A modified cryopreservation method increases the survival of human biopsied cleavage stage embryos

BACKGROUND: The relatively poor survival rate of human biopsied cleavage stage embryos following cryopreservation is a significant obstacle in the application of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). We have attempted to improve cryosurvival of biopsied embryos by modifying the standard embryo cryopreservation technique. METHODS: Biopsied embryos were cryopreserved in 1.5 mol/l 1,2-propanediol in the presence of an elevated concentration of sucrose (0.2 mol/l) and human serum albumin was replaced by maternal serum (20% vol:vol). An additional initial thawing step in the presence of 0.3 mol/l sucrose was also included. RESULTS: The proportion of biopsied embryos which survived cryopreservation with > or =50% of their blastomeres intact was significantly higher using the modified method (138/185; 75%) than that observed using the standard propanediol method (20/46; 43%; P = 0.022). Total blastomere survival was also significantly increased as a result of the modifications (1010/1513; 67% versus 177/385; 46%; P < 0.001). Six fetal hearts have been detected to date following replacement of biopsied embryos cryopreserved with the modified method. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of human biopsied cleavage stage embryos can be restored to a level similar to that of non-biopsied controls by modification of the cryopreservation procedure. Embryos which have been cryopreserved using the modified method can implant following replacement in utero.     

The effects of cryopreservation and thawing on the development in vitro and in vivo of biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos.

The possible impact of cryopreservation on biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos was investigated. Biopsied and control 8-cell embryos were cryopreserved using a slow freezing and quick thawing protocol with 1,2-propanediol as a cryoprotectant. The cryopreservation process did not affect either the recovery or the survival of biopsied embryos, when compared with intact controls; however, sham controls survived significantly better than biopsied 8-cell embryos (88.6 versus 74.2%, P less than 0.001). When fully and partially intact surviving embryos were cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage, there was no difference in the proportions of embryos which formed blastocysts (biopsy 97.2%, intact control 98.4% and sham control 93.7%). The developmental potential and fetal development in vivo following embryo transfer were not impaired when assessed on day 17 of pregnancy. Cryopreservation of biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos is therefore a feasible approach to storing embryos while analysis of the biopsied material is carried out.     

Cryopreservation of biopsied embryos at the blastocyst stage

BACKGROUND: The availability of an efficient cryopreservation program is especially important in the case of embryos that have undergone blastomere biopsy for PGD. Unfortunately, the freezing/thawing of biopsied embryos has given disappointing results when performed at the cleavage stage. In this study, embryos diagnosed as normal after PGD were grown to the blastocyst stage, frozen and thawed for successive frozen embryo transfer. METHODS: A total of 34 patients performed a thawing cycle in which 47 blastocysts were thawed. The cryopreservation solutions were based on HEPES-buffered medium supplemented with human serum albumin (HSA), sucrose and 1,2-propanediol. The same protocol was applied to embryos from 88 IVF/ICSI patients, which underwent 92 thawing cycles with 150 thawed blastocysts. RESULTS: The survival rate was similar in the two groups (53% after PGD and 58% in IVF/ICSI cycles), as well as the cumulative pregnancy rate per patient (59% after PGD versus 47% in IVF/ICSI cycles), despite a higher maternal age and a lower proportion of embryos available for transfer or cryopreservation in the PGD group. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the survival rate nor the subsequent development and chances of implantation, differed between embryos frozen at the blastocyst stage following biopsy and those frozen intact.     

Zona pellucida damage to human embryos after cryopreservation and the consequences for their blastomere survival and in-vitro viability

The study objective was to quantify zona pellucida (ZP) damage in cryopreserved human embryos. The influence of two different freezing containers was investigated, and the influence of freezing damage on the survival and viability of the embryos evaluated. ZP damage did not differ according to whether embryos originated from in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles or from IVF cycles in association with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The freezing container, however, significantly influenced the occurrence of ZP damage after cryopreservation. More damage was observed when the embryos were frozen-thawed using plastic cryovials than using plastic mini-straws (16.6% versus 2.3%; P < 0.0001). A clear association was found between blastomere survival and ZP intactness. Consequently, the percentage of embryos with 100% blastomere survival was higher when embryos were frozen-thawed using plastic mini-straws. The further cleavage of frozen-thawed embryos suitable for transfer was not different whether there was ZP damage or not; however, it was higher when there was 100% blastomere survival as compared with when some blastomeres were damaged (79.0% versus 43.7%; P < 0.0001). Consequently, more embryos suitable for transfer cleaved further when they were frozen-thawed using plastic mini-straws. In conclusion, the aim of a cryopreservation programme should be to have as many fully intact embryos as possible after thawing. Increased ZP damage might indicate a suboptimal cryopreservation procedure.     

Effect of using slush nitrogen (SN2) on development of microsurgically manipulated vitrified/warmed mouse embryos

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of vitrification using slush nitrogen (SN(2)) on cryopreservation of micromanipulated mouse embryos. METHODS: The zona pellucida of 4-cell embryos was either left intact or dissected or dissected with biopsy of an intact blastomere. In a second study, a blastomere was destroyed and either removed (removed group) or not removed (remained group) prior to vitrification/freezing. The micromanipulated embryos were equilibrated and loaded into an open pulled straw (OPS), and plunged into liquid nitrogen (LN(2)) or SN(2). RESULTS: When using LN(2) vitrification, recovery and blastocyst formation rates of embryos were lower for zona pellucida-opened and/or blastomere-biopsied embryos compared with zona pellucida-intact embryos. Using SN(2) for vitrification resulted in increased survival and development of vitrified/warmed embryos in both the zona pellucida-opened and blastomere-biopsy groups. Similar results were observed when using embryos with a destroyed blastomere either removed or left remaining before vitrification. However, the number of total and apoptotic cells were similar for both LN(2) and SN(2). In addition, using SN(2) increased the rate of intact recovery and blastocyst formation in warmed hemi-8-cell embryos derived from the same embryo. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that vitrification using SN(2) is useful in cryopreservation of micromanipulated embryos obtained from a variety of programs, including assisted hatching, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and nuclear transfer.     

Impact of blastomere biopsy and cryopreservation techniques on human embryo viability

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cryopreservation on 55 embryos which had one blastomere biopsied for preimplantation genetic diagnosis of aneuploidy before freezing. The thawing outcome was compared to that obtained in 94 embryos which derived from our conventional freezing programme in patients with comparable characteristics who were treated in the same period. Their embryos were morphologically similar but the incidence of aneuploidy was 100% in the biopsy group and unknown in the controls. The percentage of embryos which survived intact after thawing was significantly lower in the biopsied group compared to the controls (9 versus 25% respectively; P < 0.025), whereas the rate of lysis was superior among biopsied embryos (34 versus 13% in the controls; P < 0.001). Similarly, the survival index was higher in the frozen-intact embryos than in the embryos which were frozen after biopsy (61 versus 38%; P < 0.001). No empty zonae resulted in the control group, while six were found after thawing biopsied embryos. In the second part of the study, blastomere biopsy was implemented on 102 thawed embryos generated by 16 patients. The chromosomal analyses revealed that 49 were normal, leading to the transfer of 2.5 +/- 0.8 embryos per patient. Only three clinical pregnancies were obtained, and are presently ongoing. In conclusion, the present findings discourage the use of conventional cryopreservation protocols in strategies involving preimplantation genetic diagnosis in human reproductive medicine. Adequate protocols are required for freezing and thawing embryos which have been subjected to biopsy procedures.     

Reduced survival after human embryo biopsy and subsequent cryopreservation.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is performed in couples at risk of genetic disease, so as to avoid transfer of embryos which are affected by a monogenic disease or which carry chromosomal aberrations. As in all in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, supernumerary non-affected good-quality embryos may be available after PGD. These embryos can be cryopreserved. So far, limited data on survival after cryopreservation of biopsied human embryos are available. In this study, human embryos of good morphological quality derived from abnormal fertilization were used to evaluate the influence of the embryo biopsy procedure on survival after cryopreservation. Embryos were allocated to three different groups: control (n = 20), drilling-only (n = 16), and biopsy (n = 29). After freezing and thawing, a significantly lower number of blastomeres was intact in the drilling-only group (46/118, i.e. 39.0%, P < 0.01) and in the embryo biopsy group (46/156, i.e. 29.5%, P < 0.0001) than in the control group (85/151, i.e. 56.3%). This difference was reflected in survival rates of embryos. Fifty-five per cent of the control embryos, 37.5% of the drilling-only group, and 33.3% of the biopsy group had at least 50% of their blastomeres intact. After further in-vitro culture, four blastocysts, three from the drilling-only group and one from the biopsy group, developed from the surviving embryos. From this study it can be concluded that current cryopreservation procedures are less successful when biopsied human embryos are cryopreserved, but that surviving embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage and thus may have the potential to develop to term.     

玻璃化法与慢速程序法对人第3天胚胎冷冻复苏效果的比较

目的比较玻璃化法与慢速程序法对人第3天（D3）胚胎冷冻复苏的效果。方法将接受体外受精-胚胎移植患者的取卵周期移植后剩余的D3胚胎分别进行玻璃化法或慢速程序法冷冻,比较胚胎解冻后的复苏率、妊娠率等指标。结果玻璃化法冷冻解冻78个周期,228个胚胎,存活210个（92.11%）,完整胚胎172个（81.90%）,移植77个周期,临床妊娠32个周期（41.56%）,种植率20.95%;慢速程序法冷冻解冻157周期,702个胚胎,存活405个（57.69%）,完整胚胎207个（51.11%）,移植148周期,临床妊娠58个周期（39.19%）,种植率17.78%。玻璃化法的胚胎复苏率、完整胚胎率高于慢速程序法（P〈0.05）;玻璃化法的临床妊娠率和种植率略高于慢速程序法,但差异无统计学意义。结论玻璃化法的冷冻复苏率比慢速程序法高,更适用于人D3胚胎的冷冻保存。     

种属和发育期及不同实验条件对卵裂期胚胎冷冻复苏结局的影响

背景：人卵裂期胚胎冷冻复苏的研究中,不同的实验条件及实验动物模型是否与人类胚胎具有相同的敏感性从而反映出实验方案的优劣值得探讨。 目的：观察胚胎种属和发育期及不同冷冻条件对卵裂期胚胎冷冻复苏结局的影响。 方法：将人卵裂期胚胎作为对照组,将KM小鼠胚分为2细胞,4细胞,8细胞组。各组胚胎随机采用以下实验方案：①冷冻操作环境温度18~20 ℃、24~26 ℃和37 ℃。②慢速程序化方案、自制straw叶片玻璃化方案和CPS玻璃化方案。③与玻璃化液接触时间< 40 s、40~60 s和60~90 s。各组胚胎比较不同实验条件下胚胎复苏率和培养24 h发育率。 结果与结论：①对照组24~26 ℃冷冻操作环境温度复苏率高于37 ℃冷冻操作环境(P < 0.05)。②对照组和4细胞鼠胚组采用自制straw叶片玻璃化方案复苏率高于慢速程序化方案(P < 0.05),培养24 h胚胎发育率差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。③各组胚胎与冷冻保护剂接触不同时间胚胎复苏率差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。表明卵裂期胚胎玻璃化冷冻复苏效果优于慢速程序化,24~26 ℃操作环境、减少冷冻保护剂剂量和缩短接触时间可改善玻璃化冷冻复苏结局;相同冷冻条件下,胚胎种属和发育阶段对冷冻复苏结局有影响,4细胞鼠胚更适合作为研究人类卵裂期胚胎冷冻复苏的实验模型。     

Comparison of the effects of controlled-rate cryopreservation and vitrification on 2-cell mouse embryos and their subsequent development.

Effects of two cryopreservation procedures (conventional slow controlled-rate freezing using a programmable freezer and vitrification by direct plunging into liquid nitrogen) were compared on 2-cell embryos and their subsequent development to blastocysts, fresh or cryopreserved 2-cell mouse embryos were developed into blastocysts in vitro. The percentage of vitrified embryos which developed into blastocysts was significantly lower than that of fresh and slow controlled-rate frozen embryos. Although blastocysts from each cryopreservation procedure appeared morphologically normal and neither number of cells in the blastocysts nor in-vitro trophoblast spreading differed significantly, there were significant differences in their functional viability. First, the glucose incorporation activity in terms of [(3)H]2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake in vitrified and thawed 2-cell embryos significantly decreased compared with fresh or slow controlled-rate frozen and thawed 2-cell embryos. Second, 2-DG uptake by blastocysts developed in vitro from fresh 2-cell embryos and from slow controlled-rate frozen or vitrified 2-cell embryos was 105 +/- 75, 43.0 +/- 28.3 and 22.0 +/- 11.4 fmol/embryo/h respectively. Third, the implantation rate of blastocysts developed in vitro from vitrified 2-cell embryos (10.2%) was significantly lower than that from fresh 2-cell embryos (30.8%) or slow controlled-rate frozen 2-cell embryos (22.1%). Since these data suggest that cryopreservation may have ulterior consequences on the functional development of embryos and that vitrification may exert a more harmful effect than slow controlled-rate freezing, more attention should be paid to its safety before vitrification is used routinely in a clinical programme.     

Blastocyst formation and cell numbers in human frozen-thawed embryos following extended culture

BACKGROUND: Blastomere loss following human embryo cryopreservation has been shown to be associated with reduced implantation potential. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanism, the present study was designed to investigate the consequences of blastomere loss on subsequent preimplantation development in vitro. METHODS: Cryopreserved embryos destined for disposal were thawed and cultured for 96 h prior to determination of total cell numbers in resultant blastocysts. RESULTS: The proportion of embryos which formed blastocysts in vitro was significantly reduced when blastomere loss was evident in thawed embryos (25 versus 41% in fully intact thawed embryos). In addition, blastocysts from partially intact thawed embryos exhibited a significant reduction in total cell number (45.0 versus 58.4 in blastocysts from fully intact thawed embryos). Development to the blastocyst stage was significantly less frequent in fully intact thawed embryos which had been generated using ICSI (19%) compared with standard IVF (47%), although cell numbers in the resultant blastocysts were similar (57.1 and 58.6 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Blastomere loss following cryopreservation impairs preimplantation development and results in reduced cell numbers at peri-implantation stages. ICSI is associated with reduced potential for post-thaw development of cryopreserved embryos in vitro.     

Observational clinical follow-up of oocyte cryopreservation using a slow-freezing method with 1,2-propanediol plus sucrose followed by ICSI

BACKGROUND: The value of oocyte cryopreservation remains controversial. Two major problems exist: poor survival and injury to the oocyte meiotic spindle after freezing and thawing. METHODS: For slow oocyte cryopreservation, we used 1.5 mol/l 1,2-propanediol and 0.3 mol/l sucrose. We waited 3 h after thawing for possible recovery of the meiotic spindles before performing ICSI. RESULTS: Forty-three women undergoing IVF or ICSI cycles cryopreserved some or all of their harvested oocytes; of these, 20 thawed their cryopreserved oocytes for personal use and one for donation. The survival rate of oocytes after thawing was 75%, with 67% of oocytes fertilizing normally after ICSI. All 21 cycles (100%) resulted in fertilization and embryo transfers. Seven pregnancies (33%) resulted. Four women delivered five babies with normal karyotypes. Three conceptions are ongoing. Compared to 38 cycles of frozen-thawed embryos at the pronuclear stage in the same period, the percentages of survival, pregnancy and implantation were similar. Additionally, four unmarried women with white blood cell diseases underwent oocyte freezing before preconditioning treatment for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol achieved reproducible success of survival, fertilization and pregnancy for freezing and thawing of human oocytes. The 3 h post-thaw incubation could permit restoration of the meiotic spindles, thus facilitating normal fertilization.     

Pregnancy after the replacement of a frozen-thawed embryo with >50% intact blastomeres

Early embryo freezing with saccharose and propanediol givesa survival rate of 62% of the embryos if 4 cell embryos withonly one intact blastomere afer thawing are included. The firstpregnancy achieved with such an embryo is reported as well aspreliminary results obtained in our IVF programme using theFrench method.     

Spontaneous blastomere fusion after freezing and thawing of early human embryos leads to polyploidy and chromosomal mosaicism

The incidence of blastomere fusion after cryopreservation of early human embryos (day 2 and day 3) was investigated using the standard propanediol technique. The process of fusion was observed in all developmental stages (from 2 to 10 cells) and the frequency of this event was 4.6% in day 2 (41/889) and 1.5% in day 3 (10/646) embryos that survived the thawing (embryos with 50-100% intact cells). Fusion of two, and occasionally of several, blastomeres resulted in the formation of multinucleated hybrid cells, which clearly indicated that the ploidy of these newly created cells had been altered. This event, depending on the number of fused cells per embryo, transformed the embryos into either entirely polyploid embryos (complete fusion at 2- or 3-cell stage) or into mosaics being a mixture of polyploid and normal cells. Chromosomal preparations of embryos affected by blastomere fusion indicated the presence of tetraploid mitotic plates. Also, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using DNA probes targeting unique sequences on chromosomes 9, 15, 17 and 22 indicated the existence of tetraploid and diploid fluorescence signals in the interphase nuclei within mosaics. Therefore, observations on live and fixed embryos suggested that tetraploid (4n) or hexaploid (6n) and tetraploid-diploid or more complex aberrations of ploidy might be formed as a consequence of blastomere fusion. Furthermore, this demonstrates that freezing and thawing may induce numerical chromosomal changes in human embryos.     

Refreezing of murine intact and biopsied embryos by rapid-freezing procedure

The in-vivo development of murine morula stage embryos frozen-thawed once or twice and embryos biopsied after one freezing cycle and refrozen was studied. Embryos (n = 860) were cryopreserved using a rapid-freezing procedure. At least 24 h after freezing, embryos were thawed and cultured in vitro for 3 h. In experiment I, morphologically intact embryos were either transferred (n = 180) into recipients or refrozen (n = 160). Unfrozen embryos (control group, n = 180) and refrozen embryos stored for at least 24 h and then thawed, were transferred into recipients. In experiment II, embryos frozen once were thawed and biopsied or sham-biopsied (n = 230 and 180 respectively) and refrozen (n = 226 and 179 respectively). They were thawed and transferred (n = 192 and 160 respectively) into recipients. Recipient mice were either killed on day 15 after embryo transfer and number of implantation sites and live fetuses recorded or pregnant recipients (n = 6, experiment II) were allowed to carry the fetuses to term. There was no difference in the survival rate of embryos at thawing between those frozen once or twice (91 versus 93%). The implantation rate and number of live fetuses in the pregnant recipients at necropsy among those transferred with unfrozen embryos (57% and 51%; 8/9), embryos frozen once (55% and 45%; 8/9) or twice (51% and 48%; 6/8) was not different. There was no difference in the survival rate of refrozen embryos biopsied or sham-biopsied after one freezing cycle (89 versus 87%). The implantation rate and number of live fetuses in pregnant animals transferred with biopsied or sham-biopsied embryos was not different (64 and 41% versus 57 and 37% respectively). All six pregnant animals allowed to carry the fetuses to term delivered normal live fetuses (n = 39). On mating 12 females with six males of the progeny born out of biopsied embryos, all became pregnant and delivered live fetuses. It may be concluded that murine biopsied and intact embryos can be successfully refrozen by rapid-freezing procedure.     

冷冻方法对人卵裂期冷冻胚胎移植周期妊娠结局的影响

目的探讨慢速冷冻和玻璃化冷冻方法对人卵裂期冷冻胚胎移植周期妊娠结局的影响。方法回顾性分析2011年1月~2015年12月在北京大学第一医院进行卵裂期冷冻胚胎移植的1331个周期,包括慢速冷冻周期431个和玻璃化冷冻周期900个,比较两种不同冷冻方法的胚胎复苏率、完整胚胎率、临床妊娠率、种植率、流产率等各项指标,并分析卵裂球损伤对胚胎发育潜能的影响。结果玻璃化冷冻的胚胎复苏率(92.53%)、完整胚胎率(75.43%)、临床妊娠率(45.72%)、种植率(27.41%)高于慢速冷冻(76.93%、48.46%、39.52%、19.88%,P0.05);而流产率分别为12.20%、12.56%(P0.05);周期取消率分别为3.71%、1.33%(P0.05)。慢速冷冻移植0、1、2、3个无卵裂球损伤胚胎的临床妊娠率分别为:36.2%、37.7%、42.0%、44.3%(P0.05);玻璃化冷冻移植0、1、2、3个无卵裂球损伤胚胎的临床妊娠率分别为:20.5%、42.3%、48.8%、54.1%(P0.05)。结论玻璃化冷冻法更适合于人卵裂期胚胎冷冻保存,其冷冻胚胎移植周期的妊娠结局要优于慢速冷冻法;卵裂球损伤对玻璃化冷冻复苏胚胎的发育潜能影响较大。     

Simple, efficient and successful vitrification of bovine blastocysts using electron microscope grids.

This study demonstrates that higher survival of vitrified-thawed bovine blastocysts can be obtained using electron microscope (EM) grids as embryo containers at freezing, rather than plastic straws. In-vitro produced day 7 bovine blastocysts after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were vitrified on grids or in straws with EFS40 freezing solution and their survival after thawing was compared. Embryo survival was assessed as re-expanded and hatched rates at 24 and 48 h after thawing respectively. When the effects of exposure to vitrification solution and chilling injury from the freezing procedure were examined, embryo survival in the exposure group (24 h: 100, 48 h: 73.3%) was not different compared with that in the control group (100, 84.4%). After vitrification, the hatched rate of the EM grid group 48 h after thawing (67.8%) was significantly higher than that of the straw group (53.3%) (P < 0.05). Fast developing embryos (expanded blastocyst and early hatching blastocyst stage) showed better resistance to freezing than delayed ones (early blastocyst stage), irrespective of embryo containers (early: 24 h, 57.1 and 48 h, 24.4%; expanded: 84.7 and 60.6%; early hatching: 91.7 and 80.0%) (P < 0.001). When using expanded and early hatching blastocysts, embryo survival rates in the vitrification-EM grid group (67.8, 95.0% respectively) were significantly higher than that of the vitrification-straw group (53.0, 65.0%) at 48 h.     

超快速玻璃化冷冻人早期胚胎的临床应用价值初探

目的观察cryotop超快速玻璃化冷冻人早期胚胎的临床效果并探讨其应用价值。方法玻璃化冷冻试剂盒购自日本KITAZATO Biopharma公司,对新鲜周期胚胎移植后未妊娠患者的胚胎施行胚胎复苏,观察胚胎复苏后的存活率,胚胎分级和临床妊娠情况。结果共行胚胎复苏63个周期,201个胚胎,胚胎复苏后存活189个,胚胎复苏存活率为94.03%（189/201）;移植胚胎63个周期,移植胚胎总数187个,平均每周期移植胚胎2.97个（187/63）;临床妊娠30个周期,临床妊娠率为47.62%（30/63）,种植率为20.32%（38/187）,多胎率为23.33%（7/30）,流产率为6.67%（2/30）。结论 cryotop超快速玻璃化冷冻法简便且胚胎存活率高,是一种较好的冷冻人早期胚胎的方法。     

Cryopreservation of in vitro cultured mouse preimplantation embryos

We investigated two different freezing protocols on mouse embryos that were either grown in vivo or were grown in vitro for a certain period. Our results confirm that an extended in vitro culture period makes the embryo more susceptible for injury due to freezing and thawing. Furthermore when freezing two cell mouse embryos we could observe that this early stage is more dependent on optimal cryopreservation protocol parameters than later stages.     

Bulk vitrification of human embryonic stem cells

BACKGROUND: The traditional vitrification method cannot keep up with the increased culture and propagation efficiency required to cryopreserve large quantities of vigorously proliferating human embryonic stem (HES) cells. In this study, we describe a newly invented vitrification carrier for cryopreserving large amount of HES cells and evaluate whether this bulk vitrification (BV) method is as effective as the popular open-pulled straw (OPS) vitrification method. METHODS: HES cell clumps were harvested after passage and transferred to a cell strainer; only those clumps with a diameter more than 70 microm were included in the study and randomly selected to be cryopreserved by the BV method, OPS vitrification or slow freezing method. HES cell survival, growth and pluripotency were analyzed after thawing. RESULTS: Bulk vitrification method with cell strainer could cryopreserve 136 +/- 23.4 cell clumps at one time (round), which was 30 times as high as those for OPS method (4 +/- 1.5). After thawing, bulk-vitrified HES cells exhibited high survival rate up to 94.3%, comparable with the OPS method. All surviving cell clumps generated HES cell colonies. Teratomas comprising all three primordial germ layers were formed in severe combined immunodeficient mice after subcutaneous injection of post-thawed, bulk-vitrified HES cell clumps, confirming pluripotency. CONCLUSIONS: This new BV method could cryopreserve a large quantity of HES cell clumps at one time, which not only would satisfy routine cryopreservation of HES cell during daily culture process but also guarantee researchers have large quantity of efficiently cryopreserved HES cells ready for a scheduled study at any time.