Successful single-cell biopsy and cryopreservation of preimplantation mouse embryos

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 513 - 517
• Main Authors: Wilton, Leeanda J., Shaw, Jillian M., Trounson, Alan O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1989; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy - methods; Birth control; Blastomeres - cytology; Culture Techniques; Embryo Implantation; Embryo Transfer; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Female; Freezing - methods; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Medical sciences; Mice; Pregnancy; Preservation, Biological - methods; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Vertebrata; Embryo; Mammalia; Mouse; Biopsy; Cryopreservation; Animal; Rodentia; Technique; Fecundation; In vitro; Freezing
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)60564-2

We have previously observed that preimplantation embryo biopsy in the mouse causes a reduction in implantation rate in utero. After minor modifications to the technique, we now find that sampling a single blastomere from the 4-cell mouse embryo does not compromise continued development in vitro or in vivo. When transferred to pseudopregnant foster mice, 60.3% and 64.3% of biopsied and control embryos, respectively, implanted into the uterine wall, and 52.6% and 52.4% of biopsied and control embryos, respectively, developed into fetuses. In a separate series of experiments, we have demonstrated that biopsied mouse embryos can be successfully cryopreserved by ultrarapid freezing even though they have a punctured zona pellucida. Biopsied (frozen-thawed), control (frozen-thawed), and nonfrozen embryos had an implantation rate of 81.1%, 74.3%, and 74.1%, respectively, and a fetal formation rate of 62.2%, 62.9%, and 66.7%, respectively.