牛卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻保存影响因素的研究

采用毛细玻璃管法对牛卵母细胞进行玻璃化冷冻保存,解冻后再进行体外受精（IVF）和早期胚胎的体外培养（IVC）。在此技术的基础上,分别对冷冻前平衡时间、解冻处理、卵丘细胞层数以及卵母细胞所处的减数分裂阶段等影响卵母细胞冷冻保存的因素进行研究,以期筛选出适合牛卵母细胞冷冻保存的方法。结果发现,处于MⅡ期卵母细胞在10％二甲基亚砜（DMSO）＋10％乙二醇（EG）液（VSl）中平衡1～3min,然后进行玻璃化冷冻保存。解冻时将卵母细胞先移入VS1液中处理15s,然后移入蔗糖稀释液中。另外发现,冷冻保存时部分卵丘细胞对卵母细胞有保护作用。而减数分裂阶段不影响解冻后卵母细胞形态正常率,但对胚胎发育率有严重影响。     

猪卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻的研究进展

配子冷冻保存技术在动物繁殖育种中具有重要的意义,但猪卵母细胞的冷冻保存目前还很困难,主要表现为冻后继续发育能力低。这与影响卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻效果因素众多有关,如脂滴的存在使猪卵母细胞对冷冻非常敏感。冷冻保护剂的使用同时也产生了毒性作用。针对猪卵母细胞冷冻保存的特点,研究人员已研究出了一些新的方法来提高冷冻效果,如细胞骨架稳定剂的使用减少了冷冻对猪卵母细胞造成的损伤,通过改进冷冻载体提高了冷冻速率,从而提高了冷冻效果。     

一种安全有效的卵母细胞封闭式玻璃化冷冻载体

目的探讨封闭式玻璃化冷冻载体冻存小鼠卵母细胞的可行性。方法以小鼠MII期卵母细胞为模型,以开放式玻璃微细管法（GMP）为对照组,比较两种玻璃化冷冻载体对小鼠卵母细胞冷冻后的存活率、受精率、卵裂率及囊胚率的影响。结果卵母细胞经冻融后,封闭式冷冻载体组和GMP组的存活率、受精率、卵裂率和囊胚率均没有明显差异（92.80%vs93.11%,49.80%vs51.67%,36.73%vs35.83%,12.65%vs14.17%%;P〉0.05）。结论封闭式冷冻载体能安全、有效的冷冻保存小鼠卵母细胞。     

玻璃化冷冻对猪体外成熟卵母细胞染色体与纺锤体的影响

以冷冻环为载体,探讨玻璃化冷冻对猪体外成熟卵母细胞染色体与纺锤体影响。单用40%乙二醇(ethyleneglycol,EG)或20%EG与20%二甲基亚砜(dimethylsulphoxide,DMSO)联合作冷冻保护剂,用直投液氮或使用玻璃化冷冻仪法制冷冷冻猪体外成熟卵母细胞;解冻2h后固定并免疫荧光法染色纺锤体及染色体;挑选各试验组形态正常卵母细胞进行体外受精实验。结果表明,与单用EG以及EG和DMSO联合直投液氮方案比较,EG和DMSO联合应用并采用玻璃化冷冻仪制冷方案卵母细胞染色体正常率为30.1%,纺锤体正常率为37.2%,可明显降低卵母细胞染色体及纺锤体结构损伤(P<0.05),并明显提高卵母细胞的激活效果(P<0.05)。采用联合冷冻保护剂及玻璃化冷冻仪高速冷冻可较好维持猪卵母细胞染色体与纺锤体形态,但玻璃化冷冻明显影响猪卵母细胞体外受精后的发育能力。     

猪卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻后细胞骨架的变化

为研究玻璃化冷冻后猪卵母细胞纺锤体、染色体和微丝的变化,从屠宰猪卵巢表面直径2—5mm卵泡中采集未成熟(GV)期卵母细胞,由GV期卵母细胞经成熟培养获得体外成熟(MⅡ)期卵母细胞。GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞各分为3组对照组、冷冻保护剂处理组和玻璃化冷冻组。MⅡ期卵母细胞经分组处理后直接用于激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(LSCM)观察样本;而GV期卵母细胞处理后先经44h成熟培养,再用作LSCM观察样本。供试卵母细胞经固定、免疫荧光染色后,于LSCM下观察。结果表明,冷冻保护剂处理组GV期卵母细胞经成熟培养后,其纺锤体结构、染色体排列与微丝分布正常率分别为42.9%、89.6%和28.6%;玻璃化冷冻组此3项指标的正常率分别为10.1%、36.4%和16.9%,两组间差异显著(P<0.05);除冷冻保护剂处理组染色体正常率与对照组无较大差异外,两试验组的其他指标均明显低于对照组(分别为79.5%、93.1%和72.3%,P<0.05)。MⅡ期卵母细胞冷冻保护剂处理组的纺锤体结构、染色体排列与微丝分布正常率分别为34.4%、61.3%和47.9%,而冷冻组分别为12.9%、56.7%和37.2%,两组均显著低于对照组(分别为78.3%、90.1%和72.8%,P<0.05)。结果表明,猪GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞经冷冻保护剂处理或玻璃化冷冻保存后,均造成了纺锤体、染色体和微丝不可逆的损伤,这可能是影响卵母细胞成熟、受精与发育的重要原因。     

蔗糖和海藻糖对水牛卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻保护效果的比较

本实验比较蔗糖或海藻糖作为非渗透性保护剂对水牛成熟卵母细胞冷冻效果的影响。将体外成熟的水牛卵母细胞随机分成对照组、蔗糖组、海藻糖组,研究玻璃化冷冻后的存活率、细胞骨架和孤雌激活后发育潜能的变化。结果表明:玻璃化冷冻中蔗糖组(89.68%)与海藻糖组(91.81%)的存活率差异不显著;冻融后的卵母细胞在细胞骨架方面的表现为:蔗糖组和海藻糖组的纺锤体结构、染色体形态与微丝分布正常率分别为34.69%、42.83%、39.13%和39.51%、49.43%、42.61%,两组间差异不显著(p0.05),但均明显低于对照组(66.40%,71.82%,76.18%,p0.01);在进一步研究发育潜能中发现,冻融后卵母细胞的卵裂率、囊胚率和囊胚细胞数在实验组中均无显著性差异(p0.05),但两组的卵裂率、囊胚率均显著低于对照组(p0.01)。综上所述,玻璃化冷冻时添加蔗糖或海藻糖作为非渗透性保护剂对水牛成熟卵母细胞的保护作用差异不明显,表明两者均可在冷冻时添加使用。     

谷胱甘肽在小鼠卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻中的作用

目的：观察谷胱甘肽在小鼠玻璃化冷冻中的保护性作用。方法：通过卵母细胞是否玻璃化冷冻及是否添加GSH处理,将小鼠卵母细胞分为4组。检测卵母细胞内GSH浓度、ROS水平,以及通过彗星实验量化OTM值检测DNA碎片的生成。结果：在对照组、冷冻组、GSH处理组和GSH处理冷冻组细胞内GSH浓度分别为8．95±1．26、4．36±0．96、9．27±1．05和8．18±0．89;ROS水平分别为47．5±4．23、64．2±5．69、44．5±3．25and49．9±7．62。通过GSH处理,玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞出现彗尾百分比显著低于未处理组,差异具有统计学意义;通过GSH处理,玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞OTM值低于未处理组,差异无统计学意义。结论：玻璃化冷冻使小鼠卵母细胞产生一定的氧化应激损伤,表现为细胞内GSH浓度下降,ROS水平上升,DNA碎片增加,GSH处理可以在一定程度上改善。     

牛血清白蛋白对小鼠原核期胚胎玻璃化冷冻的影响

以小鼠原核期胚胎为对象,以胚胎的存活率、卵裂率、囊胚率以及囊胚细胞数作为检测指标,在M2液的基础上添加8种浓度(0,2,4,8,16,32,64,96mg/mL)牛血清白蛋白(BSA)配置防冻液,探讨防冻液和玻璃化冷冻后对胚胎发育的影响。BSA防冻液对胚胎发育影响的实验结果表明,8个浓度组间以及与对照组间胚胎的卵裂率、囊胚率以及囊胚细胞数无显著差异(P>0.05),说明在防冻液中加入一定浓度的BSA对小鼠胚胎无毒性作用。防冻液经玻璃化冷冻后对胚胎发育影响的实验表明,8个浓度组间冷冻胚胎复苏后的存活率、卵裂率、囊胚率及囊胚细胞数无显著差异(P>0.05)。表明BSA在这种防冻液中没有明显的保护作用。从经济、实用、生物安全角度考虑,不支持在玻璃化防冻液中添加BSA。     

猪卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻后细胞骨架的变化

为研究玻璃化冷冻后猪卵母细胞纺锤体、染色体和微丝的变化，从屠宰猪卵巢表面直径2—5 mm卵泡中采集未成熟(GV)期卵母细胞，由GV期卵母细胞经成熟培养获得体外成熟(MⅡ)期卵母细胞。GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞各分为3组：对照组、冷冻保护剂处理组和玻璃化冷冻组。MⅡ期卵母细胞经分组处理后直接用于激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(LSCM)观察样本；而GV期卵母细胞处理后先经44 h成熟培养，再用作LSCM观察样本。供试卵母细胞经固定、免疫荧光染色后，于LSCM下观察。结果表明，冷冻保护剂处理组GV期卵母细胞经成熟培养后，其纺锤体结构、染色体排列与微丝分布正常率分别为42.9%、89.6%和28.6%；玻璃化冷冻组此3项指标的正常率分别为10.1%、36.4%和16.9%，两组间差异显著(P<0.05)；除冷冻保护剂处理组染色体正常率与对照组无较大差异外，两试验组的其他指标均明显低于对照组(分别为79.5%、93.1%和72.3%，P<0.05)。MⅡ期卵母细胞冷冻保护剂处理组的纺锤体结构、染色体排列与微丝分布正常率分别为34.4%、61.3%和47.9%，而冷冻组分别为12.9%、56.7%和37.2%，两组均显著低于对照组(分别为78.3%、90.1%和72.8%，P<0.05)。结果表明，猪GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞经冷冻保护剂处理或玻璃化冷冻保存后，均造成了纺锤体、染色体和微丝不可逆的损伤，这可能是影响卵母细胞成熟、受精与发育的重要原因。     

Developmental competence and gene expression of immature oocytes following liquid helium vitrification in bovine

The objective of this study was to develop an effective ultra-rapid vitrification method and evaluate its effect on maturation, developmental competence and development-related gene expression in bovine immature oocytes. Bovine cumulus oocyte complexes were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) controls, (2) liquid nitrogen vitrification, and (3) liquid helium vitrification. Oocytes were vitrified and then warmed, the percentage of morphologically normal oocytes in liquid helium group (89.0%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the liquid nitrogen group (81.1%). When the vitrified–thawed oocytes were matured in vitro for 24 h, the maturation rate in liquid helium group (50.6%) was higher (P < 0.05) than liquid nitrogen group (42.6%). Oocytes of liquid helium vitrification had higher cleavage and blastocyst rates (41.1% and 10.0%) than that of liquid nitrogen vitrification (33.0% and 4.5%; P < 0.05) after in vitro fertilization. Moreover, the expression of GDF9 (growth/differentiation factor-9), BAX (apoptosis factor) and ZAR1 (zygote arrest 1) was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) when the vitrified–thawed oocytes were matured 24 h. The expression of these genes was altered after vitrification. Expression of GDF9 and BAX in the liquid helium vitrification group was not significantly different from that of the control, however there were significant differences between the liquid nitrogen vitrification group and control. In conclusion, it was feasible to use liquid helium for vitrifying bovine immature oocytes. There existed an association between the compromised developmental competence and the altered expression levels of these genes for the vitrified oocytes.     

Expression of CD9 and CD81 in bovine germinal vesicle oocytes after vitrification followed by in vitro maturation

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of vitrification on the expression of fertilization related genes (CD9 and CD81) and DNA methyl transferases (DNMT1 and DNMT3b) in bovine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes and their resulting metaphase Ⅱ (MⅡ) stages after in vitro maturation culture. GV oocytes were vitrified using the open-pulled straw method; after warming, they were cultured in vitro. The vitrified-warmed GV oocytes and more developed MII oocytes were used to calculate the maturation rates (first polar body extrusion under a stereomicroscopy), and to detect mRNA expression (qRT-PCR). Fresh GV oocytes and their in vitro-derived MII oocytes served as controls. The results showed that both the maturation rate (54.23% vs. 42.93%) and the relative abundance of CD9 mRNA decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in bovine GV oocytes after vitrification, but the expression of CD81 and DNMT3b increased significantly. After in vitro maturation of vitrified GV oocytes, the resulting MII oocytes showed lower (p < 0.05) mRNA expression of genes (CD9, CD81, DNMT1 and DNMT3b) when compared to the control group (MII oocytes). Altogether, vitrification decreased the maturation rate of bovine GV oocytes and changed the expression of fertilization related genes and DNA methyl transferases during in vitro maturation.     

Effect of vitrification on the zona pellucida hardening and follistatin and cathepsin B genes expression and developmental competence of in vitro matured bovine oocytes

The purpose of our study was to assess the effect of vitrification with or without the presence of calcium in the vitrification solution on the: 1) diameter of oocytes and thickness of the zona pellucida, 2) zona pellucida hardening, 3) expression of mRNA follistatin (FST) and cathepsin B (CTSB) in oocytes and 4) developmental competence of embryos derived from in vitro matured and vitrified oocytes.The results of our study demonstrate, that vitrification did not alter thickness of the zona pellucida and diameter of the oocytes, however it triggered hardening of the zona pellucida. The presence of calcium in the vitrification solutions intensified hardening of zona in immature and mature oocytes (P < 0.04, P < 0.001, respectively) and provoked increased mRNA FST expression in oocytes matured in vitro compared to immature oocytes (P < 0.01) and those vitrified without calcium (P < 0.004). CTSB mRNA expression was increased in immature oocytes and oocytes vitrified with calcium compare to mature oocytes (P < 0.02). The developmental potential of vitrified oocytes was impaired compared to non-vitrified oocytes, being more evident in oocytes vitrified with calcium.In summary, vitrification did not change the oocyte diameter and thickness of the zona pellucida and expression of FST and CTSB mRNA. It diminished developmental potential of the vitrified oocytes. The presence of calcium in the vitrification solutions increased hardening of zona pellucida as well as affected the level of FST and CTSB mRNA in oocytes and developmental potential of these oocytes.     

Calves born after open pulled straw vitrification of immature bovine oocytes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the developmental capacity of immature bovine oocytes after vitrification with 20% ethylene glycol (EG)+20% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me(2)SO) and 0.5M sucrose (SUC), by open pulled straw (OPS) technology. The effect of treatment with cytochalasin D before vitrification was also examined. No differences were observed in cleavage and blastocyst rates among the group vitrified without cytochalasin D treatment (Vitri) (49.0% and 6.1%) and that with cytochalasin D treatment before vitrification (CDVitri) (46.4% and 3.6%), but both were lower (P<0.05) than the unvitrified control group (85.1 and 45.9%). Calves were obtained after transfer of fresh and vitrified blastocysts from the Vitri group and after transfer of vitrified blastocysts from the CDVitri group. Cytochalasin D treatment does not improve the development of immature bovine vitrified oocytes. The results show that a small proportion of immature oocytes vitrified with this technology are fully competent to produce blastocysts, which may be transferred immediately or vitrified before transfer, and go on to develop healthy offspring.     

Evaluation of the Cryotech Vitrification Kit for bovine embryos

The purpose of this work was to assess commercially available Cryotech Vitrification Kit, in terms of survival, in vitro development and pregnancy rate for bovine embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from ovaries obtained from slaughtered cows and then matured in vitro for 22 h. COCs were fertilized by sex-sorted sperm in IVF-mSOF and cultured in IVC-mSOF for 7 days to the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts were vitrified with the Cryotech Vitrification Kit® and then either warmed to check viability or transferred to synchronized heifers. We observed 100% survival of the in vitro produced blastocysts and obtained the same pregnancy rate (46.8%) as that obtained using fresh in vitro produced blastocysts. We thus conclude that the Cryotech vitrification method is a valid alternative to other vitrification or slow-cooling methods in the bovine species and that it is ready for livestock production.     

Vitrification of early-stage bovine and equine embryos

The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine an optimal method and stage of development for vitrification of bovine zygotes or early embryos; and (2) use the optimal procedure for bovine embryos to establish equine pregnancies after vitrification and warming of early embryos. Initially, bovine embryos produced by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were frozen and vitrified in 0.25 mL straws with minimal success. A subsequent experiment was done using two vitrification methods and super open pulled straws (OPS) with 1- or 8-cell bovine embryos. In Method 1 (EG-O), embryos were exposed to 1.5 M ethylene glycol (EG) for 5 min, 7 M ethylene glycol and 0.6 M galactose for 30 s, loaded in an OPS, and plunged into liquid nitrogen. In Method 2 (EG-DMSO), embryos were exposed to 1.1 M ethylene glycol and 1.1 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 3 min, 2.5 M ethylene glycol, 2.5 M DMSO and 0.5 M galactose for 30 s, and loaded and plunged as for EG-O. Cryoprotectants were removed after warming in three steps. One- and eight-cell bovine embryos were cultured for 7 and 4.5 d, respectively, after warming, and control embryos were cultured without vitrification. Cleavage rates of 1-cell embryos were similar (P > 0.05) for vitrified and control embryos, although the blastocyst rates for EG-O and control embryos were similar and higher (P < 0.05) than for EG-DMSO. The blastocyst rate of 8-cell embryos was higher (P < 0.05) for EG-O than EG-DMSO. Therefore, EG-O was used to cryopreserve equine embryos. Equine oocytes were obtained from preovulatory follicles. After ICSI, injected oocytes were cultured for 1-3 d. Two- to eight-cell embryos were vitrified, warmed and transferred into recipient's oviducts. The pregnancy rate on Day 20 was 62% (5/8) for equine embryos after vitrification and warming. In summary, a successful method was established for vitrification of early-stage bovine embryos, and this method was used to establish equine pregnancies after vitrification and warming of 2- to 8-cell embryos produced by ICSI.     

Relationship between bovine oocytes developmental competence and mRNA expression of apoptotic and mitochondrial genes following the change of vitrification temperatures and cryoprotectant concentrations

The present study analyzed the relationship between bovine oocytes developmental competence and mRNA expression of apoptotic and mitochondrial genes following the change of vitrification temperatures (VTs) and cryoprotectant agent concentrations (CPAs). Cumulus oocyte complexes were randomly divided into five groups: control, vitrified in liquid nitrogen (LN; −196 °C) with 5.6 M CPAs (LN 5.6 M), LN with 6.6 M CPAs (LN 6.6 M), liquid helium (LHe; −269 °C) with 5.6 M CPAs (LHe 5.6 M), and LHe with 6.6 M CPAs (LHe 6.6 M). After vitrification and warming, oocytes of vitrified and control groups were subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture. The blastocyst rate in LHe 5.6 M group was the highest among the four vitrified groups (13.7% vs. 9.4%, 1.3%, and 8.4%; P < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of 8 apoptotic- and 12 mitochondria-related genes were detected through qRT-PCR after IVM. Lower VT (LHe, −269 °C) positively affected the mRNA expression levels of apoptotic genes (BAD, BID, BTK, TP53, and TP53I3) and mitochondrial genes (COX6B1, DERA, FIS1, NDUFA1, NDUFA4, PRDX2, SLC25A5, TFB1M, and UQCRB), and reduced oxidative stress from freezing. Decreased CPAs (5.6 M) positively affected mRNA expression levels of apoptotic genes (BAD, BCL2A1, BID, and CASP3) in LHe vitrification but negatively affected apoptotic genes (BAD, BAX, BID, BTK, and BCL2A1) in LN vitrification. In conclusion, decreased VTs and CPAs in LHe vitrification may increase the blastocyst rate by changing the mRNA expression levels of these apoptotic and mitochondrial genes for the vitrified oocytes.