应用乙二醇冷冻小鼠胚胎：优化和简化程序的探索

提高解冻胚胎的发育能力和简化冷冻解冻程序是胚胎冷冻研究的两大永恒的主题。尽管乙二醇（EG）广泛用于家畜胚胎冷冻,但很少用于冷冻小鼠和人胚胎。为数很少的以EG慢冻小鼠或人胚胎的研究均采用较为复杂的人胚冷冻程序,未见简化程序和用EG冷冻小鼠桑椹胚的报道。采用简单的牛胚胎冷冻程序研究了发育时期、EG浓度、平衡方法、添加蔗糖以及解冻后脱除EG等对小鼠胚胎冻后发育能力的影响。结果显示：（1）致密晚期桑椹胚冻后体外培养囊胚发育率（81.92%±2.24%）和孵出率（68.56％±2.43%）显著（P＜0.05)高于4-细胞、8-细胞胚胎和致密早期桑椹胚胎;（2）1.8mol/L EG冷冻小鼠致密晚期桑椹胚的囊胚发育和孵出率显著高于其它浓度;（3）在EG中平衡10min的冻后囊胚发育显著好于平衡5、20或30min;（4）两步平衡冷冻胚胎的囊胚发育率和孵出率显著高于一步平衡;（5）用EG冷冻小鼠胚胎无需添加蔗糖;（6）解冻后可不脱除EG;（7）冻后发育的早期囊胚和囊胚细胞数明显少于体内发育胚胎。因此,用EG冷冻小鼠胚胎的最佳方案为：致密晚期桑椹胚用1.8mol/L EG不添加蔗糖、两步平衡15min、以简单的牛胚胎冷冻程序冷冻解冻、解冻后不脱除EG直接培养或移植。     

小鼠体外受精、胚胎培养及胚胎快速冷冻的研究

目的　为扩大胚胎来源并获取特定胚龄胚胎 ,建立小鼠冷冻胚胎库。方法　运用超数排卵、体外受精与胚胎培养及胚胎冷冻技术系统研究了小鼠受精卵的体内发育与运行规律。卵母细胞的体外成熟与受精、单细胞胚胎培养及胚胎快速冷冻。结果　 (1)注射hCG后 12～ 2 0h受精卵发育至原核期 ,4 2～ 4 8h为 2 细胞期 ,4 8～ 6 0h为 4 细胞期 ,6 0～ 6 8h为 8 细胞期 ,以上各期受精卵均处于输卵管中 ;75～ 78h为桑椹胚 ,78～ 80h为致密桑椹胚 ,90～ 92h为早期囊胚 ,92～ 96h为囊胚 ,以上各期均处于子宫角中。 (2 )培养液中添加促性腺激素 (FSH与hCG) ,能显著提高卵母细胞的体外受精率 ,添加FCS和激素组的体外受精率又显著高于单独添加激素组 ,FCS还能显著提高胚胎发育。 (3)在培养液中添加EDTA ,能有效克服小鼠胚胎的 2 细胞阻断 ,其 2 细胞胚的发育率达 10 0 % ,8 细胞胚发育率达 5 5 %以上 ;牛、羊上皮细胞培养液上清也能有效克服 2 细胞阻断。添加乳酸钠和丙酮酸钠可使 2细胞与 8细胞期胚的发育率显著提高。 (4)以D PBS +甘油 +蔗糖为冷冻液 ,以D PBS +蔗糖为稀释液 ,对小鼠胚胎进行快速冷冻 ,桑椹胚的存活率为 6 9 3% ,早期囊胚的存活率为 6 0 4 %。结论　研究为将生物技术应用于小鼠 ,扩大卵子和胚胎来源     

IVF-20培养液用于大鼠体外受精的实验研究

目的探讨人用体外受精液用于实验大鼠体外受精的可行性,为实验大鼠的胚胎保种提供参考。方法选用人体外受精IVF-20培养液作为大鼠精子获能和受精培养液,对SD、Wistar、GK、F344等四种不同品系的实验大鼠进行体外受精;用mR1ECM培养液对体外受精所得胚胎进行体外培养实验。同时,将所得2-细胞胚胎移植给经假孕处理的受体鼠。结果四个品系大鼠体外受精后的卵裂率分别可达83.2%、72.6%、87.8%和71.6%。体外受精卵裂胚能够在体外进一步发育,SD大鼠囊胚发育率为16.7%,与体内受精胚胎在体外培养的囊胚发育率(24.5%)差异不显著。80枚2-细胞胚胎移植给2只受体鼠后均妊娠成功,产下正常仔鼠10只,产仔率12.5%。结论用于人体外受精的IVF-20培养液同样适合于实验大鼠精子的体外获能和受精,可以在多种品系获得较高的卵裂率,所得卵裂胚能够在体外发育到囊胚,并且所得卵裂胚在移植给受体鼠后能够产下正常仔鼠。     

不同品系小鼠胚胎玻璃化冷冻保存的比较研究

目的　研究甘油作为冷冻保护剂、不同基因型小鼠对胚胎玻璃化冷冻的影响。方法　采用 6 5mol L的甘油作为冷冻保护剂 ,采用二步法对CBA、NOD、C57BL 6J、ICR及CD1小鼠 3 5d的胚胎进行玻璃化冷冻 ,并比较了不同品系小鼠胚胎的复苏率及移植受孕率。结果和结论　CBA、NOD、C57BL 6J,ICR及CD1的复苏率分别为 5 7 6 %、4 8%、31 3%、86 5 %及 88% ,移植受孕率为 2 1%、2 3 5 %、11%、38%和 35 5 % ,封闭群小鼠的胚胎复苏率、移植受孕率均显著高于近交系小鼠。这提示胚胎的复苏率及移植受孕率可能与小鼠的不同基因型有关。五个品系中 ,桑椹胚及早期囊胚的体外复苏率均显著高于扩张囊胚。这说明不同基因型及胚胎的不同发育阶段对胚胎玻璃化冷冻效果有影响     

小鼠卵母细胞体外培养成熟及“试管小鼠”的研究

本文研究建立了一个有效的小鼠体外受精系:t。将小鼠附覃尾精子在简单合成的培荞液中休外获 能后,与体内成熟的卵母细胞共同孵育受精,然后体外培养。结果发育至2一细胞期胚胎的百分率为75一 85 %。将这些2一细胞期胚胎移植到受体小鼠输卵管,得到11只“试管小鼠”。用小鼠卵巢中未成熟卵母 细胞,经体外培养成熟后,沐外受精培养,达2一细咆期胚胎的百分率为20-40%,经移植后得到6只“试 管小鼠,,。     

不同品系小鼠的体外受精、胚胎冷冻及移植的比较研究

目的　探讨不同品系小鼠的体外受精、胚胎和精子的低温保存效果。方法　本实验分别在中国科学院上海实验动物中心 (SLAC)和日本熊本大学动物资源开发中心 (CARD)对 13个品系小鼠 (C57BL 6J、BALB c、C3H HeJ、ICR、KM、FVB、MRL、NOD、CBA、DBA 2、CD 1、BDF1、B6C3F1)的体外受精 (IVF)率、胚胎培养及移植成绩进行了比较研究。结果　各品系小鼠新鲜精子的IVF率 15 1%～ 87 9% ,冻融精子的IVF率 8%～ 80 % ;冷冻胚胎的复苏率4 2 6 %～ 83 9% ;冻融胚胎移植后的产仔率在 17 8%～ 5 1 8%。结论　遗传背景不同的小鼠体外受精率、冷冻胚胎复苏率和胚胎移植的产仔率差异有显著性。但同一品系两个实验室间的新鲜精子的IVF率、冷冻胚胎的复苏率及移植产仔率差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;冻融精子的体外受精率CARD明显高于SLAC(P <0 0 1)。     

小鼠囊胚的细胞凋亡:体内发育和体外培养的比较

小鼠胚体外培养到囊胚期的成功率很高,但质量是否能及体内发育的囊胚还不太清楚。细胞的数量和凋亡程度是胚胎质量鉴定的重要指标。本文采用TUNEL法分别对2-、8-细胞和桑椹胚培育成的鼠囊胚及体内发育而成的鼠囊胚细胞凋亡情况进行了检验。结果表明90%以上的2-、8-细胞及桑椹胚经过72h、48h和24h的培养发育到囊胚期。由桑椹胚发育成的与体内发育成的囊胚细胞凋亡指数没有显著差异,但由2-、8-细胞胚培育成的囊胚细胞凋亡指数显著高于体内发育成的囊胚。由此可见,体外长时间培养会增加胚胎的细胞凋亡程率。为培养出高质量的囊胚,胚胎培养条件还需进一步改善。     

两种冷冻保护剂对小鼠2-细胞胚冷冻效果的比较

乙二醇（ETG）和1,2-丙二醇（PROH）具有高细胞渗透性和低毒性特点,常被用于人及多种哺乳动物早期胚胎冷冻保存。为了比较ETG和PROH对小鼠2-细胞胚的冷冻保护效果,本试验分别采用这两种冷冻保护剂,对小鼠2-细胞胚进行冷冻保存,并采用冻后体外培养和囊胚移植进行冷冻效果检测。结果表明,PROH组胚胎解冻后胚胎存活率与ETG组无显著差异,但PROH组4-细胞胚发育率和囊胚发育率显著高于ETG组（82．7％vs．64．6％,61．2％vs．29．1％,P〈0．01）。囊胚移植结果表明,2-细胞胚胎冻存后能够发育为正常的后代,PROH组和ETG组的囊胚移植后妊娠产仔率无统计学差异（P〉0．05）,但均显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）。为了分析两组胚胎冻存后损伤情况,埘解冻后的胚胎细胞微丝进行检测,结果显示ETG组微丝受损的胚胎数高于PROH组。本研究结果证明采用PROH作为冷冻保护剂冷冻保存小鼠2-细胞胚的冻存效果优于ETG[动物学报54（6）：1098—1105,2008]。     

两种抗冷冻剂对不同品系小鼠精子冷冻的影响

目的建立一套比较理想的小鼠精子冷冻复苏的方法。方法采用R18S3和FERTIUPTM-CPA两种保护剂,对DBA/2、C57BL/6J、KM和B6.129S7-Ldlrtm1Her/J四个品系的小鼠精子进行冷冻,冷冻精子用三种方法复苏,以体外受精率来评价精子冷冻的效果。结果以R18S3作为冷冻保护剂,DBA/2(73.3%,88.4%,55.6%)和KM(64.9%,60.2%,39.6%)品系小鼠冷冻精子复苏后体外受精率差异显著(P<0.05),C57BL/6J(3.0%,10.3%,3.7%)和B6.129S7-Ldlrtm1Her/J(0%,5.0%,0%)结果差异不显著(P>0.05);以FERTIUPTM-CPA作为冷冻保护剂,DBA/2(33.6%,14.1%,91.6%)、C57BL/6J(8.4%,21.0%,4.9%)和B6.129S7-Ldlrtm1Her/J(8.2%,10.0%,28.9%)品系小鼠冷冻精子复苏后体外受精率差异显著(P<0.05),而KM(48.1%,48.0%,48.1%)小鼠冷冻精子复苏后体外受精率差异不显著(P>0.05)。结论对于DBA/2和KM品系小鼠来说,用R18S3或FERTIUPTM-CPA冷冻精子,选择一种恰当的复苏方法,均可以得到较理想的体外受精率,而C57BL/6J和B6.129S7-Ldlrtm1Her/J品系小鼠无论采用哪种冷冻保护剂,选择何种方法复苏精子,得到的体外受精率都较低。     

小鼠休眠胚胎与正常胚胎冻融后体内外发育潜力的比较

目的检验小鼠休眠胚胎冻融后的质量及体内外发育潜力,为胚胎休眠技术的生产应用提供必要的参考。方法采用常规冷冻方法将正常孵化期胚胎和休眠胚胎进行冷冻,之后分别进行体外复苏培养实验和胚胎移植实验。随后利用双重荧光染色的方法分别对冻融前后的小鼠休眠胚胎与正常孵化期胚胎进行细胞计数,观察两种胚胎冻融前后的质量变化。结果休眠胚胎的冷冻解冻回收率、发育率均极显著高于孵化期胚胎(72.1%vs 50.2%,P<0.01;94.2%vs 73.9%,P<0.01)。休眠胚胎的移植妊娠率显著高于孵化期胚胎(40.8%vs 30.1%,P<0.05)。休眠胚胎的内细胞团细胞数显著高于孵化期胚胎(27.83 vs 19.53,P<0.05),滋养层细胞数差异不显著。冻融培养后休眠胚胎的内细胞团数,滋养层细胞数均显著高于孵化期胚胎(25.18 vs 14.68,P<0.05;114.09 vs 73.88,P<0.05)。结论小鼠休眠胚胎冻融后胚胎质量及体内外发育潜力均优于小鼠正常孵化期胚胎。     

小鼠不同阶段胚胎玻璃化冷冻保存的比较研究

The cryopreservation of different embryo stages collected from ICR, C57BL/6 and F1 of DBA*C57BL/6 was carried out by using vitrification method. The morphology, in vitro development and birth rates of these embryos were compared after frozen-thawed. The results showed that more than 75% of the morphology from 2-cell embryos to morula stages from different strains was normal, the normal morphology rates of 8-cell embryos being the highest, while those of blastulas being the lowest. The in vitro development rates became higher as the embryos developed. The morphology of in vivo and in vitro fertilized frozen 2-cell embryos showed no difference, but the development rate of in vivo fertilized frozen 2-cell embryos was significantly higher than that of in vitro ones. Embryos that underwent 3 times frozen-thawing remained normal morphology. The pregnant rate and birth rate of frozen 2-cell embryos after embryo transfer were 64% and 40% respectively, but lower than those of fresh 2-cell embryo transfer.     

Vitrification of rat embryos at various developmental stages

The effect of developmental stage on the survival of cryopreserved rat embryos was examined. Wistar rat embryos at various developmental stages were vitrified by a 1-step method with EFS40, an ethylene glycol-based solution, or by a 2-step method with EFS20 and EFS40. After warming, the survival of the embryos was assessed by their morphology, their ability to develop to blastocysts (or expanded blastocysts for blastocysts) in culture, or their ability to develop to term after transfer. Most (91-100%) of the embryos recovered after vitrification were morphologically normal in all developmental stages. However, the developmental ability of 1-cell embryos was quite low; exposing them to EFS40 for just 0.5 min decreased the in vitro survival rate from 76 to 9%. The survival rates of 2-cell embryos and blastocysts, both in vitro and in vivo, were significantly higher with a 2-step vitrification process than with a 1-step vitrification process. Very high in vitro survival rates (94-100%) were obtained in 4- to 8-cell embryos and morulae in the 1-step method. Although survival rates in vivo of 4-cell (40%) and 8-cell (4%) embryos vitrified by the 1-step method were comparatively low, the values were similar to those obtained in non-vitrified fresh embryos. When morulae vitrified by the 1-step method were transferred to recipients, the in vivo survival rate (61%) was high, and not significantly different from that of fresh embryos (70%). These results show that rat embryos at the 2-cell to blastocyst stages can be vitrified with EFS40, and that the morula stage is the most feasible stage for embryo cryopreservation in this species.     

Post-warming hatching and birth of live calves following transfer of in vitro-derived vitrified water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos

Viability of in vitro-derived vitrified-warmed preimplantation stage buffalo embryos were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Oocytes were collected from ovaries of slaughtered riverine buffaloes, matured and fertilized in vitro with frozen semen from riverine buffalo bull and cultured on cumulus cell monolayers. Resultant preimplantation stage embryos were cryopreserved by vitrification with ethylene glycol, ficoll and sucrose. Seventy-one frozen embryos were warmed in 0.5M sucrose and were further cultured in vitro for 72 h to assess hatching rate. On the other hand, 95 embryos were transferred non-surgically to riverine buffalo recipients to assess development competence in vivo through detection of pregnancy and birth of live calves. Hatching rate of 83.10% (59/71) was noted among embryos cultured in vitro. Pregnancy rate was 16.36% (9/55) while calving rate was 10.91% (6/55) after transfer of in vitro-derived vitrified-warmed embryos to recipient animals. Six healthy and normal calves with average birth weight of 38.75+/-3.55 kg were born from the transferred embryos. These results indicate the viability of vitrified in vitro-derived buffalo embryos and the potential application of in vitro embryo production and vitrification techniques for production and transport of buffalo embryos from germplasm-rich sources to guarantee genetic improvement in many parts of the world.     

Viability of mouse half-embryos in vitro and in vivo

Mouse embryos at the 2-, 4-, 8-cell, and morula stage were divided in half by using microsurgical procedures and were either grown in vitro up to the blastocyst stage or transferred at the late morula stage into the uteri of pseudopregnant recipients. A relatively high percentage of the half embryos from 2-cell (70%), 4-cell (75%), 8-cell (93%), or morula stage embryos (75%) developed into blastocysts in vitro. However, the overall development in vivo of half embryos was low, as 3%, 13%, 8%, and 1% of half embryos from the 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, and morula stages, respectively, developed into live fetuses. Embryos which were divided in half at different stages developed at different rates in vitro. This determined the stage of embryonic development at the time of transfer, which might have interacted with the stage of pseudopregnancy of the recipients to influence embryo survival in vivo.     

Simple and efficient in vitro fertilization with cryopreserved C57BL/6J mouse sperm

Archiving of mouse stocks by cryopreservation of sperm has great potential, because it is simple, rapid, and cheap. However, for some of the most commonly used inbred strains, including C57BL/6J, the postthaw fertility of the sperm (0%-12%) is too low to be useful without recourse to zona nicking or intracytoplasmic sperm injection to aid penetration of the zona pellucida. In the present study, nonmotile sperm and cell debris were removed from thawed suspensions of C57BL/6J mouse sperm, and the remaining, largely progressively motile sperm were used for in vitro fertilization. These sperm fertilized 38%-88% of denuded, zona-intact eggs, and when 2-cell embryos were transferred to pseudopregnant recipient mice, 40%-63% produced live-born young. The production of 2-cell embryos and the birth of live pups at these rates indicate that cryopreservation of sperm is a practical way to archive the haploid genome of genetically altered C57BL/6J mice.     

Normal calves from transfer of biopsied, sexed and vitrified IVP bovine embryos

Data on biopsied, sexed and cryopreserved in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos, and their in vivo developmental competence are very limited. Two preliminary studies were conducted before the primary study. In Experiment 1, post-thaw in vitro developmental competence of biopsied and vitrified IVP embryos was evaluated using re-expansion as an endpoint. In Experiment 2, the pregnancy rates of biopsied fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos following single embryo transfer were compared. Since vitrified embryos resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than frozen-thawed embryos, in the primary study (Experiment 3), all IVP embryos were vitrified following biopsy and sexing (by DNA fingerprinting). In Experiment 3, we compared pregnancy initiation and calving results of heifers in the following treatments: 1) artificial insemination (AI); 2) AI plus contralateral transfer of a single embryo (AI + SET); 3) ipsilateral transfer of single embryo (SET); or 4) bilateral transfer of two embryos (DET). Birth weights, gestation lengths and dystocia scores were recorded. In Experiment 1, post-thaw re-expansion rate of biopsied and vitrified embryos was 85% (70/82). In Experiment 2, pregnancy rates (90 d) were 44% (7/16), 23% (3/13), and 50% (7/14) for vitrified, frozen and fresh embryos, respectively (P < 0.10). In Experiment 3, pregnancy rates of AI and SET were 65% (20/31) and 40% (16/40), respectively (P < 0.05). The pregnancy rate of AI + SET was 75% (27/36) with 11 carrying twins, and the pregnancy rate of DET was 72% (26/36) with 10 carrying twins. All AI fetuses were carried to term, but only half the SET fetuses were carried to term. Similar calving rates were observed in the AI + SET and DET groups, 76 and 70%, respectively, of those pregnant at Day 40. Mean birth weight, dystocia score and gestation length of AI calves were not different from those of SET calves. Mean birth weight and dystocia score of single-born calves were greater than those of twin born calves (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that biopsied IVP bovine embryos can be successfully cryopreserved by vitrification and following post-thaw embryo transfer, acceptable rates of offspring with normal birth weights can be obtained without major calving difficulties.     

Improved in vitro fertilization and development by use of modified human tubal fluid and applicability of pronucleate embryos for cryopreservation by rapid freezing in inbred mice

We examined in vitro fertilizability and development of 10 inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6J, C57BL/10, C57BL/10.D2/newSn, C57BL/10-Thy1.1, C57BL/10.Br/Sn, C3H/He, RFM/Ms, STS/A, BALB/c-nu and C.B-17/Icr), and the viability of frozen-thawed in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos after embryo transfer (ET). In seven strains, fertilizability was significantly greater in modified human tubal fluid (mHTF) compared with modified Krebs-Ringer's bicarbonate solution (TYH medium). The TYH medium supported almost no fertilization in four strains. More than 80% of IVF embryos developed to the blastocyst stage by 120 h in potassium-enhanced simplex optimization medium (KSOM). Reciprocal fertilization between C57BL/6J and BALB/c-nu gametes in TYH medium yielded poor fertilization o f BALB/c-nu due to spermatozoal deficiencies. Increased concentrations of bovine serum albumin and spermatozoa during capacitation and Percoll washing did not drastically affect fertilization. The mHTF, but not TYH medium, supported BALB/c-nu spermatozoa penetration into the zona pellucida irrespective of capacitation media. In vitro fertilized embryos frozen-thawed rapidly were transferred to surrogate mothers at the two-cell stage. Compared with that of unfrozen controls, rapid freezing had no significant effect on fetus development except in C57BL/10.D2/newSn mice. These results suggest that mHTF medium is superior with respect to IVF of inbred mice, and that KSOM adequately supports in vitro fertilized embryo development in inbred mice. The data also indicate that rapid freezing of pronucleate embryos following IVF is suitable for cryopreservation and embryo banking of inbred mice and for the production of genetically modified mice.     

Effect of partial incision of the zona pellucida by piezo-micromanipulator for in vitro fertilization using frozen-thawed mouse spermatozoa on the developmental rate of embryos transferred at the 2-cell stage.

Cryopreservation of mouse spermatozoa is widely used, although considerable strain differences in fertilization rates using frozen-thawed mouse spermatozoa have been described. The C57BL/6 mouse strain is a very widely used for establishment of transgenic mice, but the fertilization rate associated with the use of cryopreserved C57BL/6 spermatozoa is very low compared with rates for other inbred strains. We have recently solved this difficulty by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in combination with partial zona pellucida dissection (PZD). However, this technique requires culture of fertilized eggs with PZD in vitro up to morula or blastocyst stage before transfer into the uterus because blastomeres are lost after transfer into the oviduct because of the relatively large artificial slit in the zona pellucida. To overcome this problem, we performed a partial zona pellucida incision by using a piezo-micromanipulator (ZIP) for IVF with frozen-thawed mouse spermatozoa. The blunt end of the micropipette touched the surface of the zona pellucida of the oocytes, and piezo pulses were used to incise the zona pellucida while the pipette was moved along by the surface of zona pellucida. The length of the incision was pir/6 microm. When cumulus-free ZIP and PZD oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed genetically modified C57BL/6J spermatozoa, the fertilization rates of ZIP and PZD oocytes were 52% and 48%, respectively. After embryo transfer at the 2-cell stage, 18% and 2% of the transferred embryos with ZIP and PZD developed to term, respectively. This difference was significant (P < 0.05). When ZIP and PZD zygotes were cultured to blastocyst stage and subsequently transferred to uterine horns of recipient animals, the difference between ZIP and PZD zygotes for development rate to full term was not significant. Our results indicate that ZIP is an effective alternative technique for IVF using cryopreserved mouse spermatozoa and subsequent embryo transfer.