Effect of macromolecules in solutions for vitrification of mature bovine oocytes

This study was designed to evaluate vitrification procedures for in vitro matured bovine oocytes for efficient blastocyst production after warming, IVF and culture. A second goal was to replace serum as the macromolecular component of the vitrification solution, without compromising efficacy. The first experiment compared two containers, open pulled straws (OPS) versus cryoloops, and two vitrification protocols: short equilibration (H-TCM-199 + 10% EG + 10% DMSO + 20% FCS for 30 s, followed by H-TCM-199 + 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 20% FCS + 0.48 M galactose for 20 s) versus long equilibration (H-TCM-199 + 3% EG + 20% FCS for 10 min, followed by H-TCM-199 + 31% EG + 20% FCS + 1 M galactose for 20 s). Subsequent experiments used only cryoloops and the short equilibration protocol to evaluate the effect of replacing FCS with defined macromolecules (BSA, Ficoll, PVP, and PVA) in vitrification solutions.Cryoloops were superior to OPS for vitrification of oocytes as determined by blastocyst production (P < 0.05). The short and long vitrification protocols gave similar results. The presence of macromolecules in vitrification solutions for bovine oocytes was necessary for acceptable post-warming developmental capacity; 20% FCS, 1% and 2% BSA, 6% and 18% Ficoll, 6% and 20% PVP, 1% PVA, and the combinations of 18% Ficoll + 1% BSA, and 6% PVP + 1% BSA provided similar protection during vitrification of oocytes; development ranged from 14.8% to 23.0% blastocysts/oocyte, which was not different (P > 0.05) from non-vitrified controls (26.9–34.0% blastocysts/oocyte). Too much (6%) and too little (0.3%) BSA, and 0.3% PVA for vitrification resulted in lower blastocyst production (P < 0.05) relative to unvitrified oocytes.