The Effects of Different Cryopreservation Techniques on the Survival Rate of In Vitro Produced (IVP) and Biopsied Bovine Blastocysts

This study’s objectives were to determine if the biopsy of expanded blastocysts prior to cryopreservation affected the survival rates and determine if there is a difference between slow-freezing in 10% glycerol, slow freezing in ethylene glycol, and vitrification in terms of survival rate of the embryos. Blastocoeles were reduced prior to cryopreservation by means of biopsy. Embryos for slow freezing were exposed to ethylene glycol (SynGRO Ethylene Glycol with Sucrose, BIONICHE, Pullman, WA, USA) or 10% glycerol (SynGRO 10% Glycerol, BIONICHE, Pullman, WA, USA) as cryoprotectants. Vitrified embryos were exposed to 10% and 40% ethylene glycol. Survival rate of biopsied embryos was similar than non-biopsied embryos (77.8 vs 63.9%, p\u3e0.05). There was no significant difference between the different cryopreservation methods (p\u3e0.05)