Abstract
Mouse embryos at the one-, two-, and eight-cell stages have been used to optimize the conditions for cryopreservation of human oocytes and embryos. For storage in glass vials using 1.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotectant and slow cooling (≈0.3°C/min), phosphate-buffered medium was superior to Hepes-buffered medium. Termination of slow cooling at −80°C before transfer to liquid nitrogen with subsequent slow thawing (−8°C/min) resulted in more embryos surviving than when cooling terminated at −40°C and rapid thawing (−500°C/min) was employed. Dilution of DMSO upon thawing with medium containing 0.5M sucrose gave higher embryo survival rates than a stepwise (0.25 M decrements) dilution. Using these techniques, three pregnancies were established upon the transfer of 11 frozenthawed embryos to seven patients. Rates of embryo survival using the simpler cryopreservation technique of ice-free vitrification in 0.25-ml straws have been disappointing.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Trounson AO, Mohr L: Human pregnancy following cryopreservation, thawing and transfer of an eight-cell embryo. Nature 1983:305:707–709
Zeilmaker GH, Alberda AT, van Gent I, Rijkmans CMPM, Drogendijk AC: Two pregnancies following transfer of intact frozen-thawed embryos. Fertil Steril 1984;42:293–296
Wood C, McMaster R, Rennie G, Trounson A, Leeton J: Factors influencing pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1985;43:245–250
Kerin JFP, Warnes GM, Quinn P, Jeffrey R, Kirby C, Matthews CD, Seamark RF, Cox LW: Incidence of multiple pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Lancet 1983:2:537
Lutjen P, Trounson A, Leeton J, Findlay J, Wood C, Renon P: The establishment and maintenance of pregnancy using in vitro fertilization and embryo donation in a patient with primary ovarian failure. Nature 1984:307:174–175
Rogers PAW, Milne BJ, Trounson AO: The effect of stimulation to produce multiple follicular development on embryo viability and uterine receptivity in human IVF. Proc Fertil Soc Aust 1984;3:32
Mohr LR, Trounson A, Freeman L: Deep-freezing and transfer of human embryos. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1985;2:1–10
Kerin JF, Warnes GM, Quinn P, Kirby C, Jeffrey R, Matthews CD, Seamark RF, Texler K, Antonas B, Cox LW: In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1984;1:63–71
Quinn P, Warnes GM, Kerin JF, Kirby C: Culture factors in relation to the success of human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1984;41:202–209
Quinn P, Kerin JF, Warnes GM: Improved pregnancy rate in human in vitro fertilization with the use of a medium based on the composition of human tubal fluid. Fertil Steril 1985;44:493–498
Whittingham DG, Wood M, Farrant J, Lee H, Halsey JA: Survival of frozen mouse embryos after rapid thawing from −196°C. J Reprod Fert 1979:56:11–21
Quinn P, Barros C, Whittingham DG: Preservation of hamster oocytes to assay the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa. J Reprod Fert 1982:66:161–168
Rall WF, Fahy GM: Ice-free cryopreservation of mouse embryos at −196°C by vitrification. Nature 1985;313:573–575
Cohen J, Simons RF, Fehilly CB, Fishel SB, Edwards RG, Hewitt J, Rowland GF, Steptoe PC, Webster JM: Birth after replacement of hatching blastocyst eryopreserved at expanded blastocyst stage. Lancet 1985;1:647
Quinn P, Harlow GM: The effect of oxygen on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro. J Exp Zool 1978;206:73–80
Harlow GM, Quinn P: Foetal and placental growth in the mouse after preimplantation development in vitro. Aust J Biol Sci 1979;32:363–369
Pope CE, Pope VZ, Beck LR: Live birth following cryopreservation and transfer of a baboon embryo. Fertil Steril 1984:42:143–145
Whittingham DG: Principles of embryo preservation.In Low Terperature Preservation in Medicine and Biology, MJ Ashwood-Smith, J Farrant (eds.) Tunbridge Wells Pitman Medical, 1980, pp 65–83
Renard JP, Bui-Xuan-Nguyen N, Garnier V: Two-step freezing of two-cell rabbit embryos after partial dehydration at room temperature. J Reprod Fert 1984:71:573–580
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Quinn, P., Kerin, J.F.P. Experience with the cryopreservation of human embryos using the mouse as a model to establish successful techniques. J Assist Reprod Genet 3, 40–45 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01131379
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01131379