title: [Cryopreservation of mouse morula and blastocysts by vitrification].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the survival and developmental potential of mouse morula, early blastocysts and blastocysts cryopreserved by vitrification.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-two mouse morula, 135 early blastocysts and 148 blastocysts were cryopreserved by 6 mol/L ethylene glycol and 1 mol/L sucrose vitrification solutions. The survival rates and blastocysts hatching rates after thawing were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rates of morula, early blastocysts and blastocysts groups were 88.0%, 73.3%, and 60.1% respectively. The blastocyst hatching rates were 73.9%, 61.5%, and 49.3% respectively. Both the survival rates and blastocyst hatching rates in morula group were higher than those in early blastocysts group (P < 0.05), and they were higher in early blastocysts group than in blastocysts group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In these three embryo stages, the survival and developmental potential of mouse morula cryopreserved by vitrification are better than those of early blastocysts and blastocysts. Morula is likely the most feasible stage for embryo vitrification.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tian-fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Xiao-lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Sui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009028:Morula / Q000502:physiology*; D014021:Tissue Preservation