Antioxidants increase blastocyst cryosurvival and viability post-vitrification

Abstract

STUDY QUESTION: What is the effect of antioxidants acetyl-L-carnitine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and α-lipoic acid (A3) in vitrification and warming solutions on mouse blastocyst development and viability? SUMMARY ANSWER: The combination of three antioxidants in vitrification solutions resulted in mouse blastocysts with higher developmental potential in vitro and increased viability as assessed by both an outgrowth model in vitro and fetal development following uterine transfer. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The antioxidant combination of acetyl-L-carnitine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and α-lipoic acid present in IVF handling and embryo culture media has significant beneficial effects on mouse embryo and fetal ..