A shorter equilibration period in the VitTrans in-straw bovine embryo vitrification method improves post-warming outcomes

Background VitTrans is a device that enables the vitrification and warming/dilution of in vitro produced bovine embryos followed by their direct transfer to recipient females in field conditions. This study sought to improve the VitTrans method by comparing two equilibration times: short (SE: 3 min) and long (LE: 12 min). Outcome measures recorded in vitrified D7 and D8 expanded blastocysts were survival and hatching rates, differential cell counts, apoptosis rate and gene expression. Results While survival rates at 3 h and 24 h post-warming were reduced (P