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

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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-α. 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-α.

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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Acknowledgments

Authors thank M. Kianinejad for his technical assistance. This study was supported by grant No.81–9 from Kerman University of medical sciences, Kerman, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 22 Bahman BLVD., Kerman, Iran

    Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani & Ghazaleh Moshkdanian

  2. Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani

  3. Students Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Ghazaleh Moshkdanian, Zhinoosossadat Shahidzadehyazdi & Fatemeh Labibi

  4. Afzal Research Institute (NGO), Kerman, Iran

    Amirmehdi Nematollahi-mahani

Authors
  1. Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani
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  2. Amirmehdi Nematollahi-mahani
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Correspondence to Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani.

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Capsule

Mouse embryos were incubated in various pH solutions and co-cultured with embryonic fibroblasts. The developmental rate in co-cultured embryos was higher especially at acidic pH.

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Nematollahi-mahani, S.N., Nematollahi-mahani, A., Moshkdanian, G. et al. The role of co-culture systems on developmental competence of preimplantation mouse embryos against pH fluctuations. J Assist Reprod Genet 26, 597–604 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9363-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9363-1

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