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Neural Tube Closure in Mouse Whole Embryo Culture
Published on: October 21, 2011
Effect of culture systems on mouse early embryo development
J Ali1, W K Whitten, J N Shelton
1Division of Clinical Sciences, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Embryo culture medium development is crucial. Equilibration and specific additives like glucose and glutamine significantly impact embryo development to blastocyst stage, with air providing a viable alternative to CO2 atmospheres.
Area of Science:
- Embryology
- Reproductive Biology
- Cell Culture
Background:
- Oxygen availability in embryo drop cultures can be limited by gas mixtures, equilibration methods, and pressure filtration.
- Optimizing culture conditions is essential for successful preimplantation embryo development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of culture medium equilibration, glucose, and glutamine on early embryo development.
- To evaluate the efficacy of culturing embryos under an air atmosphere compared to a CO2 atmosphere.
Main Methods:
- Experiments involved Swiss outbred (SO) embryos and (C57BL/6 x SJL) F1 x SO embryos.
- Culture media variations included equilibration methods, glucose and glutamine supplementation, and bicarbonate concentration.
- Embryo development was assessed from the 1-cell to blastocyst stage.
Main Results:
- Prior equilibration of culture medium was critical for optimal embryo development from 1-cell to blastocyst.
- Glucose did not increase the 2-cell block incidence, while glutamine enhanced 1-cell to blastocyst development.
- HEPES buffered CZB medium with 10 mM sodium bicarbonate under air supported embryo development comparable to CZB under 5% CO2 in air.
Conclusions:
- Proper medium equilibration is vital for successful in vitro embryo development.
- Specific nutrient supplementation (glutamine) can enhance embryo progression.
- Culturing embryos under an air atmosphere with appropriate buffering is a feasible alternative to CO2-dependent systems.
