Usefulness of vitrification device having vitrification solution absorber for cryopreservation of mouse embryos at the blastocyst stage

摘要

Vitrification is widely used for cryopreservation of embryos and oocytes in applications of assisted reproductive technology globally. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the Kitasato Vitrification System (KVS) as a device for the cryopreservation of mouse embryos and made comparisons with the widely used Cryotop (R) vitrification device. In Experiment 1, the blastocyst survival rates were significantly higher after vitrification using the KVS than after using Cryotop (R) devices. In Experiment 2, the cooling and warming rates of Cryotop (R) increased with decreasing vitrification solution volumes around the embryo and were 336,000 degrees C/min and 320,000 degrees C/min at best, respectively. However, the cooling and warming rates of the KVS were 683,000 degrees C/min and 612,000 degrees C/min, respectively, exceeding those of Cryotop (R).