OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of two different vitrification cryopreservation methods on the spindles of mouse M II oocytes.

METHODSThree groups were included in the experiment, Group A, Group B and the control ( fresh oocytes). Mouse oocytes were vitrified by using cryoloop, with ethylene glycol( EG) in Group A and with EG + dimethyl sulphoxide ( DMSO) in Group B as cryoprotectants, and then the oocytes were placed directly into liquid nitrogen. Three hours after the frozen oocytes were thawed they were fixed, and the microtubule and chromosome were stained by indirect immunofluorescent method.

RESULTSThe survival rates of the oocytes after treated by the two vitrification cryopreservation methods had no difference ( 80. 3% vs 87. 5% , P > 0. 05) . The rate of the intact spindles in Group A was much lower than that of the control and Group B ( 15. 2% vs 78.7% , 15. 2% vs 77. 5% , P < 0. 05). But there was no difference between the latter two groups (78. 7% vs 77. 5% , P >0. 05). The oocytes with normal chromosome in Group A were much less than in the control and Group B (17.4% vs 76. 6% , 17. 4% vs 72. 5% , P <0. 05) , with no difference between the latter two groups(76. 6% vs 72. 5% , P >0. 05) ; The oocytes with abnormal chromosome were more in Group A than in the control and Group B (82. 6% vs 19. 1% , 82. 6% vs 27. 5% , P <0. 05) , with no difference between the latter two groups (19.1% vs 27.5% , P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe changed vitrification cryopreservation method helps conserve the intact spindle configuration of mouse oocytes.