title: Vitrification of mouse oocytes using short cryoprotectant exposure: effects of varying exposure times on survival.
abstract: The effects on oocyte viability of varying the duration of exposure to cryoprotectants before rapid cooling to -196 degrees C were examined, using the vitrification protocol of Nakagata. A very short exposure (15 sec) was found to be optimal, resulting in an overall rate of development from vitrified oocytes to hatching blastocysts of 31.8%. Very high rates of survival (77-89%) of oocytes exposed to the cryoprotectant media, but without the vitrification, together with extreme variability in results between straws in the vitrified groups, suggest that losses in viability during vitrification may result from ice damage during devitrification of the medium.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents