Vitrification of embryos modifies foetal placenta proteome. LCMSMS

Very limited information about the post-implantatory effects of vitrification has been published till now. In a previous study, we observed that vitrification procedure introduced transcriptomic and proteomic modifications in the rabbit foetal placenta at the middle of gestation. In addition, a reduction in maternal placenta and foetal weight was also detected. In order to know if these alterations were temporary or not, the aim of the current study was to analyse the proteomic profile of rabbit foetal placenta at two different times of gestation: Day 14 and Day 24. We performed a comparative 2D-DIGE analysis and found that placentas from vitrified embryos expressed eleven different proteins at Day 14 and thirteen at Day 24. The alteration of serum albumin, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 [NADP+] and phosphoglycerate mutase 1 were maintained both Day 14 and Day 24. Our results demonstrate that vitrification is not neutral, and induce a substantial alteration of placental protein expression, even at the end of gestation. But, apart from short-term effects observed on embryos, could vitrification entail long-term consequences in those foetuses that are going to be born? Further studies will determine if alterations observed could be the set point of future modifications to manifest into adulthood