Accumulation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose by primate oocytes fertilized in vitro

The present study was designed to investigate the accumulation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) by squirrel monkey oocytes fertilized in vitro; to assess the effects of insulin addition to the medium on 2-DG accumulation; and, finally, to evaluate the use of 2-DG in viability determinations of oocytes. Accumulation of 2-DG by unfertilized oocytes from squirrel monkeys was 13.94 fmol/oocyte/3 h and was not affected by the addition of either 10 nM or 1 μM insulin. There was no change in 2-DG accumulation with fertilization in vitro; 2-DG accumulation by degenerate ova was reduced to background levels. These results suggest low utilization of glucose by early primate embryos similar to that demonstrated for other mammalian species; 2-DG appears to be a good viability indicator of early primate embryos.