title: Potential of inner cell mass outgrowth and amino acid turnover as markers of quality in the in vitro fertilization laboratory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare sensitivity of inner cell mass (ICM) outgrowth assay and analysis of culture media amino acid turnover with the sensitivity of the human sperm motility assay (HSMA) and murine embryo assay (MEA) for detection of formaldehyde toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective in vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital-based infertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HSMA, MEA, and ICM outgrowth assays were performed with media containing 0-64-μM concentrations of formaldehyde. These assays were compared with dynamics of amino acid turnover in culture media.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lowest concentration of formaldehyde in culture media detected by each quality control assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sperm forward progression, but not motility, detected formaldehyde at a concentration of 32 μM. Sperm motility index identified formaldehyde toxicity at 64 μM, whereas blastocyst rates in the MEA were affected at 32 μM formaldehyde. Evaluation of ICM using outgrowth and grade detected 16 μM formaldehyde. Leucine turnover in culture media detected 64 μM formaldehyde in the amino acid assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inner cell mass outgrowth is a more sensitive bioassay than MEA and HSMA for the detection of formaldehyde in culture media. Amino acid metabolism may also provide a sensitive quality control measure for detection of formaldehyde.
authors: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55901, USA.
authors: Ravi P
authors: RP
authors: Gada
authors: Gaurang S
authors: GS
authors: Daftary
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Walker
authors: Jean M
authors: JM
authors: Lacey
authors: Dietrich
authors: D
authors: Matern
authors: Dean E
authors: DE
authors: Morbeck
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005404:Fixatives / Q000633:toxicity; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011786:Quality Control; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D003470:Culture Media; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde