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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
Modified MicroSecure Vitrification: A Safe, Simple and Highly Effective Cryopreservation Procedure for Human Blastocysts
Published on: March 2, 2017
Enhanced cryosurvival of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro in serum-free medium
Sang-Rae Cho1, Seong-Keun Cho, Sung-Lim Lee
1Department of Obstetrics and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Chinju, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
Culture systems affect the development of IVP embryos and consequently their cryosurvival potential. The viability of postthawed bovine IVP embryos developed from IVM/IVC medium in the presence or absence of serum was compared.
Methods:
Cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in IVM medium supplemented with or without serum. Some oocytes were evaluated for nuclear maturation status and others were inseminated with semen. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in IVC medium supplemented with or without serum for 9 days. Blastocysts were cryopreserved with 1.5 M ethylene glycol in PBS.
Results:
No difference was observed in the nuclear maturation status and cleavage rates in both groups, but significantly (P < 0.05) higher in blastocyst rates in the serum-supplemented group. After freezing, survival of blastocysts was higher in the serum-free group. At 36 h culture after thawing, blastocysts developed without serum had significantly (P < 0.05) higher cell number than those cultured with serum.
Conclusions:
We conclude that serum-free culture system enhances the viability of frozen-thawed bovine embryos.
