Cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes

Two methods for the cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes are described. One method uses a relatively low concentration of the cryoprotectant propanediol plus sucrose and requires controlled-rate cooling equipment to achieve a slow cooling rate. Such a method has produced live births from cryopreserved human oocytes. The second method described employs a high concentration of the cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide plus a low concentration of polyethylene glycol. This method involves cooling by plunging standard straws into liquid nitrogen vapor, hence avoiding the need for specialized equipment, but requires technical ability to manipulate the oocytes quickly in the highly concentrated cryoprotectant solutions. Murine oocytes vitrified, using this technique, have resulted in live births.