Increase in digyny explains polyploidy after in-vitro fertilization of frozen-thawed mouse oocytes.

Fewer frozen-thawed mouse oocytes cleaved to the 2-cell stage compared to fresh control oocytes fertilized in vitro (46% vs 79%). The reduced rate of 2-cell formation was only partly explained by a decreased rate of fertilization (63% vs 85%). However, subsequent development to expanded blastocysts was not different (75% vs 78%). An increased frequency of second polar body retention by fertilized frozen-thawed oocytes compared with controls (11.8% vs 1.3%) was shown to be largely responsible for the higher incidence of polyploidy (16.3% vs 3.7%). The frequency of polyspermic fertilization was not different in the two groups (3.9% vs 2.3%).