X-Message-Number: 14788
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 12:49:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: ethylene glycol toxicity vs temperature

Title
  Survival of mouse morulae vitrified in an ethylene glycol-based solution
  after exposure to the solution at various temperatures.
Source
  Biology of Reproduction.  47(6):1134-9, 1992 Dec.
Abstract
  Mouse morulae were exposed in one step to a vitrification
  solution (EFS, a modified PBS containing 40% ethylene glycol, 18% Ficoll, and
  0.3-M sucrose) at various temperatures, then cooled rapidly in liquid
  nitrogen, and then warmed rapidly. All of the embryos exposed to the EFS
  solution for 0.5 min at 25 degrees C before vitrification
  developed in culture. However, survival rates were lower if the duration of
  exposure was prolonged to 2, 5, or 10 min. At lower ambient temperatures (20,
  10, and 5 degrees C), high survival rates were associated with longer
  exposure to the EFS solution. The toxicity of the EFS
  solution was also lower at lower temperatures. The toxic injury of morulae
  was manifested as decompaction of the blastomeres. Among the three additives
  in the EFS solution, ethylene glycol, which can cross cell membranes, was
  responsible for the toxicity. The results show that the
  optimum time for exposure of the embryos to the EFS solution before rapid
  cooling varies with the ambient temperature, i.e., 0.5 min at 25 degrees C,
  0.5-5 min at 20 degrees C, 2-5 min at 10 degrees C, and 2-10 min at 5 degrees
  C. If they are exposed for an optimum period, almost all mouse morulae can
  survive vitrification (94-100%).

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