Comparison of different cryopreservation methods for horse and donkey embryos.
Equine Vet J
; 50(3): 398-404, 2018 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29105954
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Few studies have been published about cryopreservation and embryo assessment in horses and donkeys.OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the viability of embryos collected from mares and jennies that were cryopreserved by slow freezing or by vitrification. STUDYDESIGN:
Randomised controlled experiment.METHODS:
Horse (n=19) and donkey (n=16) embryos (≤300 µm) were recovered on days 6.5-7.5 post-ovulation and assigned to control or cryopreservation protocols of slow freezing or vitrification. For slow freezing, 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG) was used. For vitrification, horse embryos were exposed to 1.4 mol/L glycerol, 1.4 mol/L glycerol + 3.6 mol/L EG and 3.4 mol/L glycerol + 4.6 mol/L EG, using Fibreplug or a 0.25 mL straw; donkey embryos were vitrified using Fibreplug with similar EG-glycerol solutions to above or 7.0 mol/L EG. Dead cells, apoptotic and fragmented nuclei, and cytoskeleton quality were assessed on thawed/warmed embryos.RESULTS:
A significant decrease in embryo quality was observed after cryopreservation (P<0.05). Although the percentage of dead cells was lower (P<0.05) in control than in cryopreserved embryos, no differences were observed between freezing protocols used for horse or donkey embryos. While no differences were detected in the number of apoptotic cells in warmed horse embryos, in donkey embryos a higher incidence of apoptosis was measured after vitrification with EG-glycerol in Fibreplug (P<0.05). Vitrified horse embryos had a significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage of nonviable cells than donkey embryo. Actin cytoskeleton quality did not differ between treatments. MAINLIMITATIONS:
Difficulties in obtaining a large number of embryos meant that the number of embryos per group was low.CONCLUSIONS:
Vitrified horse and donkey embryos did not show higher susceptibility to cell damage than those preserved by slow freezing, whether using straws or Fibreplug. However, Fibreplug with EG 7 mol/L resulted in fewer nonviable and apoptotic cells in donkey embryos. Donkey embryos showed lower susceptibility to vitrification than horse embryos. THE SUMMARY IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH - SEE SUPPORTING INFORMATION.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Criopreservación
/
Equidae
/
Embrión de Mamíferos
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Equine Vet J
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
España