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Modified MicroSecure Vitrification: A Safe, Simple and Highly Effective Cryopreservation Procedure for Human Blastocysts
Published on: March 2, 2017
Open-pulled straw (OPS) vitrification of mouse hatched blastocysts
Chong Zhou1, Guang-Bin Zhou, Shi-En Zhu
1Laboratory of Animal Embryonic Biotechnology, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China.
Animal Biotechnology
|March 17, 2007
Summary
The open-pulled straw (OPS) method effectively cryopreserved mouse hatched blastocysts (HBs), achieving high in vitro survival rates. In vivo development after OPS vitrification was comparable to controls, demonstrating its efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cryobiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Cryopreservation of mammalian embryos is crucial for assisted reproductive technologies.
- The open-pulled straw (OPS) method offers a potential advancement in embryo vitrification.
- Evaluating the developmental potential of vitrified mouse hatched blastocysts (HBs) is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental potential of mouse hatched blastocysts (HBs) vitrified using the OPS method.
- To determine optimal cryoprotectant solutions and dilution protocols for OPS vitrification of HBs.
- To assess both in vitro survival and in vivo developmental rates of vitrified-warmed HBs.
Main Methods:
- Hatched blastocysts (HBs) were obtained from in vitro cultured morulae.
- Embryos were exposed to various cryoprotectant solutions (ethylene glycol, DMSO, Ficoll, sucrose) for pre-treatment.
- Vitrification was performed using the OPS method, followed by warming and dilution using sucrose solutions; in vitro and in vivo assessments were conducted.
Main Results:
- All vitrified-warmed HBs exhibited high in vitro survival rates, ranging from 83.7% to 98.9%.
- The highest in vitro survival rates (87.8% and 98.9%) were achieved with specific dilution protocols (Method C).
- In vivo survival rates of embryos vitrified with OPS and diluted using Method C (35.5%–42.2%) were not significantly different from the control group (45.7%).
Conclusions:
- The OPS method is highly efficient for the cryopreservation of mouse hatched blastocysts.
- The study identified effective cryoprotectant combinations and dilution methods for successful OPS vitrification.
- OPS vitrification maintains the developmental potential of mouse HBs, supporting its use in research and assisted reproduction.
