Effects of human serum and plasma on development of mouse embryos in culture media

Mouse embryos were cultured in Ham's F-10 medium (unsupplemented) and Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with either 15% fetal cord serum, 15% fetal cord plasma, 15% maternal serum, or 15% maternal plasma. None of the blood supplements significantly increased the numbers of embryos that developed to blastocysts, and the last three of the blood supplements inhibited embryo development. The cause of the inhibition was not identified. Estradiol concentrations of blood samples used as media supplements were found not to correlate with inhibition of embryo.