Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction

Edited byMichael J. Tucker, PhD, HCLD, FI Biol., is scientific director at Georgia Reproductive Specialists in Atlanta, and Director of IVF laboratories at Shady Grove Fertility in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. He earned a doctorate in reproductive physiology from the University of Birmingham in the UK, and is a fellow of The Royal Institute of Biology. Dr. Tucker pioneered the first intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) birth in the United States, the nation's first birth resulting from a testicular biopsy, the world's first birth from frozen donor eggs, and the first pregnancy in the world from immature eggs that were matured after thawing in the IVF lab. His current research interests include pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, extended embryo growth and selection, and gamete/embryo micromanipulation. He has authored numerous peer review papers and chapters over the last 30years, and has served as a scientific consultant and lecturer in more than 50 clinics worldwide.Juergen Liebermann PhD, HCLD (ABB), is certified as a High-complexity Clinical Laboratory Director through the American Board of Bioanalysis. Dr. Liebermann has been working in the field of IVF since 1995. He is the laboratory director for FCI's Chicago/River North Embryology Lab, all FCI Andrology Labs, and the Endocrinology Lab. In his role as director of the Embryology Laboratory, he works with eggs, semen and embryos performing various procedures such as in vitro fertilization, egg vitrification, semen analysis, embryo selection for treatment, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and preimplantation diagnostic and screening of human embryos. Dr. Liebermann’s postdoctoral thesis in 2004 qualified him as a university lecturer in Experimental Reproductive Medicine at the Bavarian University of Wuerzburg, Germany. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the Society for the Study of Reproduction, and the American Board of Bioanalysis. He serves also as an ad hoc reviewer for various scientific publications and has reviewed more than 130 manuscripts for a variety of leading journals in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

• Overview of Biological Vitrification. Vitrification of Oocytes and Embryos: Finally a Recognized Technique, But Still a Source of Concern and Debate. Intracellular Concentration of Cryoprotectant During Vitrification and Slow-Freezing Cryopreservation Procedures? Importance of Cooling Versus Warming Rates in Vitrification Techniques. The Movement of Water and Cryoprotectants in Mammalian Oocytes and Embryos: Membrane Permeability and Aquaporins. Open Versus Closed Systems. Automatic Vitrification: Development of the Gavi System. Vitrification at Minimum Volume: From Basic Science to Clinical Application. Vitrification of Oocytes: General Considerations and the Use of the Cryotec Method. Safety of Vitrification and Cryostorage and Optimization of Cryopreservation Protocols. Physiological Aspects of Oocyte Vitrification. Vitrification of Oocytes: Imprinting and Disturbance in Spindle Formation and Chromosome Segregation. Metabolic Profile of Day 3 Embryos Arising from Vitrified Oocytes. Vitrification of Human Oocytes for In Vitro Fertilization Patients. Oocyte Vitrification: Donor "Egg Banking." Fertility Preservation for oncology Patients. Vitrification of Human Ovarian Tissue. Vitrification of Cleavage-Stage Embryos and Blastocysts and Their Neonatal Outcomes. Vitrification of Human Blastocysts: Clinical Realities and Neonatal Outcomes. Development and Hatching of Human Blastocysts After Vitrification and Warming. Does Storage of Vitrified Blastocysts Have an Impact on Implantation Potential and Birth Rate? Ovarian Tissue Vitrification: Clinical Realities and Outcomes Chapter for From Basic Science to Clinical Application. Vitrification of Human Testicular Tissue, Spermatogonia, and Spermatozoa. Vitrification in Pluripotent Stem Cell Banking: Requirements and Technical Solutions For Large-Scale Biobanks. Scrying The Future: The ongoing Transformation of Reproductive Medicine Through Vitrification.

Praise for the first edition:"… a very interesting and important book in this exciting new field of cryobiology … I sincerely recommend this book for every ART laboratory." —Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica"… the book presents a straightforward description of current vitrification technology to practitioners in human reproduction, as well as possible scenarios for future applications." ——Gynaecological Endocrinology