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. 1994 Sep 1;35(3):217–222. doi: 10.1186/BF03548326

Viability of Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Biopsied Bovine Embryos

H Gustafsson 11,✉, Ü Jaakma 21, M Shamsuddin 21
PMCID: PMC8101396  PMID: 7531389

Abstract

Gustafsson H., U. Jaakma and M. Shamsuddin: Viability of fresh and frozen-thawed biopsied bovine embryos. Acta vet. scand. 1994,35,217-222.– Bovine embryos were biopsied using a simplified splitting technique and frozen-thawed according to a standard method with glycerol as cryoprotectant. The viability of fresh and frozen-thawed biopsied and intact embryos were evaluated after in vitro culture, by means of fluorescence test or following transfer to recipients. The survival rates after in vitro culture of fresh intact and biopsied embryos and of frozen-thawed intact and zona free embryos were not significantly different (70%, 60%, 68% and 52%, respectively), but significantly reduced for bipsied frozen-thawed embryos (16%) (p≤0.05). The pregnancy results after transfer of biopsied frozen-thawed embryos were also significantly lower (8%) compared to fresh biopsied embryos (39%) (p≤0.05). Both intact and biopsied embryos fluoresced after incubation with diacetylfluorescin but with higher intensity for the intact embryos. It is suggested that the reduced survivability for the frozen-thawed biopsied embryos might be caused by combined effects of the loss of the zona pellucida and the reduction of cells as a result of the simplified biopsy technique. It is concluded that improved biopsy and/or freezing techniques must be used if biopsied embryos have to be frozen.

Keywords: freezing, culture, fluorescence

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Acknowledgments

This work received financial support from the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and from the Swedish Institute.

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