A successful technique for the preservation of rabbit embryos
Prins, J.B.; Fox, R.R.
Laboratory Animal Science 34(5): 484-487
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6764 PMID: 6513510 Document Number: 228725
A technique for successfully freezing, thawing and transferring rabbit embryos has been developed. Morulae were collected from 16 superovulated female rabbits by flushing both oviducts and uterine horns with a tissue culture medium, and were then transferred to vials for freezing; DMSO was added in several steps to bring its final concentration to 1.6 M. For freezing, the temp. was lowered by 0.5 degrees or 1.0 degrees C per min to -80 degrees , at which point the vials were transferred directly to liquid nitrogen. Thawing was done at 8 degrees per min. After thawing, phosphate-buffered saline was added in a stepwise manner to dilute the DMSO. The thawed morulae were then cultured at 37 degrees . Transfer of the embryos was accomplished by laparotomising a pseudopregnant doe, and introducing the embryos into the fimbriated ends of the oviducts. The 101 embryos transferred resulted in 45 implantations and 34 liveborn young.