• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2003

Bovine embryos produced by in vitro maturation, feretilization and development was examined for presevation and transfer. The fertilization medium used BO medium with 5 mM/$m\ell$ caffeine and 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ heparin and adjusted to a pH of 7.2 to 7.4. The final concentration of spermatozoa was adjusted to 1$\times$$10^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$ motile sperm during fertilization in vitro. At 8~10 hrs after insemination, the oocytes were transferred into CR1aa medium and cultured for 7 days. Embryos were preserved by vitrification method for transfer. When the embryos of early, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages were frozen-thawed, the proportions of embryos with normal morphology 83.6, 88.1 and 85.2%. (중략)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 1992

Studies were carried out to find the freezing media which gives no ice crystals in single(glycerol, ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)) and mixture solutions(glycerol＋propylene glycol, glycerol＋ethylene glycol) of permeable cryoprotectants in vitrification solution and to study effects of VS on the survival of vitrified mouse morulae. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In toxicity test of permeable cryoprotectants, 30% glycerol of single solution showed the highest FDA-score(4.1) in mouse morulae frozen compared among other single solutions. The FDA-score(4.1) of 30% glycerol was higher than 30% ethylene glycol(3.6) and DMSO(1.4( (P<0.05). 2. 20, 30 or 40% single solution of permeable cryoprotectants containing m-PBS with 10% sucrose and 20% BSA was not crystallized during cooling, but crystallized during warming. However, the 30% mixture solution of the two permeable cryoprotectants was not crystallized both during cooling and warming.3. When mouse morulae were frozen in 30% mixture solutions of two permeable cryoprotectants(glycerol and propylene glycol, glycerol and ethylene glycol), highest FDA-score(4.5) was obtained in a mixture solution of 20% glycerol and 10% ethylene glycol(20G10E) than other 30% mixture solutions(10G20E, 15G15E, 20G10P, 15G15P, 10G20P) and there was significant difference between 20G10E and 10G20E(P<0.05).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2011

These study was to investigate the in vitro fertilization and viability of fresh and vitrified oocytes. Also, the developmental capacity of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) oocytes were investigated. Then vitrification was performed with the use of 20% ethylene glycol + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose + 10% FCS + TCM-199 medium. Vitrification immature oocytes are cultured in vitrification solution for 10 min afterwards transferred to expose at room temperature for 5 min. and transferred to the ice water for 5 min. The oocytes were sealed in a 1.0 mm straw and placed in a $LN_2$ container. Frozen oocytes were rapidly thawed in a water bath at $30{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, and then placed in TCM-199 medium containing 0.5 M sucrose for 5 min each, respectively, at $38^{\circ}C$. After being washed for 2~3 times, using fresh medium the oocytes were cultured in TCM-l99 medium supplemented with 5% FCS at $38^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ and air. The normal morphology of fresh and vitrified-thawed oocytes were $87.1{\pm}2.1%$ and $54.8{\pm}2.5%$, respectively. The viability rates of fresh and vitrified-thawed oocytes were $70.0{\pm}2.2%$ and $41.9{\pm}2.6%$, respectively. Viability rates of vitrified-thawed oocytes were lower than that of fresh follicular oocytes (p<0.05). The in vitro maturation rates of fresh and vitrified oocytes were $45.1{\pm}3.6%$ and $28.9{\pm}4.4%$, respectively. The IVF rates of fresh follicular and vitrified-thawed oocytes were 34.00.2% and $20.2{\pm}2.6%$, respectively. The in vitro maturation and fertilization rates of vitrified-thawed oocytes were lower than those of the fresh follicular oocytes (p<0.05). A total of 350 oocytes were fixed and stained after co-incubation with spermatozoa, of which 88 had identifiable nuclear material. After IVF for 20 hrs, $25.1{\pm}3.4%$ of the oocytes found to have been penetrated by spermatozoas. Oocytes were fixed and stained after ICSI, and 105 oocytes contained identifiable nuclear material. After IVF and ICSI for 20 hrs, $34.3{\pm}3.4%$ and $59.0{\pm}2.0%$ of the oocytes were found to have been penetrated by spermatozoas. The developmental rates upon ICSI were significantly higher than those of the IVF method (p<0.05).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.417-425
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• 2013

We sought to provide a method for freezing and preserving primordial germ cells, or an avian germ cell of a bird, as a material for developmental engineering or species preservation. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of slow freezing with a vitrification method for the cryopreservation of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs). PGCs obtained from the germinal gonad of day 5.5-6 day (stage 28) cultured chick embryos, using the MACS method, were classified into two groups: slow freezing and vitrification. We examined the viability of PGCs after Cryopreservation. Four freezing methods were compared with each other, including the following: Method 1: The PGCs were frozen by a programmed freezer in a plastic straw, including 2.0 M ethylene glycol (EG) as cryoprotective additive (slow freezing) Method 2: The PGCs were vitrified in a plastic straw, including 8.0 M EG, plus 7% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (rapid freezing). Method 3: The slow freezing was induced with a cryotube including 2.0 M EG Method 4: The PGCs were frozen in a cryotube including 10% dimethyl suloxide (DMSO) (rapid freezing). After freezing and thawing, survival rates of the frozen-thawed PGCs from Method 1 to 4were 76.4%, 70.6%, 80.5% and 78.1% (p<0.05), respectively. The slow freezing ($-80^{\circ}C$ programmed freezer) method may provide better survival rates of frozen-thawed PGCs than the vitrification method for the cryopreservation of PGCs. Therefore, these systems may contribute to the cryopreservation of a rare avian species.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 1996

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of cryoprotectants, equilibration step, freezing rate, culture condition following in vitro fertilization, and age and development stage of embryo by freezing with conventional slow freezing and vitrification on survival of frozen-thawed Korean native cattle(KNC) blastocysts produced in vitro. The KNC blastocysts produced in vitro were equilibrated in 1.8M ethylene glycol or 1.4M glycerol and cooled from -6$^{\circ}C$ to -35$^{\circ}C$ at -0.3$^{\circ}C$ or -O.6$^{\circ}C$ /minute. When equilibrated in 1.8M ethylene glycol, survival rate of fiozen4hawed blastocysts was sarne in both -0. 3$^{\circ}C$ /min and -0.6$^{\circ}C$ /min cooling rate(71.4%). With the equilibration in 1.4M glycerol, survival rate was higher in -0.3$^{\circ}C$ /min(63.6%) than in -0.6$^{\circ}C$ /min cooling rate(53.8%). For vitrification of the KNC blastocysts produced in vitro, they were equilibrated in 2-step or 3-step exposure to vitrification solution(25% ethylene glycol + 25% glycerol). Survival rate was sirilar in both 2-step(45.0%) and 3-step exposure(47.4%). According to culture condition following in vitro fertilization, higher survival rate was obtained for blastocysts co-cultured with bovine oviductal epithelial cell(BOEC, 77.3%) than for those cultured with epidermal growth factor(EGF, 65.7%) or for those co-cultured with BOEG + EGF (54.8%). According to embryo age and development stage, higher survival rate was obtained for 7-day ernbryos(70.0%) than 8-day(56.8%) or 9-day(20.0%) for blastocyst stage and obtained for 8-day embryos(74.3%) than 7-day(62.5%) or 9-day(42.9%) for exponded blastocyst. In surnmary, higher survival rate of frozen4hawed KNC blastocysts produced in vitro were obtained by using ethylene glycol for cryoprotectant and -0.3$^{\circ}C$ /min for cooling rate. And higher survival rate were obtained with co-culture with BOEC for culture condition following in vitro fertilization and with 7-day blastocyst or 8-day expanded blasto cyst for embryo age and development stage.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2001

This study was performed to evaluate whether vitrification method using ethyle glycol and eletron microscopic (EM) grid could be used far the cryopreservation of human oocytes in ART program. Surplus oocytes were obtained from consented IVF patients. These surplus human oocytes were frozen with our vitrification method, Oocytes were exposed to 1.5M ethylene glycol (EG) in DPBS far 2,5 minutes, followed by 5.5M EG plus 1.0M Sucrose in DPBS for 20 seconds. Then oocytes were transferred onto the EM grid and the grid was plunged into LN2 for storage. For thawing, oocytes containing EM grid were sequentially transferred in 1.0M, 0.5M, 0.25M, 0.125M and 0 M sucrose in DPBS solution at the intervals of 2.5 minutes. Thawed and survived oocytes were provided for ICSI. Embryos from vitrified oocytes were transferred to uterus of the patient on 4 to 5 days after ovulation in natural cycles of on 15 to 17 day of hormone replacement cycles. A total of 370 oocytes from 26 patients were thawed and 159 (43.0%) of them survived. One hundred thirty four oocytes (84.3%) were fertilized normally and 126 pre-embryos were transferred to 26 patients, resulting in 5 clinical pregnancies. The pregnancy rate per transfer was 19.2% and implantation rate was 4.0%. Among the five pregnant, 4 patients delivered 4 healthy babies and the one patient was 32-week ongoing pregnancy. From this results, vitrification using ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant and EM grid is a rapid and simple method that can be effectively applied for the cryopreservation of human oocytes in ART program.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the survival rates of late mouse molulae frozen in the state of vitrification and then thawed after equilibrating them separately in EFS 40, GFS 40 and DFS 40 at 1$0^{\circ}C$. The results obtained are as follows : 1. Freezing in the state of vitrification and thawing late mouse molulae after equilibrating them at l0$0^{\circ}C$ in EFS 40 for 30 seconds, one minute and two minutes, we obtained survival rates of 76.7%, 96.7% and 100%, respectively. 2. Freezing and thawing them after equilibrating at 1$0^{\circ}C$ in GFS 40 for 30 seconds, one minute and two minutes, we obtained survival rates of 60%, 96.7% and 10%, respectively. These results are as similar as in the case of EFS 40. 3. Freezing and thawing them after equilibrating at l$0^{\circ}C$ in DFS 40 for 30 seconds and one minute, we obtained survival rates of 62.1% and 0%, respectively. These results represent lower survival rates than those obtained with EFS 40 and GFS 40. In conclusion, even equilibrating late mouse molulae in EFS 40 and GFS 40 at 1$0^{\circ}C$ for more than one minute gives a survival rate of more than 97%, while equilibrating them in DFS 40 at 1$0^{\circ}C$ for more than one minute results in a 0% survival rate, which means that DFS 40 has a strong toxicity.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

In order to improve the cryopreservation by vitrification or slow freezing of nuclear transplant rabbit embryos, the effects of factors affecting embryo cryopreservation such as cryoprotectants, equilibration, cooling rate and post-thaw dilution on post-thaw survial and development were determined using intact embryos of morular stage. And the post-thaw development of nuclear transplanted embryos cryopreserved under the optimal conditions examined was compared between vitrification and slow freezing. The cryoprotectant solution used was ethyleneglycol-ficoll-sucrose (EFS) or ethyleneglycol-poly-vinylpyrrolidone-galactose- I (EPG- I ) for vitrification, and EPG- II for slow freezing. To examine the viability of frozen-thawed embryos, the nuclear transplanted embryos were co-cultured in TCM-199 plus 10% FBS with bovine oviduct epithelial cells(BOEC) for 24 hrs and the intact morulae were co-cultured with BOEC for 5 days and 3 days to hatching blastocyst stage in 39 ˚C 5% $CO_2$ incubator. The results obtained were as follows: Following vitrification with EFS, the post-thaw development of rabbit morulae to hatching blastocyst was significantly(P<0.05) higher in compacted stage(82.4%) than in early morular stage(60.0%). The post-thaw development of compacted morulae to hatching blastocyst was similarly high in vitrification with EFS(82.4%), EPG- I (85.0%) and in slow freezing with EPG- II (83.3%). Following vitrification with EPG- I, the post-thaw development of intact rabbit morulae to hatching blastocyst was similar as 78.0% and 85.0% in 1-step and 2-step post-thaw dilution, respectively. The post-thaw development of nuclear transplanted rabbit embryos of compacted morulae stage to hatching blastocyst was similarly 43.6% and 40.0% in vitrification with EPG- Iand slow freezing with EPG- II, respectively. These results indicated that the rabbit nuclear transplant and intact embryos of morulae stage could be well cryopreserved with either vitrification or slow freezing procedure.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.635-641
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of developmental stage and equilibration time on survival of rabbit embryos following freezing by vitrification. Adult New Zealand White female rabbits were superovulated with PMSG and hCG. The 8-cell stage embryos were collected from 40 to 45 hours after hCG injection by flushing oviducts with Dulbecco's phosphated buffered saline and in vitro cultured in TCM-199 containing 10% fetal calf serum(FCS). Each embryos developed in vitro to 16-cell, compact morula and blastocyst was cryopreserved and cultured following thawing to examine their developmental potential to expanded blastocyst stage in vitro. The frozen-thawed-cultured embryos were stained with Hoechst 33342, and their nuclei were counted using a fluorescence microscope. On the toxicity test of EFS solution as cryopreservation, the survival rates of 8-cell stage embryos was decreased in reverse to increasing of exposure time over 5 minutes. The post-thaw survival rates of embryos on equilibration times was significantly(P<0.05) higher for 2 min. than for 5 or 10 minutes. From morula to blastocyst of rabbit embryos was more suitable than 8-cell stage for cryopreservation by vitrification. The higher post-thaw survival rate of embryos can be achieved by keeping the cryoprotectant at $4^{\circ}C$ than at $20^{\circ}C$. The mean number of nuclei per embryo following freezing by vitrification and in vitro culture to expanded blastocyst at compacted morula and blastcyst was not significantly differ from fresh blastocyst.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1990

To improve the freezing techniques of animal embryos using vitrification solution as a cryoprotectant rabbit embryos, by cell stages, dehydration temperature and dehydration temperature and dehydratin time, were frozen-thawed and cultured. Following are the main results obtained. 1. The damage rate of zona pellucida after thawing was higher(13.6%) when the cell stage of embryos was less than 4 cells than when the cell stage was 8~16 cell or morula. The damage rate was higher when the dehydration temperature was 4$^{\circ}C$ than -3$0^{\circ}C$ or -50~-8$0^{\circ}C$. The zona pellucida was damaged more when dehydrated for 5 min than when dehydrated for 10~15 min. 2. After being cultured for 72 hours, 5.3% of 4 cell(or less) embryos were developed to morula, while 86.4% of morula embryos were developed further. 3. More percentage of embryos(73.2%) was developed when dehydrated at -3$0^{\circ}C$ than when dehydrated at 4$^{\circ}C$ at -5$0^{\circ}C$~-8$0^{\circ}C$. 4. The hatching rate was higher when dehydrated for 5 min. When the embryos were dehydrated for 10~15 min and cultured for 24 hours, they were not even developed or development was not good in later stages.