Vitrification: A Reliable Method for Cryopreservation of Animal Embryos

The rapidly increasing use of vitrification is one of the greatest achievements of embryology in recent years. Vitrification was developed as a simple and cost-effective alternative to slow-freezing methods. Vitrification is the best alternative for the vitrification of highly cryosensitive embryos such as in vitro-produced embryos or porcine embryos. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the current state of the art in the vitrification of embryos of different livestock species, focusing on the results obtained after the transfer of vitrified in vivo-derived and in vitro-produced embryos. The vitrification and warming media, as well as the devices for embryo vitrification, are also reviewed. In this chapter, we also discuss the importance of lipid content and its impact on embryo vitrification ability. Finally, challenges and potential areas of research in the vitrification of farm animal embryos are highlighted.