The cryopreservation of mammalian embryos has become an integral part of method s to control animal reproduction. Numerous vitrification solutions have been formulated with ethylene glycol in combination with macromolecules, sugars and other cryoprotective agents. These indicate that a study of ethylene glycol as a cryoprotectant of choice in vitrification studies would be promising. To understand the cryobiology of ethylene glycol, several factors have to be studied. These are : cryoprotectant toxicity, osmotic stress and temperature at exposure. Understanding these factors could lead to the formulation of vitrification protocols that would lead to higher viability rates after cooling. First, ethylene glycol must be used as the sole cryoprotectant in a solution without macromolecules and sugars. Second, partial dehydration and permeation prior to cooling to subzero temperatures must be studied to achieve accurate exposure and a one-step dilution method. Third, the toxic effects of ethylene glycol must be overcome without sacrificing its vitrification properties by combining step-wise exposure at appropriate temperatures, low concentration and decreased volume. Fourth, the long-term effects of ethylene glycol on exposed or vitrified embryos must be determined. Lastly, the influence of culture on the viability of vitrified embryos must be studied to improve viability rates after warming

The problem of creation of improved conditions for cattle oocyte maturation in vitro was studied in the Republic of Belarus. The objects of study were cattle oocytes and embryos of early preimplantation stages of development obtained in vitro conditions. Research results showed that application of bovine serum in complex with embryonic or fetal serum in the process of oocyte cultivation in vitro conditions made it possible to obtain 35,5-44,8% of breaking down cells and 16,1-17,2 % of embryos at the stage of morula-blastocyte. Entering of 0,02 ng/ml of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Surfagon) into media for oocyte maturation at the cost of regulation of the processes of growing and development of oocyte-cumulus complexes made it possible to increase of yield of matured till the stage of metaphase II oocytes up to 89,3 %. At the same time, the yield of divided embryos after fertilization increased on 2,5 % in comparison with control indexes and amounted 45,2 %. Research results showed that the synthetic phytohormone epibrassinolide could be used as a biologically active factor in the process of getting early embryos in vitro in concentration of 2 x 10E-7 – 2 x 10E-9 mole/l. It made it possible to get 46,4-55,0 % of divided cells and 14,2-16,2% preimplantation embryos