BACKGROUND: If it were possible to deduce the mechanism of injury in cryopreserved embryos by their appearance, it would help to optimize cryopreservation protocols. METHODS: @entity19 blastocysts were treated so that they were damaged by the six types of cryoinjuries listed below, and their appearance was observed at recovery in @entity969 solution and a modified @entity1391 -buffered saline ( @entity69242 ), and after culture for 1 and 24 h. RESULTS: (i) Intracellular ice: the embryos shrank normally in @entity969 solution, but swelled in @entity69242 and collapsed after culture. (ii) @entity137 of the cryoprotectant: the embryos looked normal in @entity969 solution and @entity69242 . After 1 h of culture, however, the blastomeres showed decompaction and degenerated thereafter. If the @entity137 was extremely high, embryos looked nearly normal in @entity69242 , but the surface of the cytoplasm was wrinkled as if they were "fixed". (iii) Osmotic swelling: the embryos looked normal in @entity69242 , but after culture they shrank. (iv) Osmotic shrinkage: the embryos swelled in @entity69242 , and then collapsed. (v) @entity16 : the zona pellucida of the embryos was dissected. (vi) Extracellular ice: the zona of the embryos was elongated. CONCLUSIONS: It was often possible to deduce the @entity130 that had occurred in cryopreserved embryos from their appearance at recovery and during subsequent culture. This may help to improve cryopreservation protocols for embryos of many species, including @entity1 .

Morphological appearance of the cryopreserved XXXX blastocyst as a tool to identify the type of cryoinjury.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['man'] @entity137 :: ('MESH:D064420', 'Disease') :: ['toxicity', 'Chemical toxicity'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['Mouse'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['Fracture damage'] @entity69242 :: ('66923(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['PB1'] @entity969 :: ('MESH:D013395', 'Chemical') :: ['sucrose'] @entity1391 :: ('CHEBI:26020', 'Chemical') :: ['phosphate'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['type of injury']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['mouse']
