Impact of erythrocytes on mouse embryonal development in vitro

To elucidate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the development of mouse embryo, effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and erythrocytes were studied in vitro. Oocytes were fertilized and 2-cell-cleaved embryos were cultured in the presence or absence of either erythrocytes, SOD or catalase. Under standard culture conditions, the fertilization and cleavage rates were 77.4 and 12.5%, respectively. In the presence of xanthine and xanthine oxidase, those rates decreased to 28.2 and 4.5%, respectively. The hazardous effect of ROS was completely inhibited by erythrocytes. These results suggested that small amounts of erythrocytes might effectively degrade ROS during the development of cultured embryos.