Rabbit Embryo Thawing: A Warming Procedure to Recover Cryopreserved Rabbit Embryos for Embryo Transfer

To thaw the embryos for a transfer, place the ministraw horizontally, 10 centimeters from the liquid nitrogen vapor for 20 to 30 seconds. When the crystallization process begins inside the ministraw, immerse the straw in a 25-degree Celsius water bath for 10 to 15 seconds. Immediately remove the straw and cotton plugs, and use a coupled microdispenser to expel the ministraw contents into a plate containing 25 degrees Celsius base medium supplemented with 0.33 molar sucrose solution in which embryos must remain during 5 minutes. Then, transfer the embryos to a plate of fresh base medium for another 5-minute incubation.