title: Effect of extracellular K+ on hatching and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts in vitro.
abstract: The dependence of blastocyst development on the extracellular Na+/K+ ratio was investigated in an in vitro system. Hatching and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts was enhanced at Na+/K+ ratios between 3 and 10 compared to the ratio of about 25 typical for most culture media and serum. At a Na+/K+ ratio of 2, blastocyst hatching and outgrowth were inhibited. The requirement of blastocyst development for relatively high extracellular K+ concentrations agrees with the fact that K+ concentrations in oviduct and uterine secretions are higher than in serum. The findings can also be relevant in optimizing in vitro culturing techniques for blastocysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Roomans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium