Mechanisms for managing cellular and homeostatic stress in vitro.
The ability to maintain embryo development in culture depends upon the ability of the embryo to maintain cellular homeostasis. Disruptions in the ability to regulate cellular homeostasis such as pH, calcium levels and osmotic pressure result in perturbed development and a reduced ability to establish and maintain a pregnancy following transfer. Therefore, it is important that in vitro conditions are designed to minimize stress on the embryo and maximize the ability of the embryo to maintain cellular homeostasis. While embryos do exhibit a degree of plasticity and can adapt to their environment, this requires expenditures of extra energy which negatively impacts viability. Therefore, reducing stress by taking into account the physiology of the embryo is essential for the maintenance of developmental competence in vitro.
Lane
M
M
Research and Development, Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, 799 East Hampden Ave, Suite 300, Englewood, Colorado 80110, USA. mlane@colocrm.com
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D015925:Cryopreservation; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011247:Pregnancy; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D002118:Calcium