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Kovacsy S, Ismer A, Funes J, Hoogewijs M, Wilsher S. Successful vitrification of equine embryos >300 microns without puncture or aspiration. Equine Vet J 2024; 56:815-822. [PMID: 38450769 DOI: 10.1111/evj.14081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equine embryos >300 μm require puncture before vitrification. Protocols that do not require pre-puncture would make vitrification easier and allow for its widespread use. OBJECTIVES To design a successful vitrification protocol for embryos >300 μm without puncture as a pre-treatment. STUDY DESIGN Experimental in vivo study. METHODS Thirty-eight embryos were divided into 3 groups (G1: ≤300 μm, n = 11; G2: >300-500 μm, n = 20; G3: >500 μm, n = 7). Embryos were vitrified using a human vitrification kit. Following a 15 min exposure to equilibration solution (ES; 7.5% DMSO +7.5% ethylene glycol [EG] in a base medium [BM] of M199 HEPES-buffered medium [H199] + hydroxypropyl cellulose + gentamycin), embryos were exposed for ≤90 s to a vitrification solution (15% DMSO +15% EG + 0.5 M trelahose in BM), loaded onto a Cryolock and plunged into LN2. Warming was undertaken by plunging the Cryolock tip into 1 mL of H199 + 20% FBS + pen/strep +1 M sucrose at 42°C for 1 min. The embryos were then moved to a 0.5 M sucrose solution for 4 min, then placed in Vigro Hold for 4 min prior to transfer to a recipient. RESULTS Pregnancy rates were 81.8% (9/11) for G1, 80% (16/20) for G2, and 0% (0/7) for G3. The largest embryo to survive was 480 μm. MAIN LIMITATIONS Limited numbers and only one pregnancy was followed to term. CONCLUSIONS Equine embryos ≤480 μm can be successfully vitrified using a protocol with a longer exposure time to the ES. This does not appear to have a negative effect on early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ann Ismer
- Sharjah Equine Hospital, Sharjah, UAE
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Silva Júnior RAD, Desenzi R, Ramires MMDS, Souza AFD, Donato MAM, Peixoto CA, Bartolomeu CC, Batista AM. Use of Antifreeze Protein from Tenebrio molitor (TmAFP) in Vitrification of In Vitro-Produced Bovine Embryos: An Ultrastructural Study. Biopreserv Biobank 2024; 22:51-59. [PMID: 37192475 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2022.0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of antifreeze protein (AFP) extracted from the larva of the beetle, Tenebrio molitor (TmAFP), on vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. In vitro-produced blastocysts were divided into three experimental groups and vitrified using a cryotop. TmAFP was added to the equilibrium solution (ES) and vitrification solution (VS) at a concentration of 0 ng/mL (control), 500 ng/mL (500TmAFP), or 1000 ng/mL (1000TmAFP). Vitrification was carried out by first placing the blastocysts in ES for 2 minutes (7.5% ethylene glycol [EG] and 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO]). The blastocysts were then transferred to VS (15% EG and 15% DMSO) and promptly deposited on a cryotop stem and submerged in liquid nitrogen. Warming was carried out in three steps with decreasing sucrose concentrations. After warming, the blast cells were cultured for 24 hours for subsequent survival analysis and ultrastructural evaluation. There was a significant difference in the survival rate and expansion in the 500TmAFP group compared with the other groups. The ultrastructural analysis revealed intracellular lesions in all vitrified embryos; however, the embryos of the 500TmAFP and 1000TmAFP groups showed fewer cytoplasmic lesions compared with the control group. Taken together, addition of TmAFP can mitigate cellular changes that involve organelles and cellular components essential for proper functioning and improve the viability of warmed and vitrified in vitro-produced bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Artur da Silva Júnior
- Laboratório de Biotécnicas Aplicadas à Reprodução, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Raquel Desenzi
- Laboratório de Biotécnicas Aplicadas à Reprodução, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Christina Alves Peixoto
- Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Recife, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM, CNPq), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Coutinho Bartolomeu
- Laboratório de Biotécnicas Aplicadas à Reprodução, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - André Mariano Batista
- Laboratório de Biotécnicas Aplicadas à Reprodução, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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Gunst J, Vynck M, Hostens K, Standaert V, Roggeman S, van de Vijver A. Comparative Assessment of Survival and Clinical Outcome Between Two Commercial Vitrification Kits with Different Warming Protocols After Blastocyst Culture: Potential Perspectives Toward Simplified Warming Procedures. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:3212-3221. [PMID: 37311945 PMCID: PMC10643310 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01281-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates whether there is an effect on laboratory results and clinical outcome using commercial kits with similar vitrification but different warming procedures for blastocysts vitrified on day 5 or day 6. A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed between 2011 and 2020. A change from a stage-specific kit (Kit 1) to a universal kit (Kit 2) was undertaken in 2017. A total of 1845 untested blastocysts were warmed for single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfers (SVBT). Eight hundred and twenty-five blastocysts were vitrified with Kit 1 and 1020 with Kit 2. Blastocyst survival was not different (96.1% versus 97.3%). Seven hundred seventy-seven SVBT were performed from Kit 1 and 981 from Kit 2. Overall clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were not different (35.4% versus 34.1% and 30.9% versus 30.5% for Kit 1 and 2, respectively). Subgroup analysis for live birth rates in relation to the day of blastocyst vitrification showed no differences (36.1% and 36.1% for day 5 and 25.4% and 23.5% for day 6 blastocysts, respectively). For both kits, the mean gestational age was not different (38.8 ± 2.5 weeks versus 38.8 ± 2.0 weeks) with a singleton birth weight of 3413 ± 571 g and 3410 ± 528 g for Kit 1 and Kit 2, respectively. Differences in warming procedures do not affect laboratory performance or clinical outcome after blastocyst vitrification. The plasticity of a human blastocyst may allow for further investigation on simplification of blastocyst warming procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gunst
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Bruges, BE, Belgium.
| | - Matthijs Vynck
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Bruges, BE, Belgium
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, BE, Belgium
| | - Katleen Hostens
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Bruges, BE, Belgium
| | - Valerie Standaert
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Bruges, BE, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Roggeman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Bruges, BE, Belgium
| | - Arne van de Vijver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Center for Reproductive Medicine, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Bruges, BE, Belgium
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Vajta G, Parmegiani L, Machaty Z, Chen WB, Yakovenko S. Back to the future: optimised microwell culture of individual human preimplantation stage embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:2563-2574. [PMID: 33864207 PMCID: PMC8581087 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02167-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although in vitro culture of human embryos is a crucial step in assisted reproduction, the lack of focused research hampers worldwide standardisation and consistent outcomes. Only 1.2% of research papers published in five leading journals in human reproduction in 2019 focused on in vitro culture conditions, creating the impression that the optimisation process has approached its limits. On the other hand, in vitro culture of mammalian embryos is based on old principles, while there is no consensus on basic issues as density, time, medium change, gas atmosphere and small technical details including the way of drop preparation. This opinion paper aims to highlight and analyse the slow advancement in this field and stimulate research for simple and affordable solutions to meet the current requirements. A possible way for advancement is discussed in detail. Selection of embryos with the highest developmental competence requires individual culture and modification of the widely used "drop under oil" approach. Current use of three-dimensional surfaces instead of large flat bottoms is restricted to time-lapse systems, but these wells are designed for optical clarity, not for the needs of embryos. The size and shape of the original microwells (Well of the Well; WOW) offer a practical and straightforward solution to combine the benefits of communal and individual incubation and improve the overall quality of cultured embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Vajta
- RVT Australia, Cairns, QLD 4870 Australia
- VitaVitro Biotech Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
| | | | - Sergey Yakovenko
- Altravita IVF Clinic, Moscow, Russia
- Biophysics Department, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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Vajta G, Parmegiani L, Machaty Z, Chen WB, Yakovenko S. Back to the future: optimised microwell culture of individual human preimplantation stage embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021. [PMID: 33864207 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02167-4.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although in vitro culture of human embryos is a crucial step in assisted reproduction, the lack of focused research hampers worldwide standardisation and consistent outcomes. Only 1.2% of research papers published in five leading journals in human reproduction in 2019 focused on in vitro culture conditions, creating the impression that the optimisation process has approached its limits. On the other hand, in vitro culture of mammalian embryos is based on old principles, while there is no consensus on basic issues as density, time, medium change, gas atmosphere and small technical details including the way of drop preparation. This opinion paper aims to highlight and analyse the slow advancement in this field and stimulate research for simple and affordable solutions to meet the current requirements. A possible way for advancement is discussed in detail. Selection of embryos with the highest developmental competence requires individual culture and modification of the widely used "drop under oil" approach. Current use of three-dimensional surfaces instead of large flat bottoms is restricted to time-lapse systems, but these wells are designed for optical clarity, not for the needs of embryos. The size and shape of the original microwells (Well of the Well; WOW) offer a practical and straightforward solution to combine the benefits of communal and individual incubation and improve the overall quality of cultured embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Vajta
- RVT Australia, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. .,VitaVitro Biotech Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China.
| | | | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Sergey Yakovenko
- Altravita IVF Clinic, Moscow, Russia.,Biophysics Department, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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Cuello C, Martinez CA, Cambra JM, Parrilla I, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Gil MA, Martinez EA. Effects of Vitrification on the Blastocyst Gene Expression Profile in a Porcine Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031222. [PMID: 33513717 PMCID: PMC7865857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the impact of vitrification on the transcriptome profile of blastocysts using a porcine (Sus scrofa) model and a microarray approach. Blastocysts were collected from weaned sows (n = 13). A total of 60 blastocysts were vitrified (treatment group). After warming, vitrified embryos were cultured in vitro for 24 h. Non-vitrified blastocysts (n = 40) were used as controls. After the in vitro culture period, the embryo viability was morphologically assessed. A total of 30 viable embryos per group (three pools of 10 from 4 different donors each) were subjected to gene expression analysis. A fold change cut-off of ±1.5 and a restrictive threshold at p-value < 0.05 were used to distinguish differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The survival rates of vitrified/warmed blastocysts were similar to those of the control (nearly 100%, n.s.). A total of 205 (112 upregulated and 93 downregulated) were identified in the vitrified blastocysts compared to the control group. The vitrification/warming impact was moderate, and it was mainly related to the pathways of cell cycle, cellular senescence, gap junction, and signaling for TFGβ, p53, Fox, and MAPK. In conclusion, vitrification modified the transcriptome of in vivo-derived porcine blastocysts, resulting in minor gene expression changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cuello
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Cam-pus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.C.); (J.M.C.); (I.P.); (M.A.G.); (E.A.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Carretera Bue-navista s/n, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina A. Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden;
- Correspondence:
| | - Josep M. Cambra
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Cam-pus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.C.); (J.M.C.); (I.P.); (M.A.G.); (E.A.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Carretera Bue-navista s/n, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Cam-pus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.C.); (J.M.C.); (I.P.); (M.A.G.); (E.A.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Carretera Bue-navista s/n, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Maria A. Gil
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Cam-pus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.C.); (J.M.C.); (I.P.); (M.A.G.); (E.A.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Carretera Bue-navista s/n, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A. Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Cam-pus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.C.); (J.M.C.); (I.P.); (M.A.G.); (E.A.M.)
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Carretera Bue-navista s/n, 30120 Murcia, Spain
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