Individual culture and atmospheric oxygen during culture affect mouse preimplantation embryo metabolism and post-implantation development

Abstract

Research question: Does single embryo culture under atmospheric or reduced oxygen alter preimplantation metabolism and post-implantation development compared with culture in groups? Design: Mouse embryos were cultured under 5% or 20% oxygen, individually or in groups of 10. Spent media were analysed after 48, 72 and 96 h of culture. Blastocysts were assessed by outgrowth assay or transferred to pseudo-pregnant recipients, and fetal and placental weight, length and morphology were assessed. Results: Compared with group culture, individually cultured blastocysts had lower net consumption of glucose and aspartate and higher glutamate production. Atmospheric oxygen reduced uptake of glucose and ..