Mullen SF, Li M, Li Y, Chen ZJ, Critser JK. Human oocyte vitrification: the permeability of metaphase II oocytes to water and ethylene glycol and the appliance toward vitrification.
Fertil Steril 2008;
89:1812-25. [PMID:
17681308 PMCID:
PMC2494737 DOI:
10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.06.013]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2007] [Revised: 06/06/2007] [Accepted: 06/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the permeability of human metaphase II oocytes to ethylene glycol and water in the presence of ethylene glycol, and to use this information to develop a method to vitrify human oocytes.
DESIGN
An incomplete randomized block design.
SETTING
A university-affiliated assisted reproductive center.
PATIENT(S)
Women undergoing assisted reproduction in the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Shandong University.
INTERVENTION(S)
Oocytes were exposed to 1.0 molar ethylene glycol in a single step and photographed during subsequent volume excursions.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
A two-parameter model was employed to estimate the permeability to water and ethylene glycol.
RESULT(S)
Water permeability ranged from 0.15 to 1.17 microm/(min.atm), and ethylene glycol permeability ranged from 1.5 to 30 microm/min between 7 degrees C at 36 degrees C. The activation energies for water and ethylene glycol permeability were 14.42 Kcal/mol and 21.20 Kcal/mol, respectively.
CONCLUSION(S)
Despite the lower permeability of human metaphase II oocytes to ethylene glycol compared with previously published values for propylene glycol and dimethylsulfoxide, methods to add and remove human oocytes with a vitrifiable concentration of ethylene glycol can be designed that prevent excessive osmotic stress and minimize exposure to high concentrations of this compound.
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