title: Environmental and epigenetic effects upon preimplantation embryo metabolism and development.
abstract: In vitro fertilization has provided a unique window into the metabolic processes that drive embryonic growth and development from a fertilized ovum to a competent blastocyst. Post-fertilization development is dependent upon a dramatic reshuffling of the parental genomes during meiosis, as well as epigenetic changes that provide a new and autonomous set of instructions to guide cellular differentiation both in the embryo and beyond. Although early literature focused simply on the substrates and culture conditions required for progress through embryonic development, more recent insights lead us to suggest that the surrounding environment can alter the epigenome, which can, in turn, impact upon embryonic metabolism and developmental competence.
authors: Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors: Rebecca J
authors: RJ
authors: Chason
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Csokmay
authors: James H
authors: JH
authors: Segars
authors: Alan H
authors: AH
authors: DeCherney
authors: D Randall
authors: DR
authors: Armant
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015925:Cryopreservation; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted