Effects of low oxygen condition on the generation of reactive oxygen species and the development in mouse embryos cultured in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the relationship between intracellular H2O2 production and embryo development in different oxygen culture conditions.


METHODS
Pronuclear stage embryos were obtained from C57BL/CBA F1 and ICR mice. Measurement of H2O2 level was performed with 2',7'-dichlorodihydroflourescein diacetate and the number of blastomeres was counted after staining with 4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole.


RESULTS
Regardless of strains, H2O2 level reached a peak at the 2-cell stage in 20% O2. But in embryos cultured in 5% O2 it was significantly lower at the 2-cell and 4-cell stages compared to those from 20% O2. The embryos cultured in 20% O2 showed developmental delay or block, but in 5% O2 these phenomena were overcome and the development was significantly increased with an infrequent fragmentation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the 5% O2 decreases the relative concentration of H2O2 and results in improved embryo development in terms of quantity and quality without regard to type of strains.
Kwon
H C
HC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Yang
H W
HW
Hwang
K J
KJ
Yoo
J H
JH
Kim
M S
MS
Lee
C H
CH
Ryu
H S
HS
Oh
K S
KS
D000818:Animals; D001757:Blastomeres; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
D003470:Culture Media; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010100:Oxygen