Cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos is a supplementary technique for in vivo and in vitro embryo production. In the last decade, the technique has been improved but did not achieve a satisfactory commercial level. Also, the results were variable. The pregnancy and live birth rates were 16 to 52% and 5.3 to 26.9% after implantation of vitrified embryos, respectively (from the year 1993 to 2020). In final consideration, the quality of oocytes and embryos is the most important factor to obtain better results after cryopreservation. The addition of antioxidant and lipid-depleting agents to the medium is a factor that improves cryogenic tolerance. Additionally, two-step vitrification is a reliable method for cryopreservation. Studying epigenetic effects and introducing lipidomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies can help improve this technology.

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The present study aims to evaluate the effect of two culture media on the production of in vitro embryos in alpacas (Vicugna pacos). The ovaries were transported at 10.52° C in 0.9% saline solution supplemented with gentamicin. The ovaries were transported at 10.52° C in 0.9% physiological saline solution supplemented with gentamicin. 492 ovaries were used throughout the experiment. 2142 oocytes of quality I, II and III were recovered. The oocytes were matured in vitro for 32 h and were subsequently fertilized (incubated for 18 h) with sperm obtained from the tail of the epididymis and selected with a 45/90 percoll gradient. Then, the presumed zygotes were denuded from the cumulus cells, to later be cultured in two culture media: synthetic oviductal fluid medium (SOFaa) and simple optimized potassium medium (KSOMaa) and incubated at 38.5 ° C, 5 % CO2, 5%, O2, and 90% relative humidity for 7 days. Morula and blastocyst rate evaluation was performed at the end of embryo culture. The morula rate at 7 days was 41.49 ± 10.52 and 41.51 ± 6.50% for KSOMaa and SOFaa, respectively (P <0.05). The blastocyst rate for the two culture media KSOMaa and SOFaa, was 14.08 ± 5.17 and 11.73 ± 5.69 %, respectively, and there were no statistical differences (P˃0.05). The embryonic quality in KSOMaa and SOFaa media did not show statistical differences. In conclusion, the KSOMaa and SOFaa culture medium can be used in the production of in vitro embryos of alpacas