Chilling sensitivity of mammalian embryos
1994
Pollard, J.W. | Leibo, S.P.
Thousands of live young of domestic animals have been produced by the transfer of cryopreserved embryos, indicating that such embryos can withstand exposure to extreme subzero temperatures. Paradoxically, some types of embryos may be severely altered or damaged simply by being cooled below physiological temperatures. For example, in vivo-derived embryos of pigs and in vitro-derived embryos of cattle are extremely sensitive to chilling below +14 degrees C, whereas in vivo-derived embryos of cattle and sheep are not. This chilling sensitivity is dependent on the embryo's stage of development, and on the conditions under which it develops. Furthermore, an embryo's chilling sensitivity appears to be correlated with its freezing sensitivity. Understanding the basis of chilling injury will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of freezing sensitivity, as well as of early embryology of domestic animals.
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