Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #85157
Title: BIRTH OF LIVE PIGLETS AFTER EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION BY VITRIFICATION AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER

Author
item Dobrinsky, John
item Pursel, Vernon
item Long, Charles
item Johnson, Lawrence

Submitted to: The International Embryo Technology Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vitrification is a simple alternative for cryopreserving swine embryos, and after cytoskeletal stabilization, up to 90% development in vitro can be obtained. The objective of this study was to test the in vivo developmental competence of cytoskeletal stabilized and vitrified pig embryos. Embryos we recovered at late day 6 as expanded blastocysts and cultured in BECM-3 +10% %FBS until they developed into 350-375 um hatched blastocysts. Prior to vitrification, embryos were further cultured in BECM-3 + 10% FBS, supplemented with 7.5 ug/ml cytochalasin-b (cyto-b) to depolymerize microfilaments. All embryos were vitrified in mVS3a. Embryos treated with cyto-b prior to cryopreservation were equilibrated and vitrified in mVS3a containing cyto-b. After cryopreservation, cryoprotectant dilution and cellular rehydration were performed in the absence of cyto-b. Embryos were cultured for 3-5 h in BECM-3 + 10% FBS. All embryos after cryopreservation were transferred (29-33) to asynchronous (-24 h) recipient gilts (n=7). Tw gilts were slaughtered on day 25 of pregnancy of which one gilt had 4 norma fetuses. Of the remaining 5 recipient gilts, 2 maintained pregnancy after embryo transfer. Each gilt farrowed 5 live and normal offspring. These are the first live offspring ever produced after transfer of swine embryos cryopreserved by vitrification.