40 THE EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TIME ON TOXICITY OF VITRIFICATION SOLUTION ON PORCINE CUMULUS–OOCYTE COMPLEXES BEFORE IN VITRO MATURATION

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Appeltant ◽  
T. Somfai ◽  
E. C. S. Santos ◽  
K. Kikuchi

Although offspring have been produced from porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) vitrified at the immature stage (Somfai et al. 2014 PLoS One 9, e97731), embryo development rates have remained low. Numerous vitrification protocols are reported with a wide variation in the applied exposure time to the vitrification solution. Because cryoprotectants in the vitrification solution can be detrimental to the oocytes and their subsequent development, it is important to verify the effect of their exposure time to the COC. In this study, we compared the development of a control group with 3 toxicity control (TC) groups in which COC were exposed to the vitrification solution for 30 s, 1 min, or 1.5 min (TC1, TC2, and TC3, respectively) at 38.5°C. Before exposure, the COC were rinsed and equilibrated in 7 µg mL−1 cytochalasin B. The equilibration solution consisted of 2% (vol/vol) ethylene glycol + 2% (vol/vol) propylene glycol and the vitrification solution contained 17.5% (vol/vol) ethylene glycol + 17.5% (vol/vol) propylene glycol, 50 mg mL−1 polyvinylpyrrolidone and 0.3 M sucrose. The COC were not exposed to liquid nitrogen. After washing in a warming solution of 0.4 M sucrose at 42°C, COC were washed in a sucrose gradient from 0.2 to 0.0 M. Subsequently, the COC were subjected to in vitro maturation in porcine oocyte medium. During the first 20 h of in vitro maturation, the porcine oocyte medium was supplemented with 10 IU mL−1 eCG, 10 IU mL−1 hCG, 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP, and 10 ng mL−1 epidermal growth factor. Then, the medium was replaced with dibutyryl cAMP-free porcine oocyte medium for an additional 28 h. After in vitro maturation, oocytes were parthenogenetically activated (Day 0) and cultured for 7 days in porcine zygote medium. Survival, nuclear maturation, cleavage, and blastocysts rates (Days 6 and 7) were assessed. All parameters were statistically analysed by binary logistic regression. Only the survival rate of TC3 was significantly lower than that of the control group (89.2 v. 95.6%). Exposure to cryoprotectants significantly decreased maturation rates in TC1, TC2, and TC3 compared with the control (72.6%, 75.2%, 76.3% v. 86.1%). Cleavage rates were significantly lower in TC2 and TC3 than that in the control (82.8% and 81.7% v. 92.9%). Concerning blastocyst rates on Day 6 and Day 7 of in vitro culture, only TC1 could reach the same level as the control, expressed on the total number of activated oocytes (54.6% v. 67.7%, and 64.0% v. 72.9%, respectively) as well as expressed on the cleaved oocytes (61.4% v. 72.4% and 72.0% v. 78.0%, respectively). Consequently, despite the reduced maturation rate, TC1 provides the same quantity of blastocysts from matured oocytes as the control. In conclusion, exposure to the vitrification solution for longer than 30 s has toxic effects on COC and therefore is not recommended for vitrification. R. Appeltant is an International Research Fellow of the JSPS Japan (P15402).

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
H. S. Canesin ◽  
J. G. Brom-de-Luna ◽  
Y.-H. Choi ◽  
A. M. Pereira ◽  
G. G. Macedo ◽  
...  

Effective methods for cryopreservation of equine oocytes have not yet been established. Vitrification involves use of high cryoprotectant (CPA) concentrations, which can be cytotoxic. Thus, it is critical to determine a CPA concentration and exposure time able to protect the cell during cooling but with a minimal toxicity. Using a rapid non-equilibrating system, we fixed the time in the first, lower CPA concentration solution (V1) at 40 s, based on the time to maximal shrinkage. We then evaluated different exposure times in the final vitrification solution (V2). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries and held overnight in commercial embryo holding medium. Fetal bovine serum was used as the base medium (BM). In experiment 1, COC were held in BM, incubated in V1 (2% propylene glycol + 2% ethylene glycol) for 40 s followed by incubation in V2 (17.5% propylene glycol + 17.5% ethylene glycol + 0.3 M trehalose) for 0, 45, 75, or 110 s, and then loaded in groups of 6 to 10 oocytes on a 75-µm steel mesh and plunged into liquid nitrogen. Warming was performed in decreasing trehalose concentrations in BM: 0.4 M (60-70 s), 0.2 M (5 min), 0.1 M (5 min), 0.05 M (5 min), and 0 M. After warming, oocytes were cultured for in vitro maturation (IVM) and evaluated after staining with Hoechst 33258. Differences between treatments were analysed by Fisher’s exact test. The maturation (metaphase II, MII) rate of the Control (non-vitrified oocytes; 38.8%, 31/80) was similar to that of the 75-s treatment (34.8%, 16/46; P = 0.71), and higher (P < 0.05) than those of the 0, 45, and 110 s treatments (0.0%, 0/10; 11.4%, 4/35; and 3.6%, 1/28; respectively). In experiment 2, timings in V2 focusing around 75 s were evaluated. The COC were collected and vitrified as for experiment 1, except that time in V2 was 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 s. The vitrified COC were then shipped to the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) laboratory. After warming and IVM, oocytes were subjected to ICSI and embryo culture. Control oocytes were recovered by transvaginal follicle aspiration. The MII rate of the Control (60%, 33/55) was similar (P > 0.05) to that of the 60- and 70-s treatments (38.9%, 7/18, and 35.3%, 6/17, respectively), and higher (P < 0.05) than those of the 50-, 80-, 90-, and 100-s treatments (5.6 to 31.6%). The cleavage rates were 94% (31/33) for the Control and 71 to 100% for vitrified oocytes (P > 0.05). No blastocyst was produced from vitrified oocytes compared with 8/33 (24.2%) for Control. This work demonstrates that a rapid, non-equilibrating vitrification technique using a 40-s initial exposure and 70- to 80-s final exposure to CPA is associated with maintenance of meiotic competence of immature equine oocytes; however, further work is required to optimize embryonic development with this method. Research supported by the Clinical Equine ICSI Program and the Link Equine Research Fund, Texas A&M University.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
H. S. Canesin ◽  
I. Ortiz ◽  
J. G. Brom-de-Luna ◽  
Y. H. Choi ◽  
K. Hinrichs

Oocyte cryopreservation has the potential to preserve female genetics. In addition, equine oocytes are not readily available in some areas, and vitrification could be used to accumulate oocytes at remote locations to provide material for research. To preserve large numbers of oocytes, a method for rapid vitrification of multiple oocytes is needed. First, we determined whether immature equine oocytes could be held overnight before vitrification, and we tested the use of a mesh+capillary-action media-removal vitrification platform. Oocytes were collected via ultrasound-guided transvaginal follicle aspiration and randomly allotted to either immediate vitrification or overnight holding (24 to 27 h in 40% M199-Earle’s salts, 40% M199-Hanks’ salts, 20% fetal bovine serum, and 0.3 mM pyruvate) then vitrification. Oocytes were vitrified using different times (1 or 4 min) in vitrification solution and first warming solution: 1v1w, 1v4w, 4v1w, and 4v4w. The base solution was MH (80% M199-Hanks’ salts and 20% fetal bovine serum). Cryoprotectant concentration (vol/vol) was increased in 3 steps until reaching 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 7.5% ethylene glycol. The oocytes were then held in vitrification solution (MH with 15% dimethyl sulfoxide, 15% ethylene glycol, and 0.5 M sucrose) for either 1 or 4 min, according to treatment, and 3 to 10 oocytes were transferred to a 75-μm sterile stainless steel mesh. The mesh was placed on sterile paper to absorb excess medium, then plunged in LN. The oocytes were warmed in MH solution with 1.25 M sucrose for either 1 or 4 min, then placed in 0.62 M and 0.31 M sucrose solutions for 5 min each and undetermined time in MH. After warming, oocytes were cultured for maturation (in vitro maturation) in M199-Earle’s salts, 5 mU mL–1 FSH, and 10% fetal bovine serum. After 30 to 36 h, the oocytes were denuded and stained with Hoechst 33258. Data were analysed by Fisher’s exact test. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in rates of meiotic resumption among timing treatments (35, 24, 26, and 39% for 1v1w, 1v4w, 4v1w, and 4v4w, respectively), nor between immediately vitrified (17/55, 31%) and overnight held-vitrified groups (18/56, 32%). In the second experiment, all oocytes were held overnight. They were vitrified and warmed using only the 1v1w and 4v4w schedules, then subjected to in vitro maturation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and embryo culture. The MII rate of the control group (27/37, 73%) was higher (P < 0.05) than that for 1v1w (12/33, 36%) or 4v4w treatments (10/35, 29%). The cleavage rate for control (25/27, 93%) was higher than that for 1v1w (5/9, 56%) but not than that for 4v4w (6/9, 67%). Blastocyst rates were 19% (5/27), 11% (1/9), and 0% (0/9) for control, 1v1w, and 4v4w, respectively (P > 0.05). These results indicate that blastocysts may be produced from equine immature oocytes vitrified en masse; however, both the maturation and blastocyst production rates were relatively low. Additional studies are required to improve the efficiency of this technique. This work was supported by the Clinical Equine ICSI Program, Texas A&M University.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
F. Salerno ◽  
M. Rubessa ◽  
B. Gasparrini ◽  
M. Wheeler

It is known that cryopreservation triggers spindle disassembly, increased aneuploidy risk, decreased post-thaw survival, fertilization, and embryo development. We hypothesised that a treatment with D2O before vitrification would slow down oocyte metabolism and reduce ice crystal formation by replacing water inside the cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a 4-h treatment with different D2O concentrations (0, 3, 15, and 30%) on cryotolerance of bovine in vitro-matured oocytes. Abattoir-derived bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 20h in TCM-199 medium with 15% of bovine serum (BS), 0.5µg mL−1 of FSH, 5µg mL−1 of LH, 0.8mM l-glutamine, and 50µg mL−1 of gentamicin at 39°C with 5% of CO2 and randomly divided into 5 experimental groups. A group of non-vitrified oocytes was used as the fresh oocyte control group, whereas the remaining oocytes were incubated for 4h in in vitro maturation medium with 0% (vitrified control; n=205), 3% (n=205), 15% (n=205), and 30% D2O (n=205) before vitrification. The experiment was repeated 4 times. Oocytes were denuded in HEPES-buffered TCM-199 (H199)+5% BS and vitrified using a cryotop freezing straw. The oocytes were incubated in 200μL of H199+20% BS with 7.5% ethylene glycol and 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide for 3min. After that, oocytes were collected in 50μL of H199+20% fetal bovine serum with 15% ethylene glycol+15% dimethyl sulfoxide and 0.5M sucrose for 20s and plunged into LN2. One month later, oocytes were warmed in thawing media with decreasing concentrations of sucrose (1.35M to 0.31M) and then placed into in vitro maturation medium for 2h before IVF. Matured oocytes were IVF and cultured according to standard procedures (Rubessa et al. 2011 Theriogenology 76, 1347-1355). Cleavage and blastocyst rates were evaluated after 7 days of culture. Data were analysed using the GLM procedure of SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The least statistical difference post-hoc test was used to perform statistical multiple comparison. The α-level was set at 0.05. As expected, both cleavage [60.5±4.6 (fresh control); 36.9±2.6 (0% D2O); 46.3±3.7 (3% D2O); 31.6±2.4 (15% D2O); and 24.4±2.6 (30% D2O)] and blastocyst rates [25.7±0.8 (fresh control); 9.0±0.8 (0% D2O); 9.0±0.7 (3% D2O); 3.6±0.2 (15% D2O); and 4.3±0.8 (30% D2O)] decreased in all vitrified groups compared with the fresh control group. Within vitrified oocytes, cleavage rate increased (P&lt;0.05) with 3% D2O treatment compared with the other groups. However, pretreatment with higher (15-30%) D2O concentrations decreased (P&lt;0.05) blastocyst rates of vitrified-warmed oocytes. In conclusion, a pretreatment with low concentrations (3%) of D2O improved the cleavage rate of bovine vitrified-warmed oocytes, suggesting a potential beneficial effect, whereas deleterious effects were observed using the higher concentrations. Therefore, further studies are required to assess a potential use of D2O to improve oocyte cryotolerance, likely testing different incubation times.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Zakiyatul Faizah ◽  
Haryanto Aswin ◽  
Hamdani Lunardhi

Objectives: to compare the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in cumulus cell and oocyte between vitrified oocyte pre and post in vitro maturation.Materials and Methods: Maturation was operated in medium TC 100 µl for 24 hours. Vitrification begins with washing oocyte in PBS basic medium supplemented of 20% serum for 1-2 minutes, followed by equilibration medium PBS + 20% serum + 10% ethylene glycol for 10-14 minutes, then transferred to 20% serum + PBS + 0.5 M sucrose + 15% ethylene glycol + PROH 15% for 25-30 seconds. Thawing is processed by submerging the oocytes in the media: 1). PBS + 20% serum + 0.5 M sucrose, 2). PBS + 20% serum + 0.25 M sucrose, and 3). PBS + 20% serum + 0.1 M sucrose. Imunocytochemistry observed the expression of Bcl-2, bax and Bcl-2/bax ratio.Results: Bcl-2 expression on oocyte in control group differed significantly with treatment group, Bcl-2 expression on cumulus in control group differed significantly with treatment 1 group. Bax expression on oocyte in control group differed significantly with treatment group. Bax expression on cumulus in control group differed significantly with treatment group. Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio on oocyte and cumulus did not differ significantly in all groupConclusion: No difference Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio on oocyte and cumulus between vitrified oocyte pre and post in vitro maturation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
P. Rodriguez Villamil ◽  
F. Ongaratto ◽  
M. Fernandez Taranco ◽  
G. A. Bó

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) selection of immature oocytes and the addition of sodium hyaluronate (HA) to the vitrification solution on survival rates of bovine oocytes vitrified using solid-phase vitrification. Bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC; n = 716) obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries were used in 6 replicates. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were washed in tissue culture medium 199 (TCM-199) and randomly allocated to 2 groups to be exposed to BCB stain (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO, USA) for 90 min as described by Alm et al. (2005 Theriogenology 63, 2194–2205) or (control) maintained in Vigro holding medium (Bioniche Animal Health, Belleville, Canada) for 90 min (n = 220). Cumulus–oocyte complexes in the BCB group were selected based on their response to BCB as BCB+ (colored, n = 248) or BCB– (colorless, n = 248), whereas those in the control group were selected morphologically as described by Rodríguez-González et al. (2002 Theriogenology 57, 1397–1409). Oocytes from both BCB groups and 100 oocytes in the control group were vitrified by solid-phase vitrification as previously described by Rodriguez et al. (2012 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 24, 132). The remaining 120 oocytes in the control group were not vitrified and were matured, fertilized, and cultured in vitro (in SOFaa in a controlled atmosphere) for 7 days. Vitrified oocytes were exposed to 10% ethylene glycol for 10 min, and 20% ethylene glycol + 0.2-M trehalose for 30 s, and then were subdivided to be exposed to 30% ethylene glycol + 0.5-M trehalose with or without 0.1 mg mL–1 HA (MAP 5, Bioniche Animal Health). Vitrified oocytes were stored in liquid nitrogen for at least one week and then placed directly into a 0.5-M sucrose solution (in TCM 199) at 37°C for 5 min, 0.25 M of sucrose for another 5 min, and finally TCM-199 and matured, fertilized, and cultured. Development rates (i.e. proportion of blastocysts) were examined on Day 7 after fertilization. Proportional data were first transformed by square root and then analyzed by ANOVA to detect the effect of replicate, type of oocyte (BCB+, BCB–, controls), and vitrified with or without HA or not vitrified as main effects, using the software Infostat (UNC, Argentina, 2010). There was a significant effect of oocyte type on blastocyst rate (P < 0.01) following vitrification (BCB+, 6.4 ± 0.4%. v. BCB–, 1.6 ± 0.6%). Control oocytes (not exposed to BCB) resulted in 3.0 ± 2.0% blastocysts following vitrification, which was lower to that obtained with the BCB+ oocytes. Vitrification also influenced development rates (3.0 ± 2.0 v. 32.0 ± 1.3%) for blastocysts produced from vitrified v. nonvitrified oocytes, respectively (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the use of HA in the vitrification solutions did not have a significant effect on development rates (4.7 ± 0.9 v. 3.3 ± 0.9%, for blastocysts obtained from vitrified oocytes with or without HA, respectively). In conclusion, the selection of oocytes by BCB increased the in vitro development rates of vitrified immature oocytes, whereas the use of HA in the vitrification solution did not improve the survival rates of vitrified oocytes.


2009 ◽  
pp. 81-83
Author(s):  
Nóra Vass ◽  
Philip Klambauer ◽  
András Jávor ◽  
Zsuzsa Keresztes ◽  
Sándor Ceh

The objective of the study was to vitrify mouse embryos with the cryoloop technology using a new combination of vitrification mediums. Embryos were exposed to a 2- step loading of CPA, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, before being placed on the surface of a thin filmy layer formed from the vitrification solution in a small nylon loop. After warming, the CPA was diluted out from the embryos by a 3-step procedure. Our data show that a high percentage of embryos survived (92.7%) vitrification in the mixture of EG and PG combined with cryoloop carrier and developing normally (89.1%) in vitro after thawing. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Somfai ◽  
K. Kikuchi ◽  
M. Nakai ◽  
M. Kaneda ◽  
S. Akagi ◽  
...  

We compared the feasibility of ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG) for the vitrification of immature porcine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC). Porcine COC collected from 3- to 6-mm follicles of slaughterhouse-derived ovaries were subjected to solid-surface vitrification (Somfai et al. 2010 Theriogenology 73, 147–156) either in 35% (v/v) EG or 35% (v/v) PG or in the mixture of 17.5% (v/v) EG and 17.5% (v/v) PG. After warming, the COC were subjected to in vitro maturation, IVF, and embryo culture according to Kikuchi et al. (2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041). Oocyte survival and maturation rates were assessed after in vitro maturation by evaluating membrane integrity and the extrusion of the first polar body. All live oocytes were subjected to IVF and in vitro culture. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were calculated from the total number of oocytes subjected to IVF on Day 2 (Day 0 = IVF) and Day 7, respectively. Total-cell (blastomeres) numbers in blastocysts were recorded on Day 7 after staining with Hoechst 33342. In Experiment 1, competence parameters of oocytes vitrified either in EG-based (EG group; n = 310) or a PG-based (PG group; n = 265) vitrification media were compared with those in the nonvitrified control (n = 160). The experiment was replicated 4 times. In Experiment 2, the competence parameters of oocytes vitrified with the combination of 17.5% EG and 17.5% PG (EG+PG group; n = 397) were compared with those in nonvitrified control (n = 245) and toxicity control (TC, exposed to cryoprotectants without cooling; n = 245) groups. Five replications were performed. Results were analyzed by ANOVA. Differences with P < 0.05 were considered significant. In Experiment 1, the mean survival rate of vitrified oocytes was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in 35% PG compared with that in 35% EG (73.3 and 25.9%, respectively). Maturation rates of surviving oocytes did not differ among vitrified (PG and EG) and nonvitrified control groups (71.1, 62.4, and 64.0%, respectively). After IVF of surviving oocytes, blastocyst formation rate in the group vitrified in EG was higher (P < 0.05) compared with that vitrified in PG but was lower (P < 0.05) compared with control (10.8, 2.0, and 25.0%, respectively). Mean cell numbers in blastocysts did not differ among EG, PG, and control groups (50.5, 47.7, and 48.7, respectively). In Experiment 2, survival of immature oocytes in the EG+PG group was 42.6%. After IVF, 10.7% of oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage in the EG+PG group, which was lower (P < 0.05) than those of the control (18.1%) and TC (23.3%) groups. Blastocyst rates in the control and TC groups were not statistically different. Mean cell numbers in blastocysts did not differ significantly among the EG+PG, control, and TC groups (61.6, 59.3, and 53.3, respectively). In conclusion, 35% PG provided a higher oocyte survival rate after vitrification compared with 35% EG. However, presumably due to toxic effects, 35% PG greatly reduced the development competence of oocytes. The combination of 17.5% EG and 17.5% PG yielded higher survival rates than did 35% EG, without any toxic effect on oocytes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Zakiyatul Faizah ◽  
R. Haryanto Aswin ◽  
Hamdani Lunardhi

Objectives: to compare the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in cumulus cell and oocyte between vitrified oocyte pre and post in vitro maturation.Materials and Methods: Maturation was operated in medium TC 100 µl for 24 hours. Vitrification begins with washing oocyte in PBS basic medium supplemented of 20% serum for 1-2 minutes, followed by equilibration medium PBS + 20% serum + 10% ethylene glycol for 10-14 minutes, then transferred to 20% serum + PBS + 0.5 M sucrose + 15% ethylene glycol + PROH 15% for 25-30 seconds. Thawing is processed by submerging the oocytes in the media: 1). PBS + 20% serum + 0.5 M sucrose, 2). PBS + 20% serum + 0.25 M sucrose, and 3). PBS + 20% serum + 0.1 M sucrose. Imunocytochemistry observed the expression of Bcl-2, bax and Bcl-2/bax ratio.Results: Bcl-2 expression on oocyte in control group differed significantly with treatment group, Bcl-2 expression on cumulus in control group differed significantly with treatment 1 group. Bax expression on oocyte in control group differed significantly with treatment group. Bax expression on cumulus in control group differed significantly with treatment group. Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio on oocyte and cumulus did not differ significantly in all groupConclusion: No difference Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio on oocyte and cumulus between vitrified oocyte pre and post in vitro maturation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
T. Somfai ◽  
N. T. Men ◽  
H. Kaneko ◽  
J. Noguchi ◽  
S. Haraguchi ◽  
...  

Previously we have reported a vitrification protocol that allows preservation of immature porcine oocytes in large numbers (Somfai et al. 2014 PLoS One 9, e97731). However, despite high survival rates, embryo development rates have remained low. The aim of our current research is to reveal factors potentially responsible for reduced developmental competence of vitrified oocytes. As a first step, we investigated the effects of vitrification at the germinal vesicle stage on subsequent nuclear progression and the normality of cytoplasmic functions during in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-enclosed porcine oocytes were vitrified in microdrops, stored, and then warmed by our method (Somfai et al. 2015 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 27, 124). Then the oocytes were subjected to IVM for 46 h in a chemically defined porcine oocyte medium. During the first 22 h of IVM, the medium was supplemented with 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate, 10 IU mL–1 of eCG, and 10 IU mL–1 of hCG. The following 24 h of IVM was performed in porcine oocyte medium without any supplementation. We compared vitrified/warmed oocytes (vitrified group) with freshly collected immature oocytes (control group) in terms of (1) nuclear progression, (2) intracellular glutathione (GSH), and (3) adenosine triphosphate levels throughout IVM. Each experiment was replicated at least 3 times. Results were analysed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test. A total of 510 oocytes were vitrified of which 422 (82.3%) survived. Only live oocytes were subjected to subsequent assays. Orcein staining revealed that after 22 h of IVM, a significantly higher percentage (P < 0.05) of vitrified oocytes showed germinal vesicle breakdown compared with the control group (22.0 v. 0.9%, respectively). In a similar fashion, after 30 h IVM, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) percentage of oocytes reached the metaphase-II (MII) stage in the vitrified group than in the control group (21.8 v. 0%, respectively). After 46 h of IVM, there was no difference between the vitrified and control groups in terms of the percentage of MII stage oocytes (93.9 and 86.3%, respectively). Analysis of GSH levels in oocytes by the 5,5′-dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoic acid-glutathione disulfide reductase recycling assay showed no significant difference between the vitrified and control groups at 0 h (6.7 and 7.0 pmol, respectively), 22 h (5.5 and 5.5 pmol, respectively), and 46 h (6.9 and 7.9 pmol, respectively) of IVM. Adenosine triphosphate assay (FL-ASC; Sigma-Aldrich Co., St. Louis, MO) revealed similar adenosine triphosphate contents in the oocytes of the vitrified and control groups at 0 h (1.53 and 1.61 pmol, respectively), 22 h (1.67 and 1.70 pmol, respectively), and 46 h (1.65 and 1.83 pmol, respectively) of IVM. In conclusion, vitrification triggered precocious nuclear maturation even in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate; however, it did not affect GSH levels and overall metabolism. This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number: 26870839) and JST/JICA SATREPS.


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