Abstract
To evaluate cytogenetic validity of a simple vitrification technique for embryo cryopreservation, mouse 1-cell embryos were vitrified 4, 6, and 8 h after in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, chromosomal damage of spermatozoa treated with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) was estimated using vitrified 1-cell embryos. More than 90% of embryos survived vitrification regardless of the time after IVF. In the 4-h and 6-h groups, some of the surviving embryos swelled after recovery. The incidence of structural chromosome aberrations and aneuploidy in embryos with morphologically normal features did not significantly increase in any group. The vitrification technique preserved 1-cell embryos derived from MMS-treated spermatozoa without alteration of chromosome damage. This technique will enable us to manage the optimal time for chromosome preparation of mouse 1-cell embryos.
