玻璃化冷冻山羊卵母细胞效果研究

为了提高玻璃化冷冻保存山羊卵母细胞的效果,试验用不含Ca2+的玻璃化冷冻液1[30%乙二醇(EG)]、玻璃化冷冻液2[27.5%EG+2.5%二甲基亚砜(DMSO)]和玻璃化冷冻液3(25%EG+5%DMSO)研究抗冻保护剂DMSO和EG的不同浓度配比对山羊卵母细胞形态正常率、孤雌激活率、体外受精卵裂率及胚胎发育能力的影响。结果表明:山羊卵母细胞经玻璃化冷冻液1,2,3处理后细胞形态正常率(97.1%、97.3%、97.3%)与对照组(100%)相比有所降低,但差异不显著(P>0.05),且对卵母细胞均不产生具有化学毒性作用的孤雌激活;山羊卵母细胞经3种玻璃化冷冻液冷冻保存后,玻璃化冷冻液2冷冻保存卵母细胞的囊胚率(13.8%)显著高于玻璃化冷冻液1(5.7%)和玻璃化冷冻液3(5.1%)(P<0.05)。说明采用玻璃化冷冻液2冷冻保存山羊卵母细胞可获得较为理想的效果。     

玻璃化冷冻对猪MII期卵母细胞发育能力的影响

以MII期卵母细胞作为试验材料,应用玻璃化冷冻方法,就目前应用最多的7组冷冻保护液配方进行筛选,并且比较3种不同冷冻载体冷冻卵母细胞的效果。结果发现:7组冷冻保护液对MII期卵母细胞有低毒性作用,各组分裂率、囊胚率、囊胚细胞数均低于对照组;综合各组指标,选取3组对猪MII期卵母细胞的发育能力损伤最小的冷冻保护剂,应用GMP管对其冷冻保护效果进行比较,发现第7组冷冻保护液配方EFS不适于MII期卵母细胞的冷冻,其形态正常率、分裂率分别为1.19%、0,与第3组、第6组形态正常率、分裂率(59.48%、53.55%;24.19%、35.02%)差异显著(P0.05)。综合考虑,选取HM+7.5%(DMSO+EG),HM+17%(DMSO+EG)+0.4 mol/L Su作为冷冻保护剂来比较3种不同冷冻载体冷冻卵母细胞的效果差异,发现半麦管冻融后MII期卵母细胞的分裂率高达53.67%,与OPS法的29.33%及GMP法的35.00%相比差异显著(P0.05),半麦管法更适合MII期猪卵母细胞的玻璃化冷冻。     

冷冻保存能降低绵羊卵母细胞受精能力

本实验研究了体外成熟绵羊卵母细胞在舍抗冻保护荆DMS()和EG的冷冻液中暴露和OPS法玻璃化冷冻保存后对体外受精卵裂率、精子入卵率、皮质颗粒分布、酶溶解透明带时间及雌原核形成的影响.将体外成熟24 h的绵羊卵母细胞分为3组:(1)对照组,卵母细胞不进行处理;(2)毒性组,卵母细胞在冷冻液中进行暴露但不投入液氮中冷冻;(3)冷冻组,卵母细胞利用OPS法进行玻璃化冷冻.处理组卵母细胞在浓度递减的蔗糖溶液中脱除抗冻保护剂.结果,卵母细胞体外受精的卵裂率和单精子入卵率,毒性组(62.3%和29.3%)和冷冻组(67.6%和28.2%)显著低于对照组(78.4%和45.0%)(P＜0.05),毒性组和冷冻组间无显著差异(P＞0.05).为了研究冷冻保存导致卵母细胞受精能力降低的机制,处理组及对照组一部份卵母细胞分别于处理后0 h(IVM24 h)、2 h(IVM26 h)和体外受精后12 h(IVFl2 h)测定皮质颗粒分布和用0.1%链霉蛋白酶溶解透明带时间,另一部份卵母细胞则在不含有精子的受精液中孵育12 h后测定雌原核形成率.结果,在IVM24 h和IVM26 h,皮质颗粒呈完全释放的比例,毒性组(41.2%和40.8%)和冷冻组(41.7%和51.8%)显著性高于对照组(7.1%和18.4%)(P＜0.05);IVM26 h酶溶解透明带时间,毒性组(435.6±16.6)s和冷冻组(422.3±14.6)s显著长于对照组(381.6±15.3) s(P＜0.05);雌原核形成率,毒性组(58.7%)和冷冻组(63.9%)组显著高于对照组(8.2%)(P＜0.05).上述结果表明,舍DMS()和EG的冷冻液对体外成熟绵羊卵母细胞具有孤雌激活作用,引起皮质颗粒的提前释放,导致透明带变硬,降低卵母细胞的受精能力.     

冷冻后小鼠卵母细胞的透明带和质膜对体外受精的影响

以冷冻保存后的小鼠卵母细胞为实验材料,研究其膜对体外受精效果的影响。在室温(25±0.5)℃条件下,以10%乙二醇(EG)+10%二甲基亚砜(DMSO)为预处理液,EDFS30为玻璃化溶液。将卵母细胞于10%EG+10%DMSO溶液中预处理30s,然后再移入EDFS30中处理25s,以开放式拉长细管(OPS)为承载器投入液氮中,即两步法玻璃化冷冻保存。结果表明:冷冻卵母细胞受精后的卵裂率(46.67%)显著低于新鲜组的(86.06%)(P<0.05)。冷冻卵母细胞去透明带后质膜上的平均精子结合数(10.70)与对照组(10.81)无显著性差异(P>0.05),形成雌雄原核数也无显著性差异(2.49vs.2.59)(P>0.05)。冷冻卵母细胞透明带打孔后,其体外受精后卵裂率与新鲜组差异不显著(84.73%vs.91.19%)(P>0.05)。因此玻璃化冷冻保存小鼠卵母细胞透明带的变化是影响体外受精效果的主要因素之一。     

不同浓度玻璃化冷冻液对牛未成熟卵母细胞发育能力的影响

旨在研究含不同浓度乙二醇(EG)、二甲基亚砜(DMSO)的玻璃化冷冻液对牛未成熟卵母细胞冷冻后发育能力的影响。将卵丘卵母细胞复合体(COCs)置于不同配方的玻璃化冷冻液(VS1:10%EG+10%DMSO;VS2:20%EG+20%DMSO;VS3:25%EG+25%DMSO)中暴露30s或60s,体外成熟培养22h,以未在玻璃化冷冻液中暴露而直接体外成熟22h的COCs为对照组。结果表明,在VS3中暴露60s时,成熟率比对照组明显下降(P<0.01),其他组与对照组差异均不显著(P>0.05);在不同玻璃化冷冻液(VS1、VS2、VS3)中,采用开放式拉长细管(OPS)法冷冻COCs,解冻后再进行体外成熟(IVM)、体外受精(IVF)和早期胚胎的体外培养(IVC)。结果表明,VS2组囊胚率(5.4%)最高,与VS3组(3.6%)差异不显著(P>0.05),VS1组没有获得囊胚。研究表明,含20%EG、20%DMSO的玻璃化冷冻液可以用于牛未成熟卵母细胞的冷冻,COCs在冷冻液中处理的时间应控制在30s内。     

玻璃化冷冻对猪GV期卵母细胞成熟及发育能力的影响

为了获得最适的冷冻猪GV期卵母细胞的冷冻保护液配方和最适冷冻载体,本研究就目前应用最多的7种冷冻保护液配方进行筛选,并且比较3种不同冷冻载体冷冻卵母细胞的效果差异。结果表明:7组冷冻保护液对GV期卵母细胞有低毒性作用,各组分裂率、囊胚率、囊胚细胞数均低于对照组,综合各组指标选取3组对猪MII期卵母细胞的发育能力损伤最小的冷冻保护剂,应用GMP管对其冷冻保护效果进行比较,发现第6组的极体率29.47%,第5组的极体率23.54%与第3组的极体率8.28%相比差异显著(P0.05),且第5组的存活率、极体率与第3组相比差异显著(P0.05)。综合考虑,选取第5组HM+7.5%(DMSO+EG),HM+15%(DMSO+EG)+0.5 mol/L Su组作为冷冻保护液来比较3种不同冷冻裁体冷冻卵母细胞的效果差异,发现半麦管冻融后的卵母细胞存活率高达54.11%与OPS管、GMP管的33.11%和26.79%差异显著(P0.05),半麦管法更适合GV期猪卵母细胞的玻璃化冷冻。     

玻璃化冷冻对小鼠卵母细胞透明带超微结构变化及体外受精效果的影响

本实验采用OPS法玻璃化冷冻小鼠卵母细胞,通过扫描电镜观察透明带表面物理特性的变化。旨在研究冷冻导致小鼠卵母细胞透明带表面超微结构的变化以及冷冻卵母细胞体外受精后胚胎发育率和精子穿透透明带能力的影响。结果表明:冷冻后透明带表面网状结构消退或消失,发生熔融样变化。冷冻组中A型透明带比例(57.14%)显著低于毒性实验组(79.32%)及对照组(81.25%)(P<0.05),而发生熔融样变化的比例显著高于其他两组(P<0.05)。体外受精后,冷冻组的卵裂率和囊胚发育率(60.90%,39.51%)均显著低于毒性实验组及对照组(81.74%,55.72%;87.47%,61.63%)。体外受精4 h,冷冻组透明带平均结合精子数(10.56)与毒性实验组和对照组(10.26,10.21)间均无显著性差异(P>0.05);但受精后对透明带消化处理发现,冷冻组紧密结合精子的平均个数(3.28)与其他两组(5.11,5.21)存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。结果显示,冷冻导致透明带表面物理特性的变化,进而造成受精率下降。     

云岭山羊卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻的研究

试验以屠宰场云岭黑山羊卵巢卵母细胞为材料,研究其玻璃化冷冻的效果。试验中选用20% EG+20% DMSO为冷冻液、冷冻环为载体,以20 s、40 s玻璃化时间冷冻GV和MⅡ期的卵母细胞。结果表明,GV期卵母细胞的形态正常率、成熟率和卵裂率都很低,且解冻成熟培养后冷冻组的成熟率和卵裂率极显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。而MⅡ期卵母细胞冷冻效果较好,毒性试验组和冷冻组形态正常率分别为91.1%和83.3%,明显高于GV期;孤雌激活后毒性组卵裂率与对照组无显著性差异(P>0.05),冷冻组的卵裂率显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。用20 s、40 s玻璃化时间冷冻的卵母细胞解冻后GV和MⅡ期各组均无显著差异。根据试验结果得出在冷冻保存中最好冷冻MⅡ期的卵母细胞,以便提高后期的卵裂率和囊胚率;卵母细胞玻璃化时间在40 s内均不影响卵母细胞的活力和发育潜力。     

鸡胚19期原始生殖细胞慢速冷冻和玻璃化冷冻保存的研究

本研究对发育至第19期的鸡胚性腺原始生殖细胞(primordial germ cells，PGCs)分离提纯后，在DMEM中添加冷冻保护剂DMSO（二甲基亚砜）、EG（乙二醇）、蔗糖、PVP（聚乙烯吡咯烷酮）分别组成6种慢速冷冻保护液和6种玻璃化冷冻保护液，进行超低温冷冻保存。复苏后苔盼蓝染色测定细胞存活率，体外接种培养、传代。结果：①慢速冷冻保存中，PGCs在慢速冷冻液V（10％EG+10% FBS+0.1 mol/L蔗糖）条件下复苏后存活率最高（92.20%），且与慢速冷冻液I（10％ DMSO+10% FBS）存活率之间差异显著（P<0.05）。②玻璃化冷冻保存中，PGCs在玻璃化冷冻液I（10% DMSO+10% EG+20% FBS+10% PVP）条件下复苏后存活率最高（84.15%），且与其余5种玻璃化冷冻液下复苏后存活率之间差异均极显著（P<0.01）。③培养传至第3代的慢速冷冻复苏后PGCs细胞和培养传至第2代的玻璃化冷冻复苏后PGCs细胞，PAS染色、AKP染色呈阳性并保持完整的二倍体核型。     

水牛徒手克隆胚胎培养及冷冻条件的优化

本试验利用微滴、微穴和平板培养系统对徒手克隆(hand-made clone,HMC)重组胚进行体外培养;采用了40% EG(ethylene glycol,EG)、25% EG＋25% DMSO(dimethylsulphoxide,DMSO) 和20% EG＋20% DMSO＋0.5 mol/L蔗糖作为玻璃化冷冻液对HMC囊胚进行了超低温冷冻;并且比较了HMC与传统核移植的胚胎生产效率及囊胚冷冻存活率。结果表明,微穴系统的卵裂率要显著高于平板系统(P<0.05),极显著高于微滴系统(P<0.01);且微穴系统的囊胚率(40.0%)极显著高于平板(19.8%)和微滴系统(8.3%)(P<0.01)。采用20% EG＋20% DMSO＋0.5 mol/L蔗糖作为冷冻保护剂时HMC囊胚存活率极显著高于40% EG(P<0.01);HMC重组胚的融合率和囊胚率均高于传统核移植法(P<0.05;P<0.01),而HMC囊胚的冷冻存活率与传统核移植生产的囊胚没有显著差异。以上结果说明水牛HMC可以替代传统核移植法生产克隆胚胎,微穴体系最适合水牛HMC胚胎的体外培养,且采用20% EG＋20% DMSO＋0.5 mol/L蔗糖对HMC囊胚进行玻璃化冷冻可以取得良好的冷冻效果。     

Functional Morphology of the Zona Pellucida

The zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular matrix surrounding the oocyte and the early embryo that exerts several important functions during fertilization and early embryonic development. The ZP of most mammalian species is composed of three major glycoproteins that show considerable heterogeneity due to extensive post-translational modifications. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ZP reveals three to four glycoproteins which have been nominated ZPI. ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. As cloning and characterization of the ZP genes of a variety of mammalian species including domestic animals show a high homology, three classes of ZP genes, ZPA, ZPB and ZPC can be discerned. The corresponding proteins were named ZPA, ZPB and ZPC. Whereas in the mouse ZPB is the primary sperm receptor. the situation is more complicated in other species. For instance, in the pig ZPA has been shown to possess receptor activity. Interaction between gametes during fertilization is at least in part regulated by carbohydrate moieties of the ZP and carbohydrate-binding proteins of the sperm surface. In domestic animals zona proteins are expressed in both the oocyte and granulosa cells in a stage-specific pattern and may play a role in granulosa cell differentiation. The role of ZP glycoproteins in immunocontraception is briefly discussed.     

Studies on MⅡ Stage Porcine Oocytes Vitrification

The study was designed to select right cryoprotectants and carrier for porcine matured oocytes to improve oocyte viability after vitrification and lay a good foundation for porcine oocytes continue development. Using 40% EG, 15% EG+15% DMSO+20% FBS, 15% EG+15% DMSO+20% SPS as cryoprotectants and taking GMP and cryotop as carrier to do porcine oocytes vitrification. The results showed that VS3 including SPS made better active of FDA (59.40%±4.93%) than VS1 （42.12%±4.08%） and VS2 (37.57%±1.21%）（P<0.05);VS3 as cryoprotectants and cryotop as carrier made better active of FDA (83.33%±3.33%) than GMP (59.40%±4.93%)(P<0.05). The data demonstrated that use SPS to instead of FBS and cryotop as carrier could significantly improve active of oocyte after vitrification.     

Effects of UCHL1 Inhibition on Porcine Oocyte Matuation in vitro,Zona Pellucida Ubiquitination and Polyspermy

This study was aimed to examine the effects of UCHL1 inhibition on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, zona pellucida (ZP) ubiquitination and polyspermy. DAPI staining, Hoechst staining and SDS-PAGE methods were used to detect the matuation rate of porcine oocytes in vitro, the level of ubiquitination of zona pellucida (ZP) and polyspermy. The results showed that after different concentrations UCHL1 inhibitor (10, 20, 25 and 30 μmol/L, DMSO and control group) were added into maturation medium for culturing 46 h in vitro, the mature rate of control group was 86.22%, while the maturation rate of 30 μmol/L group was 15.30%, and the maturation rate of every treatment group had significant difference (P<0.05). Western blotting result showed that every group generated ubiquitin markers of ZP were about 61, 80 and 106 ku in different degree. According to the analysis of gray value, the result had significant difference (P<0.05). Conducting fertilization in vitro, the number of sperm adhered on oocyte ZP in control group was the most, the number of sperm running into oocyte was fewer, the number of sperm adhered on oocyte ZP with 30 μmol/L UCHL1 inhibitor was the fewest, and there was almost no sperm running into the oocyte. The results showed that UCHL1 inhibitor had an impact on maturation of porcine oocytes in vitro. With the higher concentration of UCHL1, the lower degree of ZP protein ubiquitinated, UCHL1 could regulate sperm attachment and polyspermy.     

抑制UCHL1对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、透明带泛素化及多精入卵的影响

试验旨在研究抑制泛素羧基末端水解酶-1（UCHL1）对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、透明带泛素化及多精入卵的影响。利用DAPI染色、Hoechst染色及SDS-PAGE等方法检测猪卵母细胞体外成熟率、透明带泛素化水平及多精入卵等情况。结果表明,添加不同浓度UCHL1抑制剂（10、20、25、30 μmol/L,二甲基亚砜（DMSO）及对照组）体外培养猪卵母细胞46 h后,对照组成熟率为86.22%,而30 μmol/L UCHL1抑制剂组的成熟率为15.30%,且各处理组间成熟率差异显著（P<0.05）;经Western blotting检测,各处理组的透明带在约61、80、106 ku处均发生不同程度的泛素标记,通过灰度值分析差异显著（P<0.05）;进行体外受精试验后,发现对照组透明带精子黏附数最多,精子入卵数较少,添加30 μmol/L UCHL1抑制剂组的透明带精子黏附数最少,几乎没有精子入卵。结果显示,UCHL1抑制剂对猪卵母细胞的体外成熟有一定影响,随着UCHL1抑制剂浓度的增加,透明带发生泛素化的程度逐渐降低,且UCHL1可调节透明带精子黏附及多精入卵。     

Effect of Different Combinations of Cryoprotectants on In Vitro Maturation of Immature Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes Vitrified by Straw and Open‐Pulled Straw Methods

This study was designed to evaluate effects of different combinations of cryoprotectants on the ability of vitrified immature buffalo oocytes to undergo in vitro maturation. Straw and open‐pulled straw (OPS) methods for vitrification of oocytes at the germinal vesicle stage also were compared. The immature oocytes were harvested from ovaries of slaughtered animals and were divided into three groups: (i) untreated (control); (ii) exposed to cryoprotectant agents (CPAs); or (iii) cryopreserved by straw and OPS vitrification methods. The vitrification solution (VS) consisted of 6 m ethylene glycol (EG) as the standard, control vitrification treatment, and this was compared with 3 m EG + 3 m dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 3 m EG + 3 m glycerol, and 3 m DMSO + 3 m glycerol. Cryoprotectants were added in two steps, with the first step concentration half that of the second (and final) step concentration. After warming, oocyte samples were matured by standard methods and then fixed and stained for nuclear evaluation. Rates of MII oocytes exposed to CPAs without vitrification were lower (54.3 ± 1.9% in EG, 47.5 ± 3.4% in EG + DMSO, 36.8 ± 1.2% in EG + glycerol and 29.9 ± 1.0% in DMSO + glycerol; p < 0.05) than for the control group (79.8 ± 1.3%). For all treatments in each vitrification experiment, results were nearly identical for straws and OPS, so all results presented are the average of these two containers. The percentages of oocytes reaching telophase‐I or metaphase‐II stages were lower in oocytes cryopreserved using all treatments when compared with control. However, among the vitrified oocytes, the highest maturation rate was seen in oocytes vitrified in EG + DMSO (41.5 ± 0.6%). Oocytes cryopreserved in all groups with glycerol had an overall low maturation rate 19.0 ± 0.6% for EG + glycerol and 17.0 ± 1.1% for DMSO + glycerol. We conclude that the function of oocytes was severely affected by both vitrification and exposure to cryoprotectants without vitrification; the best combination of cryoprotectants was EG + DMSO for vitrification of immature buffalo oocytes using either straw or OPS methods.     

Optimization of cryoprotectant treatment for the vitrification of immature cumulus-enclosed porcine oocytes: comparison of sugars,combinations of permeating cryoprotectants and equilibration regimens

Our aim was to optimize the cryoprotectant treatment for the preservation of immature porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) by solid surface vitrification. In each experiment, the vitrification solution consisted of 50 mg/ml polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 0.3 M of the actual sugar and in total 35% (v/v) of the actual permeating cryoprotectant (pCPA) combination. After warming, the COCs were subjected to in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture. In Experiment 1, trehalose and sucrose were equally effective during vitrification and warming in terms of facilitating oocyte survival and subsequent embryo development. In Experiment 2, when equilibration was performed at 38.5 C in a total of 4% (v/v) pCPA for 15 min, the combination of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol (EG + PG = 1:1) was superior to EG and dimethyl sulfoxide (EG + DMSO = 1:1) in terms of oocyte survival after vitrification and the quality of resultant blastocysts. In Experiment 3, equilibration in 4% (v/v) pCPA for 15 min before vitrification was superior to that in 15% (v/v) CPA for 5 min for achievement of high survival rates irrespective of the pCPA combination used. In Experiment 4, when equilibration was performed in 4% EG + PG for 5 min, 15 min or 25 min, there was no difference in oocyte survival and subsequent embryo development after vitrification and warming; however, the developmental competence of cleaved embryos was tendentiously reduced when equilibration was performed for 25 min. In conclusion, trehalose and sucrose were equally effective in facilitating vitrification, and the optimum pCPA treatment was 5–15 min equilibration in 4% (v/v) of EG + PG followed by vitrification in 35% (v/v) EG + PG.     

Comparative Study between Slow Freezing and Vitrification of Mouse Embryos Using Different Cryoprotectants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cryoprotectants and different cryopreservation protocols on the development of mouse eight-cell embryos. Mouse eight-cell embryos were cryopreserved by using propylene glycerol (PROH), ethylene glycerol (EG), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or glycerol (G) as cryoprotectant with slow-freezing or Vit-Master vitrification protocol. After thawing, the survival rate, blastocyst formation rate and blastocyst hatching rate of the embryos were compared. When the mouse eight-cell embryos were cryopreserved by the slow-freezing, the survival rate, the blastocyst formation rate and the blastocyst hatching rate of the embryos with PROH were significantly higher than those of DMSO and G (p < 0.05, respectively), but not significantly different among those of DMSO, G and EG (p > 0.05, respectively), and not significantly different between those of PROH and EG (p > 0.05, respectively). When the mouse eight-cell embryos were cryopreserved by Vit-Master vitrification, the survival rate, the blastocyst formation rate and the blastocyst hatching rate of the embryos with EG were significantly higher than those of PROH, DMSO and G (p < 0.05, respectively). Yet, there were no significant differences among those of PROH, DMSO and G (p > 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, PROH was the optimal cryoprotectant for the cryopreservation of mouse eight-cell embryos by slow-freezing protocol. EG was the optimal cryoprotectant for the cryopresevation of mouse eight-cell embryos by Vit-Master vitrification protocol, which may be commonly used in clinical and laboratory practice.     

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.