title: Human follicular fluid and mouse cumulus cells act synergistically to enhance preimplantation mouse Balb/cJ embryo development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development of preimplantation mammalian embryos in vitro is less than optimal. Follicular fluid and cumulus cells have both been used, independently, to improve preimplantation embryo quality in culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the ability of mouse cumulus cell coculture in the presence of human follicular fluids to support preimplantation mouse Balb/cJ embryo development in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Culture of preimplantation mouse Balb/cJ embryo's independently in human follicular fluid or on mouse cumulus cells had no significant affect on blastocyst. The coculture of mouse Balb/cJ preimplantation-stage embryos on mouse cumulus cells in the presence of human follicular fluid significantly (P < 0.01) improved blastocyst development and the total number of cells per blastocyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cumulus cells and follicular fluid have a positive synergistic affect on preimplantation mouse Balb/cJ embryo development and formation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2233, USA. wer@obgynsun.musc.edu
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Roudebush
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media