Effect of hydroxypropyl cellulose on vitrification of sheep embryos

Vitrification is a conventional and mature method for embryo cryo-preservation, but ice crystals formed during the vitrification process can damage embryos. HPC has the property of forming a high-viscosity gel under low-temperature conditions, so it can be added to vitrification solutions to investigate whether it improves the negative impact of vitrification on embryos. The results showed that the addition of HPC (50 μg/ml) to the vitrification solution significantly increased the post-warming survival rate of sheep morula embryos. Compared to the vitrification group, the addition of HPC significantly reduced the level of ROS (reactive oxygen species, ROS) and increased the level of GSH (glutathione, GSH) in embryos after warming, mitigating the damage to mitochondria caused by vitrification. It also had clear positive effects on the developmental potential of vitrified-warmed sheep embryos. Overall, the addition of 50 μg/ml HPC to the vitrification solution can significantly improve the quality of sheep morula embryos after vitrification and warming.