Ovary cold storage and shipment affect oocyte yield and cleavage rate of cat immature vitrified oocytes.

This study employed ovariectomy-derived domestic cat gonads as a model for wild felids, and aimed to compare the yield and developmental competence of Cryotop-vitrified oocytes (VOs) collected and cryopreserved right after ovary excision (In loco-VOs) or after 24 h cooled transport of ovaries (Shipped-VOs). The number of collected oocytes was higher in In loco-VOs than in Shipped-VOs (mean ± SD: 8 ± 3.36 vs 5.6 ± 3.1, p = 0.05). In vitro embryo production resulted in similar maturation (35% for both vitrified groups, p = 1) and fertilization rates (In loco-VOs: 29.1%; Shipped-VOs: 22.2%; p = 0.295), but showed a difference in cleavage (In loco-VOs: 25.6%; Shipped-VOs: 14.5%; p = 0.0495). No differences were found in further embryo development. Taken together, results suggested that delayed oocyte vitrification after cooled transport of organs was feasible and allowed embryo development. However, the number of collected oocytes and the cleavage rate of matured oocytes were higher when oocyte vitrification was performed without delay after ovary excision, and this should be considered in gamete conservation programs for endangered felids.
PMID: 33171197 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Cryobiology - November 7, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: Colombo M, Zahmel J, Binder C, Herbel J, Luvoni GC, Jewgenow K Tags: Cryobiology Source Type: research