、８６．１％（３１／３６）。     

Effect of cryoprotectant composition on in vitro viability of in vitro fertilized and cloned bovine embryos following vitrification and in-straw dilution

In this study the efficacy of the combination of glycerol (GLY) and ethylene glycol (EG) as cryoprotectants in a vitrification method developed for direct embryo transfer was evaluated by in vitro development of in vitro fertilized (IVF) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos after vitrification. The IVF and SCNT blastocysts were vitrified in either 40% GLY, 30% GLY + 10% EG, or 20% GLY + 20% EG using French straws. After warming, the straws were held vertically for 1 min without shaking and were then placed horizontally for 5 min to dilute the cryoprotectants. After washing, the vitrified-warmed embryos were cultured in vitro for 72 h. There were no differences among the vitrification solutions with respect to the rates of vitrified-warmed IVF and SCNT embryos surviving and developing to the hatched blastocyst stage. However, the rates of development to the hatched blastocyst stage of the SCNT embryos vitrified with 40% GLY tended to be higher than those vitrified with 30% GLY + 10% EG or 20% GLY + 20% EG (26% vs. 7-8%, respectively). The development rates to the hatched blastocyst stage of the IVF and SCNT embryos vitrified with solution containing EG were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of non-vitrified embryos. These results suggest that use of the combination of GLY and EG as cryoprotectants had no beneficial effect on the viability of embryos after in-straw dilution. However, this method is so simple that it can be used for practical direct transfer of vitrified embryos in the field.     

奶牛GV期卵母细胞OPS法和GMP法超低温冷冻效果

采用OPS管和GMP管对GV期的牛的卵母细胞进行玻璃化冷冻.在不同的前处理液中平衡5 min,然后在冷冻液(EFS30,EFS40,EDFS30或EDFS40)中平衡30 s,进行OPS法和GMP法玻璃化冷冻保存.结果显示,OPS法用EFS40液和EDFS40液冷冻后形态正常卵率为69.6%和76.1%,2组差异显著(P<0.05),成熟率最高达19.2%和33.3%,2组差异显著(P<0.05);GMP法用EFS40液和EDFS40液冷冻后形态正常卵率最高达75.6%和80.8%,2组差异显著(P<0.05),成熟率最高达15.6%和34.9%,2组差异显著(P<0.05).而采用EDFS40液,OPS法和GMP法对GV期卵母细胞体外发育的影响差异均不显著,但GMP法的冷冻效率较高.表明采用EDFS40液GMP法对GV期卵母细胞的冷冻效率优于OPS法.     

In-straw cryoprotectant dilution for bovine embryos vitrified using Cryotop

The aim of this study was to develop an in-straw dilution method suitable for 1-step bovine embryo transfer of vitrified embryos using the Cryotop vitrification-straw dilution (CVSD) method. The development of embryos vitrified using the CVSD method was compared with those of embryos cryopreserved using in-straw vitrification-dilution (ISVD) and conventional slow freezing, outside dilution of straw (SFODS) methods. In Experiment 1, in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos cryopreserved using the CVSD method were diluted, warmed and exposed to the dilution solution at various times. When vitrified IVP embryos were exposed to the dilution solution for 30 min after warming, the rates of embryos developing to the hatched blastocyst stage after 72 h of culture (62.0-72.5%) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of embryos exposed to the solution for 5 and 10 min (82.4-94.3%), irrespective of supplementation with 0.3 M sucrose in the dilution solution. In Experiment 2, the rate of embryos developing to the hatching blastocyst stage after 48 h of culture in IVP embryos cryopreserved using the SFODS method (75.0%) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of embryos cryopreserved using the CVSD and ISVD methods (93.2 and 97.3%, respectively). In Experiment 3, when in vivo-produced embryos that had been cryopreserved using the CVSD, ISVD and SFODS methods and fresh embryos were transferred to recipient animals, no significant differences were observed in the conception and delivery rates among groups. In Experiment 4, when IVP embryos derived from oocytes collected by ovum pick-up that had been cryopreserved using the CVSD and ISVD methods and fresh embryos were transferred to recipient animals, no significant differences were observed in the conception rates among groups. Our results indicate that this simplified regimen of warming and diluting Cryotop-vitrified embryos may enable 1-step bovine embryo transfer without the requirement of a microscope or other laboratory equipment.     

Effect of the polyvinylpyrrolidone concentration of cryoprotectant on mouse embryo development and production of pups: 7.5% of PVP is beneficial for in vitro and in vivo development of frozen-thawed mouse embryos

In this study, we investigated the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) concentration on in vitro and in vivo development of 2 cell stage, vitrified ICR mouse embryos using a cryoprotectant consisting of ethylene glycol (EG) and sucrose. M2 was selected as the basic medium for vitrification and thawing. After equilibration with 4% (v/v) EG at 37 C for 15 min, the embryos were vitrified with 35% EG, 5, 6 or 7.5% (w/v) PVP and 0.4 M sucrose at 37 C for 30 sec. One week later, the cryotubes of cryopreserved embryos in liquid nitrogen were directly immersed into a 37 C water bath for 1 min and transferred serially into 300 mul of 0.5 or 0.3 M sucrose at room temperature for 5 min and M2 medium at 37 C for 10 min. The surviving embryos were cultured in KSOM (potassium simplex optimized medium) for 96-120 h in an atmosphere of 5% CO(2) in humidified air. Survival was evaluated by morphological appearance, including membrane integrity and presence of apoptotic blastomeres after thawing. For in vivo evaluation, blastocysts were transferred to the uteri of pseudopregnant mice. The survival rates of the 5 and 7.5% PVP concentration groups showed a significantly higher difference compared with that of the 6% PVP group (85.5 and 86.5 vs. 71.2%), respectively. Each pup in the of 5 and 6% groups was cannibalized immediately after parturition. A litter of live pups was obtained from only the 7.5% PVP groups. Our study indicated that supplementation of EG and sucrose cryoprotectant solution with 7.5% PVP is optimal for successful vitrification of 2-cell stage ICR mouse embryos.     

OPS法玻璃化冷冻兔胚胎的研究

采用2种不同浓度的冷冻液(VSⅠ和VSⅡ),通过OPS法玻璃化冷冻兔的胚胎。结果表明:冷冻兔的桑椹胚641枚,解冻后胚胎总回收率为93.8%(601/641),形态结构良好率为94.5%(568/601),透明带完好率为100%(601/601)。VSⅠ和VSⅡ冷冻的胚胎解冻后回收率分别为93.8%(305/325)和93.7%(296/316),两者差异不显著(P>0.05);形态良好率分别为95.1%(290/305)和94.0%(278/296),前者显著地高于后者(P<0.05)。将解冻后形态结构良好的桑椹胚415枚移植到29只受体母兔体内,总妊娠率为51.7%(15/29),产仔率为34.5%(61/177)。VSⅠ妊娠率为53.3%(8/15),产仔率为36.8%(35/95);VSⅡ妊娠率为50.0%(7/14),产仔率为31.7%(26/82)。无论妊娠率还是产仔率,VSⅠ都高于VSⅡ,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

Vitrification of biopsied mouse embryos

Solid surface vitrification (SSV) was compared with in-straw vitrification for cryopreservation of biopsied mouse embryos. Eight-cell stage embryos were zona drilled and one blastomere was removed. Developed morulae or blastocysts were vitrified in microdrop (35% EG + 5% PVP + 0.4 M trehalose) or in straw (7.0 M EG + 0.5 M sucrose). Following recovery, embryos were cultivated in vitro or transferred into recipients. Cryopreservation had an effect not only on the survival of biopsied embryos but also on their subsequent development in vitro. Cryosurvival of biopsied morulae vitrified in straw was significantly inferior to SSV. The post-warm development of biopsied and non-biopsied morulae was delayed on Day 3.5 and 4.5 in both vitrification groups. A delay in development was observed on Day 5.5 among vitrified non-biopsied blastocysts. The percentage of pups born from biopsied morulae or blastocysts following cryopreservation did not differ from that of the control. No significant differences could be detected between methods within and between embryonic stages in terms of birth rate. The birth rate of biopsied embryos vitrified in straw was significantly lower compared to the non-biopsied embryos. The novel cryopreservation protocol of SSV proved to be effective for cryopreservation of morula- and blastocyst-stage biopsied embryos.     

Equilibrium vitrification of mouse embryos at various developmental stages using low concentrations of cryoprotectants

We previously developed a new vitrification method (equilibrium vitrification) by which two-cell mouse embryos can be vitrified in liquid nitrogen in a highly dehydrated/concentrated state using low concentrations of cryoprotectants. In the present study, we examined whether this method is effective for mouse embryos at multiple developmental stages. Four-cell embryos, eight-cell embryos, morulae, and blastocysts were vitrified with EDFS10/10a, 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol and 10% (v/v) DMSO in FSa solution. The FSa solution was PB1 medium containing 30% (w/v) Ficoll PM-70 plus 0.5 M sucrose. The state of dehydration/concentration was assessed by examining the survival of vitrified embryos after storage at –80°C. When four-cell embryos and eight-cell embryos were vitrified with EDFS10/10a in liquid nitrogen and then stored at –80°C, the survival rate was high, even after 28 days, with relatively high developmental ability. On the other hand, the survival of morulae and blastocysts vitrified in liquid nitrogen and stored at –80°C for four days was low. Therefore, morulae and blastocysts cannot be vitrified in a highly dehydrated/concentrated state using the same method as with two-cell embryos. However, when blastocysts were shrunken artificially before vitrification, survival was high after storage at –80°C for four days with high developmental ability. In conclusion, the equilibrium vitrification method using low concentrations of cryoprotectants, which is effective for two-cell mouse embryos, is also useful for embryos at multiple stages. This method enables the convenient transportation of vitrified embryos using dry ice.     

小鼠胚胎的玻璃化冷冻研究

用不同冷冻载体(玻璃管、塑料管和0.25 mL细管)及不同冷冻方法(程序化冷冻和玻璃化冷冻)对小鼠3.5 d~4 d桑椹胚和囊胚进行冷冻保存,并与不做任何冷冻保存处理直接培养进行对比。结果表明,使用玻璃管、塑料管和0.25 mL细管作为胚胎的承载材料进行玻璃化冷冻,效果差异不显著;采用程序化冷冻与OPS玻璃化冷冻法,对小鼠胚胎进行冷冻保存可以取得较好的结果。从而得出,用不同材质的冷冻载体进行玻璃化冷冻,可以获得与程序化冷冻相同的良好效果。     

玻璃化冷冻对小鼠GV期卵母细胞发育能力的影响

试验首次采用OPS法玻璃化冷冻小鼠GV期卵母细胞(不带卵丘细胞,下同),同时尝试用EDFS30对小鼠卵巢进行细管法玻璃化冷冻,以研究GV期卵母细胞冷冻后的发育潜力。首先,利用MEM培养和MEM-腔前卵泡培养新鲜GV期卵母细胞,并把较好的培养方式用于冷冻后培养试验。2种培养方式培养24h后新鲜GV期卵母细胞成熟率无显著性差异;OPS法冷冻的GV期卵母细胞解冻后成熟率及体外受精后卵裂率与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。细管法冷冻卵巢组织的GV期卵母细胞成熟率极显著低于对照组(P<0.01),其受精后未获得受精卵。结果表明:OPS法可有效地冷冻保存小鼠GV期卵母细胞,而细管法冷冻小鼠卵巢对GV期卵母细胞损伤较大。     

Solid‐Surface Vitrification and In‐Straw Dilution After Warming of In Vitro‐Produced Bovine Embryos

Three experiments were designed to test a solid‐surface vitrification system for bovine in vitro‐produced embryos and to develop a simple method of in‐straw dilution after warming, which can be potentially used for direct transfer in the field. Experiment 1 evaluated embryo survival rates (i.e. re‐expansion and hatching) after vitrification and warming in three different solutions: VS1 (20% ethylene glycol (EG) + 20% propanediol (PROH) + 0.25 m trehalose (Tr)), VS2 (20% EG + 1M Tr) or VS3 (30% EG + 0.75 m Tr). Re‐expansion and hatching rates were higher (p < 0.05) for embryos vitrified in VS3 (72.2 ± 1.9 and 58.2 ± 0.8) than VS1 (64.4 ± 0.9 and 37.2 ± 2.5) or VS2 (68.5 ± 1.5 and 49.6 ± 1.0; p < 0.05). Experiment 2 was designed to compare two methods of vitrification: glass micropipettes or solid surface, using the VS1 or VS3 solutions. No significant differences were detected between the two methods; but re‐expansion and hatching rates were higher (p < 0.05) with VS3 (73.5 ± 3.1 and 47.1 ± 2.1) than VS1 (63.3 ± 3.3 and 39.7 ± 2.8). In experiment 3, embryos were vitrified by solid surface in VS1 or VS3 solutions and cryoprotectants were diluted in‐straw after warming in a TCM 199, 0.25 m sucrose solution or holding media. Survival rates of embryos vitrified in VS3 did not differ between those exposed to 0.25 m sucrose (74.7 ± 1.3 and 57.2 ± 2.2) or holding (77.3 ± 1.4 and 58.0 ± 2.5) medium after warming; however, survival rates of embryos vitrified in VS1 were higher (p < 0.05) in those exposed to 0.25 m sucrose (67.7 ± 2.3 and 47.0 ± 1.7) than holding medium (54.5 ± 1.0 and 27.7 ± 3.1). In conclusion, solid‐surface vitrification using simplified EG‐based solutions and in‐straw dilution with holding media may be a practical alternative for cryopreservation and direct transfer of in vitro‐produced bovine embryos.     

Comparison of Different Cryopreservation Techniques: Higher Survival and Implantation Rate of Frozen–Thawed Mouse Pronuclear Embryos in the Presence of Beta‐Mercaptoethanol in Post‐Thaw Culture

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of beta‐mercaptoethanol (β‐ME) on post‐thaw embryo developmental competence and implantation rate of mouse pronuclear (PN) embryos that were cryopreserved after slow freezing, solid surface vitrification (SSV) or open‐pulled straw (OPS) vitrification methods. Mouse PN embryos were cryopreserved by using slow freezing, SSV and OPS methods. After cryopreservation, freeze–thawed PN embryos were cultured up to blastocyst stage in a defined medium supplemented without or with 50 μm β‐ME. The blastocyst formation rate of embryos that were cryopreserved by slow freezing method (40.0%) or vitrified by OPS method (18.3%) were lower than those vitrified by SSV method (55.6%) and fresh embryos (61.9%) in the absence of 50 β‐ME in the culture media (p < 0.05). The blastocyst formation rate of embryos that were cryopreserved by slow freezing method (53.1%) or by OPS method (41.9%) were lower than those vitrified by SSV method (79.5%) and that of fresh (85.7%) in the presence of β‐ME in the culture media (p < 0.05). The embryos transfer results revealed that the implantation rate of blastocyst derived from mouse PN embryos vitrified by SSV method (31.9% vs 51.2%) was similar to that of the control (39.0% vs 52.5%), but higher than those cryopreserved by slow freezing (28.2% vs 52.0%) and by OPS method (0.0% vs 51.2%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of β‐ME in an in vitro culture medium was shown to increase survival of embryo development and implantation rate of frozen–thawed mouse PN embryos after different cryopreservation protocols.     

Vitrification for bovine embryos with low‐quality grade

This study was conducted to examine the utility of vitrification for bovine embryos with low‐quality grade, and simple cryoprotectants dilution method for practitioners. In Experiment 1, survival of frozen embryos was compared with that of vitrified embryos using minimum volume cooling (MVC). Then, vitrified embryos were used to confirm the optimum sucrose concentration in Experiment 2. The survival rates of embryos that had been vitrified following diluted cryoprotectants with the one‐step in‐straw method were compared with those of fresh control embryos in Experiment 3. Frozen‐thawed or vitrified‐warmed blastocysts were cultured with TCM‐199 supplemented with 100 μmol/L beta‐mercaptoethanol +5% fetal bovine serum at 38.5°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ in air, their survival after 24 hr were compared. The development to term of fair quality in vivo embryos after vitrification was examined in Experiment 4. Results show that survival rates of frozen‐thawed embryos were lower (p < .05) than that of vitrified‐warmed ones. When vitrified embryos were warmed in 0.3 mol/L sucrose in straws, their survival rate was 100%. The total cell numbers of vitrified‐warmed embryos were comparable to those of fresh control embryos. The six calves from 13 vitrified embryos were delivered in Experiment 4. These results indicate that MVC vitrification following one‐step cryoprotectants dilution is utilized to preserve low‐quality bovine embryos.     

牛体外受精胚胎一步脱防冻剂冷冻方法的研究

为了研究适合于牛体外受精胚胎的一步除防冻剂的冷冻方法，特进行两个试验。试验１分别用１．５Ｍ甘油＋０．２５Ｍ蔗糖、１．５Ｍ乙二醇和１．５Ｍ丙二醇作防冻剂冷冻体外受精后第７天，已发育至囊胚阶段的牛胚胎。使胚胎降温至－７℃后，植冰，然后以０．３℃／分的速率降温至－３０℃，立即将胚胎投入液氮中冷冻保存。在３７℃水中解冻胚胎后，使其直接在含１５％胎犊血清（ＦＣＳ）的磷酸缓冲液（ＰＢＳ）中脱去防冻剂。经体外培养７２ｈ后，３组胚胎的孵化率分别为７７．２７％（１０２／１３２）、７３．２４％（１０４／１４２）、４７．９０％（５７／１１９），第１、２组的孵化率极显著高于第３组（Ｐ＜０．０１），说明用１．５Ｍ丙二醇溶液冷冻的胚胎，在解冻后不宜直接在ＰＢＳ中脱防冻剂。试验２比较用不同浓度（１．０Ｍ０１．５Ｍ，２．０Ｍ）的乙二醇和不同投液氮温度（－２５℃，－３０℃，－３５℃）冷冻胚胎的效果。结果表明乙二醇浓度和投液氮温度对胚胎孵化率均无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５），各组胚胎的孵化率变动于７４．４４％－８５．４８％之间。     

小鼠2-细胞胚胎细管法和OPS法玻璃化冷冻保存技术的研究

本试验在室温 (2 0℃和 2 5℃ )条件下 ,利用不同浓度的玻璃化溶液 (EFS和EDFS) ,对小鼠 2 细胞胚胎进行细管法和OPS法玻璃化冷冻保存。在 2 0℃室温条件下 ,用EFS4 0平衡 1min细管一步法冷冻 ,解冻后囊胚发育率仅为35 .0 % ,和新鲜 2 细胞体外培养的对照组 (6 5 .0 % )的差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1)。当 2 细胞胚胎在 10 %EG +10 %D溶液中预处理 5min ,再移入EDFS中平衡 30s二步法冷冻保存 ,解冻后囊胚发育率达 4 7.8%～ 4 8.8% ;当室温升至2 5℃时 ,二步法冷冻保存后 2 细胞的囊胚发育率达到 5 2 .2 % ,与对照组无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。改用OPS二步法EFS30冷冻组保存后的 2 细胞胚胎的囊胚发育率高达 6 2 .2 % ,为试验中的最佳组。用最佳细管法和OPS法冷冻组解冻后培养至囊胚移植给受体母鼠均获得产仔     

High survival rate of bovine oocytes matured in vitro following vitrification

Improving pregnancy rates associated with the use of cryopreserved human oocytes would be an important advance in human assisted reproductive technology (ART). Vitrification allows glasslike solidification of a solution without ice crystal formation in the living cells. We have attempted to improve the survival rates of oocytes by a vitrification technique using bovine models. In vitro matured oocytes with or without cumulus cells were vitrified with either 15.0% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG) + 15% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) + 0.5 M sucrose or 15% (v/v) EG + 15% (v/v) 1,2-propanediol (PROH) + 0.5 M sucrose, using 'Cryotop' or 'thin plastic sticker', respectively. The oocyte survival rates after vitrifying-warming, and the capacity for fertilization and embryonic development were examined in vitro. The rate of embryonic development to blastocyst was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the oocytes vitrified with 15% (v/v) EG + 15% (v/v) PROH + 0.5 M sucrose than in the oocytes vitrified with 15% (v/v) EG + 15% (v/v) DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose (7.4% +/- 4.1 vs. 1.7% +/- 3.0, respectively). Oocytes vitrified without cumulus cells had a higher survival rate after thawing and a superior embryonic developmental capacity compared with oocytes vitrified with cumulus cells. Prolonged pre-incubation time after thawing adversely affected the rates of embryonic cleavage and development. These results indicate that in vitro matured bovine oocytes can be vitrified successfully with the mixture of the cryoprotectants, EG + PROH, the absence of cumulus cells for vitrification does not affect oocyte survival rate after warming, and vitrified and warmed oocytes do not require pre-incubation before in vitro fertilization.     

Technical note: viability and motility of vitrified/thawed primordial germ cell isolated from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) somite embryos

The feasibility of cryopreserving common carp (Cyprinus carpio) primordial germ cells (PGC) by vitrification of whole embryos at the 22- to 28-somite stage was investigated. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled PGC were cooled rapidly using liquid nitrogen after exposure to a pretreatment solution containing 1.5 M cryoprotectant (ethylene glycol or dimethyl sulfoxide, 30 or 50 min) and a vitrification solution containing 3 M cryoprotectant and 0.5 M sucrose (5, 10, 20, or 30 min). Embryonic cells that were pretreated for 30 min and vitrified for 20 min with ethylene glycol had the greatest rate of survival of embryonic cells (68.6%; P < 0.01), an optimal highest percentage of viable PGC (73.8 to 74.9%; P < 0.05), and no evidence of ice formation after thawing. The vitrified/thawed PGC were transplanted into blastula-stage embryos from goldfish (Carassius auratus). The PGC maintained their motility and moved to the gonadal ridge of the host embryo. Thus, the combination of vitrification and transplantation to produce germ-line chimeras is a powerful tool for the artificial production of next-generation offspring.