Development of Mongolian Gerbil 1-cell Embryos to Blastocysts in Co-culture with Oviductal Cells in TCM 199 Supplemented with Pyruvate, Lactate and Fetal Calf Serum.

Abstract

Abstract.To develop an in vitro culture system for Mongolian gerbil embryos, we examined the effect of co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells on the development of 1-and 2-cell embryos collected from superovulated gerbils. In the first experiment, 2-cell embryos were cultured in modified TCM 199 supplemented with pyruvate, lactate and fetal calf serum (mTCM199) with or without gerbil or mouse oviductal cells. In the second experiment, in 1-cell embryos were cultured with or without gerbil oviductal cells in mTCM199. Although, 2-cell gerbil embryos did not develop beyond the 16-cell stage without oviductal cells in both TCM199 and mTCM199, co-culture with gerbil or mouse oviductal cells supported the development of 2-cell gerbil embryos to blastocysts. Co-culture with gerbil oviductal cells in mTCM199, but not in TCM199, also supported the development of 1-cell embryos to blastocysts. There were no differences between the in vivo and in vitro developed blastocysts in morphological appearance and cell numbers. This co-culture system can be used for in vitro culture of Mongolian gerbil embryos.

Development of Mongolian Gerbil Embryos in Chemically Defined Media: Effects of Osmolarity, Glucose and Phosphate

“…In a previous report, 1-cell gerbil embryos were blocked at the 16-cell stage when they were cultured in modified M16 [3] and modified TCM199 [2]. These results correspond to the result of this protein synthesis.…”

“…We reported that Mongolian gerbil 1-cell embryos can develop in vitro to blastocysts in coc u l t u r e w i t h o v i d u c t c e l l s i n T C M 1 9 9 supplemented with pyruvate, lactate and fetal bovine serum [2], but could not be developed consistently to the blastocyst stage in a chemically defined medium in vitro [3]. Also, Mongolian gerbil 2-cell embryos developed in vitro to the 16-cell stage [3].…”

Effect of relaxin and IGF‐I on the pre‐implantation development of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) embryos in vitro

“…Some researchers have tried to let gerbil embryo develop into blastocyst in vitro, but were unable to produce any remarkable results. This is because the cell block prevents the gerbil embryo development to the blastocyst stage in vitro [15,16]. There is no report on growth factor IGF-I receptors begin to be concurrently expressed at the compaction of the mouse embryos [17].…”