Embryonic morphology and rate of implantation of human embryos following co-culture on bovine oviductal epithelial cells.
A study was undertaken to evaluate embryonic development and establish pregnancies with human embryos after in-vitro culture in two different systems. Treatment A consisted of culturing zygotes in serum-supplemented human tubal fluid culture medium (HTF). Treatment B consisted of culturing zygotes on a monolayer of bovine oviductal epithelial cells with HTF. At the time of embryo replacement, embryos in treatment B had 4.11 blastomeres present, which was greater (P < 0.05) than the 3.81 present for embryos in treatment A. In addition, the cellular fragmentation rate for treatment A embryos was 1.10, which was greater (P < 0.05) than the fragmentation rate of 0.38 for embryos within treatment B. The incidence of ongoing pregnancy was higher after replacement of co-cultured embryos (treatment B) (43%) than replacement of conventionally cultured embryos (treatment A) (29%). The implantation rate per embryo increased (P < 0.05) from 11.5 to 18.4% after co-culture. In treatment B the proportion of 'spare' embryos developing to expanded blastocysts was 58.5%, which was greater (P < 0.05) than the blastocyst development rate of 29.3% observed for embryos within treatment A.
Wiemer
K E
KE
Northwest Center for Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Margate, FL 33063.
Hoffman
D I
DI
Maxson
W S
WS
Eager
S
S
Muhlberger
B
B
Fiore
I
I
Cuervo
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015053:Zygote / Q000502:physiology*