Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of straw loading method and thawing protocol on the in vitro development of in vitro produced mouse blastocysts cryopreserved by vitrification. Three loading types of straw I, Il and III on loading and sealing method were made for vitrification. The ability of the solution on straw loading methods to remain vitreous during warming was tested by exposed in air for 1 to 10 s sec. and then plunged the vitrified straws into water bath at 25°C. Embryos to be vitrified were equilibrated to the 20% EG for 5min. and exposed in EFS 40 for 1min. The plug ends of Straw I and Straw II were sealed with straw powder and Straw III was treated straw powder, followed by heat sealing and then plunged into LN$_2$. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows; 1) Straw I embryo column mostly changed from transparent to opaque upon thawing without exposure in air for 3-6 sec. Straw II embryo column was I improved partially but was not remained completely vitreous during warming. However, when Straw lll loading method was used, the embryo column was remained vitreous completely. 2) High survival rates and development rates of each groups (middle blastocysts and hatching blastocysts) of vitrified embryos were obtained by using Straw III loading method than Straw I method (P<0.05). And the range of s standard error was low in Straw lll method. 3) When the embryos vitrified-frozen were placed in air for 3, 5 and l0sec. and then warmed rapidly in water bath at 25$^{\circ}C$, the survival rates after 24h of culture were 72.7-87.1% and the development rates to hatching stage after 48h of culture were 34.0-48.4%. There were no significantly differences according to exposure time in air during warming. In conclusion, the present results showed that highly survival and low standard error of vitrified-frozen mouse bIastocysts were obtained by using straw lll loading, double sealing and appropriate 2 step warming method.
본 실험은 체외수정에 의해 생산된 생쥐 배반포기배를 초자화 동결하였을 때 straw 제작방법 및 융해조건이 배반포기배의 생존성에 미치는 효과를 검토하고자 실시하였다. 융해시 각 straw내 동결보존액이 초자화 상태로 유지되는지를 확인하기 위하여 동결보존액 충전과 봉인방법이 다른 세 종류의 straw I, II, III가 제작되었는데, 이러한 모든 straw는 실온에 1~10초까지 노출된 후 $25^{\circ}C$ 수조에 침지되었다. 수정란은 20% ethylene glycol에 5분, EFS 40 용액에 1분간 노출된 후, straw내로 옮긴 다음 straw I과 II의 경우는 straw powder로, straw III는 straw powder와 열처리로 봉인하여 액체질소에 침지하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다; 1) Straw I embryo column은 융해시 3~6초의 실온 노출을 제외한 대부분의 노출시간에서 불투명한 반초자화 상태로 변화되었다. 그러나 Straw II embryo column을 사용하였을 때 다소 개선되었으나 완전히 초자화 상태를 유지하지는 못하였다. 반면, Straw III embryo column의 경우는 융해시 완전한 초자화 상태를 유지할 수 있었다. 2) Straw III loading 방법을 사용하여 초자화 동결, 융해된 난자의 생존율은 Straw I loading 방법을 사용하였을 때에 비해 유의하게 높았으며(P<0.05), 표준오차 범위는 낮게 나타났다. 3) 초자화 동결보존된 난자를 실온에 3, 5, 10초간 노출한 후 $25^{\circ}C$ 수조내에 침지하여 융해하였을 때, 배양 24시간째 생존율은 72.7~87.1%이었고, 배양 48시간째 탈출배반포기배까지의 발달율은 34.0~48.4%이었으며, 융해시 각 처리간 유의차는 인정되지 않았다. 본 연구 결과, 초자화 동결 융해 후 높은 생존율 및 낮은 오차범위는 Straw III loading 방법과 double 봉인방법 및 적절한 2단계 융해법을 사용함으로서 얻을 수 있었다.
