Akiko Spindle

An improved culture medium for mouse blastocysts.

SummaryEagles basal medium, modified to contain essential amino acids at the concentrations optimal for mouse blastocyst hatching, attachment, and outgrowth, supported in vitro development of the mouse blastocyst better than other tissue culture media tested. This medium was improved for growth and differentiation of the inner cell mass by doubling the concentration of amino acids and glucose and by adding uridine (10−5M) and β-mercaptoethanol (10−5M). In this improved medium nearly all blastocysts grown from the two-cell stage hatched and formed trophoblast outgrowths, and 62% developed into two-layer egg cylinders.

X-ray sensitivity of the preimplantation mouse embryo in vitro

This study analyzes the radiosensitivity of preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro by culturing them to early postimplantation stages after irradiation. Embryos were removed from the oviducts at the 2-cell stage and cultured to the 4-cell, 8-cell, morula, or blastocyst stage for irradiation. After further culture, embryos were scored for blastocyst formation, hatching, trophoblast outgrowth, and inner cell mass (ICM) growth. Probit analysis of dose response for blastulation indicated that radiosensitivity increased between the 2-cell and 4-cell stages and decreased at the 8-cell stage. Irradiation of morulae did not prevent blastulation but impaired hatching (

Midgestational exposure of pregnant BALB/c mice to magnetic resonance imaging conditions

{\rm ED}_{50}=339\pm 39\ \text{rads}

Morphology of isolated mouse inner cell masses developing in vitro

), trophoblast outgrowth (

Polyethylene glycol-induced fusion of two-cell mouse embryo blastomeres.

{\rm ED}_{50}=269\pm 21\ \text{rads}

Sensitivity of early mouse embryos to methylmercury toxicity

), and particularly ICM growth (

Sensitivity of early mouse embryos to [3H]thymidine☆

{\rm ED}_{50}=109\pm 17\ \text{rads}

Beneficial effects of taurine on mouse zygotes developing in protein-free culture medium.

). After irradiation at the blastocyst stage, embryos were much more capable of hatching and trophoblast outgrowth (

Cultrure and Transfer of Embryos as a Testing System for Embryo-toxicity of Chemicals*

{\rm ED}_{50}>1600\ \text{rads}

Hatching, attachment, and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts in vitro: Fixed nitrogen requirements†

) than when irradiated at o...