Philippine E-Journals

Viability of Frozen Goat Embryos Using a Modified Minimum Drop Size Technique of Vitrification

Marlon B. Ocampo | Lerma C. Ocampo | Rowell O. Reyes | Juliana Q. Silvestre | Edwin C. Villar

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

Fifty-seven (four-cell to blastocyst stage) embryos were used to evaluate the effectiveness of using a modified minimum drop size (MOS) technique of cryopreservation of goat's embryo. Also, the possible interaction between embryo developmental stage at the time of cryopreservation and equilibration time in the vitrification solution (Vsa) was investigated. Results of the study showed that morula to blastocyst stage embryos can withstand better the set of conditions for cryopreservation than the 4-to 16- cell stage embryos as evidenced by a significantly higher survival rate of the former than that of the latter. Similarly, equilibrating the embryos for 10 min, regardless of the developmental stage, had a higher survival rate than the embryos exposed in VSa for 3 min. Transfer of fresh and frozen-thawed embryos to recipient does had resulted to live births. The simplicity and effectiveness of the modified MOS technique in the cryopreservation of goat embryos offer new opportunities for eventual preservation of other mammalian species embryos even under field conditions. The technique would require only the need for molar concentrations of cryoprotectant and LN2 for the efficient cryopreservation of embryos. This is the first report of live births derived from fresh or frozen-thawed embryos transferred to surrogate does in the Philippines.