Korean J Fertil Steril.  1999 Apr;26(1):9-20.

Effects of Coculture on Development of Biopsied Mouse Embryos as a Preclinical Model for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis of Human Embryos

• Kim SH
• Ryu BY
• Jee BC
• Choi SM
• Kim HS
• Pang MG
• Oh SK
• Suh CS
• Choi YM
• Kim JG
• Moon SY
• Lee JY
• Chae HD
• Kim CH

Abstract

The genetic defects in human gametes and embryos can cause adverse effects on overall reproductive events. Biopsy of embryos to. preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) offers a new possibility of having children free of the genetic disease. In addition, advanced embryo culture method may enhance the effectiveness of embryo biopsy for the practical application of PGD. This experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the erects of coculture on the development in vitro of biopsied mouse embryos as a preclinical model for PGD of human embryos. Embryos were obtained after in vitro fertilization (IVF) from F1 hybrid mice (C57BL female symbol/CBAmale symbol). Using micromanipulation, 1, 2, 3 or 4 blastomeres of 8-cell stage embryos were aspirated through a hole made in the bona pellucida by zona drilling (ZD) with acidic Tyrode's solution (ATS). After biopsy of blastomeres, embryos were cultured in vitro for 110 hours in Ham's F-10 supplemented with 0.4% BSA or cocultured on the monolayer of Vero cells in the same medium. The frequence of blastocyst formation were recorded, and the embryos beyond blastocyst stage were stained with 10% Giemsa to count the total number of nuclei in each embryo. There was no significant difference in the blastocyst formation between the zona intact control groups and the zona drilling (ZD) only, or biopsied groups. The hatching rate of all the treatment groups except 4/8 group was significantly higher than that of control group. In all the treatment groups, there was a significant reduction in the mean cell number of embryos beyond blastocyst stage (50.2+/-14.0 in control group vs. 41.2+/- 7.9 in ZD, 39.3+/-8.8 in 7/8, 29.7+/-6.4 in 6/8, 25.1+/-5.7 in 5/8, and 22.1+/-4.3 in 4/8 groups, p<0.05). When the same treatments were followed by coculture with Vero cells, a similar pattern was seen in the blastocyst formation and the hatching rate. However, in all the treatment groups, there was a significant increase in the mean cell number of embryos beyond blastocyst stage with coculture, compared with the parallel groups without coculture. In the cleavage rate of biopsied blastomeres cultured for 110 hours after IVF, there was no significant difference between coculture and non-coculture groups (87.2% vs. 78.7%). However, the mean cell number of embryos developed from the biopsies blastomeres was significantly higher in coculture group (11.5+/-4.7 vs. 5.9+/- 1.9, p<0.05). In conclusion, biopsy of mouse embryos after ZD with ATS is a safe and highly efficient method for PGD, and coculture with Vero cells showed a positive effect on the development in vitro of biopsies mouse embryos and blastomeres as a preclinical model for PGD of human embryos.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Biopsy
Blastocyst
Blastomeres
Cell Count
Child
Coculture Techniques*
Embryonic Structures*
Female
Fertilization in Vitro
Germ Cells
Herpes Zoster
Humans*
Mice*
Micromanipulation
Preimplantation Diagnosis*
Prostaglandins D
Vero Cells
Prostaglandins D