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Vitrification of human blastocysts previously cryopreserved by slow controlled-rate freezing at the cleavage stage

  • Embryo Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of vitrified blastocysts derived from frozen-thawed cleavage stage embryos in terms of morphological survival and re-expansion status of the blastocoelic cavity.

Results

After warming 162 blastocysts derived from fresh embryos (= control group) and 90 blastocysts from frozen-thawed cleavage stage embryos (= study group) and after 2–3 h of in vitro culture the percentage of blastocysts with morphological survival was not different between the two groups. After 24 h of in vitro culture, the percentage of fully expanded, hatching or hatched blastocysts was not different between both groups.

Conclusion(s)

The results show that blastocysts derived from frozen-thawed cleavage stage embryos can be cryopreserved successfully a second time by vitrification method. Re-cryopreservation by vitrification still needs to be approached with some caution because little data on long term safety of multiple freezing is available.

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Acknowledgments

P.D.S. is the holder of a fundamental clinical research mandate by the Flemish Foundation of Scientific Research (FWO-Vlaanderen), Belgium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    S. Lierman, E. Van den Abbeel & P. De Sutter

Authors
  1. S. Lierman
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  2. E. Van den Abbeel
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  3. P. De Sutter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Lierman.

Additional information

Capsule Blastocysts derived from cryopreserved cleavage-stage embryos can be re-cryopreserved successfully by vitrification method. This finding opens possibilities to maximize the efficiency of the cryopreservation of cleavage-stage human embryos.

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Lierman, S., Van den Abbeel, E. & De Sutter, P. Vitrification of human blastocysts previously cryopreserved by slow controlled-rate freezing at the cleavage stage. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 447–451 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0164-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0164-1

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