Comparison of DNA apoptosis in mouse and human blastocysts after vitrification and slow freezing

Vitrification is a novel cryopreservation method for mammalian blastocysts. This study was designed to compare different vitrification methods and slow freezing for their effects on survival rate and DNA integrity in mouse and human blastocysts. In Experiment 1, embryo survival and DNA integrity were compared between mouse blastocysts with collapsed and non‐collapsed blastoceles. In Experiment 2, embryo survival and DNA integrity were compared between vitrified and slow‐frozen mouse blastocysts. In Experiment 3, embryo survival and DNA integrity were compared between vitrified and slow‐frozen human blastocysts. Fresh blastocysts were used as controls in all experiments. Higher (P