Effect of supplementation of vitrification solution on post-thaw survivability rate of porcine follicular oocytes

Abstract

Oocytes (510) with two or more cumulus cell layers adhered to zona pellucida obtained by aspiration from follicles (2–8 mm dia) of 127 abattoir porcine ovaries were utilized to study the effect of supplementation of 0.5 M sucrose (Suc), 50 mg/ml polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and Suc + PVP into two different vitrification solutions, i.e. 35% concentration of both ethylene glycol (EG)+ propylene glycol (PG) and EG + dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). Vitrified post-thaw oocytes with intact zona pellucida and vitelline membrane, normal spherical shape and dark and evenly granulated cytoplasm under a stereo-zoom microscope were considered as viable. Out of the three supplements treatments, supplementation with sucrose + PVP combination and sucrose alone resulted in significantly higher mean post-thaw survivability rate of vitrified oocytes both for EG + PG and EG + DMSO as compared to the supplementation with PVP alone. It was concluded that addition of sucrose alone or in combination with PVP in vitrification solution, significantly improved survivability of vitrified porcine follicular oocytes.