Cryopreserved mouse embryos could revolutionize fertility treatments and save millions.
In this study, scientists looked at how well mouse embryos at different stages could survive being frozen and then thawed out. They tried using various mixtures of chemicals to protect the embryos during freezing. The best mixture had glycerol and 1,2-propanediol. When they thawed these frozen embryos at 35℃, nearly 38% grew into blastocysts, a stage of healthy embryo development. But embryos thawed at lower temperatures didn't do as well. The embryos at 2- and 4-cell stages were the most sensitive to freezing, having the lowest chances of survival. This research helps us understand how to better preserve developing mouse embryos in case they need to be stored or transported for medical or research reasons.