Higher survival rate of vitrified and thawed in vitro produced bovine blastocysts following culture in defined medium supplemented with β-mercaptoethanol

β-Mercaptoethanol in culture medium improves cryotolerance of in vitro-produced bovine embryos

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding β-mercaptoethanol (βME) to culture medium of bovine in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos prior to or after vitrification on embryo development and cryotolerance. In Experiment I, Day-7 IVP blastocysts were vitrified and, after warming, cultured in medium containing 0, 50 or 100 μM βME for 72 h. Embryos cultured in 100 μM βME attained higher hatching rates (66.7%) than those culture in 0 (47.7%) and 50 (52.4%) μM βME. In Experiment II, IVP embryos were in vitro-cultured (IVC) to the blastocyst stage in 0 (control) or 100 μM βME, followed by vitrification. After warming, embryos were cultured for 72 h (post-warming culture, PWC) in 0 (control) or 100 μM βME, in a 2 × 2 factorial design: (i) CTRL-CTRL, control IVC and control PWC; (ii) CTRL-βME, control IVC and βME-supplemented PWC; (iii) βME-CTRL, βME-supplemented IVC and control PWC; or (iv) βME-βME, βME-supplemented IVC and βME-supplemented PWC. βME during IVC reduced embryo development (28.0% vs. 43.8%) but, following vitrification, higher re-expansion rates were seen in βME-CTRL (84.0%) and βME-βME (87.5%) than in CTRL-CTRL (71.0%) and CTRL-βME (73.1%). Hatching rates were higher in CTRL-βME (58.1%) and βME-βME (63.8%) than in CTRL-CTRL (36.6%) and βME-CTRL (42.0%). Total cell number in hatched blastocysts was higher in βME-βME (181.2 ± 7.4 cells) than CTRL-CTRL (139.0 ± 9.9 cells). Adding βME to the IVC medium reduced development but increased cryotolerance, whereas adding βME to the PWC medium improved embryo survival, hatching rates, and total cell numbers.

Solid surface vitrification of goat testicular cell suspension enriched for spermatogonial stem cells

This study reports solid surface vitrification (SSV) of goat testicular cell suspensions (TCS) enriched for spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The TCS was isolated from pre-pubertal goat testis by enzymatic digestion, enriched for SSCs by filtration and differential plating, and were vitrified-warmed by SSV. The study showed that SSV could successfully vitrify goat TCS although the percentage of live cells in the vitrified-warmed group was lower (74.8 ± 4.1%) than in non-vitrified control (80.6 ± 6.27%). The vitrified-warmed TCS formed putative SSC colonies upon their in vitro culture, but the colony size of vitrified-warmed cells (24.3 ± 1.8 μm) was smaller than those of non-vitrified warmed cells (58.4 ± 2.5 μm). Mitochondrial activity (0.40 vs. 0.38 A U.), population doubling time (33.45 ± 1.25 h vs. 31.86 ± 1.90 h), and the cell proliferation rate (0.72 ± 0.10 vs. 0.75 ± 0.11 per day) of total cells (including putative SSCs and other somatic cells) did not differ (p > 0.05) between control and SSV vitrified-warmed groups. However, during in vitro culture for 96 h, vitrified-warmed cells showed significantly lower (0.75 vs. 1.33 A U.; p < 0.05) mitochondrial activity than non-vitrified controls. The DCFDA assay showed that ROS activity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in vitrified-warmed cells (52.8 ± 4.1 A U) than non-vitrified control cells (32.8 ± 2.1 AU). In conclusion, our results suggest that SSC-enriched goat TCS could be successfully cryopreserved by SSV. However, ROS-induced damages to cell cytoplasmic components reduce their cellular proliferation and require further improvement in the protocol. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on the SSV of SSC-enriched goat TCS.

Characterisation of bovine embryos following prolonged culture in embryonic stem cell medium containing leukaemia inhibitory factor

In order to help elucidate the process of epiblast and trophoblast cell differentiation in bovine embryos invitro, we attempted to develop a suitable culture medium to allow extended embryo culture. Day 7 bovine blastocysts developed in conventional medium were cultured further in embryonic stem cell medium with or without leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) until Day 23. At Day 14, the expression of octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4) and VIMENTIN was significantly higher in embryos cultured with than without LIF, but embryonic disc formation was not observed. Although expression of SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 17 (SOX17) mRNA was significantly lower in Day 14 embryos cultured with and without LIF than in invivo embryos, hypoblast cells formed just inside the trophoblast cells of the invitro-cultured embryos. On Day 23, expression of placental lactogen (PL) and prolactin-related protein 1 (PRP1) was not affected by LIF in invitro-cultured embryos, levels of both genes were significantly lower in the invitro than invivo embryos. Similar to invivo embryos, binucleate cell clusters seen in Day 23invitro-cultured embryos were composed of PL-negative and -positive cells. These results suggest that our culture system partially reproduced the differentiation process of trophoblast cells invivo.

Cryopreservation of murine testicular Leydig cells by modified solid surface vitrification with supplementation of antioxidants

Reports on the vitrification of somatic cells are scarce. Here, we show that Leydig cells (murine cell line TM3) could be successfully vitrified by both open vitrification [plastic straw (PS) and plastic vials (PV)] and closed ultravitrification [microdrop (MD) and solid surface vitrification (SSV)], after protocol optimization. However, open ultravitrification resulted in better post-warming viability than closed systems of vitrification with highest success obtained in modified SSV (84.8 ± 1.86%; p < 0.05). Leydig cells vitrified-warmed by modified SSV also showed superior (p < 0.05) cell growth, mitochondrial activity and cytoplasmic esterase enzyme activity, than MD, PS and PV, respectively. It was also observed that vitrified-warmed cells had higher level of ROS activity than non-vitrified control cells (41.6 ± 4.0 vs. 16.7 ± 1.0; p < 0.05). Treatment of cells with glutathione (GSH) or 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) (0, 10, 50, 100 μM) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the ROS activity but had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on post-warm viability. Nevertheless, antioxidant-treated cells had improved mitochondrial activity, cytoplasmic esterase activity and cell growth during in vitro culture (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that modified SSV offers a viable method for vitrifying single cell suspension of Leydig cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on cryopreservation of Leydig cells by vitrification.

Effect of vitrification using the Cryotop method on the gene expression profile of in vitro-produced bovine embryos

The present study analyzed the changes in gene expression induced by the Cryotop vitrification technique in bovine blastocyst-stage embryos, using Agilent EmbryoGENE microarray slides. Bovine in vitro-produced embryos were vitrified and compared with nonvitrified (control) embryos. After vitrification, embryos were warmed and cultured for an additional 4 hours. Survived embryos were used for microarray analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) quantification. Survival rates were higher (P < 0.05) in the control embryos (100%) than in the vitrified embryos (87%). Global gene expression analysis revealed that only 43 out of 21,139 genes exhibited significantly altered expression in the vitrified embryos compared to the control embryos, with a very limited fold change (P < 0.05). A total of 10 genes were assessed by qPCR. Only the FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) gene presented differential expression (P < 0.05) according to both the array and qPCR methods, and it was overexpressed in vitrified embryos. Although, the major consequence of vitrification seems to be the activation of the apoptosis pathway in some cells. Indeed, FOSL1 is part of the activating protein 1 transcription factor complex and is implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Therefore, our results suggest that a limited increase in the rate of apoptosis was the only detectable response of the embryos to vitrification stress.

Antioxidant Capacity of Melatonin on Preimplantation Development of Fresh and Vitrified Rabbit Embryos: Morphological and Molecular Aspects

Embryo cryopreservation remains an important technique to enhance the reconstitution and distribution of animal populations with high genetic merit. One of the major detrimental factors to this technique is the damage caused by oxidative stress. Melatonin is widely known as an antioxidant with multi-faceted ways to counteract the oxidative stress. In this paper, we investigated the role of melatonin in protecting rabbit embryos during preimplantation development from the potential harmful effects of oxidative stress induced by in vitro culture or vitrification. Rabbit embryos at morula stages were cultured for 2 hr with 0 or 10⁻³ M melatonin (C or M groups). Embryos of each group were either transferred to fresh culture media (CF and MF groups) or vitrified/devitrified (CV and MV groups), then cultured in vitro for 48 hr until the blastocyst stage. The culture media were used to measure the activity of antioxidant enzymes: glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the levels of two oxidative substrates: lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO). The blastocysts from each group were used to measure the expression of developmental-related genes (GJA1, POU5F1 and Nanog) and oxidative-stress-response-related genes (NFE2L2, SOD1 and GPX1). The data showed that melatonin promoted significantly (P<0.05) the blastocyst rate by 17% and 12% in MF and MV groups compared to their controls (CF and CV groups). The GST and SOD activity significantly increased by the treatment of melatonin in fresh or vitrified embryos, while the levels of LPO and NO decreased (P<0.05). Additionally, melatonin considerably stimulated the relative expression of GJA1, NFE2L2 and SOD1 genes in MF and MV embryos compared to CF group. Furthermore, melatonin significantly ameliorated the reduction of POU5F1 and GPX1 expression induced by vitrification. The results obtained from the current investigation provide new and clear molecular aspects regarding the mechanisms by which melatonin promotes development of both fresh and vitrified rabbit embryos.

Reduction in cytoplasmic lipid content in bovine embryos cultured in vitro with linoleic acid in semi-defined medium is correlated with increases in cryotolerance

We examined whether culturing embryos with linoleic acid (LA) in semi-defined medium reduces lipid accumulation and improves cryosurvival after vitrification. Embryos were cultured with LA (100 μM) and a semi-defined medium was used during in vitro culture (IVC), in which the fetal calf serum was substituted by bovine serum albumin (BSA). There was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the embryonic development rate (

CONTROL

25.8% versus LA: 18.5%), but the proposed system was effective in promoting the decrease (P = 0.0130) in the intracellular lipid content (

CONTROL

27.3 ± 0.7 versus LA: 24.6 ± 0.7 arbitrary fluorescence units of embryos stained with the fluorescent dye Nile Red), consequently increasing (P = 0.0490) the embryo survival after 24h of culture post-warming (

CONTROL

50.0% versus LA: 71.7%). The results question the criteria used to evaluate the efficiency of an in vitro production system specifically with relation to the maximum number of blastocysts produced and suggest that might be more appropriate to improve the desired characteristics of embryos generated in accordance with the specific purpose of in vitro embryo production, commercial or scientific. In conclusion, supplying LA to serum-free culture medium was found to adversely affect the rates of embryo development to the blastocyst stage, but significantly reduced embryo lipid accumulation and improved cryopreservation survival.

Comparative effects of adding β-mercaptoethanol or L-ascorbic acid to culture or vitrification-warming media on IVF porcine embryos

The aims of the present study were to; (1) determine the effects of supplementation with two antioxidants during in vitro culture (IVC) on embryo development and quality; and (2) test the effects of adding the antioxidants to vitrification-warming media on the cryotolerance of in vitro-produced (IVP) porcine blastocysts. In Experiment 1, presumptive zygotes were cultured without antioxidants, with 50 µM β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) or with 100 µM L-ascorbic acid (AC). After culture, blastocyst yield, quality and cryotolerance were evaluated in each treatment group. In Experiment 2, survival rates (3 and 24 h), total cell number, apoptosis index and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in blastocysts vitrified-warmed with 100 µM AC or 50 µM β-ME or without antioxidants added to the vitrification medium were compared. Antioxidant addition during IVC had no effect on embryo development, total cell number or the apoptosis index, and culturing embryos in the presence of β-ME had no effects on cryotolerance. In contrast, ROS levels and survival rates after vitrification-warming were significantly improved in embryos cultured with AC. Furthermore, addition of AC into vitrification-warming media enhanced embryo survival and embryo quality after warming. In conclusion, our results suggest that supplementing culture or vitrification media with 100 µM AC improves the quality and cryosurvival of IVP porcine blastocysts.

Reduced levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and apoptotic status are not correlated with increases in cryotolerance of bovine embryos produced in vitro in the presence of antioxidants

The effects of intracellular (cysteine and β-mercaptoethanol) and extracellular (catalase) antioxidant supplementation at different times during in vitro production (IVM and/or in vitro culture (IVC)) on bovine embryo development, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, apoptosis and re-expansion rates after a vitrification-thawing process were examined. Blastocyst frequencies were not affected by either antioxidant supplementation (40.5%-56.4%) or the timing of supplementation (41.7%-55.4%) compared with control (48.7%; P>0.05). Similarly, antioxidants and the moment of supplementation did not affect (P>0.05) the total number of blastomeres (86.2-90.5 and 84.4-90.5, respectively) compared with control (85.7). However, the percentage of apoptotic cells was reduced (P<0.05) in groups supplemented during IVM (1.7%), IVC (2.0%) or both (1.8%) compared with control (4.3%). Intracellular ROS levels measured in Day 7 blastocysts were reduced (P<0.05) in all groups (0.60-0.78), with the exception of the group supplemented with β-mercaptoethanol during IVC (0.88), which did not differ (P>0.05) from that in the control group (1.00). Re-expansion rates were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments (50.0%-93.0%). In conclusion, antioxidant supplementation during IVM and/or IVC reduces intracellular ROS and the rate of apoptosis; however, supplementation does not increase embryonic development and survival after vitrification.

CRIOTOLERÂNCIA DE OÓCITOS E EMBRIÕES BOVINOS MATURADOS COM LÍQUIDO FOLICULAR E/OU β-MERCAPTOETANOL

Foi avaliada a criotolerância de oócitos e embriões bovinos maturados com adição de líquido folicular (LF) e/ou β-mercaptoetanol (BM). Após vitrificação, os oócitos foram maturados em: TCM-199 (controle); BM (24h TCM-199+100µM BM); LF (6h em LF+18h TCM-199) e LF+BM (6h LF+18h TCM-199+100µM BM). Não houve diferença (p>0,05) nas taxas de blastocistos dos tratamentos TCM (6,4%), BM (4,0%) e LF (3,4%). A eclosão e densidade celular dos embriões eclodidos não diferiram (p>0,05) nos tratamentos. No Experimento 2 blastocistos expandidos (Bx) obtidos em D7 ou D8 foram vitrificados, avaliando-se sua reexpansão e eclosão. A reexpansão foi semelhante (p>0,05), sendo observado comportamento distinto na eclosão entre Bx D7 e D8. Nos Bx D7 houve maior eclosão no controle (TCM–54,2%) em relação ao BM (40,32%) e LF+BM (33,89%). Os Bx D8 apresentaram menor eclosão no controle (TCM) em relação aos Bx D7. Nos tratamentos BM, LF e LF+BM a eclosão foi semelhante para Bx D7 ou D8. A maturação com adição de LF e/ou BM não melhora a criotolerância de oócitos imaturos e embriões PIV. Blastocistos expandidos precoces (D7) são mais criotolerantes e apresentam um comportamento distinto à adição de LF e BM, em relação aos tardios (D8).

A physiological, rather than a superovulated, post-implantation environment can attenuate the compromising effect of assisted reproductive techniques on gene expression in developing mice embryos

Assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) may perturb the pre-/peri-conception microenvironments, which subsequently threaten the health of offspring. This study aimed to investigate the effects of superovulation, vitrification, in vitro culture, and embryo transfer on the expression of epigenetic modulators, imprinted genes, and pluripotency markers in expanded blastocysts and Day-9.5 (D9.5) concepti. Results revealed that 53.4% (8/15) and 86.7% (13/15) of genes in the fetus and placenta, respectively, have similar patterns of transcription in all D9.5 concepti, despite the perturbed mRNA expression observed at the blastocyst stage for each embryo-production technique. These observations indicate a counterbalancing of the abnormal expression pattern analyzed at the blastocyst stage during post-implantation development, particularly when the uterus of a naturally synchronized foster mother is employed. Superovulation resulted in the most abnormal expression patterns compared to other treatment groups, although these same blastocysts were able to develop in a synchronized uterus. Thus, superovulation creates a hormonal environment that negatively affected gene expression and impairs fetal growth more adversely during post-implantation development than other ART protocols, such as in vitro culture, vitrification, or embryo transfer-although each did contribute negatively to the implantation and development process. Together, these results may have implications for treating infertility in humans.

A review: alteration of in vitro reproduction processes by thiols -emphasis on 2-mercaptoethanol

Descriptions of organosulfurs altering biologically relevant cellular functions began some 40 years ago when murine in vitro cell mediated and humoral immune responses were shown to be dramatically enhanced by any of four xenobiotic, sulfhydryl compounds-2-mercaptoethanol (2ME), dithiothreitol (DTT), glutathione, and L-cysteine; the most effective were 2ME and DTT. These findings triggered a plethora of reports defining 2ME benefits for a multitude of immunological processes. This in turn led to investigations on 2ME alterations of (a) immune functions in other species, (b) activities of other cell-types, and (c) in vivo diseases. In addition, these early findings preceded the identification of previously undefined anticarcinogenic chemicals in specific foods as organosulfurs. Taken all together, there is little doubt that organosulfur compounds have enormous benefits for cellular functions and for a multitude of diseases. Issues of importance still to be resolved are (a) clarification of mechanisms that underlie alteration of in vitro and in vivo processes and perhaps more importantly, (b) which if any in vitro alterations are relevant for (i) alteration of in vivo diseases and (ii) identification of other diseases that might therapeutically benefit from organosulfurs. As one means to address these questions, reviews of different processes impacted by thiols could be informative. Therefore, the present review on alterations of in vitro fertilization processes by thiols (mainly 2ME, since cysteamine alterations have been reviewed) was undertaken. Alterations found to occur in medium supplemented with 2ME were enhancement, no effect, or inhibition. Parameters associated with which are discussed as they relate to postulated thiol mechanisms.

Dose-dependent effect of melatonin on postwarming development of vitrified ovine embryos

After cryopreservation, embryos become sensitive to the oxidative stress, resulting in lipid peroxidation, membrane injury, and structural destruction. The present study aimed to assess the effect of increasing concentration of melatonin during postwarming culture on embryo's ability to restore its functions after cryopreservation. In vitro-produced blastocysts were vitrified, warmed, and cultured in vitro in TCM 199 with 5 different supplementations: control (CTR): 10% fetal calf serum; bovine serum albumin (BSA): 0.04% (wt/vol) BSA; and MEL(-3), MEL(-6), MEL(-9): BSA plus melatonin 10(-3), 10(-6), and 10(-9) M. The medium with the highest melatonin concentration had the highest trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, whose values were comparable with those determined in plasma sampled from adult ewes (8.7 ± 2.4 mM). The other media had lower trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity values (P < 0.01), below the range of the plasma. At the same time, embryos cultured with the highest melatonin concentration reported a lower in vitro viability, as evaluated by lower re-expansion and hatching rates, and lower total cell number compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Their metabolic status was also affected, as evidenced by higher oxidative and apoptotic index and lower ATP concentration. The beneficial effects of melatonin on embryo development during postwarming culture were observed only at low concentration (10(-9) M). These results suggest that melatonin at high concentration may exert some degree of toxic activity on pre-implantation embryos. Thus, the dose at which the embryos are exposed is pivotal to obtain the desiderate effect.

Effects of gaseous atmosphere and antioxidants on the development and cryotolerance of bovine embryos at different periods of in vitro culture

This study examined the effects of antioxidant supplementation and O2 tension on embryo development, cryotolerance and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The antioxidant supplementation consisted of 0.6 mM cysteine (CYST); 0.6 mM cysteine + 100 μM cysteamine (C+C); 100 IU catalase (CAT) or 100 μM β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) for 3 or 7 days of in vitro culture (IVC). Two O2 tensions (20% O2 [5% CO2 in air] or 7% O2, 5% CO2 and 88% N2 [gaseous mixture]) were examined. After 7 days of antioxidant supplementation, the blastocyst frequencies were adversely affected (P < 0.05) by CYST (11.2%) and C+C (1.44%), as well as by low O2 tension (17.2% and 11.11% for 20% and 7% O2, respectively) compared with the control (26.6%). The blastocyst re-expansion rates were not affected (P > 0.05) by the treatments (range, 66-100%). After 3 days of antioxidant supplementation, the blastocyst frequencies were not affected (P > 0.05) by any of the antioxidants (range, 43.6-48.5%), but they were reduced by low O2 tension (P < 0.05) (52.1% and 38.4% for 20% and 7% O2, respectively). The intracellular ROS levels, demonstrated as arbitrary fluorescence units, were not affected (P > 0.05) by antioxidant treatment (range, 0.78 to 0.95) or by O2 tension (0.86 and 0.88 for 20% and 7% O2, respectively). The re-expansion rates were not affected (P > 0.05) by any of the treatments (range, 63.6-93.3%). In conclusion, intracellular antioxidant supplementation and low O2 tension throughout the entire IVC period were deleterious to embryo development. However, antioxidant supplementation up to day 3 of IVC did not affect the blastocyst frequencies or intracellular ROS levels.

Melatonin promotes embryonic development and reduces reactive oxygen species in vitrified mouse 2-cell embryos

Two-cell embryos of mouse were vitrified by the open-pulled straw (OPS) method. The vitrified embryos were warmed and introduced into M16 medium for culture that contains melatonin at different concentrations (10(-3), 10(-5), 10(-7), 10(-9), 10(-11) m). This process caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and jeopardized the development of the embryos. Melatonin, at different concentrations, significantly suppresses ROS production and promotes embryonic development in vitrified embryos compared with untreated ones. The mechanistic studies indicated that the beneficial effects of melatonin on vitrified 2-cell embryos of mouse were melatonin receptor (MT1 and MT2) independent. The direct free radical scavenging activity, the enhancement of endogenous glutathione levels, and the anti-apoptotic capacity of melatonin may account for its protective effects on vitrified embryonic development.

Effect of vitrification and beta-mercaptoethanol on reactive oxygen species activity and in vitro development of oocytes vitrified before or after in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of vitrification and beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity and in vitro development of oocytes vitrified before or after in vitro fertilization (IVF).

DESIGN

Randomized prospective study.

SETTING

University-based assisted reproductive technology laboratory. ANIMALS(S): Abattoir-derived porcine ovaries.

INTERVENTIONS(S)

Oocytes were vitrified either before or 4 hours after the end of IVF by solid surface vitrification (SSV) without centrifugation and/or delipation procedure. beta-ME was used to inhibit ROS activity.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES(S)

Viability was evaluated by membrane integrity and esterase enzyme activity using fluorescein diacetate staining while ROS activity was assessed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein assay.

RESULT(S)

Vitrification increased the ROS activity and decreased the viability and in vitro development of vitrified oocytes. Addition of beta-ME to vitrification and culture medium partially annihilated the ROS activity but did not improve the viability of vitrified-warmed oocytes. Furthermore, beta-ME had no effect on improving the fertilization ability of oocytes vitrified at metaphase II stage but significantly increased their ability to cleave. beta-ME also increased the rate of cleavage and blastocyst formation ability of oocytes vitrified 4 hours after the end IVF.

CONCLUSION(S)

Vitrification increases ROS activity in oocytes that can be partially annihilated by beta-ME to obtain enhanced embryonic development.

Stimulatory effect of Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) inhibitor on revivability of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts after vitrification

Inhibition of Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) activity promoted recovery and growth of frozen-thawed human embryonic stem cells. The primary objective was to determine if a ROCK inhibitor (Y-27632) in post-thaw culture medium improved revivability of vitrified IVP bovine blastocysts. Expanding or expanded blastocysts (7 d after IVF) were vitrified (minimum volume cooling procedure, using a Cryotop) in 15% ethylene glycol, 15% DMSO and 0.5M sucrose. When post-warm blastocysts were cultured in mSOF medium, survival rate (re-expansion of blastocoel at 24h of culture) was improved (P<0.05) by the addition of 10 microM Y-27632 (94.9+/-2.4%, mean+/-SEM) compared to a control (78.0+/-6.0%). Conversely, after 48 h of culture, there were no significant differences in hatching rate (62.8+/-11.1 vs. 59.6+/-9.4%) and mean total cell number (135.2+/-13.1 vs. 146.7+/-13.3). In non-vitrified IVP bovine blastocysts, the hatching rate on Day 9 was improved by Y-27632 (91.7+/-3.8 vs. 54.7+/-8.9%, P<0.05), with no difference in mean total cell number of blastocysts (230.0+/-23.0 vs. 191.2+/-22.2, P=0.23). In an additional experiment, Y-27632 was added to culture medium on either Day 0, Day 2, or Day 4 (and remained present until Day 8), resulting in no improvement in blastocyst yield compared to a control group (7.5+/-2.1, 31.4+/-2.3, 36.2+/-3.2, and 28.6+/-6.9%, respectively). In conclusion, adding a ROCK inhibitor to post-thaw culture medium improved revivability of IVP bovine blastocysts after vitrification and warming.

Antioxidant supplementation of culture medium during embryo development and/or after vitrification-warming; which is the most important?

PURPOSE

To determine the most optimal stage for antioxidant supplementation of culture medium to improve developmental competence, cryotolerance and DNA-fragmentation of bovine embryos.

METHODS

Presumptive zygotes were first cultured in presence or absence of beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME), for 8 days. Subsequently, half of the expanded blastocysts developed in both groups were vitrified, warmed within 30 min and post-warming embryos along with their corresponding non-vitrified embryos were cultured for two further days in presence or absence of (100 microM) betaME.

RESULTS

For vitrified and non-vitrified embryos, the best effect was found when betaME was added from day 1 of in vitro culture in continuation with post-warming culture period. Day 1-8 supplementation significantly increased the rates of cleavage, day 7 and day 8 blastocyst production. For non-vitrified embryos, betaME addition during day 1-8 and/or 9-10 of embryo culture improved both hatching rate and quality of hatched embryos. For vitrified embryos, however, the percentage of DNA-fragmentation (18.5%) was significantly higher (p < or = 0.05) than that of embryos developed in absence of betaME but supplemented with betaME during post-warming period (13.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Exogenous antioxidant increases the chance of embryos, even those of fair-quality, to develop to blastocyst. However, antioxidant inclusion during in vitro embryo development is not sufficient to maintain the redox state of these embryos during the critical period of post-warming embryo culture, and therefore, there should be a surplus source of exogenous antioxidant during post-warming embryo culture.

Cryopreservation of manipulated embryos: tackling the double jeopardy

The aim of the present review is to provide information to researchers and practitioners concerning the reasons for the altered viability and the medium- and long-term consequences of cryopreservation of manipulated mammalian embryos. Embryo manipulation is defined herein as the act or process of manipulating mammalian embryos, including superovulation, AI, IVM, IVF, in vitro culture, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy or splitting, somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning, the production of sexed embryos (by sperm sexing), embryo cryopreservation, embryo transfer or the creation of genetically modified (transgenic) embryos. With advances in manipulation technologies, the application of embryo manipulation will become more frequent; the proper prevention and management of the resulting alterations will be crucial in establishing an economically viable animal breeding technology.