China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (2): 626-637.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2023.02.020

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances in Oocyte and Embryo Defatting Methods for Domestic Animals

XU Xi1, YANG Yuze2, HAO Haisheng1, DU Weihua1, ZHU Huabin1, YANG Baigao1, ZHAO Xueming1   

  1. 1. Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. Beijing General Station of Animal Husbandry Service, Beijing 100101, China
  • Received:2022-07-18 Online:2023-02-05 Published:2023-02-06

Abstract: Cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos can be combined with reproduction techniques such as superovulation and embryo transfer to break the limitations of physiology,region and time on the reproductive potential of female animals,which is of great significance for international circulation of germplasm,propagation of excellent domestic animals and conservation of germplasm of endangered animals.However,oocytes or embryos are prone to membrane damage,endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial damage and lipid peroxidation during cryopreserved process due to the abundant lipid content,which reduces their developmental ability after thawing and greatly limits the application of cryopreserved oocytes and embryos.Many researches have shown that reducing the lipid content of oocytes or embryos before cryopreservation is beneficial for improving the survival rate,blastocyst rate,and pregnancy rate of them after thawing.At present,there are three popular methods to reduce lipid content such as removing lipid droplets by micromanipulation after polarization by centrifugation,promoting lipid metabolism by adding chemicals,and regulating the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism.In this review,the mechanisms of damages caused by high lipid content in oocyte and embryo were briefly expounded,the principles,effects and limitations of methods that reduce the content of lipids by centrifugation or chemicals were summarized,and the possibility of lipid removal by regulating the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism was discussed.This review could provide some reference for the development of more stable cryopreservation technology of oocyte and embryo.

Key words: oocyte; embryo; degreasing; refrigeration efficiency

CLC Number: