Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T22:04:08.708Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Assessment of the viability of embryos stored in liquid nitrogen produced commercially using culture medium as a complementary test for stereoscopic microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

B. Godinez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Reproducción Animal Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad, Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
C.S. Galina
Affiliation:
Departamento de Reproducción Animal Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad, Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
H. Leon
Affiliation:
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Chiapas, Mexico.
M. Gutierrez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Reproducción Animal Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad, Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
N. Moreno-Mendoza*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México–UNAM. Apdo. Postal 70228 México D.F. 04510México.
*
All correspondence to: Norma Moreno-Mendoza. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México–UNAM. Apdo. Postal 70228 México D.F. 04510México. Tel: +52 55 5622 3866. e-mail: [email protected]

Summary

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the viability of frozen embryos obtained from various private farmers in a culture medium for 4 h. Forty-seven embryos were used that had been previously graded as good and fair. These embryos were evaluated using stereoscopic microscopy by experienced clinicians prior to freezing. Embryos were divided in two groups: the non-cultured group, made up of six good quality embryos, and five fair; and the cultured group that consisted of 20 good quality embryos and 16 fair. Fifty-four per cent of the good quality embryos achieved a favourable development during culture whereas just 42% of embryos determined to be fair were observed to have adequate development. This evaluation was undertaken by serial photographs obtained at the onset of culture and 4 h later. This finding was corroborated by a more specific technique: terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick end labelling–bromodeoxyuridine (TUNEL–BrdU). These results are indicative of the necessity of tight quality controls for commercially produced frozen embryos, as once thawed it is unlikely that clinicians will examine them to determine their physiological status prior to transfer.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aguilar, M.M., Galina, C.S., Merchant, H., Montiel, F., Canseco, R. & Marquez, Y.C. (2002). Comparison of stereoscopy, light microscopy and ultrastructural methods for evaluation of bovine embryos. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 37, 341–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baguisi, A., Lonergan, P., Overstrom, E. & Boland, M. (1999). Vitrification of bovine embryos: incidence of necrosis and apoptosis. Theriogenology 51, 162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bastidas, P. & Randel, R.D. (1987). Seasonal effects on embryo transfer results in Brahman cows. Theriogenology 28, 531–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Celestinos, M. & Gatica, R. (2002). Vitrificación como técnica de crioconservación de embriones bovinos. Arch. Med. Vet. 34, 157–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Contreras, D.A., Galina, C.S., Avila, J.G., Aspron, M.P. & Moreno-Mendoza, N. (2008). A system to evaluate the quality of frozen embryos through short-term culture. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 106, 369–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cutini, A., Teruel, M. & Cabodevila, J. (2000). Factores que determinan el resultado de la transferencia no quirúrgica de embriones bovinos. Taurus 7, 2839.Google Scholar
Chebel, R.C., Demetrio, D.G. & Metzger, J. (2008). Factors affecting success of embryo collection and transfer in large dairy herds. Theriogenology 69, 98106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dobrinsky, J. (1996). Cellular approach to cryopreservation of embryos. Theriogenology 45, 1726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dobrinsky, J.R. (2002). Advancements in cryopreservation of domestic animal embryos. Theriogenology 57, 285302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gutierrez, M. (2009). Estudio comparativo sobre dos sistemas de evaluación (microscopio estereoscópico e invertido de contraste de fases) en embriones de ganado Bos indicus. In Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Vol. Maestría en Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F.Google Scholar
Hasler, J., Henderson, W., Hurtgen, P., Jin, Z., McCauley, A., Mower, S., Neely, B., Shuey, L., Stokes, J. & Trimmer, S. (1995). Production, freezing and transfer of bovine IVF embryos and subsequent calving results. Theriogenology 43, 141–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hasler, J., McCauley, A., Lathrop, W. & Foote, R. (1987). Effect of donor-embryo-recipient interactions on pregnancy rate in a large-scale bovine embryo transfer program. Theriogenology 27, 139–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hasler, J.F. (1992). Current status and potential of embryo transfer and reproductive technology in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 75, 2857–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hasler, J.F. (2001). Factors affecting frozen and fresh embryo transfer pregnancy rates in cattle. Theriogenology 56, 1401–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hasler, J.F. (2007). Embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization. In: Comparative Reproductive Biology (eds. Schatten, H. & Constantinescu, G.M.), pp. 171212. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larocca, C. & Fernandez, A. (1997). Congelación de embriones bovinos con etilénglicol vs. glicerol. Archivos de Zootecnia 46, 295300.Google Scholar
Lindner, G.M. & WrightR.W., Jr. R.W., Jr. (1983). Bovine embryo morphology and evaluation. Theriogenology 20, 407–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lopez-Damian, E.P., Galina, C.S., Merchant, H., Cedillo-Pelaez, C. & Aspron, M. (2008). Assessment of Bos taurus embryos comparing stereoscopic microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. J. Cell Anim. Biol. 2, 72–8.Google Scholar
Marquez-Alvarado, Y.C., Galina, C.S., Castilla, B., Leon, H. & Moreno-Mendoza, N. (2004). Evidence of damage in cryopreserved and fresh bovine embryos using the TUNEL technique. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 39, 141–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marquez, Y.C., Galina, C.S., Moreno, N., Ruiz, H., Ruiz, A. & Merchant, H. (2005). Seasonal effect on zebu embryo quality as determined by their degree of apoptosis and resistance to cryopreservation. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 40, 553–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martinez, A.G., Brogliatti, G.M., Valcarcel, A. & de Las, H. (2002). Pregnancy rates after transfer of frozen bovine embryos: a field trial. Theriogenology 58, 963–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reichenbach, H.D., Liebrich, J., Berg, U. & Brem, G. (1992). Pregnancy rates and births after unilateral or bilateral transfer of bovine embryos produced in vitro. J. Reprod. Fertil. 95, 363–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schneider, U. & Mazur, P. (1984). Osmotic consequences of cryoprotectant permeability and its relation to the survival of frozen-thawed embryos. Theriogenology 21, 6879.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Semple, M., Betteridge, K. & Leibo, S. (1995). Cryopreservation of in vitro-derived bovine embryos produced in a serum-free culture system. Theriogenology 43, 320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spell, A.R., Beal, W.E., Corah, L.R. & Lamb, G.C. (2001). Evaluating recipient and embryo factors that affect pregnancy rates of embryo transfer in beef cattle. Theriogenology 56, 287–97.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thibier, M. (1997). The International Embryo Transfer Society. World Statics of Embryo Transfer: The 1996 Report. IETS Newslett. 15, 10–3.Google Scholar
Voelkel, S. & Hu, Y. (1992). Direct transfer of frozen-thawed bovine embryos. Theriogenology 37, 2337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, L., Barry, D., Denniston, R., Bunch, T. & Godke, R. (1992). Successful transfer of frozen-thawed IVF-derived bovine embryos. Theriogenology 37, 331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar