The impact of the protein stabilizer octanoic acid on embryonic development and fetal growth in a murine model.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the protein stabilizer octanoic acid on blastocyst development, implantation, and fetal growth in a murine model.


METHODS
One-cell mouse embryos were collected and individually cultured in medium supplemented with recombinant human serum albumin for 96 h at 5 % oxygen in an EmbryoScope. Embryos were randomly allocated to four octanoic acid groups (0, 400, 800, or 1200 μM). Blastocyst development and cell cycle timings were calculated at 96 h of culture, and experiments were repeated in triplicate. Blastocysts were stained and fixed at 96 h for differential cell counts. Following 96 h of culture, blastocysts were transferred to recipients to determine implantation rates and fetal and placental weights.


RESULTS
Blastocyst development, hatching rates, developmental kinetics, and total number of cells were negatively affected by octanoic acid at concentrations commonly used in human IVF. Implantation was not affected by octanoic acid but fetal and placental weights at 800 μM octanoic acid were increased relative to control.


CONCLUSIONS
Octanoic acid, a standard additive to human protein supplements used in IVF, can have long-term negative effects on embryonic and fetal development. The use of octanoic acid for human embryo culture should be monitored and reduced.
Division of Laboratory Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Jolene
J
Fredrickson
National Foundation for Fertility Research, Lone Tree, CO, USA.
Rebecca
R
Krisher
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. morbeck.dean@mayo.edu.|Division of Laboratory Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. morbeck.dean@mayo.edu.
Dean E
DE
Morbeck
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000494:pharmacology
D002210:Caprylates; D003470:Culture Media; D012709:Serum Albumin; C031492:octanoic acid
Embryo culture; Embryo time-lapse; Mouse embryo assay; Octanoic acid