Culture of Two- and Four-Cell Rabbit Embryos to the Expanding Blastocyst Stage in Synthetic Media 1

Abstract

Summary

Development of two- to four-cell rabbit ova to the expanding blastocyst stage occurred in a simple glucose-salt solution supplemented with amino acids, and with 1.5% BSA as the only macromolecule. However, optimum growth required the presence of vitamins. These experiments would indicate that although a uterine protein component may be necessary for blastocyst growth and expansion in utero, it is not necessary in the in vitro culture system used. Hypoxanthine and/or thymidine may be inhibitory to good blastocyst development, as the highest percentage of expanding blastocysts (63%) was obtained when the nucleic acid precursors were omitted.

Thanks are due to Dr. R. R. Maurer and Mr. M. Simkin for technical assistance.