title: Genetic mouse embryo assay: improving performance and quality testing for assisted reproductive technology (ART) with a functional bioassay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growing concerns about safety of ART on human gametes, embryos, clinical outcomes and long-term health of offspring require improved methods of risk assessment to provide functionally relevant assays for quality control testing and pre-clinical studies prior to clinical implementation. The one-cell mouse embryo assay (MEA) is the most widely used for development and quality testing of human ART products; however, concerns exist due to the insensitivity/variability of this bioassay which lacks standardization and involves subjective analysis by morphology alone rather than functional analysis of the developing embryos. We hypothesized that improvements to MEA by the use of functional molecular biomarkers could enhance sensitivity and improve detection of suboptimal materials/conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fresh one-cell transgenic mouse embryos with green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression driven by Pou6f1 or Cdx2 control elements were harvested and cultured to blastocysts in varied test and control conditions to compare assessment by standard morphology alone versus the added dynamic expression of GFP for screening and selection of critical raw materials and detection of suboptimal culture conditions. Transgenic mouse embryos expressing functionally relevant biomarkers of normal early embryo development can be used to monitor the developmental impact of culture conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel approach provides a superior MEA that is more meaningful and sensitive for detection of embryotoxicity than morphological assessment alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Irvine Scientific, 1830 E. Warner Ave, Santa Ana, CA, 92705, USA. rgilbert@irvinesci.com.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Irvine Scientific, 1830 E. Warner Ave, Santa Ana, CA, 92705, USA.
authors.forename: Brandy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nunez
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Irvine Scientific, 1830 E. Warner Ave, Santa Ana, CA, 92705, USA.
authors.forename: Kumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.affiliation: Transgenic Mouse Facility, University of California Irvine (UCI), 121 Bison Modular, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fielder
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Irvine Scientific, 1830 E. Warner Ave, Santa Ana, CA, 92705, USA.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Tzu
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: Biocompatibility assay; Early developmental markers; Embryo culture medium; MEA; QC testing