Embryo culture medium: which is the best?

Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Volumn 21, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 83-100

  Lane, Michelle ^a   Gardner, David K ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE   (Australia)

^b National Foundation for Fertility Research   (United States)

Author keywords

blastocyst; culture media; IVF; viability

Indexed keywords

AMINO ACID; AMMONIA; EDETIC ACID; GLUCOSE;

CELL STRESS; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CRYOPRESERVATION; CULTURE MEDIUM; EMBRYO; EMBRYO CULTURE; EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT; EMBRYO TRANSFER; EXPERIMENTAL MODEL; FERTILIZATION IN VITRO; FETAL WELL BEING; FETUS; FETUS GROWTH; HEALTH CARE FACILITY; HUMAN; LIVE BIRTH; MEDICAL RESEARCH; NIDATION; NONHUMAN; PREGNANCY; PREIMPLANTATION EMBRYO; PRIORITY JOURNAL; QUALITY CONTROL; REVIEW; SPONTANEOUS ABORTION; SURVIVAL RATE;

BLASTOCYST; CULTURE MEDIA; EMBRYO CULTURE TECHNIQUES; EMBRYO TRANSFER; FEMALE; HUMANS; PREGNANCY;

EID: 33847359724     PISSN: 15216934     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2006.09.009     Document Type: Review

References (103)

1. Gardner D.K., Lane M., and Schoolcraft W.B. Physiology and culture of the human blastocyst. J Reprod Immunol 55 (2002) 85-100
2. Pool T.B. An update on embryo culture for human assisted reproductive technology: media, performance, and safety. Semin Reprod Med 23 (2005) 309-318
3. Behr B., and Wang H. Effects of culture conditions on IVF outcome. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 115 supplement 1 (2004) S72-S76
4. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Culture and selection of viable blastocysts: a feasible proposition for human IVF?. Hum Reprod Update 3 (1997) 367-382
5. Gardner D.K., and Balaban B. Choosing between day 3 and day 5 embryo transfers. Clin Obstet Gynecol 49 (2006) 85-92
6. Adashi E.Y., Barri P.N., Berkowitz R., et al. Infertility therapy-associated multiple pregnancies (births): an ongoing epidemic. Reprod Biomed Online 7 (2003) 515-542
7. Gardner D.K., Reed L., Linck D., et al. Quality control in human in vitro fertilization. Semin Reprod Med 23 (2005) 319-324
8. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Towards a single embryo transfer. Reprod Biomed Online 6 (2003) 470-481
9. Schoolcraft W.B., Gardner D.K., Lane M., et al. Blastocyst culture and transfer: analysis of results and parameters affecting outcome in two in vitro fertilization programs. Fertil Steril 72 (1999) 604-609
10. Schoolcraft W.B., and Gardner D.K. Blastocyst culture and transfer increases the efficiency of oocyte donation. Fertil Steril 74 (2000) 482-486
11. Blake D., Proctor M., Johnson N., et al. Cleavage stage versus blastocyst stage embryo transfer in assisted conception. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2 (2002) CD002118
12. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Blastocyst transfer. Clin Obstet Gynecol 46 (2003) 231-238
13. Papanikolaou E.G., Camus M., Kolibianakis E.M., et al. In vitro fertilization with single blastocyst-stage versus single cleavage-stage embryos. N Engl J Med 354 (2006) 1139-1146
14. Zander D.L., Thompson J.G., and Lane M. Perturbations in mouse embryo development and viability caused by ammonium are more severe after exposure at the cleavage stages. Biol Reprod 74 (2006) 288-294
15. Lonergan P., Rizos D., Gutierrez-Adan A., et al. Effect of culture environment on embryo quality and gene expression - experience from animal studies. Reprod Biomed Online 7 (2003) 657-663
16. Lonergan P., Rizos D., Gutierrez-Adan A., et al. Oocyte and embryo quality: effect of origin, culture conditions and gene expression patterns. Reprod Domest Anim 38 (2003) 259-267
17. Shi W., and Haaf T. Aberrant methylation patterns at the two-cell stage as an indicator of early developmental failure. Mol Reprod Dev 63 (2002) 329-334
18. Gosden R., Trasler J., Lucifero D., et al. Rare congenital disorders, imprinted genes, and assisted reproductive technology. Lancet 361 (2003) 1975-1977
19. Halliday J., Oke K., Breheny S., et al. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and IVF: a case-control study. Am J Hum Genet 75 (2004) 526-528
20. Li T., Vu T.H., Ulaner G.A., et al. IVF results in de novo DNA methylation and histone methylation at an Igf2-H19 imprinting epigenetic switch. Mol Hum Reprod 11 (2005) 631-640
21. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Embryo culture systems. In: Gardner D.K., and Trounson A. (Eds). Handbook of In Vitro Fertilization (1999), CRC Press, New York 123-150
22. Whittingham D.G. Culture of mouse ova. J Reprod Fertil 14 supplement (1971) 7-21
23. Quinn P., Kerin J.F., and Warnes G.M. Improved pregnancy rate in human in vitro fertilization with the use of a medium based on the composition of human tubal fluid. Fertil Steril 44 (1985) 493-498
24. Ham R.G. An improved nutrient solution for diploid Chinese hamster and human cell lines. Exp Cell Res 29 (1963) 515-526
25. Eagle H. Amino acid metabolism in mammalian cell cultures. Science 130 (1959) 432-437
26. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Alleviation of the '2-cell block' and development to the blastocyst of CF1 mouse embryos: role of amino acids, EDTA and physical parameters. Hum Reprod 11 (1996) 2703-2712
27. Gardner D.K. Mammalian embryo culture in the absence of serum or somatic cell support. Cell Biol Int 18 (1994) 1163-1179
28. Lawitts J.A., and Biggers J.D. Joint effects of sodium chloride, glutamine, and glucose in mouse preimplantation embryo culture media. Mol Reprod Dev 31 (1992) 189-194
29. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Blastomere homeostasis. In: Lane M., and Gardner D.K. (Eds). Art and the Human Blastocyst (2001), Serono Symposia, Boston
30. - exchange is activated during early mouse zygote development. Dev Biol 208 (1999) 392-405
31. Whitaker M. Calcium at fertilization and in early development. Physiol Rev 86 (2006) 25-88
32. Dumollard R., Duchen M., and Sardet C. Calcium signals and mitochondria at fertilisation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 17 (2006) 314-323
33. + spiking to cell cycle progression. Reproduction 130 (2005) 813-823
34. +) oscillations in eggs and embryo development. Development 129 (2002) 3533-3544
35. Schultz R.M. The molecular foundations of the maternal to zygotic transition in the preimplantation embryo. Hum Reprod Update 8 (2002) 323-331
36. Braude P., Bolton V., and Moore S. Human gene expression first occurs between the four- and eight-cell stages of preimplantation development. Nature 332 (1988) 459-461
37. Fleming T.P., McConnell J., Johnson M.H., et al. Development of tight junctions de novo in the mouse early embryo: control of assembly of the tight junction-specific protein, ZO-1. J Cell Biol 108 (1989) 1407-1418
38. Biggers J.D., Bell J.E., and Benos D.J. Mammalian blastocyst: transport functions in a developing epithelium. Am J Physiol 255 (1988) C419-C432
39. Gott A.L., Hardy K., Winston R.M., et al. Non-invasive measurement of pyruvate and glucose uptake and lactate production by single human preimplantation embryos. Hum Reprod 5 (1990) 104-108
40. Hardy K., Hooper M.A., Handyside A.H., et al. Non-invasive measurement of glucose and pyruvate uptake by individual human oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Hum Reprod 4 (1989) 188-191
41. Gardner D.K., Lane M., Stevens J., et al. Noninvasive assessment of human embryo nutrient consumption as a measure of developmental potential. Fertil Steril 76 (2001) 1175-1180
42. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Mitochondrial malate-aspartate shuttle regulates mouse embryo nutrient consumption. J Biol Chem 280 (2005) 18361-18367
43. Pantaleon M., and Kaye P.L. Nutrient sensing by the early mouse embryo: hexosamine biosynthesis and glucose signalling during preimplantation development. Reprod Fertil Dev 17 (2005) 70
44. Gardner D.K., and Leese H.J. Concentrations of nutrients in mouse oviduct fluid and their effects on embryo development and metabolism in vitro. J Reprod Fertil 88 (1990) 361-368
45. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Amino acids and vitamins prevent culture-induced metabolic perturbations and associated loss of viability of mouse blastocysts. Hum Reprod 13 (1998) 991-997
46. Gardner D.K. Embryo development and culture techniques. In: Clark A.E. (Ed). Animal Breeding Technology for the 21st Century (1999), Harwood Publishers, New York 13-47
47. Hewitson L.C., and Leese H.J. Energy metabolism of the trophectoderm and inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst. J Exp Zool 267 (1993) 337-343
48. Hewitson L.C., Martin K.L., and Leese H.J. Effects of metabolic inhibitors on mouse preimplantation embryo development and the energy metabolism of isolated inner cell masses. Mol Reprod Dev 43 (1996) 323-330
49. Gardner D.K., Lane M., Calderon I., et al. Environment of the preimplantation human embryo in vivo: metabolite analysis of oviduct and uterine fluids and metabolism of cumulus cells. Fertil Steril 65 (1996) 349-353
50. Leese H.J., Tay J.I., Reischl J., et al. Formation of fallopian tubal fluid: role of a neglected epithelium. Reproduction 121 (2001) 339-346
51. Baltz J.M., Biggers J.D., and Lechene C. Apparent absence of Na+/H+ antiport activity in the two-cell mouse embryo. Dev Biol 138 (1990) 421-429
52. Lane M., Baltz J.M., and Bavister B.D. Na+/H+ antiporter activity in hamster embryos is activated during fertilization. Dev Biol 208 (1999) 244-252
53. Steeves C.L., Lane M., Bavister B.D., et al. Differences in intracellular pH regulation by Na(+)/H(+) antiporter among two-cell mouse embryos derived from females of different strains. Biol Reprod 65 (2001) 14-22
54. Hammer M.A., and Baltz J.M. Beta-alanine but not taurine can function as an organic osmolyte in preimplantation mouse embryos cultured from fertilized eggs. Mol Reprod Dev 66 (2003) 153-161
55. Steeves C.L., and Baltz J.M. Regulation of intracellular glycine as an organic osmolyte in early preimplantation mouse embryos. J Cell Physiol 204 (2005) 273-279
56. Edwards L.J., Williams D.A., and Gardner D.K. Intracellular pH of the mouse preimplantation embryo: amino acids act as buffers of intracellular pH. Hum Reprod 13 (1998) 3441-3448
57. Menezo Y.J., and Herubel F. Mouse and bovine models for human IVF. Reprod Biomed Online 4 (2002) 170-175
58. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Differential regulation of mouse embryo development and viability by amino acids. J Reprod Fertil 109 (1997) 153-164
59. Steeves T.E., and Gardner D.K. Temporal and differential effects of amino acids on bovine embryo development in culture. Biol Reprod 61 (1999) 731-740
60. Gardner D.K., Lane M., Spitzer A., et al. Enhanced rates of cleavage and development for sheep zygotes cultured to the blastocyst stage in vitro in the absence of serum and somatic cells: amino acids, vitamins, and culturing embryos in groups stimulate development. Biol Reprod 50 (1994) 390-400
61. Devreker F., Hardy K., Van den Bergh M., et al. Amino acids promote human blastocyst development in vitro. Hum Reprod 16 (2001) 749-756
62. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Increase in postimplantation development of cultured mouse embryos by amino acids and induction of fetal retardation and exencephaly by ammonium ions. J Reprod Fertil 102 (1994) 305-312
63. Bavister B.D. Culture of mammalian embryos: facts and artifacts. Hum Reprod Update 1 (1995) 91-148
64. Leese H.J. Metabolic control during preimplantation mammalian development. Hum Reprod Update 1 (1995) 63-72
65. Chatot C.L., Ziomek C.A., Bavister B.D., et al. An improved culture medium supports development of random-bred 1-cell mouse embryos in vitro. J Reprod Fertil 86 (1989) 679-688
66. Schini S.A., and Bavister B.D. Two-cell block to development of cultured hamster embryos is caused by phosphate and glucose. Biol Reprod 39 (1988) 1183-1192
67. Thompson J.G., Simpson A.C., Pugh P.A., et al. Requirement for glucose during in vitro culture of sheep preimplantation embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 31 (1992) 253-257
68. Takahashi Y., and First N.L. In vitro development of bovine one-cell embryos: influence of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, amino acids and vitamins. Theriogenology 37 (1992) 963-978
69. Quinn P. Enhanced results in mouse and human embryo culture using a modified human tubal fluid medium lacking glucose and phosphate. J Assist Reprod Genet 12 (1995) 97-105
70. Pantaleon M., and Kaye P.L. Glucose transporters in preimplantation development. Rev Reprod 3 (1998) 77-81
71. Seshagiri P.B., and Bavister B.D. Glucose and phosphate inhibit respiration and oxidative metabolism in cultured hamster eight-cell embryos: evidence for the "crabtree effect". Mol Reprod Dev 30 (1991) 105-111
72. Martin K.L., and Leese H.J. Role of glucose in mouse preimplantation embryo development. Mol Reprod Dev 40 (1995) 436-443
73. Biggers J.D., McGinnis L.K., and Raffin M. Amino acids and preimplantation development of the mouse in protein-free potassium simplex optimized medium. Biol Reprod 63 (2000) 281-293
74. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Amino acids and ammonium regulate mouse embryo development in culture. Biol Reprod 48 (1993) 377-385
75. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Nonessential amino acids and glutamine decrease the time of the first three cleavage divisions and increase compaction of mouse zygotes in vitro. J Assist Reprod Genet 14 (1997) 398-403
76. Rinaudo P., and Schultz R.M. Effects of embryo culture on global pattern of gene expression in preimplantation mouse embryos. Reproduction 128 (2004) 301-311
77. Bavister B.D., and Arlotto T. Influence of single amino acids on the development of hamster one-cell embryos in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev 25 (1990) 45-51
78. Carney E.W., and Bavister B.D. Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of amino acids on the development of hamster eight-cell embryos in vitro. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf 4 (1987) 162-167
79. Thompson J.G. In vitro culture and embryo metabolism of cattle and sheep embryos - a decade of achievement. Anim Reprod Sci 60/61 (2000) 263-275
80. Miller J.G., and Schultz G.A. Amino acid content of preimplantation rabbit embryos and fluids of the reproductive tract. Biol Reprod 36 (1987) 125-129
81. Van Winkle L.J. Amino acid transport regulation and early embryo development. Biol Reprod 64 (2001) 1-12
82. Schultz G.A., Kaye P.L., McKay D.J., et al. Endogenous amino acid pool sizes in mouse eggs and preimplantation embryos. J Reprod Fertil 61 (1981) 387-393
83. Ho Y., Wigglesworth K., Eppig J.J., et al. Preimplantation development of mouse embryos in KSOM: augmentation by amino acids and analysis of gene expression. Mol Reprod Dev 41 (1995) 232-238
84. Doherty A.S., Mann M.R., Tremblay K.D., et al. Differential effects of culture on imprinted H19 expression in the preimplantation mouse embryo. Biol Reprod 62 (2000) 1526-1535
85. Chang A.S., Moley K.H., Wangler M., et al. Association between Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and assisted reproductive technology: a case series of 19 patients. Fertil Steril 83 (2005) 349-354
86. DeBaun M.R., Niemitz E.L., and Feinberg A.P. Association of in vitro fertilization with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and epigenetic alterations of LIT1 and H19. Am J Hum Genet 72 (2003) 156-160
87. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Ammonium induces aberrant blastocyst differentiation, metabolism, pH regulation, gene expression and subsequently alters fetal development in the mouse. Biol Reprod 69 (2003) 1109-1117
88. Virant-Klun I., Tomazevic T., Vrtacnik-Bokal E., et al. Increased ammonium in culture medium reduces the development of human embryos to the blastocyst stage. Fertil Steril 85 (2006) 526-528
89. Abramczuk J., Solter D., and Koprowski H. The beneficial effect of EDTA on development of mouse one-cell embryos in chemically defined medium. Dev Biol 61 (1977) 378-383
90. Erbach G.T., Bhatnagar P., Baltz J.M., et al. Zinc is a possible toxic contaminant of silicone oil in microdrop cultures of preimplantation mouse embryos. Hum Reprod 10 (1995) 3248-3254
91. Gardner D.K., Lane M.W., and Lane M. EDTA stimulates cleavage stage bovine embryo development in culture but inhibits blastocyst development and differentiation. Mol Reprod Dev 57 (2000) 256-261
92. Nasr-Esfahani M.H., Winston N.J., and Johnson M.H. Effects of glucose, glutamine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and oxygen tension on the concentration of reactive oxygen species and on development of the mouse preimplantation embryo in vitro. J Reprod Fertil 96 (1992) 219-231
93. Lane M., and Gardner D.K. Inhibiting 3-phosphoglycerate kinase by EDTA stimulates the development of the cleavage stage mouse embryo. Mol Reprod Dev 60 (2001) 233-240
94. Behr B., Pool T.B., Milki A.A., et al. Preliminary clinical experience with human blastocyst development in vitro without co-culture. Hum Reprod 14 (1999) 454-457
95. Thompson J.G., Gardner D.K., Pugh P.A., et al. Lamb birth weight is affected by culture system utilized during in vitro pre-elongation development of ovine embryos. Biol Reprod 53 (1995) 1385-1391
96. Bungum M., Bungum L., Humaidan P., et al. Day 3 versus day 5 embryo transfer: a prospective randomized study. Reprod Biomed Online 7 (2003) 98-104
97. Stojkovic M., Kolle S., Peinl S., et al. Effects of high concentrations of hyaluronan in culture medium on development and survival rates of fresh and frozen-thawed bovine embryos produced in vitro. Reproduction 124 (2002) 141-153
98. Lane M., Maybach J.M., Hooper K., et al. Cryo-survival and development of bovine blastocysts are enhanced by culture with recombinant albumin and hyaluronan. Mol Reprod Dev 64 (2003) 70-78
99. Valojerdi M.R., Karimian L., Yazdi P.E., et al. Efficacy of a human embryo transfer medium: a prospective, randomized clinical trial study. J Assist Reprod Genet 23 (2006) 207-212
100. Gardner D.K., Rodriegez-Martinez H., and Lane M. Fetal development after transfer is increased by replacing protein with the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan for mouse embryo culture and transfer. Hum Reprod 14 (1999) 2575-2580
101. Lane M., Gardner D.K., Hasler M.J., et al. Use of G1.2/G2.2 media for commercial bovine embryo culture: equivalent development and pregnancy rates compared to co-culture. Theriogenology 60 (2003) 407-419
102. Blake D.A., Proctor M., and Johnson N.P. The merits of blastocyst versus cleavage stage embryo transfer: a Cochrane review. Hum Reprod 19 (2004) 795-807
103. Gardner D.K., and Lane M. Culture of viable human blastocysts in defined sequential serum-free media. Hum Reprod 13 supplement 3 (1998) 148-159 [discussion 160]