tailieunhanh - Embryo Culture Systems

The success of clinical IVF was initially compromised by sub-optimal culture conditions, resulting in impaired embryo development (1–6) and a subsequent loss of viability. However, research during the past 10–15 years has resulted in the development of more physiological and effective culture media capable of maintaining the viability of the developing embryo (7–10). This in turn has resulted in an increase in implantation rates and a decrease in the number of pregnancies lost. Furthermore, more suitable culture conditions produce embryos more able to survive cryopreservation (11). . | 13__ Embryo Culture Systems David K. Gardner Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine Englewood Colorado . Michelle Lane Research Center for Reproductive Health School of Pediatrics and Reproductive Health University of Adelaide South Australia Australia INTRODUCTION The success of clinical IVF was initially compromised by sub-optimal culture conditions resulting in impaired embryo development 1-6 and a subsequent loss of viability. However research during the past 10-15 years has resulted in the development of more physiological and effective culture media capable of maintaining the viability of the developing embryo 7-10 . This in turn has resulted in an increase in implantation rates and a decrease in the number of pregnancies lost. Furthermore more suitable culture conditions produce embryos more able to survive cryopreservation 11 . Therefore improvements in embryo culture technology have significantly contributed to the increase in the overall success rates of human assisted conception. In this chapter the role of embryo culture systems and their individual components are analyzed along with the more recent development of multistep culture systems. It is envisaged that after reading such work on embryo culture readers will be able to make informed decisions on the type of culture system most suited for their clinical requirements. 221 222 Gardner and Lane Types of Media for Embryo Culture Culture media employed for clinical IVF vary greatly in their composition yet there appears to be little difference between media in their ability to support development of the human embryo in vitro for up to 48 hours or in subsequent pregnancy rates after transfer 12 . This has led to a great deal of confusion concerning the formulation of embryo culture media and the role of individual components in embryo development. An understanding of the role of culture media and their components has been hampered by the .