Comparison of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol for the vitrification of immature porcine oocytes

J Reprod Dev. 2013;59(4):378-84. doi: 10.1262/jrd.2013-015. Epub 2013 May 10.

Abstract

Our aim was to optimize a cryoprotectant treatment for vitrification of immature porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Immature COCs were vitrified either in 35% ethylene glycol (EG), 35% propylene glycol (PG) or a combination of 17.5% EG and 17.5% PG. After warming, the COCs were in vitro matured (IVM), and surviving oocytes were in vitro fertilized (IVF) and cultured. The mean survival rate of vitrified oocytes in 35% PG (73.9%) was higher (P<0.05) than that in 35% EG (27.8%). Oocyte maturation rates did not differ among vitrified and non-vitrified control groups. Blastocyst formation in the vitrified EG group (10.8%) was higher (P<0.05) than that in the vitrified PG group (2.0%) but was lower than that in the control group (25.0%). Treatment of oocytes with 35% of each cryoprotectant without vitrification revealed a higher toxicity of PG on subsequent blastocyst development compared with EG. The combination of EG and PG resulted in 42.6% survival after vitrification. The maturation and fertilization rates of the surviving oocytes were similar in the vitrified, control and toxicity control (TC; treated with EG+PG combination without cooling) groups. Blastocyst development in the vitrified group was lower (P<0.05) than that in the control and TC groups, which in turn had similar development rates (10.7%, 18.1% and 23.3%, respectively). In conclusion, 35% PG enabled a higher oocyte survival rate after vitrification compared with 35% EG. However, PG was greatly toxic to oocytes. The combination of 17.5% EG and 17.5% PG yielded reasonable survival rates without toxic effects on embryo development.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryopreservation / veterinary*
  • Cryoprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Embryonic Development / physiology
  • Ethylene Glycol / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods
  • Fertilization in Vitro / veterinary
  • Male
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / physiology*
  • Propylene Glycol / pharmacology*
  • Swine / physiology*
  • Vitrification

Substances

  • Cryoprotective Agents
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Ethylene Glycol