不同冷冻方法对水牛体外生产胚胎冷冻效果的研究

本研究采用不同来源的体外生产胚胎(屠宰场卵巢IVF胚胎,OPU-IVF胚胎,SCNT胚胎),系统研究了不同冷冻方法对水牛体外生产胚胎冷冻效果的影响,以完善水牛体外生产胚胎冷冻方法,进一步提高胚胎冷冻效果。试验选用6～7日龄囊胚分别用不同的冷冻液和不同冷冻方法进行胚胎冷冻。玻璃化冷冻液分别为40%EG、25%EG+25%DMSO和20%EG+20%DMSO+0.5 mol/L蔗糖;程序化冷冻液分别为10%甘油和0.05 mol/L海藻糖+1.8 mol/L EG+0.4%BSA。结果表明:(1)在玻璃化冷冻中,无论何种胚胎不同冷冻液的冷冻效果有明显的差异,但均以20%EG+20%DMSO+0.5 mol/L蔗糖作为冷冻液的冷冻效果最好,并且高于程序化冷冻的存活率;而对于程序化冷冻,用10%甘油作为冷冻液,屠宰场卵巢IVF胚胎的冷冻后存活率略高于用0.05 mol/L海藻糖+1.8 mol/L EG+0.4%BSA的冷冻后存活率,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。(2)VF胚胎利用程序化冷冻胚胎解冻后,在0～24 h内有76.5%胚胎复活,高于玻璃化冷冻的复苏率(48.9%)(P<0.05);而与此相反,在24～48 h内,玻璃化冷冻胚胎的复苏率(42.6%)则高于程序化冷冻(23.5%)(P<0.05)。综上所述,各种来源的水牛体外生产胚胎均可进行冷冻保存,应用玻璃化冷冻的效果好于程序化冷冻,且以20%EG+20%DMSO+0.5 mol/L蔗糖作为冷冻液进行玻璃化冷冻效果最好,但程序化冷冻后的胚胎复苏速度明显快于玻璃化冷冻的速度。     

鸡囊胚细胞玻璃化冷冻保存技术的研究

研究不同冷冻液配方对鸡囊胚细胞的玻璃化冷冻保存效果。对新鲜种蛋囊胚细胞分离提纯后,在DMEM中添加不同的冷冻保护剂DMSO（二甲基亚砜）、EG（乙二醇）、蔗糖,分别组成6种玻璃化冷冻保护液,进行超低温冷冻保存。复苏后通过苔盼蓝染色测定活细胞存活率。结果：玻璃化冷冻保存中,囊胚细胞在玻璃化冷冻液配方2（10％EG＋10％DMSO＋0．5mol／L蔗糖＋20％FBS＋DMEM）条件下复苏后存活率最高（71．32％）,与玻璃化冷冻液配方1和3条件下复苏后存活率之间差异显著（P〈0．05）,且与玻璃化冷冻液配方4、5、6条件下复苏后存活率之间差异均极显著（P〈0．01）,可以作为鸡囊胚细胞的玻璃化冷冻液。     

影响奶牛体外受精胚胎培养效果的胚胎因素

对胚胎因素影响奶牛体外受精胚胎培养效果进行了研究。结果发现,在胚胎因素中,胚胎类型(冻胚和鲜胚)与胚胎发育阶段对胚胎培养效果没有显著影响(P>0.05);冷冻胚胎解冻后停留时间对胚胎培养效果影响极显著(P<0.01);冷冻胚胎解冻后胚胎等级对胚胎培养效果影响显著(P<0.05),解冻后A级胚胎存活率(80%,128/160)、囊胚孵化率(58.75%,94/160)显著高于B级胚胎存活率(59.38%,95/160)和囊胚孵化率(37.5%,60/160)(P<0.05);解冻水浴温度(20℃、30℃)对培养效果有极显著影响(P<0.01)。     

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。     

水牛冷冻胚胎分割效果的初步研究

探讨了胚胎分割前后冷冻和不同时期的冷冻胚胎对水牛胚胎分割效果的影响。结果:冷冻后分割组的分割成功率与分割后冷冻组差异不显著(71.39%vs 71.43%,P>0.05),但囊胚冷冻后分割组的半胚发育率显著高于分割后冷冻组(58.33%vs 47.14%,P<0.05);扩张囊胚的冷冻存活率显著高于孵化囊胚(94.84%vs 79.01,P<0.05),但囊胚与孵化囊胚差异不显著(92.67%vs 79.01%,P>0.05),囊胚、扩张囊胚和孵化囊胚冷冻胚胎的分割成功率(70.76%,73.22%,70.92%)及半胚发育率差异均不显著(53.07%,51.49%,57.99%)(P>0.05)。上述结果说明,水牛囊胚冷冻后分割比分割后冷冻能获得更高的半胚发育率;水牛未扩张囊胚和扩张囊胚的冷冻存活率比孵化囊胚高,且这3个时期的冷冻胚胎均适合分割。     

不同冷冻方法对牛体外受精胚胎冷冻效果的影响

通过采用程序降温法(试验1:分步法10%甘油;试验2:直接法1.8mol/L乙二醇+0.1mol/L蔗糖)和玻璃化法(试验3:20%甘油+0.3M蔗糖+0.3M木糖+3%聚乙二醇+20%乙二醇)对牛体外受精胚胎进行冷冻保存及解冻后进行孵化培养试验,用囊胚孵化率对各方法进行了比较。结果表明,10%甘油组、1.8mol/L乙二醇+0.1mol/L蔗糖组及玻璃化组胚胎存活率分别为85%、82.5%、90%;囊胚孵化率分别为50%、55%和80%(P<0.05)。体外受精胚用玻璃化法保存显著优于程序降温法,可获得较高的胚胎存活率(90%)和囊胚孵化率(80%)。     

影响猪胚胎玻璃化冷冻的若干因素

以广西巴马小型猪为供体,采用超数排卵技术,采集5～6日龄的胚胎(囊胚/桑椹胚),比较2种冷冻方法、胚胎承载工具、透明带处理和冷冻胚胎移植受体对猪胚胎冷冻效果的影响.结果表明,2种冷冻方法的冷冻效果没有显著差异;GMP法能显著提高冷冻胚胎存活率(83.8%vs 77.6%,P＜0.05)和囊胚细胞数(47.5 vs 53.1,P＜0.05);以0.5%链蛋白酶10 s处理透明带,虽然对猪胚胎存活率没有显著影响,但能显著提高囊胚细胞数(60.1vs 46.6,P＜0.01);以地方猪种(枫泾母猪)为冷冻胚胎移植受体能显著提高妊娠率和胚胎效率(P＜0.01).     

不同冷冻剂对鸡胚PGCs的保护效应

发育至第19期和第28期的鸡胚性腺原始生殖细胞（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）、蔗糖进行超低温冷冻保存，比较冷冻保护剂在单独或联合使用条件下对PGCs的冷冻保护效果，复苏后台盼蓝染色测定细胞存活率，体外接种培养、传代。结果表明：（1）第19期PGCs冷冻保存中，10％EG＋10％FBS＋0．1mol／L。蔗糖条件下细胞存活率最高为（92．20±2．18）％，且与10％DMSO＋10％FBS的存活率差异显著（P〈0．05），其余各冷冻保护液间存活率差异不显著；第28期PGCs冷冻保存中，5％DMsO＋5％EG＋10％FBS＋0．1mol／L。蔗糖条件下细胞存活率最高为（92．41±2．82）％，但各冷冻保护液间存活率差异均不显著（P〉0．05）。（2）解冻后体外培养的PGCs，在饲养层和3种细胞因子（I。IF、SCF、bFGF）的共同作用下，可持续增殖，传至第3代的PGCs，PAS染色、AKP染色均呈阳性并保持完整的二倍体核型，仍处于未分化状态。     

水牛活体采卵和无透明带胚胎培养体系的优化

本研究旨在探索哺乳动物体外受精（IVF）胚胎单独或少量培养时发育效率低、无透明带胚胎的体外发育潜能受阻的问题,以期建立提高水牛活体采卵（ovum-pick-up,OPU）和徒手克隆（handmade clone,HMC）胚胎发育潜能高效稳定的体外生产体系。研究首先比较了单个微滴内共培养的胚胎数量（1、3、5、10和20枚）对胚胎发育效果的影响;而后采用微穴体系（well-of-the-well,WOW）和辅助共培养体系（培养微滴中添加包埋IVF胚胎的琼脂糖小块）培养OPU-IVF胚胎,并用WOW体系培养无透明带的徒手克隆重构胚,与传统的微滴培养体系比较其体外发育效果。结果表明：单个微滴内培养的胚胎数量为1、3和5枚时,囊胚发育率极显著低于10枚和20枚组（P<0.01）;与微滴培养体系相比,辅助共培养和WOW体系均极显著提高OPU-IVF胚胎的囊胚率（P<0.01）,且WOW培养体系极显著促进HMC重构胚的卵裂率和囊胚率（P<0.01）。综上所述,胚胎群体培养有助于胚胎发育,在保证系谱明确的前提下琼脂糖包埋辅助胚胎共培养体系和WOW体系提高了OPU-IVF体外胚胎发育效率,且WOW体系还可用于无透明带胚胎的高效培养。     

小鼠囊胚和扩张囊胚玻璃化冷冻保存的研究

以6M甘油+6.5%PVP(V1)和8MEG+7%PVP(V2)为玻璃化溶液,采用细管法和OPS一步法对小鼠囊胚进行冷冻.结果表明:胚胎在玻璃化溶液中平衡20S显著高于平衡60S后的存活率(P＜0.05);蔗糖四步法解冻后的发育率与蔗糖三步法冷冻解冻后的发育率差异不显著(P＞0.05);用OPS三步法冷冻后(V2)的小鼠囊胚的体外发育率显著高于细管法和OPS一步法冷冻后的发育率(P＜0.01);在OPS三步法冷冻过程中,平衡时间对胚胎冷冻后的发育率有一定的影响.     

Effect of vitrification medium composition and exposure time on post-thaw development of buffalo embryos produced in vitro

This study examined the effects of different vitrification medium compositions and exposure times (2, 4 and 6min) on the post-thaw development of buffalo embryos produced in vitro (IVP). The compositions were (1) 40% ethylene glycol (EG); (2) 25% glycerol (G)+25% EG, and (3) 25% EG+25% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The base medium was 25mM Hepes-buffered TCM-199+10% steer serum +50microg/mL gentamycin. The IVP embryos were cryopreserved by a two-step vitrification method at 24 degrees C. After warming, the embryos were cultured in vitro for 72h. The vitrification of morulae and blastocysts in 25% EG+25% DMSO with an exposure time of 2 and 4min, respectively, resulted in a better hatching rate than other combinations. The hatching rate of morulae vitrified in 25% EG+25% G, 25% EG+25% DMSO, and blastocysts vitrified in 40% EG, 25% EG+25% DMSO were negatively correlated with exposure time. However, the hatching rate of blastocysts vitrified in 25% EG+25% G was positively correlated with exposure time. The study demonstrated that the post-thaw in vitro development of IVP buffalo embryos was affected by the vitrification medium composition and exposure time.     

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.     

Effect of different penetrating and non‐penetrating cryoprotectants and media temperature on the cryosurvival of vitrified in vitro produced porcine blastocysts

The aim of this study was to determine the most efficient vitrification protocol for the cryopreservation of day 7 in vitro produced (IVP) porcine blastocysts. The post‐warm survival rate of blastocysts vitrified in control (17% dimethyl sulfoxide + 17% ethylene glycol [EG] + 0.4 mol/L sucrose) and commercial media did not differ, nor did the post‐warm survival rate of blastocysts vitrified in medium containing 1,2‐propandiol in place of EG. However, vitrifying embryos in EG alone decreased the cryosurvival rate (55.6% and 33.6%, respectively, p < .05). Furthermore, the post‐warm survival rates of blastocysts vitrified with either trehalose or sucrose as the non‐penetrating cryoprotectant did not differ. There was also no significant difference in post‐warm survival of blastocysts vitrified in control (38°C) media and room temperature (22°C) media with extended equilibration times, although when blastocysts were vitrified using control media at room temperature, the post‐warm survival rate increased (56.8%, 57.3%, 72.5%, respectively, p < .05). The findings show that most cryoprotectant combinations examined proved equally effective at supporting the post‐warm survival of IVP porcine blastocysts. The improved post‐warm survival rate of blastocysts vitrified using media held at room temperature suggests that the cryoprotectant toxicity exerted in 22°C media was reduced.     

Vitrification of mouse two-cell and blastocyst stage embryos in simplified closed system using either a hemi-straw or a hollow fiber device

Two-cell stage and blastocyst stage mouse embryos were equilibrated in a medium containing 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG) and 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 8–15 min. Vitrification was performed in a medium containing 0.5 M sucrose and either 15% EG + 15% DMSO, 17.5% EG + 17.5% DMSO, or 20% EG + 20% DMSO for 30 s. They were then placed either on a hemi-straw (HS) or a hollow fiber vitrification (HFV) device and vitrified by cooled air inside a 0.5-ml straw. In two-cell embryos, a 100% survival rate was obtained from all groups except the 20% HS group (P > .05). All vitrified two-cell groups showed similar rates of blastocyst development to that of fresh control group (P > .05), except 17.5% and 20% HFV groups, which were significantly lower than the other groups (P < .05). In the blastocyst embryos, the HFV groups were divided into two subgroups (non-collapsed; HFV-NC and collapsed; HFV-C blastocyst). Re-expansion rate in 15% HFV-NC, 17.5% HFV-NC, and 15% HFV-C groups was reduced (P < .05), whereas the rest were similar to control. In conclusion, we established a simplified, reliable, and closed system for HFV vitrification applying hemi-straw, which does not require skilled practitioners.     

Cryopreservation of immature buffalo oocytes: Effects of cytochalasin B pretreatment on the efficiency of cryotop and solid surface vitrification methods

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of the solid surface (SSV), cryotop (CT) vitrification methods and cytochalasin B (CB) pretreatment for cryopreservation of immature buffalo oocytes. Cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs) were placed for 1 min in TCM199 containing 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), 10% ethylene glycol (EG), and 20% fetal bovine serum, and then transferred for 30 s to base medium containing 20% DMSO, 20% EG and 0.5 mol/L sucrose. CB pretreated ((+)CB) or non‐pretreated ((?)CB) COCs were vitrified either by SSV or CT. Surviving vitrified COCs were selected for in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The rate of viable oocytes after vitrification in CT groups (82%) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that in a fresh control group (100%), but significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in SSV groups (71–72%). Among vitrified groups, the highest maturation rate was obtained in the CT (?)CB group (32%). After IVF, the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were similar among vitrified groups but significantly lower than those of the control group. In conclusion, a higher survival rate of oocytes after vitrification and IVM was obtained in the CT group compared with that in the SSV group, indicating the superiority of the CT method. Pretreatment with CB did not increase the viability, maturation or embryo development of vitrified oocytes.     

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.     

Post-thaw development of in vitro produced buffalo embryos cryopreserved by cytoskeletal stabilization and vitrification

The present study was conducted to examine post-thaw in vitro developmental competence of buffalo embryos cryopreserved by cytoskeletal stabilization and vitrification. In vitro produced embryos were incubated with a medium containing cytochalasin-b (cyto-b) in a CO₂ incubator for 40 min for microfilament stabilization and were cryopreserved by a two-step vitrification method at 24℃ in the presence of cyto-b. Initially, the embryos were exposed to 10% ethylene glycol (EG) and 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in a base medium for 4 min. After the initial exposure, the embryos were transferred to a 7 µl drop of 25% EG and 25% DMSO in base medium and 0.3 M sucrose for 45 sec. After warming, the embryos were cultured in vitro for 72 h. The post-thaw in vitro developmental competence of the cyto-b-treated embryos did not differ significantly from those vitrified without cyto-b treatment. The hatching rates of morulae vitrified without cyto-b treatment was significantly lower than the non-vitrified control. However, the hatching rate of cyto-b-treated vitrified morulae did not differ significantly from the non-vitrified control. This study demonstrates that freezing of buffalo embryos by cytoskeletal stabilization and vitrification is a reliable method for long-term preservation.     

Stepwise in-straw dilution and direct transfer using open pulled straws (OPS) in the mouse: a potential model for field manipulation of vitrified embryos

In the present study, mouse blastocysts were employed to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of stepwise in-straw dilution and direct transfer using the open pulled straw (OPS) method. In experiment I, the effects of various vitrification solutions (VS) on embryo survival were examined. After thawing, the expanded blastocyst rates (97.59 and 95.05%) and hatching rates (80.48 and 78.95%) achieved in the EDFS30 [15% ethylene glycol (EG), 15% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Ficoll, and sucrose] and EFS40 [40% EG, Ficoll, and sucrose] groups were no different from those (96.15% and 83.33%) of the control group. However, the rates in the EFS30 [30% EG, Ficoll, and sucrose] (87.80 and 55.43%) and EDFS40 [20% EG, 20% DMSO, Ficoll, and sucrose] (95.69 and 70.97%) groups were significantly lower than those (96.15 and 83.33%) of the control group (P<0.05). In the experiment II, the effects of the volume of VS in the OPS on the survival of embryos after in-straw thawing were investigated. When the length of the VS in the column was less than 1 cm, the in vitro viability of embryos thawed by stepwise in-straw dilution was no different among the experimental and control groups. The embryos could be successfully thawed by immersing the OPS in 0.5 M sucrose for 3 min and then 0.25 M sucrose for 2 min. In experiment III, the effect of immersion time of the OPS in diluent (PBS) on the viability of vitrified embryos was investigated. After in-straw thawing, OPSs were immersed immediately in 1 ml PBS for 0 to 30 min. When the immersion time of the OPSs in PBS was less than 12 min, in vitro development of the in-straw thawed embryos was no different from that of the controls. In experiment IV, in-straw thawed blastocysts were directly transferred to pseudopregnant mice to examine their in vivo developmental viability. The pregnancy (91.67%) and birth rates (42.42%) of embryos in-straw thawed and directly transferred were no different from those of the unvitrified controls (90.90 and 40%) and embryos thawed by the conventional method (84.61 and 46.94%). These results demonstrate that mouse embryos vitrified with OPS could be successfully thawed by stepwise in-straw dilution and transferred directly to a recipient and that this method might be a model for field manipulation of vitrified embryos in farm animals.     

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.     

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.