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Mestres E, Matia-Algué Q, Villamar A, Casals A, Acacio M, García-Jiménez M, Martínez-Casado A, Castelló C, Calderón G, Costa-Borges N. Characterization and comparison of commercial oils used for human embryo culture. Hum Reprod 2021; 37:212-225. [PMID: 34791223 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are there significant differences between the available commercial oil brands used for human IVF? SUMMARY ANSWER Important differences have been detected among the tested oil brands in their potential to stabilize culture conditions and, more importantly, in their direct effect on embryo development and viability. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Mineral oil is a critical component of the human culture system due to its protective and stabilizing roles during in vitro embryo development. Many different oils are available on the market, with differences in their viscosity, density and overall quality. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Thirteen different commercial oil brands were compared. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Each oil was firstly analyzed to assess its viscosity, density, peroxide value and potential oxidation. Secondly, the capacity of each oil to reduce pH, osmolality and temperature fluctuations during embryo culture and manipulation was compared. Lastly, a sensitive mouse embryo assay (MEA) protocol, previously optimized to detect toxicity in oils samples, was used to compare the overall quality of the different brands in terms of embryo developmental rates up to the blastocyst stage. At the end of the MEAs, a triple labeling protocol was applied to analyze Oct4+ cells, apoptotic cells and total cell counts in the blastocysts obtained by fluorescence microscopy. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Significant divergences were detected in the rise of osmolality and the equilibration and stability of pH between different oils, which could be correlated to their physico-chemical characteristics. In particular, oil samples with a higher viscosity tended to offer an additional protection against fluctuations in the culture conditions, however, the differences in temperature stability between oils were minor. Two out of the 13 oil samples, which were commercially available, were identified as embryo-toxic by applying the MEA protocol with increased sensitivity for toxicity detection. Additionally, substantial differences in the total number of cells and the number of cells in the inner cell mass of the obtained blastocysts were also detected between oil groups. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A single lot of oil was used for each brand and, thus, lot-to-lot variations in oil quality could not be determined. However, several bottles from the same oil were included to account for potential intra-lot variability. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Commercial oils differ in both their physical characteristics and their performance in maintaining the stability of the culture conditions during in vitro embryo culture. Oil selection is important for embryo culture success. Additionally, the detection of embryo-toxic oils which had already been released to the human IVF market showcases the importance of applying sensitive MEA protocols for a better detection of toxicity in this type of samples. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was privately funded. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mestres
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Q Matia-Algué
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Villamar
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Casals
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Acacio
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M García-Jiménez
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Martínez-Casado
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Castelló
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Calderón
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - N Costa-Borges
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Mestres E, García-Jiménez M, Casals A, Cohen J, Acacio M, Villamar A, Matia-Algué Q, Calderón G, Costa-Borges N. Factors of the human embryo culture system that may affect media evaporation and osmolality. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:605-613. [PMID: 33458748 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Which lab-related factors impact the culture system's capacity to maintain a stable osmolality during human embryo culture? SUMMARY ANSWER Incubator humidity, the volume of mineral oil, the type of culture media and the design of time-lapse dishes have been identified as important parameters that can cause an impact on media evaporation and consequently osmolality during culture. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Culture medium is a critical component in human embryo culture. Minimizing its evaporation during culture is an adequate strategy to stabilize osmolality and, as a result, improving culture conditions and clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The studied variables included media composition and supplementation; volume of mineral oil; incubator humidification; and the type of dish and incubator used. Additionally, six time-lapse dish models were compared in their ability to prevent evaporation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Dishes were incubated in parallel to analyze osmolality during culture between groups: synthetic oviductal medium enriched with potassium versus human tubal fluid medium; protein versus no protein supplementation; dry versus humid atmosphere; high versus low volume of mineral oil. Additionally, media evaporation was compared between six models of time-lapse dishes with distinct designs, cultured in a joint incubator. Two of them were retested in their corresponding incubator to analyze the dish-incubator fit. Daily osmolality measurements were compared between groups. Linear regression was performed to analyze evaporation rates. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Protein supplementation did not significantly affect evaporation. Contrarily, humidity levels inside the incubators, the volume of mineral oil and the type of culture media, played an important role in osmolality stabilization. The design of time-lapse dishes and their recommended preparation protocol heavily influenced their evaporation rates, which were further altered by each incubator's characteristics. Media with initially high osmolalities had a bigger risk of reaching hypertonic levels during culture. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION While numerous, the studied variables are limited and therefore other factors could play a role in osmolality dynamics, as well. Incontrollable atmospheric factors could also result in some variation in the observed results between different centers and laboratories. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Published literature has extensively described how hypertonic media may impair embryo development and negatively affect clinical outcomes; therefore, maintaining a stable osmolality during culture should be considered essential. This work is of interest both for embryologists when analyzing their culture system and methodologies, as well as manufacturers in charge of designing IVF consumables. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was privately funded. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mestres
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M García-Jiménez
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Casals
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Cohen
- ART Institute of Washington, Hudson, NY, USA
| | - M Acacio
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Villamar
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Q Matia-Algué
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Calderón
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - N Costa-Borges
- Embryotools R&D Center, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Chi HJ, Park JS, Yoo CS, Kwak SJ, Son HJ, Kim SG, Sim CH, Lee KH, Koo DB. Effect of evaporation-induced osmotic changes in culture media in a dry-type incubator on clinical outcomes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles. Clin Exp Reprod Med 2020; 47:284-292. [PMID: 33227188 PMCID: PMC7711104 DOI: 10.5653/cerm.2020.03552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether adding outer-well medium to inhibit osmotic changes in culture media in a dry-type incubator improved the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. METHODS In culture dishes, the osmotic changes in media (20 µL)-covered oil with or without outer-well medium (humid or dry culture conditions, respectively) were compared after 3 days of incubation in a dry-type incubator. One-step (Origio) and G1/G2 (Vitrolife) media were used. RESULTS The osmotic changes in the dry culture condition (308 mOsm) were higher than in the humid culture conditions (285-290 mOsm) after 3 days of incubation. In day 3 IVF-ET cycles, although the pregnancy rate did not significantly differ between the dry (46.2%) and humid culture (52.2%) groups, the rates of abortion and ongoing pregnancy were significantly better in the humid culture group (2.3% and 50.2%, respectively) than in the dry culture group (8.3% and 37.8%, respectively, p<0.05). In day 5 IVF-ET cycles, the abortion rate was significantly lower in the humid culture group (2.2%) than in the dry culture group (25.0%, p<0.01), but no statistically significant difference was observed in the rates of clinical and ongoing pregnancy between the dry (50.0% and 25.0%, respectively) and humid culture groups (59.5% and 57.3%, respectively) because of the small number of cycles. CONCLUSION Hyperosmotic changes in media occurred in a dry-type incubator by evaporation, although the medium was covered with oil. These osmotic changes were efficiently inhibited by supplementation of outer-well medium, which resulted in improved pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Deog-Bon Koo
- Institute of Infertility, Daegu University, Daegu, Korea
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4
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Torkashvand H, Fathi R, Shahverdi A, Golkar A, Mozdziak PE, Eimani H. The in vitro effect of chick embryo extract on mice pre-antral follicles. VETERINARY RESEARCH FORUM : AN INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL 2019; 10:213-219. [PMID: 31737230 PMCID: PMC6828170 DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2019.79305.2054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chick embryo extract (CEE) contains a variety of growth factors which may improve in vitro follicle growth. Therefore, the effect of CEE on mouse pre-antral follicle culture was evaluated. Different percentages of CEE (0, 0.50%, 1.00%, 5.00% and 10.00%) were added to culture medium. Hence, the osmolarity of media was measured. Pre-antral follicles with diameter of 120-150 μm were isolated from 12-14 days old mouse ovary and cultured for 12 days. After culture, the maturation rate was assessed. Granulosa cells viability was evaluated using MTT test and estradiol levels were evaluated using related radio-immunoassay (RIA). Genes expression (BMP15 and ALK6) was also evaluated. The osmolarity of media and granulosa cells viability were the same in all groups. Estradiol level in group with 10.00% CEE was significantly decreased compared to the control group. After 12 days culture, the percentage of antral follicles development was significantly higher in the group with 5.00% CEE compared to control group. The percentage of metaphase II and germinal vesicle breakdown oocytes was significantly higher in group 5.00% CEE compared to control group. The expression of BMP15 gene in antral follicles in 5.00% CEE and control groups was significantly lower compared to pre-antral follicles. However, the expression of ALK6 gene in antral follicles in 5.00% CEE and control groups was not significantly different compared to pre-antral follicles. The increasing effect of CEE on follicle viability with keeping normal gene expression indicates that addition of proper percentage of CEE to culture media improves culture conditions, making it a possible choice to be used as a follicular growth enhancer in infertility clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Torkashvand
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Rouhollah Fathi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Shahverdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Golkar
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Paul Edward Mozdziak
- Physiology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hussein Eimani
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University, Tehran, Iran
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Martinez CA, Martinez EA, Gil MA. Importance of oil overlay for production of porcine embryos in vitro. Reprod Domest Anim 2017; 53:281-286. [PMID: 29164713 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Technologies to edit the zygote genome have revolutionized biomedical research not only for the creation of animal models for the study of human disease but also for the generation of functional human cells and tissues through interspecies blastocyst complementation technology. The pig is the ideal species for these purposes due to its great similarity in anatomy and physiology to humans. Emerging biotechnologies require the use of oocytes and/or embryos of good quality, which might be obtained using in vitro production (IVP) techniques. However, the current porcine embryo IVP systems are still suboptimal and result in low monospermic fertilization and blastocyst formation rates and poor embryo quality. During recent years, intensive investigations have been performed to evaluate the influence of specific compounds on gametes and embryos and to avoid the use of undefined supplements (serum and serum derivate) in the incubation media. However, little consideration has been given to the use of the mineral oil (MO) to overlay incubation droplets, which, albeit being a routine component of the IVP systems, is a totally undefined and thus problematic product for the safety of gametes and embryos. In this review, we provide an overview on the advantages and disadvantages of using MO to cover the incubation media. We also review one important concern in IVP laboratories: the use of oils containing undetected contamination. Finally, we discuss the effects of different types of oils on the in vitro embryo production outcomes and the transfer of compounds from oil into the culture media.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Martinez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - E A Martinez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - M A Gil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
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Kelley RL, Gardner DK. In vitro culture of individual mouse preimplantation embryos: the role of embryo density, microwells, oxygen, timing and conditioned media. Reprod Biomed Online 2017; 34:441-454. [PMID: 28268069 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Single embryo culture is suboptimal compared with group culture, but necessary for embryo monitoring, and culture systems should be improved for single embryos. Pronucleate mouse embryos were used to assess the effect of culture conditions on single embryo development. Single culture either before or after compaction reduced cell numbers (112.2 ± 3.1; 110.2 ± 3.5) compared with group culture throughout (127.0 ± 3.4; P < 0.05). Reduction of media volume from 20 µl to 2 µl increased blastocyst cell numbers in single embryos cultured in 5% oxygen (84.4 ± 3.2 versus 97.8 ± 2.8; P < 0.05), but not in 20% oxygen (55.2 ± 2.9 versus 57.1 ± 2.8). Culture in microwell plates for the EmbryoScope and Primo Vision time-lapse systems changed cleavage timings and increased inner cell mass cell number (24.1 ± 1.0; 23.4 ± 1.2) compared with a 2 µl microdrop (18.4 ± 1.0; P < 0.05). Addition of embryo-conditioned media to single embryos increased hatching rate and blastocyst cell number (91.5 ± 4.7 versus 113.1 ± 4.4; P < 0.01). Single culture before or after compaction is therefore detrimental; oxygen, media volume and microwells influence single embryo development; and embryo-conditioned media may substitute for group culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Kelley
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - David K Gardner
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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7
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Martinez CA, Nohalez A, Cuello C, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA, Gil MA. The use of mineral oil during in vitro maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture does not impair the developmental competence of pig oocytes. Theriogenology 2015; 83:693-702. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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8
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Miyoshi K, Mizobe Y. Osmolarity- and stage-dependent effects of glycine on parthenogenetic development of pig oocytes. J Reprod Dev 2014; 60:349-54. [PMID: 24990770 PMCID: PMC4219991 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2013-135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The osmolarities of media that are most effective for in vitro culture of mammalian oocytes and embryos are
lower than that of oviductal fluid. Oocytes and embryos can survive the high physiological osmolarity in
vivo perhaps owing to the presence of amino acids such as glycine, which serve as organic osmolytes in the female
reproductive tract. In the present study, the effects of glycine on the parthenogenetic development of pig oocytes were
examined in hypotonic or isotonic media. The results showed that culturing oocytes in isotonic media improved the cleavage
rates (P<0.01) at 2 days in culture but inhibited any further development beyond cleavage when compared with the hypotonic
media. However, addition of 4 mM glycine to the isotonic media resulted in improved blastocyst formation rates compared with
that observed in the hypotonic media (P<0.01), and there was no inhibition of development beyond the cleavage stages in
oocytes. The beneficial effects of glycine were observed only when oocytes were cultured in isotonic media and glycine was
added at day 2 or 3 in culture. The results from the present study indicate that an isotonic medium with glycine is useful
for in vitro culture of pig oocytes and that glycine may protect pig oocytes against the detrimental effects
of increased osmolarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuchika Miyoshi
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
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9
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Piromlertamorn W, Saeng-anan U, Vutyavanich T. Effects of ovarian endometriotic fluid exposure on fertilization rate of mouse oocytes and subsequent embryo development. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2013; 11:4. [PMID: 23332096 PMCID: PMC3551806 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-11-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accidental exposure of oocyte/cumulus complex to endometriotic fluid is not uncommon during oocyte retrieval. Only two studies were available on this subject and they gave conflicting results. In this study, we used a mouse model to evaluate the effect of controlled exposure of oocytes to ovarian endometriotic fluid. METHODS Mouse oocytes/cumulus complexes (n = 862) were divided into 4 groups, and were exposed to endometriotic fluid (group 1), pooled sera from subjects without endometrioma (group 2), phosphate-buffered saline (group 3), and fertilization medium (controls). After five minutes, oocytes were washed and inseminated. Embryo development was observed daily. The quality of hatching blastocysts was assessed by counting the number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells. RESULTS The fertilization, cleavage and blastocyst formation rates in the four groups were not statistically different. The proportions of hatching/hatched blastocysts from fertilized oocytes in groups 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those in group 3 and controls (P = 0.015). Hatching blastocysts from all groups showed no significant difference in the number of ICM and TE cells. CONCLUSIONS Exposure of mouse oocytes/cumulus complexes to endometriotic fluid had subtle detrimental effects on subsequent blastocyst development. However, one should be cautious in projecting the results of this study to contaminated human oocytes in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waraporn Piromlertamorn
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Ubol Saeng-anan
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Teraporn Vutyavanich
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
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10
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Swain J, Cabrera L, Xu X, Smith G. Microdrop preparation factors influence culture-media osmolality, which can impair mouse embryo preimplantation development. Reprod Biomed Online 2012; 24:142-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2011.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Revised: 10/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Moravek M, Fisseha S, Swain JE. Dipeptide forms of glycine support mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro and provide protection against high media osmolality. J Assist Reprod Genet 2012; 29:283-90. [PMID: 22246224 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-011-9705-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2011] [Accepted: 12/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine potential benefits of dipeptide forms of amino acids for embryo culture by determining ability of dipeptide glycine forms to support embryo development, act as osmolytes, and reduce ammonia production. METHODS Frozen thawed 1-cell mouse embryos were cultured in media with varying osmolality with glycine and dipeptide forms of glycine and development assessed. Ammonia levels were measured in various media. RESULTS Dipeptide forms of glycine, alanyl- and glycyl-glycine, can support mouse embryo development in vitro. Additionally, dipeptide glycine can act as an organic osmolyte in developing embryos, permitting blastocyst formation in high osmolality media. Interestingly, as evidenced by decreased embryo development, dipeptides are not as efficient as osmolytes as their constituent individual amino acids. Dipeptide glycine produced less ammonia than glycine. CONCLUSION Though dipeptides can provide osmoregulation in preimplantation embryos, efficacy may be lower than individual amino acids. The mechanism by which embryos transport and utilize dipeptide amino acids remains to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Moravek
- Department of OB/GYN, Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
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12
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Pogorelova MA, Golichenkov VA, Pogorelova VN, Kornienko EV, Panait AI, Pogorelov AG. Estimation of Isotonic Point of Incubation Medium For Two-Cell Mouse Embryo. Bull Exp Biol Med 2011; 152:142-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s10517-011-1474-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Lin L, Pribenszky C, Molnár M, Kragh PM, Du Y, Zhang X, Yang H, Bolund L, Callesen H, Macháty Z, Vajta G. High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatment of Porcine Oocytes Induces Parthenogenetic Activation. Cell Reprogram 2010; 12:475-80. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2009.0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
- Institute of Human Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- BGI/HuaDa Shenzhen, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Csaba Pribenszky
- Clinic for Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Üllő, Dóra major, Hungary
| | - Miklós Molnár
- Clinic for Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Üllő, Dóra major, Hungary
| | - Peter M Kragh
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Yutao Du
- BGI/HuaDa Shenzhen, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuqing Zhang
- BGI/HuaDa Shenzhen, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanming Yang
- BGI/HuaDa Shenzhen, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Lars Bolund
- Institute of Human Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- BGI/HuaDa Shenzhen, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Henrik Callesen
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Zoltán Macháty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Gábor Vajta
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
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14
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Hwang IS, Park MR, Moon HJ, Shim JH, Kim DH, Yang BC, Ko YG, Yang BS, Cheong HT, Im GS. Osmolarity at early culture stage affects development and expression of apoptosis related genes (Bax-alpha and Bcl-xl) in pre-implantation porcine NT embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2008; 75:464-71. [PMID: 17948237 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study examined whether high osmolarity of culture medium at the early culture stage affects development and expression of apoptosis related genes (Bax-alpha and Bcl-xl) of porcine nuclear transfer (NT) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos. NT and IVF embryos were divided into three groups and the basic medium was PZM-3 (260-270 mOsmol, control group). The control group of embryos was cultured in PZM-3 for whole culture period. Other two groups of embryos were cultured in a modified PZM-3 with 0.05 M sucrose (300-320 mOsmol, sucrose group) or increased NaCl to 138 mM (300-320 mOsmol, NaCl group) for the first 2 days, and then cultured in PZM-3 for 4 days. NT embryos cultured in NaCl group showed a significantly higher developmental rate to the blastocyst stage with a decreased apoptosis rate compared to the control (P < 0.05). There was no difference in blastocyst formation and apoptosis incidence among the three culture treatments for IVF-derived embryos. Bax-alpha mRNA expression was significantly higher in the control than sucrose or NaCl group for both NT and IVF embryos (P < 0.05). Moreover, the relative abundance of Bax-alpha/Bcl-xl was higher in the control than the treatment groups. These results indicate that the higher osmolarity at the early embryonic stage of porcine NT and IVF embryos can improve the in vitro development with reduced apoptosis through regulating the Bax-alpha/Bcl-xl gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Sun Hwang
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, National Livestock Research Institute, RDA, Suwon, Korea
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15
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Li R, Whitworth K, Lai L, Wax D, Spate L, Murphy CN, Rieke A, Isom C, Hao Y, Zhong Z, Katayama M, Schatten H, Prather RS. Concentration and composition of free amino acids and osmolalities of porcine oviductal and uterine fluid and their effects on development of porcine IVF embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 74:1228-35. [PMID: 17342727 PMCID: PMC2559967 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The concentration of free amino acids and the osmolalities in porcine oviductal (OF) and uterine fluids (UFs) on day 3 (D3) and day 5 (D5) were measured by HPLC and Vapor Pressure Osmometer, respectively. Based on these measurements we designed new media based on PZM3 by modifying the amino acid composition and osmolality. The effectiveness of the modified PZM3 on the development of porcine IVF embryos was then investigated. A total of 24 free amino acids were measured, including 20 protein and 4 nonprotein amino acids (beta-alanine, taurine, ornithine, and citrulline). There was no significant difference in the total concentration of amino acids among D3OF (13.06 +/- 3.63 mmol/L), D3UF (10.54 +/- 5.16 mmol/L), or D5UF (10.23 +/- 6.69 mmol/L). But the total concentration of amino acids in D5OF (5.89 +/- 1.47 mmol/L) was significantly lower than the three fluids above. Some individual amino acids varied significantly depending on where they were collected and from which day. The blastocyst rates of porcine IVF embryos were not improved when embryos were cultured in PZM3 with amino acids at D3OF (PZM3-D3OF, 20.3 +/- 7.9%) or D5UF (PZM3-D5UF, 14.3 +/- 10.7%) concentrations or in PZM3-D3OF for the first 48 (20.5 +/- 15.1), 72 (25.6 +/- 10.4), and 96 (18.7 +/- 10.0) hr and then transferred into PZM3-D5UF compared with PZM3 with Sigma amino acid solution (PZM3-SAA) (30.8 +/- 9.1%). However, when IVF embryos were cultured in PZM3-D5UF, the average nuclear number per blastocyst (57.6 +/- 8.3) was increased compared to PZM3-SAA (40.5 +/- 3.5). The osmolalities in D3OF, D3UF, D5OF, and D5UF were 318 +/- 8, 320 +/- 32, 321, and 293 +/- 8 mOsM, respectively. When the IVF embryos were cultured in PZM3-SAA and PZM3-D3OF at a variety of osmolalities (150-360 mOsM), higher blastocyst rates were obtained at 270-300 mOsM in the PZM3-SAA group (24.6-33.9%) and 270-290 mOsM in PZM3-D3OF group (22.4-24.2%). The blastocyst rate gradually decreased when the osmolality was increased or decreased in both groups. When the embryos were cultured in PZM3-SAA at 330 mOsM for the first 72 hr and then transferred to 250 mOsM (33.3 +/- 3.4%), the blastocyst rate was higher than original PZM3 (21.2 +/- 2.2%) (288 mOsM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongfeng Li
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Kristin Whitworth
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
- National Swine Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | | | - Lee Spate
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Clifton N. Murphy
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - August Rieke
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | | | - Yanhong Hao
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Zhisheng Zhong
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Mika Katayama
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Heide Schatten
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Randall S. Prather
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
- National Swine Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211
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16
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Heo YS, Cabrera LM, Song JW, Futai N, Tung YC, Smith GD, Takayama S. Characterization and resolution of evaporation-mediated osmolality shifts that constrain microfluidic cell culture in poly(dimethylsiloxane) devices. Anal Chem 2007; 79:1126-34. [PMID: 17263345 PMCID: PMC2605290 DOI: 10.1021/ac061990v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Evaporation is a critical problem when handling submicroliter volumes of fluids. This paper characterizes this problem as it applies to microfluidic cell culture in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) devices and provides a practical solution. Evaporation-mediated osmolality shifts through PDMS membranes with varying thicknesses (10, 1, 0.2, or 0.1 mm) were measured over 96 h. Even in humidified cell culture incubators, evaporation through PDMS and associated shifts in the osmolality of culture media was significant and prevented mouse embryo and human endothelial cell growth and development. A simple diffusion model, where the measured diffusion coefficient for PDMS matches reported values of approximately 10-9 m2/s, accounts for these evaporation and osmolality shifts. To overcome this problem, a PDMS-parylene-PDMS hybrid membrane was developed that greatly suppresses evaporation and osmolality shifts, yet possesses thinness and the flexibility necessary to interface with deformation-based microfluidic actuation systems, maintains the clarity for optical microscopy, and enables the successful development of single-cell mouse embryos into blastocysts under static conditions and culture of human endothelial cells under dynamic recirculation of submicroliter volumes of media. These insights and methods demonstrated specifically for embryo and endothelial cell studies will be generally useful for understanding and overcoming evaporation-associated effects in microfluidic cell cultures.
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17
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Kawagishi R, Tahara M, Sawada K, Morishige K, Sakata M, Tasaka K, Murata Y. Na+ / H+ exchanger-3 is involved in mouse blastocyst formation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 301:767-75. [PMID: 15559938 DOI: 10.1002/jez.a.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The mouse blastocyst consists of the trophectoderm, the inner cell mass, and a fluid-filled cavity, the blastocoel. Formation and subsequent expansion of this cavity is important for further differentiation of the inner cell mass and successful implantation. Previous work provided evidence that vectorial transport of Na+ and CL- ions through the trophectoderm into the blastocoel generates an osmotic gradient that drives fluid across this epithelium. As the activity of the Na+ / H+ exchanger (NHE) has been implicated as the exchanger responsible for facilitating the transtrophectodermal Na+ flux, the functional role of NHE in mouse blastocoel development was determined. Embryos were cultured in the presence of subtype-specific NHE inhibitors to examine the role of NHEs in blastocoel development. When 2-cell stage embryos were treated continuously with a specific inhibitor of NHE-1, cariporide, the embryos passed beyond the 8-cell stage and became blastocysts. However, in the presence of a specific inhibitor of NHE-3, S3226, the 2-cell stage embryos developed to the morula stage but formation of the blastocyst were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Cariporide did not inhibit the formation of the blastocoel cavity from the morula stage whereas S3226 did inhibit that process. S3226 also reduced the rate of re-expansion of blastocysts collapsed by cytochalasin D upon transfer to the control medium. An immunofluorescence study showed that NHE-3 was detected in the vicinity of the cell membrane of the trophectoderm, especially in the apical cell margins of the trophectoderm. These results suggest that NHE-3 is likely involved in blastocyst formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikako Kawagishi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
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18
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Hammer MA, Baltz JM. Betaine is a highly effective organic osmolyte but does not appear to be transported by established organic osmolyte transporters in mouse embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2002; 62:195-202. [PMID: 11984829 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Betaine protects early preimplantation mouse embryos against increased osmolarity in vitro, functioning as an organic osmolyte. Betaine is effective at very low external concentrations, with half-maximal protection of 1-cell embryo development to blastocysts at approximately 50 microM, making it one of the best osmoprotectants for mouse preimplantation embryos. We performed studies designed to determine whether known high-affinity organic osmolyte transporters could account for the ability of betaine to act as an organic osmolyte in preimplantation embryos. We found no evidence in 1-cell embryos of transport by a betaine/GABA transporter (BGT1), the osmoregulated betaine transporter found in a number of cell types, as betaine and GABA did not inhibit each other's transport. Instead, all saturable GABA transport in embryos was apparently via the beta-amino acid transporter. We also found that the glycine transporter, GLY, which mediates osmoprotective transport of glycine in early preimplantation embryos, does not appear to transport betaine. Finally, increased osmolarity did not induce any detectable System A amino acid transporter activity, which is osmotically-inducible in other cells and can transport betaine. There does appear, however, to be a saturable betaine transporter in 1-cell mouse embryos, as considerable 14C-betaine transport was measured which was substantially inhibited by excess unlabeled betaine. Our data imply that betaine functions as an organic osmolyte in embryos due to its saturable transport via a mechanism distinct from known osmolyte transporters. We propose that an unidentified high-affinity betaine transporter may be expressed in early embryos and mediate transport of betaine as an organic osmolyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Anne Hammer
- Ottawa Health Research Institute (Hormones, Growth, and Development Unit), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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19
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Abstract
The early preimplantation mammalian embryo possesses mechanisms that regulate intracellular osmolarity and cell volume. While transport of osmotically active inorganic ions might play a role in this process in embryos, the major mechanisms that have been identified and studied are those that employ organic osmolytes. Organic osmolytes provide a substantial portion of intracellular osmotic support in embryos and are required for their development under in vivo conditions. The main osmolytes that have been identified in cleavage stage embryos are accumulated via two transport systems of the neurotransmitter transporter family active in early preimplantation embryos--the glycine transport system (GLY) and the beta-amino acid transport system (system beta). While system beta has been established to have a similar role in many other cells, this is a novel function for the GLY transport system. The intracellular concentration of organic osmolytes such as glycine in early preimplantation embryos is regulated by tonicity, allowing the embryo to regulate its volume against shrinkage and to control its internal osmolarity. In addition, the cells of the embryo can regulate against an increase in volume via controlled release of osmolytes from the cytoplasm. This is mediated by a swelling-activated anion channel that is also highly permeable to a range of organic osmolytes, and which closely resembles similar channels found in many other cell types (VSOAC channels). Together, these mechanisms appear to regulate cell volume in the egg through the early cleavage stages of embryogenesis, after which there are indications that the mechanisms of osmoregulation change.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Baltz
- Ottawa Health Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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20
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Collins JL, Baltz JM. Estimates of mouse oviductal fluid tonicity based on osmotic responses of embryos. Biol Reprod 1999; 60:1188-93. [PMID: 10208982 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod60.5.1188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Zygotes and early cleavage-stage embryos are very sensitive to increased osmolality in vitro, although the tonicity of their in vivo environment, oviductal fluid, is unknown. A preference for low osmolality in vitro might imply similar conditions in vivo or be specific to culture. Previous electron probe x-ray microanalysis measurements of total ion content predicted oviductal fluid osmolalities of 310-360 mOs/kg, higher than osmolalities tolerated by mouse zygotes in vitro. However, such indirect estimates may not reflect the tonicity experienced by embryos. We have now used embryos themselves as osmosensors to determine the tonicity of mouse oviductal fluid. In one method, we measured the mean volume of zygotes in undiluted oviductal fluid and compared this to the mean volumes measured for zygotes in media spanning a range of osmolalities. The osmolality corresponding to the measured mean volume in oviductal fluid was taken to be isotonic. In another, independent method, the sizes of zygotes and two-cell embryos were measured as a function of time beginning immediately after removal from oviducts. The osmolality in which the embryos neither swelled nor shrank was taken to be isotonic. Both methods yielded approximately the same range for the tonicity of oviductal fluid: around 290-300 mOs/kg.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Collins
- Loeb Research Institute and Human IVF Program, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4E9
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21
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Abstract
Whole-cell currents in mouse zygotes were measured using the patch-clamp technique in whole-cell mode. Upon exposure to hypotonic medium, patch-clamped zygotes increased in volume and developed a large swelling-activated current. The swelling-activated current was blocked by Cl- channel blockers, and the magnitude of the current and reversal potential were dependent on the Cl- gradient. Thus, the swelling-activated current had the properties of a current mediated by anion channels. However, in addition to being permeable to Cl- and I- (with I- having the greater permeability), there was also a significant swelling-activated conductance to aspartate and taurine, indicating that the swelling-activated channels in zygotes conduct not only inorganic anions but organic osmolytes as well. This swelling-activated anion and organic osmolyte pathway likely underlies the ability of zygotes to recover from an increase in volume, and it may function to regulate intracellular amino acid concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kolajova
- Loeb Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Dawson KM, Collins JL, Baltz JM. Osmolarity-dependent glycine accumulation indicates a role for glycine as an organic osmolyte in early preimplantation mouse embryos. Biol Reprod 1998; 59:225-32. [PMID: 9687289 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod59.2.225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse zygotes and early cleavage-stage embryos are sensitive to increased osmolarity. However, development can occur at higher osmolarities if any of a number of organic compounds are present. One of the most effective of these is glycine. We have found that the amount of glycine accumulated by embryos during in vitro culture from the zygote to two-cell stage depends on the osmolarity of the medium, with significantly more glycine accumulated at 310 or 340 mOsM than at 250 mOsM. The accumulated glycine is largely retained in a freely diffusible form, as it can be released via a swelling-activated pathway in two-cell embryos. Increased glycine accumulation does not seem to depend on an increase in its rate of transport. The transport rate is not higher in two-cell embryos that have been cultured from zygotes in hypertonic vs. normal medium, and hypertonicity only slightly stimulates transport in zygotes. Our results indicate that glycine functions as an organic osmolyte in early mouse embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Dawson
- Loeb Medical Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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