The Efficacy and Safety of Human Oocyte Vitrification

 

 Buy Article Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Vitrification is now a widely applied and highly successful approach for cryopreservation in reproductive biology. Rapidly increasing data prove that it is also a highly efficient technique for low-temperature storage of human oocytes. The latest approaches with appropriately selected cryoprotectants, tools and techniques, and properly adjusted parameters allow close to 100% morphological survival rates, and in vitro embryo development, as well pregnancy and implantation rates, comparable with those achieved with fresh oocytes. With standardization of the technique and elimination of biosafety problems by preserving all the positive features, vitrification may become a common part of the everyday routine in a human embryo laboratory, and it may offer a solution for various medical and social situations as well as for simple logistic problems commonly occurring in assisted reproduction.

REFERENCES

• 1 Bunge R G, Keettel W C, Sherman J K. Clinical use of frozen semen: report of four cases.  Fertil Steril. 1954;  5(6) 520-529
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 2 Trounson A, Mohr L. Human pregnancy following cryopreservation, thawing and transfer of an eight-cell embryo.  Nature. 1983;  305(5936) 707-709
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 3 Chen C. Pregnancy after human oocyte cryopreservation.  Lancet. 1986;  1 884-886
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 4 Porcu E, Fabbri R, Seracchioli R, Ciotti P M, Magrini O, Flamigni C. Birth of a healthy female after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of cryopreserved human oocytes.  Fertil Steril. 1997;  68(4) 724-726
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 5 Vajta G, Nagy Z P. Are programmable freezers still needed in the embryo laboratory? Review on vitrification.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2006;  12(6) 779-796
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 6 Rall W F, Fahy G M. Ice-free cryopreservation of mouse embryos at -196 degrees C by vitrification.  Nature. 1985;  313(6003) 573-575
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 7 Hanslick J L, Lau K, Noguchi K K et al.. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) produces widespread apoptosis in the developing central nervous system.  Neurobiol Dis. 2009;  34(1) 1-10
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 8 Kartberg A J, Hambiliki F, Arvidsson T, Stavreus-Evers A, Svalander P. Vitrification with DMSO protects embryo membrane integrity better than solutions without DMSO.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2008;  17(3) 378-384
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 9 Larman M G, Katz-Jaffe M G, Sheehan C B, Gardner D K. 1,2-propanediol and the type of cryopreservation procedure adversely affect mouse oocyte physiology.  Hum Reprod. 2007;  22(1) 250-259
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 10 Tucker M J, Wright G, Morton P C, Massey J B. Birth after cryopreservation of immature oocytes with subsequent in vitro maturation.  Fertil Steril. 1998;  70(3) 578-579
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 11 Kuleshova L, Gianaroli L, Magli C, Ferraretti A, Trounson A. Birth following vitrification of a small number of human oocytes: case report.  Hum Reprod. 1999;  14(12) 3077-3079
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 12 Fabbri R, Porcu E, Marsella T, Rocchetta G, Venturoli S, Flamigni C. Human oocyte cryopreservation: new perspectives regarding oocyte survival.  Hum Reprod. 2001;  16(3) 411-416
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 13 Borini A, Lagalla C, Bonu M A, Bianchi V, Flamigni C, Coticchio G. Cumulative pregnancy rates resulting from the use of fresh and frozen oocytes: 7 years' experience.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2006;  12(4) 481-486
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 14 Meirow D. Reproduction post-chemotherapy in young cancer patients.  Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2000;  169(1-2) 123-131
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 15 Porcu E, Bazzocchi A, Notarangelo L, Paradisi R, Landolfo C, Venturoli S. Human oocyte cryopreservation in infertility and oncology.  Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2008;  15(6) 529-535
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 16 Elizur S E, Chian R C, Pineau C A et al.. Fertility preservation treatment for young women with autoimmune diseases facing treatment with gonadotoxic agents.  Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008;  47(10) 1506-1509
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 17 Deepinder F, Agarwal A. Technical and ethical challenges of fertility preservation in young cancer patients.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2008;  16(6) 784-791
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 18 American Cancer Society .Cancer Facts and Figures—2001. Atlanta, GA; American Cancer Society 2001
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 19 Rao G D, Chian R C, Son W S, Gilbert L, Tan S L. Fertility preservation in women undergoing cancer treatment.  Lancet. 2004;  363(9423) 1829-1830
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 20 Lucena E, Bernal D P, Lucena C, Rojas A, Moran A, Lucena A. Successful ongoing pregnancies after vitrification of oocytes.  Fertil Steril. 2006;  85(1) 108-111
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 21 Cha K Y, Han S Y, Chung H M et al.. Pregnancies and deliveries after in vitro maturation culture followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer without stimulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.  Fertil Steril. 2000;  73(5) 978-983
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 22 Chung H M, Hong S W, Lim J M et al.. In vitro blastocyst formation of human oocytes obtained from unstimulated and stimulated cycles after vitrification at various maturational stages.  Fertil Steril. 2000;  73(3) 545-551
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 23 Elizur S E, Chian R C, Holzer H E et al.. Cryopreservation of oocytes in a young woman with severe and symptomatic endometriosis: a new indication for fertility preservation.  Fertil Steril. 2009;  91(1) e1-3
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 24 Gidoni Y S, Takefman J, Holzer H E et al.. Cryopreservation of a mother's oocytes for possible future use by her daughter with Turner syndrome: case report.  Fertil Steril. 2008;  90(5) e9-12
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 25 Stachecki J J, Cohen J. An overview of oocyte cryopreservation.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;  9(2) 152-163
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 26 Kuwayama M, Vajta G, Kato O, Leibo S P. Highly efficient vitrification method for cryopreservation of human oocytes.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2005;  11(3) 300-308
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 27 Jain J K, Francis M M, Marsh E M et al.. Oocyte cryopreservation: a promising strategy for circumventing the age-related decline in human fertility.  Fertil Steril. 2006;  85 S7
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 28 Chang C C, Shapiro D B, Bernal D P, Wright G, Kort H I, Nagy Z P. Human oocyte vitrification: in-vivo and in-vitro maturation outcomes.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2008;  17(5) 684-688
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 29 Chian R C, Gilbert L, Huang J Y et al.. Live birth after vitrification of in vitro matured human oocytes.  Fertil Steril. 2009;  91(2) 372-376
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 30 Nagy Z P, Chang C C, Shapiro D B et al.. Clinical evaluation of the efficiency of an oocyte donation program using egg cryo-banking.  Fertil Steril. 2009;  92(2) 520-526
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 31 Piasecka-Serafin M. The effect of the sediment accumulated in containers under experimental conditions on the infection of semen stored directly in liquid nitrogen (−196 degree C).  Bull Acad Pol Sci Biol. 1972;  20(4) 263-267
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 32 Tedder R S, Zuckerman M A, Goldstone A H et al.. Hepatitis B transmission from contaminated cryopreservation tank.  Lancet. 1995;  346(8968) 137-140
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 33 Bielanski A, Nadin-Davis S, Sapp T, Lutze-Wallace C. Viral contamination of embryos cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen.  Cryobiology. 2000;  40(2) 110-116
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 34 Kuwayama M, Vajta G, Ieda S, Kato O. Comparison of open and closed methods for vitrification of human embryos and the elimination of potential contamination.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2005;  11(5) 608-614
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 35 Stachecki J J, Garrisi J, Sabino S, Caetano J P, Wiemer K E, Cohen J. A new safe, simple and successful vitrification method for bovine and human blastocysts.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2008;  17(3) 360-367
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 36 Isachenko V, Montag M, Isachenko E et al.. Aseptic technology of vitrification of human pronuclear oocytes using open-pulled straws.  Hum Reprod. 2005;  20(2) 492-496
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 37 Kuleshova L L, Shaw J M. A strategy for rapid cooling of mouse embryos within a double straw to eliminate the risk of contamination during storage in liquid nitrogen.  Hum Reprod. 2000;  15(12) 2604-2609
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 38 Vajta G, Lewis I M, Kuwayama M, Greve T, Callesen H. Sterile application of the open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification method.  Cryo-Letters. 1998;  19 389-392
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 39 Bielanski A, Hanniman A. Non-cross-contamination of bovine embryos with microbes using the OPS vitrification system.  Reprod Fertil Dev. 2007;  19 232-233
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 40 McBurnie L D, Bardo B. Validation of sterile filtration of liquid nitrogen.  Pharm Technol North America. 2002;  26 74-82
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 41 Larman M G, Sheehan C B, Gardner D K. Vitrification of mouse pronuclear oocytes with no direct liquid nitrogen contact.  Reprod Biomed Online. 2006;  12(1) 66-69
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 42 Fountain D, Ralston M, Higgins N et al.. Liquid nitrogen freezers: a potential source of microbial contamination of hematopoietic stem cell components.  Transfusion. 1997;  37(6) 585-591
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Zsolt Peter NagyM.D. Ph.D. 

Scientific and Laboratory Director, Reproductive Biology Associates

1150 Lake Hearn Dr.; Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30342

Email: peter.nagy@rba-online.com