This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educaci&oacute;n y Ciencia (BIO 2006-11792) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2005-SGR00437). Authors would like to thank Marc Puigcerver and Jonatan Lucas for their technical assistance in preparing the media. All staff from the Servei d&rsquo;Estabulari is acknowledged for animal housing, and especially Juan Jose Martin and Javier Benito for their additional contribution on recording part of this video. N.C.B. is a fellow of the Portuguese Funda&ccedil;&atilde;o para a Ci&ecirc;ncia e Tecnologia and S.G. is a fellow of the Spanish Ministerio de Educaci&oacute;n y Ciencia.

Animal care and procedures were conducted according to the guidelines and regulations approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal and Human Research of the Universitat Aut&ograve;noma of Barcelona, Spain.
I. Oocyte collection
<ol>
<li>Check and select female hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus; 8-12 week&rsquo;s old) of the Golden Syrian strain for the presence of a thick vaginal discharge (postovulatory discharge).</li>
<li>Induce selected females to superovulate by intraperitoneal injection of 40 IU of PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin) followed by 40 IU of hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) 60 hours later.</li>
<li>Euthanize female hamsters 16 hours after administration of hCG in a carbon dioxide chamber.</li>
<li>Isolate oviducts from the females as shown in the video and transfer them to a drop of KSOM-H medium.</li>
<li>Collect oocyte-cumulus complexes by tearing the oviduct ampulla under a stereoscopic microscope in a drop of hyaluronidase (156 U/ml) at 37&deg;C. Oocytes will be freed from cumulus cells in approximately 5 minutes.</li>
<li>Pick up oocytes from hyaluronidase and wash them twice in KSOM-H medium.</li>
</ol>
For the collection of mouse embryos, female mice (Mus musculus; 6-8 week&rsquo;s old) are induced to superovulate by intraperitoneal injection of 5 IU of PMSG followed by 5 IU of hCG 48 hours later and mated with male mice. Females are sacrificed by cervical dislocation at 24-26, 44-46 or 54-56 hours after the administration of hCG for obtention of pronuclear, 2-cell or 4-cell stage embryos, respectively. Collection of pronuclear embryos is performed exactly as described for hamster oocytes. Embryos at the 2-cell and 4-cell stages are collected by flushing the oviducts with KSOM-H medium [6]. Note: Following this protocol approximately 20 to 30 oocytes/embryos can be collected from each female.
II. Preparation of freezing and thawing solutions
<ol>
<li>Prepare solution I by diluting 0.57 ml of propilenglycol in 5 ml of KSOM-H (1.5 M of propilenglycol).</li>
<li>Prepare thawing solution by adding 2 ml of KSOM-H to a tube with 0.2052 g sucrose (0.3 M of sucrose).</li>
<li>Prepare freezing solution by adding 2 ml of solution I to a tube with 0.0684 g sucrose (1.5 M of propilenglycol and 0.1 M sucrose).</li>
</ol>
 Note: Solution I and freezing and thawing solutions must be prepared just before their use. However, the specified amounts of sucrose to be used for the preparation of the freezing and thawing solutions may be weighted in advance and stored in 3 ml-tubes at room temperature for several months.
III. Freezing protocol
<ol>
<li>Transfer oocytes/embryos from the KSOM-H medium to a drop of solution I and incubate for 7-15 minutes at room temperature.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, prepare a 90 mm petri dish to load the straws by placing 90 &micro;l drops of freezing and thawing solutions as it is shown in the video (1 drop of each solution/straw).</li>
<li>Transfer the desired number of oocytes/embryos to the freezing solution drops. 
Note: We usually transfer between 5 to 30 oocytes or embryos/drop.</li>
<li>Attach a straw to a mouth controlled aspiration system and load it following this order: solution I, air, freezing drop with the oocytes, air, thawing drop, air.</li>
<li>Once the straw is loaded, keep aspirating until the first drop introduced (solution I) reaches the polymer at the top end of the straw and seals this end. Thermo-seal the other end of the straw or seal with a plastic plug.</li>
<li>Switch on the programmable freezer and select the freezing program. The freezing program used in this protocol is based on the cooling rates originally published by Lassalle et al. [7]: 
<ul>
<li> 2&deg;C/min from room temperature to -7&deg;C 
0&deg;C/min for 10 min to allow for temperature equilibration and induction of seeding (see below)</li>
<li>0.3&deg;C/min from -7&deg;C to -30&deg;C 
0&deg;C/min for 2 min to allow for temperature equilibration</li>
<li>35&deg;C/min from -30&deg;C to -130&deg;C</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Load the straws on the slots of the holder of the programmable freezer, making sure that the part of the straw with the drop of thawing solution is facing outwards. Start the freezing program.</li>
<li>When sample temperature reaches -7&deg;C and the cooling is on hold, perform manual seeding: plunge the forceps into liquid nitrogen, pull the holders slightly out of the freezer to expose the part of the straws containing the drops of thawing solution, and immediately touch this part of the straws with the forceps. Repeat for each holder and each straw in the holder, and then let the freezing program run until the end.</li>
<li>When the program is completed, plunge the holders in liquid nitrogen.</li>
<li>Remove the straws from the holders and transfer them to a labeled gobelet.</li>
<li>Finally, store the gobelet inside a liquid nitrogen tank.</li>
</ol>
IV. Thawing protocol
<ol>
<li>Remove the straw from the liquid nitrogen tank.</li>
<li>Maintain the straw at room temperature for 40 seconds.</li>
<li>Soak the straw in a water bath at 30&deg;C during 40 seconds.</li>
<li>Remove the plug from the straw or cut the thermo-sealed tip.</li>
<li>Empty the straw in a 35-mm petri dish and gently mix the two drops containing the freezing and thawing solutions.</li>
<li>Leave oocytes/embryos in the mixture for 15 minutes at room temperature.</li>
<li>Transfer oocytes/embryos to a fresh drop of KSOM-H for an additional 15 minutes at 37&deg;C.</li>
<li>Oocytes/embryos are now ready for further manipulation.</li>
</ol>
 Note: During steps 6 and 7 you should see that the thawed oocytes/embryos slowly swell up due to rehydration.
V. Representative Results
The use of the cryopreservation protocol reported here results in a survival rate of approximately 95% for hamster oocytes and of &gt;90%, 85% and 80% for mouse B6CBAF1 embryos at the pronuclear, 2-cell and 4-cell stages, respectively. When mouse embryos are cultured in vitro in KSOM after thawing, at least 70 to 80% should reach the blastocyst stage in optimal culture conditions.
It is recommended that you include a control group (straw) of oocytes/embryos in each freezing experiment and that you thaw this group before the rest of the oocytes/embryos are used for further manipulations. If survival rates for the control group are lower than expected, thaw another straw from the same lot. If survival rates for this second group are also low, discard the remaining straws from this freezing lot.

<ol>
	<li>Whittingham, D. G., Leibo, S. P., Mazur, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Survival+of+mouse+embryos+frozen+to+-196+and+-269+&#176;C.">Survival of mouse embryos frozen to -196 and -269 &#176;C.</a> Science. 178, 411-414 (1972).</li><li>Wilmut, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effect+of+cooling+rate,+warming+rate,+cryoprotective+agent+and+stage+of+development+on+survival+of+mouse+embryos+during+freezing+and+thawing.">The effect of cooling rate, warming rate, cryoprotective agent and stage of development on survival of mouse embryos during freezing and thawing.</a> Life Sci. 11, 1071-1079 (1972).</li><li>Parkening, T. A., Tsunoda, Y., Chang, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+various+low+temperatures,+cryoprotective+agents+and+cooling+rates+on+the+survival,+fertilizability+and+development+of+frozen-thawed+mouse+eggs.">Effects of various low temperatures, cryoprotective agents and cooling rates on the survival, fertilizability and development of frozen-thawed mouse eggs.</a> J. Exp. Zool. 197, 369-374 (1976).</li><li>Schneider, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cryobiological+principles+of+embryo+freezing.">Cryobiological principles of embryo freezing.</a> J. In Vitro Fert. Embryo Transf. 3, 3-9 (1986).</li><li>Vajta, G., Kuwayama, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improving+cryopreservation+systems.">Improving cryopreservation systems.</a> Theriogenology. 65, 236-244 (2006).</li><li>Duselis, A. R., Vrana, P. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retrieval+of+mouse+oocytes.">Retrieval of mouse oocytes.</a> JoVE. 3, (2007).</li><li>Lassalle, B., Testart, J., Renard, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+embryo+features+that+influence+the+success+of+cryopreservation+with+the+use+of+1,2+propanediol.">Human embryo features that influence the success of cryopreservation with the use of 1,2 propanediol.</a> Fertil. Steril. 44, 645-651 (1985).</li><li>Ib&#225;&#241;ez, E., Grossmann, M., Vidal, F., Egozcue, J., Santal&#243;, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cryopreservation+of+caprine+beta-lactoglobulin+transgenic+mouse+embryos.">Cryopreservation of caprine beta-lactoglobulin transgenic mouse embryos.</a> Cryobiology. 35, 290-298 (1997).</li><li>Dinnyes, A., Wallace, G. A., Rall, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+genotype+on+the+efficiency+of+mouse+embryo+cryopreservation+by+vitrification+or+slow+freezing.">Effect of genotype on the efficiency of mouse embryo cryopreservation by vitrification or slow freezing.</a> Mol. Reprod. Dev. 40, 429-435 (1995).</li><li>Tateno, H., Kamiguchi, Y., Mikamo, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+freezing+and+thawing+method+of+hamster+oocytes+designed+for+both+the+penetration+test+and+chromosome+assay+of+human+spermatozoa.">A freezing and thawing method of hamster oocytes designed for both the penetration test and chromosome assay of human spermatozoa.</a> Mol. Reprod. Dev. 33, 202-209 (1992).</li><li>Biggers, J., McGuinnis, L. K., Raffin, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amino+acids+and+preimplantation+development+of+the+mouse+in+the+protein-free+KSOM.">Amino acids and preimplantation development of the mouse in the protein-free KSOM.</a> Biol. Reprod. 63, 281-293 (2000).</li></ol>

With this protocol hamster oocytes and mouse embryos can be successfully cryopreserved. Once frozen, oocytes/embryos can be stored in liquid nitrogen tanks indefinitely and recovered at any time or place desired. This offers the advantage of having samples almost ready to use whenever needed. On the other hand, this protocol can also be used to generate embryo cryobanks from valuable mouse strains (such as transgenic lines), as an economical and safer alternative to the maintenance of live animal colonies. It is importan...

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<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">	
		
		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>French type mini-straw 0.25 ml</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Mini-tub</td>
<td>13407/0010</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>hCG</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Farma-Lepori, Spain</td>
<td>749036.4</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Hyaluronidase</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>H-3884</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>KSOM-H medium</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Ref. [11]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Liquid Nitrogen </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Air Liquide</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Plastic plugs</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Mini-tub</td>
<td>19046</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>PMSG</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Intervet, Spain</td>
<td>1.614/8447</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Propilenglycol</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fluka</td>
<td>82280</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sucrose</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Merck</td>
<td>107687</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Surgical Scissors</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Aesculap</td>
<td>BC-060R; BG-061R</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Thermo-sealer</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>SIZ</td>
<td>220</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>35 and 90 mm culture dishes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Nunc</td>
<td>153066; 150350</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>10 ml tubes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Greiner Bio-one</td>
<td>163160</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Nitrogen tank</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>MVE, Cryogenics</td>
<td>XC 43/28</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Programmable Freezer</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Planner Products Ltd.</td>
<td>Kryo-10 Series III</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Forceps</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Aesculap</td>
<td>BD-331R; BD-053R; OC-020R</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

collection and cryopreservation of hamster oocytes and mouse embryos

Embryos and oocytes were first successfully cryopreserved more than 30 years ago, when Whittingham et al. 1 and Wilmut 2 separately described that mouse embryos could be frozen and stored at -196 &deg;C and, a few years later, Parkening et al. 3 reported the birth of live offspring resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF) of cryopreserved oocytes. Since then, the use of cryopreservation techniques has rapidly spread to become an essential component in the practice of human and animal assisted reproduction and in the conservation of animal genetic resources. Currently, there are two main methods used to cryopreserve oocytes and embryos: slow freezing and vitrification. A wide variety of approaches have been used to try to improve both techniques and millions of animals and thousands of children have been born from cryopreserved embryos. However, important shortcomings associated to cryopreservation still have to be overcome, since ice-crystal formation, solution effects and osmotic shock seem to cause several cryoinjuries in post-thawed oocytes and embryos. Slow freezing with programmable freezers has the advantage of using low concentrations of cryoprotectants, which are usually associated with chemical toxicity and osmotic shock, but their ability to avoid ice-crystal formation at low concentrations is limited. Slow freezing also induces supercooling effects that must be avoided using manual or automatic seeding 4. In the vitrification process, high concentrations of cryoprotectants inhibit the formation of ice-crystals and lead to the formation of a glasslike vitrified state in which water is solidified, but not expanded. However, due to the toxicity of cyroprotectants at the concentrations used, oocytes/embryos can only be exposed to the cryoprotectant solution for a very short period of time and in a minimum volume solution, before submerging the samples directly in liquid nitrogen 5. In the last decade, vitrification has become more popular because it is a very quick method in which no expensive equipment (programmable freezer) is required. However, slow freezing continues to be the most widely used method for oocyte/embryo cryopreservation. In this video-article we show, step-by-step, how to collect and slowly freeze hamster oocytes with high post-thaw survival rates. The same procedure can also be applied to successfully freeze and thaw mouse embryos at different stages of preimplantation development.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Collection and Cryopreservation of Hamster Oocytes and Mouse Embryos at JoVE.com

Collection and Cryopreservation of Hamster Oocytes and Mouse Embryos

In this video-article we present a step-by-step demonstration on how to collect and cryopreserve hamster oocytes with high post-thaw survival rates. The same procedure can also be applied to successfully freeze and thaw mouse embryos at different stages of preimplantation development.

Embryos and oocytes were first successfully cryopreserved more than 30 years ago, when Whittingham et al. 1 and Wilmut 2 separately described that mouse ...

collection-and-cryopreservation-of-hamster-oocytes-and-mouse-embryos

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

16.8K Views.  Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. In this video-article we present a step-by-step demonstration on how to collect and cryopreserve hamster oocytes with high post-thaw survival rates. The same procedure can also be applied to successfully freeze and thaw mouse embryos at different stages of preimplantation development.

Video: Collection and Cryopreservation of Hamster Oocytes and Mouse Embryos

Nuclear Transfer into Mouse Oocytes

Nuclear transfer into an unfertilized oocyte can restore developmental potential to a differentiated cell. This demonstrates that the processes underlying development, differentiation and aging are epigenetic rather than genetic processes. The reversibility of these processes opens exciting perspectives in basic research, and in the more distant future, in regenerative medicine. In the mouse, embryonic stem cells can be derived from cloned preimplantation stage embryos. Such embryonic stem cells have the ability to give rise to all cell types of the adult organism. Importantly, these cells are genetically identical to the donor. If applicable to human, this would allow the derivation of stem cells from a patient. These cells could then be differentiated into the affected cell type of the patient and studied in vitro, or used to replace the damaged or missing cells. The study of nuclear transfer in the mouse remains important as it can inform us about the principles of nuclear reprogramming. This movie and the accompanying protocol are intended to help learning nuclear transfer in the mouse, a method initially developed in the group of Prof. Yanagimachi (WAKAYAMA et al. 1998).

This movie and the protocol are intended to help learning nuclear transfer.

Nuclear transfer into an unfertilized oocyte can restore developmental potential to a differentiated cell. This demonstrates that the processes underlying ...

Dissection of 6.5 dpc Mouse Embryos

Analysis of gene expression patterns during early stages of mammalian embryonic development can provide important clues about gene function, cell-cell interaction and signaling mechanisms that guide embryonic patterning. However, dissection of the mouse embryo from the decidua shortly after implantation can be a challenging procedure, and detailed step-by-step documentation of this process is lacking.

Here we demonstrate how post-implantation (6.5 dpc) embryos are isolated by first dissecting the uterus of a pregnant mouse (detection of the vaginal plug was designated day 0.5 poist coitum) and subsequently dissecting the embryo from maternal decidua. The dissection of Reichert's membrane is described as well as the removal of the ectoplacental cone.

Isolation of postimplantation-stage embryos allows one to study gene patterning and analyze cell-lineage decision making processes during embryonic development, but proper dissection of the early embryo can be challenging. This protocol describes a method for isolating early primitive-streak-stage embryos (~6.5 days post coitum [dpc]).

Analysis of gene expression patterns during early stages of mammalian embryonic development can provide important clues about gene function, cell-cell ...

Retrieval of Mouse Oocytes

To date, only a few studies have reported successful manipulations of Peromyscus embryogenesis or reproductive biology.  Together with the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center (http://stkctr.biol.sc.edu), we are characterizing the salient differences needed to develop this system.  A primary goal has been to optimize oocyte/early embryo retrieval.

This protocol illustrates the technique for extracting oocytes or early-stage fertilized embryos from the oviduct of mice. The ability to identify the infindibulum and insert a blunt end needle into it is essential to correctly performing the procedure.

To date, only a few studies have reported successful manipulations of Peromyscus embryogenesis or reproductive biology.  Together with the Peromyscus ...

In Utero Intraventricular Injection and Electroporation of E15 Mouse Embryos

In-utero in-vivo injection and electroporation of the embryonic mouse neocortex provides a powerful tool for the manipulation of individual progenitors lining the walls of the lateral ventricle. This technique is now widely used to study the processes involved in corticogenesis by over-expressing or knocking down genes and observing the effects on cellular proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In comparison to traditional knockout strategies, in-utero electroporation provides a rapid means to manipulate a population of cells during a specific temporal window. In this video protocol we outline the experimental methodology for preparing mice for surgery, exposing the uterine horns through laporatomy, injecting DNA into the lateral ventricles of the developing embryo, electroporating DNA into the progenitors lining the lateral wall, and caring for animals post-surgery. Our laboratory uses this protocol for surgeries on E13-E16 mice, however, it is most commonly performed at E15, as shown in this video. 

In-utero in-vivo injection and electroporation of the embryonic mouse neocortex provides a powerful tool for the manipulation of individual progenitors ...

In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer

Human cancer and response to therapy is better represented in orthotopic animal models. This paper describes the development of an orthotopic mouse model of ovarian cancer, treatment of cancer via oral delivery of drugs, and monitoring of tumor cell behavior in response to drug treatment in real time using in vivo imaging system. In this orthotopic model, ovarian tumor cells expressing luciferase are applied topically by injecting them directly into the mouse bursa where each ovary is enclosed. Upon injection of D-luciferin, a substrate of firefly luciferase, luciferase-expressing cells generate bioluminescence signals. This signal is detected by the in vivo imaging system and allows for a non-invasive means of monitoring tumor growth, distribution, and regression in individual animals. Drug administration via oral gavage allows for a maximum dosing volume of 10 mL/kg body weight to be delivered directly to the stomach and closely resembles delivery of drugs in clinical treatments. Therefore, techniques described here, development of an orthotopic mouse model of ovarian cancer, oral delivery of drugs, and in vivo imaging, are useful for better understanding of human ovarian cancer and treatment and will improve targeting this disease.

In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer

Orthotopic animal models of ovarian cancer replicate better human disease and therefore enhance our understanding of cancer progression and tumor response to therapy. A mouse model receives an intrabursal injection of luciferase-expressing ovarian tumor cells. Treatment is administered via oral gavage. Tumor growth is monitored by in vivo imaging system.

Human cancer and response to therapy is better represented in orthotopic animal models.  This paper describes the development of an orthotopic mouse model ...

Cryopreservation of Preimplantation Embryos of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats

Preimplantation embryos from cattle, sheep, and goats may be cryopreserved for short- or long-term storage. Preimplantation embryos consist predominantly of water, and the avoidance of intracellular ice crystal formation during the cryopreservation process is of paramount importance to maintain embryo viability. Embryos are placed into a hypertonic solution (1.4 &#x2013; 1.5 M) of a cryoprotective agent (CPA) such as ethylene glycol (EG) or glycerol (GLYC) to create an osmotic gradient that facilitates cellular dehydration. After embryos reach osmotic equilibrium in the CPA solution, they are individually loaded in the hypertonic CPA solution into 0.25 ml plastic straws for freezing. Embryos are placed into a controlled rate freezer at a temperature of -6&deg;C. Ice crystal formation is induced in the CPA solution surrounding the embryo, and crystallization causes an increase in the concentration of CPA outside of the embryo, causing further cellular dehydration. Embryos are cooled at a rate of 0.5&deg;C/min, enabling further dehydration, to a temperature of -34&deg;C before being plunged into liquid nitrogen (-196&deg;C). Cryopreserved embryos must be thawed prior to transfer to a recipient (surrogate) female. Straws containing the embryos are removed from the liquid nitrogen dewar, held in room temperature air for 3 to 5 sec, and placed into a 37&deg;C water bath for 25 to 30 sec. Embryos cryopreserved in GLYC are placed into a 1 M solution of sucrose for 10 min for removal of the CPA before transfer to a recipient (surrogate) female. Embryos cryopreserved in EG, however, may be directly transferred to the uterus of a recipient.

Preimplantation embryos may be cryopreserved after placement into a hypertonic cryoprotective solution to cause cellular dehydration. After equilibration, ice crystal formation is induced in the solution surrounding the embryo. Further dehydration occurs as the embryo is slowly cooled to subzero temperatures before plunging into liquid nitrogen for storage.

Preimplantation embryos from cattle, sheep, and goats may be cryopreserved for short- or long-term storage.  Preimplantation embryos consist predominantly ...

Cryopreservation of Mouse Embryos by Ethylene Glycol-Based Vitrification

Cryopreservation of mouse embryos is a technological basis that supports biomedical sciences, because many strains of mice have been produced by genetic modifications and the number is consistently increasing year by year. Its technical development started with slow freezing methods in the 1970s1, then followed by vitrification methods developed in the late 1980s2. Generally, the latter technique is advantageous in its quickness, simplicity, and high survivability of recovered embryos. However, the cryoprotectants contained are highly toxic and may affect subsequent embryo development. Therefore, the technique was not applicable to certain strains of mice, even when the solutions are cooled to 4&deg;C to mitigate the toxic effect during embryo handling. At the RIKEN BioResource Center, more than 5000 mouse strains with different genetic backgrounds and phenotypes are maintained3, and therefore we have optimized a vitrification technique with which we can cryopreserve embryos from many different strains of mice, with the benefits of high embryo survival after vitrifying and thawing (or liquefying, more precisely) at the ambient temperature4.
Here, we present a vitrification method for mouse embryos that has been successfully used at our center. The cryopreservation solution contains ethylene glycol instead of DMSO to minimize the toxicity to embryos5. It also contains Ficoll and sucrose for prevention of devitrification and osmotic adjustment, respectively. Embryos can be handled at room temperature and transferred into liquid nitrogen within 5 min. Because the original method was optimized for plastic straws as containers, we have slightly modified the protocol for cryotubes, which are more easily accessible in laboratories and more resistant to physical damages. We also describe the procedure of thawing vitrified embryos in detail because it is a critical step for efficient recovery of live mice. These methodologies would be helpful to researchers and technicians who need preservation of mouse strains for later use in a safe and cost-effective manner.

An ethylene glycol-based vitrification method for mouse embryos is described. It is advantageous to other methods in its simplicity and low embryonic toxicity, and therefore can be broadly applicable to many strains of mice, including inbred and gene-modified mice.

Cryopreservation of mouse embryos is a technological basis that supports biomedical sciences, because many strains of mice have been produced by genetic ...

Mouse Sperm Cryopreservation and Recovery using the I&middot;Cryo Kit

Thousands of new genetically modified (GM) strains of mice have been created since the advent of transgenesis and knockout technologies. Many of these valuable animals exist only as live animals, with no backup plan in case of emergency. Cryopreservation of embryos can provide this backup, but is costly, can be a lengthy procedure, and generally requires a large number of animals for success. Since the discovery that mouse sperm can be successfully cryopreserved with a basic cryoprotective agent (CPA) consisting of 18&#37; raffinose and 3&#37; skim milk, sperm cryopreservation has become an acceptable and cost-effective procedure for archiving, distributing and recovery of these valuable strains.
 Here we demonstrate a newly developed I&bull;Cryo kit for mouse sperm cryopreservation. Sperm from five commonly-used strains of inbred mice were frozen using this kit and then recovered. Higher protection ratios of sperm motility (&gt; 60&#37;) and rapid progressive motility (&gt; 45&#37;) compared to the control (basic CPA) were seen for sperm frozen with this kit in 5 inbred mouse strains. Two cell stage embryo development after IVF with the recovered sperm was improved consistently in all 5 mouse strains examined. Over a 1.5 year period, 49 GM mouse lines were archived by sperm cryopreservation with the I&bull;Cryo kit and later recovered by IVF.

Mouse Sperm Cryopreservation and Recovery using the I&amp;middot;Cryo Kit

Here we demonstrate the newly developed I&#x2022;Cryo kit for mouse sperm cryopreservation. Two-cell stage embryo development with frozen-thawed sperm was improved consistently in 5 mouse strains with the use of this kit. Over a 1.5 year period, 49 genetically modified mouse lines were archived by sperm cryopreservation with the I&#x2022;Cryo kit and later successfully recovered by IVF.

Thousands of new genetically modified (GM) strains of mice have been created since the advent of transgenesis and knockout technologies.  Many of these ...

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing

Errors in chromosome segregation during meiotic division in gametes can lead to aneuploidy that is subsequently transmitted to the embryo upon fertilization. The resulting aneuploidy in developing embryos is recognized as a major cause of pregnancy loss and congenital birth defects such as Down&#8217;s syndrome. Accurate chromosome segregation is critically dependent on the formation of the microtubule spindle apparatus, yet this process remains poorly understood in mammalian oocytes. Intriguingly, meiotic spindle assembly differs from mitosis and is regulated, at least in part, by unique microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs). Assessment of MTOC-associated proteins can provide valuable insight into the regulatory mechanisms that govern meiotic spindle formation and organization. Here, we describe methods to isolate mouse oocytes and deplete MTOC-associated proteins using a siRNA-mediated approach to test function. In addition, we describe oocyte fixation and immunofluorescence analysis conditions to evaluate meiotic spindle formation and organization.

Here, we present a protocol for specific siRNA-mediated mRNA depletion followed by immunofluorescence analysis to evaluate meiotic spindle assembly and organization in mouse oocytes. This protocol is suitable for in vitro depletion of transcripts and functional assessment of different spindle and/or MTOC-associated factors in oocytes.

Errors in chromosome segregation during meiotic division in gametes can lead to aneuploidy that is subsequently transmitted to the embryo upon ...

Single Cell Collection of Trophoblast Cells in Peri-implantation Stage Human Embryos

Human implantation, the apposition and adhesion to the uterine surface epithelia and subsequent invasion of the blastocyst into the maternal decidua, is a critical yet enigmatic biological event that has been historically difficult to study due to technical and ethical limitations. Implantation is initiated by the development of the trophectoderm to early trophoblast and subsequent differentiation into distinct trophoblast sublineages. Aberrant early trophoblast differentiation may lead to implantation failure, placental pathologies, fetal abnormalities, and miscarriage. Recently, methods have been developed to allow human embryos to grow until day 13 post-fertilization in vitro in the absence of maternal tissues, a time-period that encompasses the implantation period in humans. This has given researchers the opportunity to investigate human implantation and recapitulate the dynamics of trophoblast differentiation during this critical period without confounding maternal influences and avoiding inherent obstacles to study early embryo differentiation events in vivo. To characterize different trophoblast sublineages during implantation, we have adopted existing two-dimensional (2D) extended culture methods and developed a procedure to enzymatically digest and isolate different types of trophoblast cells for downstream assays. Embryos cultured in 2D conditions have a relatively flattened morphology and may be suboptimal in modeling in vivo three-dimensional (3D) embryonic architectures. However, trophoblast differentiation seems to be less affected as demonstrated by anticipated morphology and gene expression changes over the course of extended culture. Different trophoblast sublineages, including cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast and migratory trophoblast can be separated by size, location, and temporal emergence, and used for further characterization or experimentation. Investigation of these early trophoblast cells may be instrumental in understanding human implantation, treating common placental pathologies, and mitigating the incidence of pregnancy loss.

Here, we describe a method for warming vitrified human blastocysts, culturing them through the implantation period in vitro, digesting them into single cells and collecting early trophoblast cells for further investigation.

Human implantation, the apposition and adhesion to the uterine surface epithelia and subsequent invasion of the blastocyst into the maternal decidua, is a ...