Effect of vitrification on meiotic maturation and expression of genes in immature goat cumulus oocyte complexes.

The aim of the study was to evaluate meiotic maturation, and expression of genes coding for oocyte secreted factors (GDF9, BMP15, TGFBR1, and BPR2) and apoptosis (BCL2, BAX and P53) after vitrification of immature goat cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) and in vitro maturation. COCs were vitrified in a solution containing ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide and sucrose using either a conventional straw (CS), open pulled straw (OPS), cryoloop (CL), hemistraw (HS) or cryotop (CT). Freshly collected COCs (Control), COCs exposed to vitrification and dilution solutions without cryopreservation (EC) and vitrified-warmed COCs were matured in vitro for 27h. The viability of vitrified-warmed COCs 2 h post warming and in vitro maturation was similar for CL, HS and CT. The proportion of oocytes that extruded a 1st polar body and reached TI/MII was significantly higher with CT and HS followed by CL, OPS and CS. Gene expression of GDF9, BMP15, BMPR2, BAX and P53 were comparable to control levels for OPS, CL, HS and CT. The gene expression pattern in CS vitrified COCs was by contrast changed in that GDF9, BMP15, TGFBR1 and BAX were up regulated and BMPR2, BCL2 and P53 down regulated. In conclusion immature goat COCs vitrified using CT and HS showed that viability, maturation rates and expression of genes coding for oocyte secreted factors and apoptosis were similar to non-vitrified controls.

Rao BS ，Mahesh YU ，Charan KV ，Suman K ，Sekhar N ，Shivaji S ... -  《-》

Effect of different cryo-devices on in vitro maturation and development of vitrified-warmed immature buffalo oocytes.

The aim of the study was to identify a cryo-device that would be best suited for the vitrification of buffalo immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) as judged by viability and meiotic competence of the vitrified-warmed oocytes and their development ability following in vitro fertilization (IVF). The expression of oocyte secreting factors and their receptors (GDF9, BMP15, BMPR2, TGFBR1) and apoptosis related genes (BCL2, BAX, P53, C-MYC) were compared in vitrified-warmed oocytes after in vitro maturation. COCs from the ovaries of slaughtered buffaloes were vitrified in a combination of dimethyl sulfoxide, ethylene glycol, and sucrose using either a conventional straw (CS), open pulled straw (OPS), cryoloop (CL), hemistraw (HS) or cryotop (CT). The fresh COCs were exposed to vitrification and warming solutions as in other vitrification methods without plunging in to liquid nitrogen (EC). The viability of vitrified-warmed COCs, 2 h post warming in HS and CT was similar to fresh and EC groups but significantly higher than CS and OPS methods. The proportions of oocytes with first polar body after 24 h in vitro maturation were significantly higher in HS and CT methods than in CS, OPS and CL methods. The development ability of these vitrified-warmed oocytes to blastocyst stage following IVF in all vitrified groups was significantly lower than control and EC groups. Among the vitrified groups, the blastocyst rate in HS, CT and CL groups was significantly higher than in OPS and CS groups. It was also observed that the expression levels of GDF9, BMP15, BMPR2, TGFBR1, BCL2, BAX, P53 and C-MYC genes in vitrified-warmed COCs in CT, HS and CL groups were similar to control. The results indicated that HS, CT and CL are more suitable cryo-devices for vitrification of buffalo immature oocytes.

Mahesh YU ，Gibence HRW ，Shivaji S ，Rao BS ... -  《-》

Vitrification with DAP 213 and cryotop of ex situ and in situ feline cumulus-oocyte complexes.

This study was undertaken to compare cryotolerance, in terms of viability and resumption of meiosis after warming and culture (24 and 48 h), of ex situ (isolated) and in situ (enclosed in the ovarian tissue) feline cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) vitrified with DAP 213 (2 m DMSO, 1 m acetamide, 3 m propylene glycol) in cryotubes or Cryotop method. Ovaries were harvested from 49 pubertal queens. Of each pair of ovaries, one was dissected to release COCs randomly divided into three groups: fresh COCs (control), ex situ COCs vitrified with DAP 213 and Cryotop. The cortex of the other ovary was sectioned into small fragments (approximately 1.5 mm(3)) and randomly assigned to be vitrified by DAP 213 or Cryotop. After warming, ex situ and in situ (retrieved form vitrified ovarian tissue) COCs were matured in vitro. Viability of oocytes was highly preserved after warming and culture in all treatments. Proportions of oocytes surrounded by complete layers of viable cumulus cells were remarkably decreased (p < 0.00001) in both vitrification procedures compared to fresh oocytes. Resumption of meiosis occurred in all treatments. After 24 h of culture, results were similar in ex situ and in situ vitrified oocytes regardless of the vitrification protocol used (range 29-40%), albeit lower (p < 0.05) than those of fresh oocytes (65.8%). After 48 h of culture, ex situ oocytes vitrified with Cryotop achieved the rates of meiosis resumption similar to fresh oocytes (53.8% vs 67.5%; p > 0.05) and ex situ and in situ oocytes vitrified with DAP 213 showed similar rates of resumption of meiosis. These findings demonstrated that DAP 213 and Cryotop preserve the viability of ex situ and in situ oocytes, but cumulus cells are highly susceptible to vitrification. However, the capability to resume meiosis evidences that feline immature oocytes vitrified as isolated or enclosed in the ovarian cortex have comparable cryotolerance.

Alves AE ，Kozel AC ，Luvoni GC 《-》

IVM and gene expression of sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes following different methods of vitrification.

To determine the optimal vitrification conditions for sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC), good-quality isolated COC were randomly divided into non-vitrified control, conventional straw, cryotop and solid-surface vitrification groups. In the conventional and cryotop methods, the vitrified COC were respectively loaded by conventional straw and cryotop, whereas in the solid-surface group, the vitrified COC were loaded by cryotop and then cooled before plunging in liquid nitrogen. The results indicated that the mean percentage of viability of vitrified-warmed COC was higher in both cryotop groups than that of the conventional group (83.84+/-2.85 and 78.56+/-1.72 versus 63.43+/-1.48%, P<0.05). In the cryotop group, although the mean percentage of oocyte maturation was similar to that in the control group (48.81+/-3.09 versus 51.94+/-3.01%), it was significantly higher than the other vitrification groups (48.81+/-3.09 versus 36.60+/-1.69 and 6.09+/-2.51%, respectively, P<0.05). However, the expression of maturation genes (GDF9, BMP15) was retarded after vitrification. Among the vitrification groups, the cryotop group had better expression. BMPRII was also expressed highly in the control, whereas ALK5 was similar in all groups. In conclusion, direct cryotop, when compared with other vitrification methods, seemed to be safe and could increase the viability, post-warming maturation and maturation-gene expression rates of sheep COC.

Ebrahimi B ，Valojerdi MR ，Eftekhari-Yazdi P ，Baharvand H ，Farrokhi A ... -  《-》

Meiotic maturation and developmental capability of ovine oocytes at germinal vesicle stage following vitrification using different cryodevices.

In order to assess effects of vitrification on ovine oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, the conventional plastic straw (CS), the open-pulled straw (OPS), and Cryoloop were used to vitrify ovine oocytes. Oocytes were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Control; (2) Oocytes exposed to vitrification and dilution solutions without any cryopreservation (toxicity); (3) Oocytes vitrified using CS (CS); (4) Oocytes vitrified using OPS (OPS), and (5) Oocytes vitrified using Cryoloop (Cryoloop). The viability, cumulus cell expansion, nuclear maturation after in vitro maturation (IVM), and developmental capability of vitrified oocytes following parthenogenetic activation (PA) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) were assessed. The pretreatment in the vitrification and dilution solutions without any freezing or thawing did not adversely influence oocytes. The viability of vitrified oocytes were significantly declined compared to unfrozen oocytes (P < 0.05). The viability of oocytes vitrified using open-pulled straws or Cryoloop was significantly higher than that in the CS group (P < 0.05). After IVM, the percentage of oocytes reaching to the metaphase II (MII) stage was significantly higher with Cryoloop and OPS following by CS. However, the in vitro maturing percentage of vitrified oocytes was significantly less than that of unfrozen oocytes (P < 0.05). After PA, the developmental capability of vitrified oocytes was significantly decreased compared to unfrozen oocytes. The cleavage rate of oocytes vitrified using conventional plastic straws was significantly less than those of the other freezing groups (P < 0.05). The cleaving capability of oocytes vitrified using Cryoloop was significantly increased compared to the OPS group. However, there was no significant difference existing amongst the freezing groups as concerning the blastocyst rate. Following IVF, the developmental capability of vitrified oocytes was severely damaged compared to that of unfrozen oocytes. The cleavage rate of oocytes vitrified with Cryoloop was similar to that of oocytes vitrified with open-pulled straws. However, the cleavage rate of vitrified oocytes in the CS group was significantly less than that in the OPS or Cryoloop group (P < 0.05). None of oocytes vitrified using conventional plastic straw developed to the blastocyst stage following IVF. There was no significant difference existing between OPS and Cryoloop with respect to the blastocyst rate. After staining with cFDA and PI, cumulus cells surrounding oocytes were partly damaged by vitrification and thawing while the membrane of vitrified oocyte still remained intact. In conclusion, vitrification can seriously damage ovine immature oocytes and cumulus cells surrounding oocytes, which may subsequently affect their developmental capability. Finally, this study further proves that increasing the freezing and thawing velocity benefits survival of vitrified immature oocytes.

Quan GB ，Wu GQ ，Wang YJ ，Ma Y ，Lv CR ，Hong QH ... -  《-》