Water- and cryoprotectant-permeability of mature and immature oocytes in the medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Morphological evaluation of Prochilodus lineatus embryos after vitrification-thawing in high-osmolarity cryoprotectant solution

We aimed to vitrify embryos of Prochilodus lineatus in a high-osmolarity cryoprotectant solution, evaluating, after the vitrification-thawing process, their morphological changes. Thus, 240 embryos in the 20-somite phase (20S) were exposed for 20 min to one main internal cryoprotectant solution (1,2-propanediol-PROP), divided into four immersion sequence steps of five minutes each. The first three steps were performed in solutions containing only a main internal cryoprotectant (PROP-2, 3 and 4 M), and the fourth step in a high-osmolarity solution combining internal (PROP + dimethyl sulphoxide-Me₂ SO) and external cryoprotectants (sucrose-SUC). The final concentration of vitrification was PROP 5 M + Me₂ SO 5 M + SUC 0.2 M. During vitrification, the straws exhibited a translucent solid appearance; however, during thawing, their structure became totally opaque and white. After thawing, the embryos suffered an increase in volume and presented morphological changes including protrusions on the surface of the yolk sac, yolk sac rupture, and optical vesicle degradation. On the inside, we observed intercellular spaces and a yolk syncytial layer (YSL) with altered chromatin. Yet, structures such as somites, neural tube, endoderm and epidermis presented cells with a nucleus and integral mitochondria. We conclude that the use of the tested cryoprotectant solution permits the formation of a vitreous solid and preserves part of the cells of the blastoderm. Yet, the heating protocol does not control recrystallization, resulting in the formation of serious morphological anomalies that prevent the preservation of the embryonic unit.

Electro-microinjection of fish eggs with an immobile capillary electrode

Microinjection with ultra-fine glass capillaries is widely used to introduce cryoprotective agents and other foreign molecules into animal cells, oocytes, and embryos. The fragility of glass capillaries makes difficult the microinjection of fish eggs and embryos, which are usually protected by a hard outer shell, called the chorion. In this study, we introduce a new electromechanical approach, based on the electropiercing of fish eggs with a stationary needle electrode. The electropiercing setup consists of two asymmetric electrodes, including a μm-scaled nickel needle placed opposite to a mm-scaled planar counter-electrode. A fish egg is immersed in low-conductivity solution and positioned between the electrodes. Upon application of a short electric pulse of sufficient field strength, the chorion is electroporated and the egg is attracted to the needle electrode by positive dielectrophoresis. As a result, the hard chorion and the subjacent yolk membrane are impaled by the sharp electrode tip, thus providing direct access to the egg yolk plasma. Our experiments on early-stage medaka fish embryos showed the applicability of electro-microinjection to fish eggs measuring about 1 mm in diameter. We optimized the electropiercing of medaka eggs with respect to the field strength, pulse duration, and conductivity of bathing medium. We microscopically examined the injection of dye solution into egg yolk and the impact of electropiercing on embryos' viability and development. We also analyzed the mechanisms of electropiercing in comparison with the conventional mechanical microinjection. The new electropiercing method has a high potential for automation, e.g., via integration into microfluidic devices, which would allow a large-scale microinjection of fish eggs for a variety of applications in basic research and aquaculture.

Statistical estimation of red blood cell osmotic damage during cryoprotective agent removal from cryopreserved blood

Statistical estimation of the osmotic damage of red blood cells (RBCs) during the removal of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) from cryopreserved blood has been a very difficult issue. In this paper, the discrete mass transfer model developed in our previous work is modified to study the volume variation of individual RBCs and thereby to estimate the osmotic damage of all RBCs statistically during CPA removal by the dilution-concentration method we proposed recently. The model is validated with respect to the experimental results either with or without RBCs. Then, it is used to investigate the effects of blood volume, hematocrit, blood and diluent flow rates on the osmotic damage of RBCs, as well as the washing time of CPAs. Our results show that both the increase of blood flow rates and the decrease of diluent flow rates can bring about a reduction in osmotic damage of RBCs; however, only the former can cause a decrease in the washing time of CPAs. The blood volume could also affect the osmotic damage of RBCs. For a given flow condition, there could exist an optimal blood volume range for the dilution-concentration system. The effect of blood volume could be alleviated by an increase in the dilution region volume. In addition, the osmotic damage of RBCs decreases as the hematocrit decreases. Therefore, in practice, the increase of blood flow rates is the best solution to reduce both the osmotic damage of RBCs and the washing time of CPAs simultaneously. A lower hematocrit in the cryopreserved blood and/or longer tubing in the dilution region are also recommended to achieve better performance for the dilution-concentration method.

A trial to cryopreserve immature medaka (Oryzias latipes) oocytes after enhancing their permeability by exogenous expression of aquaporin 3

Fish oocytes have not been cryopreserved successfully, probably because it is difficult to prevent intracellular ice from forming. Previously, we have shown in medaka that immature oocytes are more suitable for cryopreservation than mature oocytes or embryos, in terms of permeability. We have also shown in immature medaka oocytes that the exogenous expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3), a water/cryoprotectant channel, promotes the movement of water and cryoprotectants through the plasma membrane. In the present study, we attempted to cryopreserve immature medaka oocytes expressing AQP3. We first examined effects of hypertonic stress and the chemical toxicity of cryoprotectants on the survival of the AQP3-expressing oocytes. Exposure to hypertonic solutions containing sucrose decreased the survival of oocytes, but the expression of AQP3 did not affect sensitivity to hypertonic stress. Also, AQP3 expression did not markedly increase sensitivity to the toxicity of cryoprotectants. Of the four cryoprotectants tested, propylene glycol was the least toxic. Using a propylene glycol-based solution, therefore, we tried to cryopreserve immature oocytes by vitrification. During cooling with liquid nitrogen, all intact oocytes became opaque, but many AQP3-expressing oocytes remained transparent. This indicates that the expression of AQP3 is effective in preventing intracellular ice from forming during cooling. During warming, however, all the AQP3-expressing oocytes became opaque, indicating that intracellular ice formed. Therefore, the dehydration and permeation by propylene glycol were still insufficient. Further studies are necessary to realize the cryopreservation of fish oocytes.

Design and characterization of genetically engineered zebrafish aquaporin-3 mutants highly permeable to the cryoprotectant ethylene glycol

Background

Increasing cell membrane permeability to water and cryoprotectants is critical for the successful cryopreservation of cells with large volumes. Artificial expression of water-selective aquaporins or aquaglyceroporins (GLPs), such as mammalian aquaporin-3 (AQP3), enhances cell permeability to water and cryoprotectants, but it is known that AQP3-mediated water and solute permeation is limited and pH dependent. To exploit further the possibilities of using aquaporins in cryobiology, we investigated the functional properties of zebrafish (Danio rerio) GLPs.

Results

Water, glycerol, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol permeability of zebrafish Aqp3a, -3b, -7, -9a, -9b, -10a and -10b, and human AQP3, was examined. Expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes indicated that the permeability of DrAqp3a and -3b to ethylene glycol was higher than for glycerol or propylene glycol under isotonic conditions, unlike other zebrafish GLPs and human AQP3, which were more permeable to glycerol. In addition, dose-response experiments and radiolabeled ethylene glycol uptake assays suggested that oocytes expressing DrAqp3b were permeated by this cryoprotectant more efficiently than those expressing AQP3. Water and ethylene glycol transport through DrAqp3a and -3b were, however, highest at pH 8.5 and completely abolished at pH 6.0. Point mutations in the DrAqp3b amino acid sequence rendered two constructs, DrAqp3b-T85A showing higher water and ethylene glycol permeability at neutral and alkaline pH, and DrAqp3b-H53A/G54H/T85A, no longer inhibited at acidic pH but less permeable than the wild type. Finally, calculation of permeability coefficients for ethylene glycol under concentration gradients confirmed that the two DrAqp3b mutants were more permeable than wild-type DrAqp3b and/or AQP3 at neutral pH, resulting in a 2.6- to 4-fold increase in the oocyte intracellular concentration of ethylene glycol.

Conclusion

By single or triple point mutations in the DrAqp3b amino acid sequence, we constructed one mutant with enhanced ethylene glycol permeability and another with reduced pH sensitivity. The DrAqp3b and the two mutant constructs may be useful for application in cryobiology.

A steady-state mass transfer model of removing CPAs from cryopreserved blood with hollow fiber modules

Hollow fiber modules are commonly used to conveniently and efficiently remove cryoprotective agents (CPAs) from cryopreserved cell suspensions. In this paper, a steady-state model coupling mass transfers across cell and hollow fiber membranes is theoretically developed to evaluate the removal of CPAs from cryopreserved blood using hollow fiber modules. This steady-state model complements the unsteady-state model, which was presented in our previous study. The steady-state model, unlike the unsteady-state model, can be used to evaluate the effect of ultrafiltration flow rates on the clearance of CPAs. The steady-state model is validated by experimental results, and then is compared with the unsteady-state model. Using the steady-state model, the effects of ultrafiltration flow rates, NaCl concentrations in dialysate, blood flow rates and dialysate flow rates on CPA concentration variation and cell volume response are investigated in detail. According to the simulative results, the osmotic damage of red blood cells can easily be reduced by increasing ultrafiltration flow rates, increasing NaCl concentrations in dialysate, increasing blood flow rates, or decreasing dialysate flow rates.

The effect of different kinds of electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions on the survival rate and morphology of zebrafish Danio rerio embryos

The effect of electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions on the survival and on the morphology of zebrafish Danio rerio embryos was investigated. Embryos in different ontogenetic stages were incubated in electrolyte (NaCl, KCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2) and non-electrolyte solutions [sucrose and polyvinylalcohol (PVA)] of different concentrations for 5-15 min. The embryos were hatched to the long-pec stage and the effective concentrations which caused a 50% decrease in embryo development (EC50) were determined. The morphometric changes, which were caused by the test solutions, were measured. Ion channel blockers were used to see if active ion transport played a role for embryo survival. Finally, dechorionated embryos were exposed to the test solutions to get indications about the importance of chorion and perivitelline space. For 12 hours post fertilization (hpf) embryos and a 15 min exposure period, EC50 was highest for MgCl2 (1.60 mol l(-1)), followed by sucrose (0.73 mol l(-1)), NaCl (0.49 mol l(-1)), KCl (0.44 mol l(-1)), CaCl2 (0.43 mol l(-1)) and PVA [0.0005 mol l(-1) (2.2%)]. EC50 were lower for early embryonic stages than for advanced stages for all solutions with exception of MgCl2 and sucrose. At the EC50, MgCl2 and CaCl2 solutions did not induce morphometric changes. NaCl and sucrose solutions induced reversible morphometric changes, which were compensated within 10 min. Only the EC50 of KCl and PVA solutions induced permanent morphometric changes, which could not be compensated. Incubation of embryos in electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions together with ouabain (blocker of Na+- K+ ATPase), HgCl3 (dose-dependent inhibition of aquaporine channels), verapamil (inhibition of calcium and magnesium uptake) and amiloride (inhibition of sodium uptake) significantly decreased the per cent of embryos developing to the long-pec stage in comparison to the same solutions without blockers. Ouabain and HgCl(3) also induced morphometric changes. For dechorionated embryos the survival rates in water and in the different test solutions were similar to untreated embryos.

Development of cryopreservation protocols for early stage zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovarian follicles using controlled slow cooling

Cryopreservation of germplasm of aquatic species offers many benefits to the fields of aquaculture, conservation and biomedicine. Although successful fish sperm cryopreservation has been achieved with many species, there has been no report of successful cryopreservation of fish embryos and late stage oocytes which are large, chilling sensitive and have low membrane permeability. In the present study, cryopreservation of early stage zebrafish ovarian follicles was studied for the first time using controlled slow freezing. The effect of cryoprotectant, freezing medium, cooling rate, method for cryoprotectant removal, post-thaw incubation time and ovarian follicle developmental stage were investigated. Stages I and II ovarian follicles were frozen in 4M methanol and 3M DMSO in either L-15 medium or KCl buffer. Ovarian follicle viability was assessed using trypan blue, FDA+PI staining and ADP/ATP assay. The results showed that KCl buffer was more beneficial than L-15 medium, methanol was more effective than DMSO, optimum cooling rates were 2-4 degrees C/min, stepwise removal of cryoprotectant improved ovarian follicle viability significantly and stage I ovarian follicles were more sensitive to freezing. The results also showed that FDA+PI staining and ADP/ATP assay were more sensitive than TB staining. The highest follicle viabilities after post-thaw incubation for 2h obtained with FDA+PI staining were 50.7+/-4.0% although ADP/ATP ratios of the cryopreserved follicles were significantly increased indicating increased cell damage. Studies are currently being carried out on in vitro maturation of these cryopreserved ovarian follicles.

The permeability to water and cryoprotectants of immature and mature oocytes in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

To identify a stage feasible for the cryopreservation of zebrafish oocytes, we investigated the permeability to water and cryoprotectants of immature (stage III) and mature (stage V) oocytes. The permeability to water (microm/min/atm) of immature oocytes at 25 degrees C (0.37) was significantly higher than that of mature oocytes (0.10). The permeability (x10(-3)cm/min) of immature oocytes to ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and Me(2)SO (1.49-3.03) at 25 degrees C was substantially higher than that of mature oocytes approximately 0. The permeability of immature oocytes to glycerol was also high (1.75), although the permeability could not be measured in mature oocytes. Immature oocytes would be more suitable than mature oocytes for conservation of the zebrafish.

Exogenous Expression of Rat Aquaporin-3 Enhances Permeability to Water and Cryoprotectants of Immature Oocytes in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Movement of water and cryoprotectants through the plasma membrane needs to be accelerated for successful cryopreservation of zebrafish oocytes/embryos, which are much larger than their mammalian counterparts. Aquaporin-3 is a water/solute channel that can transport not only water but also various cryoprotectants. In this study, we attempted to increase the permeability of immature zebrafish oocytes at stage III to water and cryoprotectants by exogenous expression of rat aquaporin-3. Immature zebrafish oocytes were injected with rat aquaporin-3 cRNA and cultured for 5-12 h. Permeability to water and cryoprotectants was then determined based on changes in the volumes of the oocytes in a hypertonic sucrose solution and various cryoprotectant solutions at 25 C. The permeability to water of the aquaporin-3 cRNA-injected oocytes was three times higher than that of intact and water-injected oocytes. The permeability of the aquaporin-3 cRNA-injected oocytes to ethylene glycol, glycerol, propylene glycol, and DMSO was also 2-4 times higher than that of intact oocytes. Thus, the permeability of immature zebrafish oocytes to water and cryoprotectants was enhanced by exogenous expression of aquaporin-3. Cryopreservation of teleost oocytes may be realized through a further increase in permeability.

Expression of aquaporin-3 improves the permeability to water and cryoprotectants of immature oocytes in the medaka (Oryzias latipes)

The permeability of the plasma membrane plays a crucial role in the successful cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos. Several efforts have been made to facilitate the movement of water and cryoprotectants across the plasma membrane of fish oocytes/embryos because of their large size. Aquaporin-3 is a water/solute channel that can also transport various cryoprotectants. In this study, we tried to improve the permeability of immature medaka (Oryzias latipes) oocytes to water and cryoprotectants by artificially expressing aquaporin-3. The oocytes were injected with aquaporin-3 cRNA and cultured for 6-7 h. Then, hydraulic conductivity (L(P)) and cryoprotectant permeability (P(S)) were determined from volume changes in a hypertonic sucrose solution and various cryoprotectant solutions, respectively, at 25 degrees C. The L(P) value of the cRNA-injected oocytes was 0.22+/-0.04 microm/min/atm, nearly twice larger than that of intact or water-injected oocytes (0.14+/-0.02 and 0.14+/-0.03 microm/min/atm, respectively). P(S) values of intact oocytes for ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and DMSO were 1.36+/-0.34, 1.97+/-0.20, and 1.17+/-0.52 x 10(-3) cm/min, respectively. The permeability to glycerol could not be calculated because oocytes remained shrunken in the glycerol solution. On the other hand, cRNA-injected oocytes had significantly higher P(S) values (glycerol, 2.20+/-1.29; ethylene glycol, 2.98+/-0.36; propylene glycol, 3.93+/-1.70; DMSO, 3.11+/-0.74 x 10(-3) cm/min) than intact oocytes. When cRNA-injected oocytes were cultured for 12-14 h, 51% matured to the metaphase II stage, and 43% of the matured oocytes were fertilized and hatched following in vitro fertilization and 14 days of culture. Thus, the permeability of medaka oocytes to water and cryoprotectants was improved by the artificial expression of aquaporin-3, and the oocytes retained the ability to develop to term.

Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) embryos are difficult to cryopreserve by vitrification

The first successful cryopreservation of fish embryos was reported in the Japanese flounder by vitrification [Chen and Tian, Theriogenology, 63, 1207-1219, 2005]. Since very high concentrations of cryoprotectants are needed for vitrification and fish embryos have a large volume, Japanese flounder embryos must have low sensitivity to cryoprotectant toxicity and high permeability to water and cryoprotectants. So, we investigated the sensitivity and the permeability of Japanese flounder embryos. In addition, we assessed the survival of flounder embryos after vitrification with solutions containing methanol and propylene glycol, following Chen and Tian's report. The embryos were relatively insensitive to the toxicity of individual cryoprotectants at lower concentrations, especially methanol and propylene glycol as their report. Although their permeability to water and cryoprotectants could not be measured from volume changes in cryoprotectant solutions, the embryos appeared to be permeable to methanol but less permeable to DMSO, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. Although vitrification solutions containing methanol and propylene glycol, which were used in Chen and Tian's report, were toxic to embryos, a small proportion of embryos did survived. However, when vitrified with the vitrification solutions, no embryos survived after warming. The embryos became opaque during cooling with liquid nitrogen, indicating the formation of intracellular ice during cooling. When embryos had been kept in vitrification solutions for 60 min after being treated with the vitrification solution, some remained transparent during cooling, but became opaque during warming. This suggests that dehydration and/or permeation by cryoprotectants were insufficient for vitrification of the embryos even after they had been over-treated with the vitrification solutions. Thus, Chen and Tian's cryopreservation method lacks general application to Japanese flounder embryos.