title: In vitro and in vivo survival of mouse blastocysts after repeated vitrification with the open pulled straw (OPS) method.
abstract: This study addresses the in vitro and in vivo survival of mouse embryos repeatedly vitrified by the OPS-technique of Vajta et al. (24). Of 225 vitrified blastocysts, after warming one third was cultured in vitro, the other two-thirds were re-vitrified. After these were warmed, the second third was put to culture. With the remaining third the procedure was repeated. Of embryos vitrified once, 97% developed to expanded blastocysts and 81% proceeded to hatching. Corresponding values for embryos re-vitrified once were 93% and 72%, respectively (P > 0.05). After another re-vitrification, expansion and hatching rates were reduced to 76% and 35%, respectively (P < 0.01). Of 10 recipients provided with 10 embryos each that had been vitrified once, 80% remained pregnant with 5.5 +/- 0.3 fetuses. Corresponding values for re-vitrified embryos were 80% and 5.0 +/- 0.3. Of all embryos transferred, 44% became vital fetuses after a single vitrification, compared to 40% after revitrification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Georg-August-University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Gayar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gauly
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Holtz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D013480:Superovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D058989:Vitrification
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D006062:Gonadotropins