Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oocyte Cryopreservation Technique

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Preventing Age Related Fertility Loss

Abstract

Cryopreservation of human oocytes can be performed by both slow freezing and vitrification. In 1986, the first report of a pregnancy from frozen-thawed oocytes was obtained [1]. Since this report, many efforts were made to improve the efficiency of the cryopreservation protocols, both for slow-freezing and vitrification. It was more than one decade later that a live birth was described after oocyte vitrification [2] and it was only in 2005 that a highly efficient and reproducible vitrification protocol for human oocytes was obtained [3]. Both methods are currently still applied although the results obtained with vitrification appear to be superior to the ones obtained with slow-freezing [4].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Chen C. Pregnancy after human oocyte cryopreservation. Lancet. 1986;1(8486):884–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kuleshova L, Gianaroli L, Magli C, Ferraretti A, Trounson A. Birth following vitrification of a small number of oocytes: a case report. Hum Reprod. 1999;14(12):3077–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kuwayama M, Vajta G, Kato O, Leibo SP. Highly efficient vitrification method for cryopreservation of human oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2005;11(3):300–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Paramanantham J, Talmor A, Osianlis T, Weston GC. Cryopreserved oocytes: update on clinical applications and success rates. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2015;70:97–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Guraya SS. Cellular and molecular biology of human oogenesis, ovulation and early embryogenesis. New Delhi: New Age International Publishers; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Seidler GE. Mammalian oocytes and preimlantation embryos as methodological components. Biol Reprod. 1983;28:36–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kopeika J, Thornhill A, Khalaf Y. The effect of cryopreservation on the genome of gametes and embryos: principles of cryobiology and critical appraisal of the evidence. Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(2):209–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chen SU, Lien YR, Chao KH, Ho HN, Yang YS, Lee TY. Effects of cryopreservation on meiotic spindles of oocytes and its dynamics after thawing: clinical implications on oocyte freezing-a review article. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2003;202(1–2):101.7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hunter J, Bernard A, Fuller B, McGrath J, Shaw RW. Plasma membrane water permeabilities of human oocytes: the temperature dependence of water movement in individual cells. J Cell Physiol. 1992;150(1):175–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Paynter SJ. A rational approach to oocyte cryopreservation. Reprod Biomed Online. 2005;10(5):578–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Cobo A, Pérez S, De los Santos MJ, Zulategui J, Domingo J, Remohí J. Effect of different cryopreservation protocols on the metaphase II spindle in human oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2008;17(3):350–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cao YX, Xing Q, Li L, Cong L, Zhang ZG, Wei ZL, Zhou P. Comparison of survival and embryonic development in human oocytes cryopreserved by slow-freezing and vitrification. Fertil Steril. 2009;92(4):1306–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Coticchio G, Bromfield JJ, Sciajno R, Gambardella A, Scaravelli G, Borini A, Albertini DF. Vitrification may increase the rate of chromosome misalignment in the metaphase II spindle of human mature oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;19(Suppl 3):29–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nottola SA, Coticchio G, Sciajno R, Gambardella A, Maione M, Scaravelli G, Bianchi S, Macchiarelli G, Borini A. Ultrastructural markers of quality in human mature oocytes vitrified using cryoleaf and cryoloop. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;19(Suppl 3):17–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Gualtieri R, Mollo V, Barbato V, Fiorentino I, Iaccarino M, Talevi R. Ultrastructure and intracellular calcium response during activation in vitrified and slow-frozen human oocytes. Hum Reprod. 2011;26(9):2452–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bianchi V, Macchiarelli G, Borini A, Lappi M, Cecconi S, Miglietta S, Familiari G, Nottola SA. Fine morphological assessment of quality of human mature oocytes after slow freesing or vitrification with a closed device: a comparative analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2014;12:110.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Palmerini MG, Antinori M, Maione M, Cerusico F, Versaci C, Nottola SA, Macchiarelli G, Khalili MA, Antinori S. Ultrastructure of immature and mature human oocytes after cryotop vitrification. J Reprod Dev. 2014;60(6):411–20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Bonetti A, Cervi M, Tomei F, Marchini M, Ortolani F, Manno M. Ultrastructural evaluation of human metaphase II oocytes after vitrification: closed versus open devices. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(3):928–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Manipalviratn S, Tong ZB, Stegmann B, Wildra E, Carter J, DeCherney A. Effect of vitrification and thawing on human oocyte ATP concentration. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(5):1839–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Chamayou S, Bonaventura G, Alecci C, Tibullo D, Di Raimondo F, Guglielmino A, Barcellona ML. Consequences of metaphase II oocyte cryopreservation on mRNA content. Cryobiology. 2011;62(2):130–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Monzo C, Haouzi D, Roman K, Assou S, Dechaud H, Hamamah S. Slow freezing and vitrification differentially modify the gene expression profile of human metaphase II oocytes. Hum Reprod. 2012;27:2160–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Smith GD, Silva E, Silva CA. Developmental consequences of cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes and embryos. Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;9(2):171–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ebner T, Moser M, Sommergruber M, Gaiswinkler U, Shebl O, Jesacher K, Tews G. Occurrence and developmental consequences of vacuoles throughout preimplantation development. Fertil Steril. 2005;83(6):1635–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hyttel P, Vajta G, Callesen H. Vitrification of bovine oocytes with the open pulled straw method: ultrastructural consequences. Mol Reprod Dev. 2000;56(1):80–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wu C, Rui R, Dai J, Zhang C, Ju S, Xie B, Lu X, Zheng X. Effects of cryopreservation on the developmental competence, ultrastructure and cytoskeletal structure of porcine oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev. 2006;73(11):1454–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Boonkusol D, Faisaikarm T, Dinnyes A, Kitiyanant Y. Effects of vitrification procedures on subsequent development and ultrastructure of in-vitro matured swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2007;19(2):383–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Paynter SJ, O’Neil L, Fuller BJ, Shaw RW. Membrane permeability of human oocytes in the presence of the cryoprotectant propane-1,2-diol. Fertil Steril. 2001;75(3):532–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kleinhans FW. Membrane permeability modelling: Kedem-Katchalsky vs a two-parameter formalism. Cryobiology. 1998;37(4):271–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Leibo SP. Water permeability and its activation energy of fertilized and unfertilized mouse ova. J Membr Biol. 1980;53(3):179–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Newton H, Pegg DE, Barrass R, Gosden RG. Osmotically inactive volume, hydraulic conductivity, and permeability to dimethyl sulfoxide of human mature oocytes. J Reprod Fertil. 1999;117(1):27–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Mazur P. Kinetics of water loss from cells at subzero temperatures and the likelihood of intracellular freezing. J Gen Physiol. 1963;47:347–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Fuller B, Paynter S. Fundamentals of cryobiology in reproductive medicine. Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;9:680–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Arav A. Cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos. Theriogenology. 2014;81(1):96–102.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Vajta G, Nagy ZP. Are programmable freezers still needed in the embryo laboratory? Review on vitrification. Reprod Biomed Online. 2006;12:779–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Vajta G. Vitrification in human and domestic animal embryology: work in progress. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2013;25:719–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Vajta G, Reichart A, Ubaldi F, Rienzi L. From a backup technology to a strategy-outlining approach: the success story of cryopreservation 2013. Expert Rev Obst Gynecol. 2013;8:181–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Mori C, Yabuuchi A, Ezoe K, Murata N, Takayama Y, Okimura T, Uchiyama K, Takakura K, Abe H, Wada K, Okuno T, Kobayashi T, Kato K. Hydroxypropyl cellulose as an option for supplementation of cryoprotectant solutions for embryo vitrification in human assisted reproductive technologies. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015;30:613–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Papis K, Shimizu M, Izaike Y. Factors affecting the survivability of bovine oocytes vitrified in droplets. Theriogenology. 2000;54:651–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Vajta G, Holm P, Kuwayama M, Booth PJ, Jacobsen H, Greve T, Callesen H. Open Pulled Straw (OPS) vitrification: a new way to reduce cryoinjuries of bovine ova and embryos. Mol Reprod Dev. 1998;51:53–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Seki S, Mazur P. Effect of warming rate on the survival of vitrified mouse oocytes and on the recrystallization of intracellular ice. Biol Reprod. 2008;79:727–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Seki S, Mazur P. The dominance of warming rate over cooling rate in the survival of mouse oocytes subjected to a vitrification procedure. Cryobiology. 2009;59:75–82.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Mazur P, Seki S. Survival of mouse oocytes after being cooled in a vitrification solution to −196 degrees C at 95 degrees to 70,000 degrees C/min and warmed at 610 degrees to 118,000 degrees C/min: a new paradigm for cryopreservation by vitrification. Cryobiology. 2011;62:1–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Stoop D, De MN, Jansen E, Platteau P, Van den Abbeel E, Verheyen G, Devroey P. Clinical validation of a closed vitrification system in an oocyte-donation programme. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012;24:180–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Papatheodorou A, Vanderzwalmen P, Panagiotidis Y, Prapas N, Zikopoulos K, Georgiou I, Prapas Y. Open versus closed oocyte vitrification system: a prospective randomized sibling oocyte study. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;26:595–602.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Panagiotidis Y, Vanderzwalmen P, Prapas Y, Kasapi E, Goudakou M, Papatheodorou A, Passadaki T, Petousis S, Nikolettos N, Veletza S, Prapas N, Maroulis G. Open versus closed vitrification of blastocysts from an oocyte-donation programme: a prospective randomized study. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;26:470–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Yavin S, Arav A. Measurement of essential physical properties of vitrification solutions. Theriogenology. 2007;67:81–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Martino A, Songsasen N, Leibo SP. Development into blastocysts of bovine oocytes cryopreserved by ultra-rapid cooling. Biol Reprod. 1996;54:1059–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Bielanski A, Vajta G. Risk of contamination of germplasm during cryopreservation and cryobanking in IVF units. Hum Reprod. 2009;24:2457–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Vajta G, Rienzi L, Ubaldi FM. Open versus closed systems for vitrification of human oocytes and embryos. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015;30:325–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Vajta G, Lewis IM, Kuwayama M, Greve T, Callesen H. Sterile application of the Open Pulled Straw (OPS) vitrification method. Cryo Letters. 1998;19:389–92.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Cobo A, Romero JL, Perez S, de los Santos MJ, Meseguer M, Remohi J. Storage of human oocytes in the vapor phase of nitrogen. Fertil Steril. 2010;94:1903–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Parmegiani L, Accorsi A, Bernardi S, Arnone A, Cognigni GE, Filicori M. A reliable procedure for decontamination before thawing of human specimens cryostored in liquid nitrogen: three washes with sterile liquid nitrogen (SLN(2)). Fertil Steril. 2012;98:870–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Neelke De Munck

  2. Central Queensland University, Bruce Highway, North Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

    Gábor Vajta

  3. GENERA Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clincia Valle Giulia, via de notaris 2b, Rome, Italy

    Laura Rienzi

Authors
  1. Neelke De Munck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gábor Vajta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laura Rienzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neelke De Munck .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Dominic Stoop

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

De Munck, N., Vajta, G., Rienzi, L. (2018). Oocyte Cryopreservation Technique. In: Stoop, D. (eds) Preventing Age Related Fertility Loss. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14857-1_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14857-1_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-14856-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-14857-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation