Co-culture with granulosa cells improve the in vitro maturation ability of porcine immature oocytes vitrified with cryolock.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of two oocyte vitrification-warming procedures using two different devices: Superfine Open Pulled Straws (SOPS) and Cryolock, as well as the effect of the co-culture of vitrified immature oocytes with fresh granulosa cells to improve in vitro maturation (IVM). Immature oocytes were vitrified with two procedures: A) Oocytes were exposed to an increasing concentration of ethylene glycol (EG) from 4% to 35% with 0.5 M trehalose. They then, were loaded in SOPS or Cryolock. For warming, oocytes were exposed to decreasing concentrations of trehalose 0.3, 0.2 and 0.1 M for IVM. B) Oocytes were exposed to two mixtures of EG and dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO), at 7.5% and 16%, both with 0.4 M of sucrose and then loaded in SOPS or Cryolock and stored in liquid nitrogen. For warming, oocytes were exposed to a single concentration of sucrose 0.5M. After warming, viability was determined; and after 44 h of IVM both viability and meiotic stages were evaluated. The results indicate no significant differences between procedures A and B with SOPS in all maturation stages, reaching a maximum maturation rate of 21%. As to Cryolock, significant differences were observed between both procedures, being procedure B, more efficient with a yield of 38% in MII stage and increased to 49% due to the co-culture with fresh granulosa cells. In conclusion, viability and maturation rates were improved with Cryolock and procedure B with the co-culture system in vitrified immature oocytes.

Casillas F ，Teteltitla-Silvestre M ，Ducolomb Y ，Lemus AE ，Salazar Z ，Casas E ，Betancourt M ... -  《-》

Porcine embryo production following in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection from vitrified immature oocytes matured with a granulosa cell co-culture system.

This study was designed to evaluate the capacity of vitrified-warmed porcine immature oocytes to mature and to be fertilized using in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and to determine the subsequent embryo development. Immature oocytes were vitrified using ethylene glycol and dimethylsulphoxide as cryoprotectants and the Cryolock method. After warming oocytes were cultured 44 h for maturation. Oocytes were randomly distributed in three treatment groups and subjected to in vitro fertilization (Experiment 1) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Experiment 2) procedures. The results indicate that the embryo development was higher in denuded oocytes co-cultured with granulosa cells (NkO-CC group) fertilized by in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared to cumulus-cell oocyte complexes (COCs group), showing no significant differences with control. Vitrified denuded oocytes matured with a co-culture system NkO-CC group, displayed higher cleavage rate and blastocyst production than vitrified COCs group. Blastocysts were successfully obtained after IVF and ICSI procedures; however, the development to the blastocyst stage was better after IVF. These results show that the vitrification-warming media, the employment of a granulosa cell co-culture system and the Cryolock method during vitrification, increased the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of vitrified porcine immature oocytes. Further experiments are required to enhance porcine embryo production after vitrification.

Casillas F ，Ducolomb Y ，Lemus AE ，Cuello C ，Betancourt M ... -  《-》

Effect of different combinations of cryoprotectants on in vitro maturation of immature buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes vitrified by straw and open-pulled straw methods.

This study was designed to evaluate effects of different combinations of cryoprotectants on the ability of vitrified immature buffalo oocytes to undergo in vitro maturation. Straw and open-pulled straw (OPS) methods for vitrification of oocytes at the germinal vesicle stage also were compared. The immature oocytes were harvested from ovaries of slaughtered animals and were divided into three groups: (i) untreated (control); (ii) exposed to cryoprotectant agents (CPAs); or (iii) cryopreserved by straw and OPS vitrification methods. The vitrification solution (VS) consisted of 6 m ethylene glycol (EG) as the standard, control vitrification treatment, and this was compared with 3 m EG + 3 m dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 3 m EG + 3 m glycerol, and 3 m DMSO + 3 m glycerol. Cryoprotectants were added in two steps, with the first step concentration half that of the second (and final) step concentration. After warming, oocyte samples were matured by standard methods and then fixed and stained for nuclear evaluation. Rates of MII oocytes exposed to CPAs without vitrification were lower (54.3 +/- 1.9% in EG, 47.5 +/- 3.4% in EG + DMSO, 36.8 +/- 1.2% in EG + glycerol and 29.9 +/- 1.0% in DMSO + glycerol; p < 0.05) than for the control group (79.8 +/- 1.3%). For all treatments in each vitrification experiment, results were nearly identical for straws and OPS, so all results presented are the average of these two containers. The percentages of oocytes reaching telophase-I or metaphase-II stages were lower in oocytes cryopreserved using all treatments when compared with control. However, among the vitrified oocytes, the highest maturation rate was seen in oocytes vitrified in EG + DMSO (41.5 +/- 0.6%). Oocytes cryopreserved in all groups with glycerol had an overall low maturation rate 19.0 +/- 0.6% for EG + glycerol and 17.0 +/- 1.1% for DMSO + glycerol. We conclude that the function of oocytes was severely affected by both vitrification and exposure to cryoprotectants without vitrification; the best combination of cryoprotectants was EG + DMSO for vitrification of immature buffalo oocytes using either straw or OPS methods.

Mahmoud KG ，Scholkamy TH ，Ahmed YF ，Seidel GE Jr ，Nawito MF ... -  《-》

Vitrification of porcine immature oocytes: Association of equilibration manners with warming procedures, and permeating cryoprotectants effects under two temperatures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of equilibration manners with warming procedures, and the different permeating cryoprotectants (pCPAs) effects under two temperatures, in terms of survival, maturation and subsequent parthenogenetic development of porcine immature oocytes after Cryotop vitrification. In Experiment 1, oocytes were equilibrated by exposure to 5% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG) for 10 min (EM1) or stepwise to 7.5% (v/v) and 15% (v/v) EG for 2.5 min respectively (EM2). Warming procedures were performed in 1.0 M sucrose for 1 min, then in 0.5 and 0.25 M sucrose for 2.5 min respectively (WP1), or in 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 M sucrose each step for 2 min (WP2), or in 0.25, 0.125 and 0.063 M sucrose each step for 2 min (WP3). After 2 h of warming, the survival rate of oocytes treated by EM1 and WP1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the other groups. Moreover, a similar proportion of survival and nuclear maturation in all vitrified groups was obtained after completion of the IVM. No significant difference in blastocyst development was observed among vitrified groups except the group treated by EM2 and WP3. In Experiment 2, oocytes were vitrified by using EG alone, EG combined with dimethyl sulphoxide (EG + DMSO) or propylene glycol (EG + PROH) as pCPAs under 25 °C and 39 °C. The percentages of cryosurvival and nuclear maturation were similar in all vitrified groups. Under 25 °C, the embryo development and total cell numbers of blastocysts were not significantly different among EG, EG + DMSO and EG + PROH groups. However, the application of EG + PROH at 39 °C resulted in significantly decreased both cleavage and blastocyst formation rates. In conclusion, our data showed that equilibration manner and warming procedure affect the cryosurvival of porcine immature oocytes, and the combination of pCPAs cannot give a better cryopreservation outcome whether 25 °C or 39 °C. Notably, the Cryotop vitrification accompanied by our modified strategy for porcine immature oocytes could achieve high survival and respectable blastocyst production.

Wu G ，Jia B ，Quan G ，Xiang D ，Zhang B ，Shao Q ，Hong Q ... -  《-》

Granulosa cells in three-dimensional culture: A follicle-like structure for domestic cat vitrified oocytes.

Follicle-like structures are three-dimensional matrices joint with living cells that allow the in vitro development of female gametes in more physiological conditions. They have been shown to be beneficial to fresh oocytes in different species, and in this study, domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) granulosa cells were used to create a functional follicle-like structure aimed at supporting the in vitro maturation of conspecific vitrified oocytes, key players of fertility preservation programmes that usually struggle to acquire their full developmental competence after warming. Cat granulosa cells were cultured for up to 6 days in three-dimensional barium alginate microcapsules (i.e. follicle-like structures) or in two-dimensional monolayers, and their steroidogenic ability (estradiol and progesterone secretion) was assessed to confirm their functionality. The same systems were used (on day 2 or 6 of granulosa cells culture) for the in vitro maturation (IVM) of Cryotop® vitrified immature cat oocytes and compared with microdrops of IVM medium without cells (control). Granulosa cells were able to maintain their functionality in vitro in both the conditions, even if with a different extent of hormonal secretion along culture (p = .02). Vitrified oocytes resumed meiosis at higher rates when cultured with 2 days old granulosa cells (p = .03), but full maturation rates slightly raised when granulosa cells were cultured longer, albeit without differences with the control group. This study paved the road for the creation of enriched culture systems in the domestic cat, but innovations are strongly needed for vitrified oocytes that deserve better chances to develop in vitro.

Colombo M ，Morselli MG ，Apparicio M ，Luvoni GC ... -  《-》