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. 2009 Nov-Dec;26(11-12):597-604.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-009-9363-1. Epub 2009 Nov 25.

The role of co-culture systems on developmental competence of preimplantation mouse embryos against pH fluctuations

Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani  1 , Amirmehdi Nematollahi-mahani, Ghazaleh Moshkdanian, Zhinoosossadat Shahidzadehyazdi, Fatemeh Labibi
Affiliations

The role of co-culture systems on developmental competence of preimplantation mouse embryos against pH fluctuations

Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2009 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of pH fluctuations of culture media, and the role of co-culture systems on embryo development.

Methods: Mouse embryos were incubated in phosphate buffered solutions (PBSs) with different pH for various lengths of time. After 3 h incubation of embryos at various pH, the embryos were transferred into four media with human (HEF) and mouse (MEF) embryonic fibroblast cells, and without feeder cells; HTF and MEM-alpha. Developmental rate at day three (morula), four (expanded blastocyst) and five (hatching or hatched blastocyst) was evaluated.

Results: Developmental rate at day three, four and five decreased when the incubation time at pH 6.2 and 8 increased to 3 h and more. In addition, significantly less embryos incubated at pH 6.2 and 8 developed to hatching and hatched blastocysts compared with pH 7.35. Embryos incubated at pH 6.2, co-cultured with MEF or HEF showed a significant improvement (P < 0.05) at day three in HEF compared to HTF, and at day five in MEF compared to HTF. At pH 8, a significant improvement (P < 0.05) was observed at day five in HEF and MEF compared to MEM-alpha.

Conclusions: Mouse 2-cell embryos could tolerate minor pH fluctuations, but that major pH changes affect subsequent development. Besides, feeder cells could improve embryo development, especially when embryos are prone to rise or fall in pH.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Embryos were incubated for 3 h in PBSs with various pH and cultured in MEF, HEF, HTF and MEM-α for 120 h. Experiments were replicated 7 times. Day 3, 4 and 5 are days at which embryos cleaved to morulae, expanded blastocyst and hatching or hatched blastocyst respectively. Figures are showing developmental rates in each group. *P < 0.05
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