| Abstract: | This study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitrification on immature porcine and ovine oocytes, collected at a slaughterhouse, by performing vitrification in devices with different volumes. Viability was evaluated both before and after vitrification and maturation. Immediately after warming, the percentage of viable pig oocytes was 81% regardless the type of device, while in the control (after oocyte selection) was 95%. The viability of matured pig oocytes after warming, vitrified in beveled edge open straws (BES) was 6%, in small-open-pulled-straw (SOPS) was 17% and in cryotop was 4%, while the viability of the control group was 86%. The viability and maturation results were similar with all devices. Embryo development (ED) was observed in fresh porcine oocytes with 15% 2-8 cell embryos, 7% morulae and 3% blastocysts, and non-embryo cleavage was observed in warmed oocytes. The viability of sheep oocytes immediately after warming averaged 90% in all devices, while that of the control (after oocyte selection) averaged 95%. The viability of warmed oocytes after maturation was: BES 21%, SOPS 30%, cryotop 21% and control group 86%; while maturation values were 11, 21, 34 and 70%, respectively. After vitrification, the highest ED was achieved with ovine oocytes vitrified in SOPS, with 17% morulae development and it was the only device in which blastocysts developed. A direct relationship was observed between viability and actin filament integrity in both species. |
