Summary
Mouse embryos of the blastocyst stage (day 0 of culture) were cultured in human cord serum (HCS) for 8 days. Until day 7 in vitro, the embryos had developed to the 4–5 somite stage. Apart from the occurrence of some cell necroses in the embryonic ectoderm and vacuoles in the yolk sac entoderm and to a lesser degree even in the embryonic entoderm, the in vitro development of the embryos was indistinguishable from the in vivo development. However, between days 7 and 8 in vitro the embryonic development was heavily disturbed. The most pronounced disturbances were visible in the central nervous system (CNS) of the embryos. A great number of the neuroepithelial cells of the entire CNS were necrotic. Even mesodermal structures, mainly the axial structures in the posterior part of the embryos, were affected, leading to disorganization of somites and notochord in this region. Since in the presence of rat serum embryos develop normally between days 7 and 8 in vitro (Hsu 1981; Chen and Hsu 1982), it was stated that HCS lacks an embryonic growth and differentiation factor (EGDF-4) present in rat serum which regulates the development of the CNS and the organization of the axial structures between days 7 and 8 in vitro, i.e., during the 4–5 somite stage and the time of the turning of the embryos (8–12 somite stage).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennett D (1975) The T-locus of the mouse. Cell 6: 441–454
Chen LT, Hsu Y-C (1982) In vitro development of mouse embryos from preimplantation to limb bud stage. Science 218: 66–68
Clarkson SG, Doering JV, Runner MN (1969) Growth of post-implantation mouse embryos cultured in a serum supplemented, chemically defined medium. Teratology 2: 181–186
Gonda JA, Hsu Y-C (1980) Correlative scanning electron, transmission electron and light microscopic studies of the in vitro development of mouse embryos on a plastic substrate at the implantation stage. J Embryol Exp Morphol 56: 23–39
Herken R (1980) Eine lichtmikroskopische, histochemische, autoradiographische und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung der embryonalen Entwicklung der Maus vom Zeitpunkt der Mesodermentstehung bis zur Somitenformation. Habilitationsschrift, Freie Universität Berlin
Hsu Y-C (1980) Embryo growth and differentiation factors in embryonic sera of mammals. Dev Biol 76: 465–475
Hsu Y-C (1981) Regulation of mouse embryogenesis by exogenous growth factors. In: Neubert D, Merker H-J, eds, Culture techniques. Walter de Gruyter Verlag, Berlin New York, pp 83–96
Hsu Y-C, Baskar J, Stevens L, Rush J (1974) Development in vitro of mouse embryos from the two-cell egg stage to the early somite stage. J Embryol Exp Morphol 31: 235–245
Kochhar DM (1975) The use of in vitro procedures in teratology. Teratology 11: 273–288
Lipton BH, Jacobson AG (1974) Experimental analysis of the mechanisms of somite morphogenesis. Dev Biol 38: 91–103
Marchesi VT, Ginsburg V, Robbins PW, Fox CF (1978) Cell surface carbohydrates and biological recognition. Progr Clin Biol Res 23: Alan R Liss Inc, New York
Merker H-J, Villegas H (1970) Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zum Problem des Stoffaustausches zwischen Mutter und Keim bei Rattenembryonen des Tages 7–10. Z Anat Entw-Gesch 131: 325–346
New DAT (1978) Whole embryo explants and transplants. In: Wilson JG, Fraser FC, eds, Handbook of teratology. Plenum Press, New York and London, Vol 4: pp 95–133
Nunez-Duran H (1980) Tannic acid as an electron microscope tracer for permeable cell membranes. Stain Technol 55: 361–365
Sadler TW, New DAT (1981) Culture of mouse embryos during neurulation. J Embryol Exp Morphol 66: 109–116
Sannes PL, Katsuyama T, Spicer SS (1978) Tannic acid-metal salt sequences for light and electron microscopic localization of complex carbohydrates. J Histochem Cytochem 26: 55–61
Snell GD, Stevens L (1966) Early embryology. In: Green EL (ed) Biology of the laboratory mouse. McGraw-Hill, New York Toronto Sidney London, pp 205–246
Tam PPL, Snow MHL (1980) The in vitro culture of primitive streak stage mouse embryos. J Embryol Exp Morphol 59: 131–143
Theiler K (1972) The house mouse. Development and normal stages from fertilization to 4 weeks of age. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Witschi E (1972) Characterization of developmental stages. In: Biology Data Book, 2nd ed, Vol 1, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, pp 176–180
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Herken, R., Hsu, YC. Development of mouse embryos grown in human cord serum (HCS) in vitro. Anat Embryol 168, 137–150 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305405
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305405