In vitro evaluation and pregnancy rates after vitrification of in vitro produced bovine embryos.
The efficacy of different vitrification solutions to cryopreserve in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts was evaluated based on in vitro development of embryos in culture and on in vivo development of embryos transferred into recipients. In the first experiment, 2 vitrification solutions were compared: propylene glycol + glycerol (Pg + Gly) and ethylene glycol + Ficoll + sucrose (EFS). Differences in the overall development and hatching rates in favor of EFS were found (56.4 vs 33.3% and 35.4 vs 13.3%; P < 0.05). In the second experiment, 3 vitrification solutions were compared: EFS, modified EFS (EFSm) and ethylene glycol + glycerol (Eg + Gly). The vitrification solutions EFSm and Eg + Gly yield higher hatching rates than did EFS (57.7 vs 59.6 vs 35.7%; P < 0.05). The last experiment was designed to compare in vivo 2 vitrification solutions: EFSm and Eg + Gly. There were no differences between them based on the results obtained after transfer (35.2 vs 43.7%). The vitrification solutions EFSm and Eg + Gly have resulted in good pregnancy rates. These results demonstrated that vitrification can be used successfully in the cryopreservation of in-vitro produced bovine embryos, and it might be considered for use in commercial programs.
Martínez
A G
AG
Centro de Investigaciones Reproductivas Pérez Companc, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
de Matos
D G
DG
Furnus
C C
CC
Brogliatti
G M
GM
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary*; D005362:Ficoll; D005990:Glycerol; D011247:Pregnancy; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D012996:Solutions; D013395:Sucrose
D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D012996:Solutions; D005362:Ficoll; D013395:Sucrose; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D005990:Glycerol