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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Mouse embryo motion and embryonic development from the 2-cell to blastocyst stage using mechanical vibration systems

Yuka Asano A B and Koji Matsuura A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.

B Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.

C Corresponding author. Email: kojimatu@md.okayama-u.ac.jp

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 26(5) 733-741 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD13039
Submitted: 7 February 2013  Accepted: 1 May 2013   Published: 23 May 2013

Abstract

We investigated the effect of mechanical stimuli on mouse embryonic development from the 2-cell to blastocyst stage to evaluate physical factors affecting embryonic development. Shear stress (SS) applied to embryos using two mechanical vibration systems (MVSs) was calculated by observing microscopic images of moving embryos during mechanical vibration (MV). The MVSs did not induce any motion of the medium and the diffusion rate using MVSs was the same as that under static conditions. Three days of culture using MVS did not improve embryonic development. MVS transmitted MV power more efficiently to embryos than other systems and resulted in a significant decrease in development to the morula or blastocyst stage after 2 days. Comparison of the results of embryo culture using dynamic culture systems demonstrated that macroscopic diffusion of secreted materials contributes to improved development of mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage. These results also suggest that the threshold of SS and MV to induce negative effects for mouse embryos at stages earlier than the blastocyst may be lower than that for the blastocyst, and that mouse embryos are more sensitive to physical and chemical stimuli than human or pig embryos because of their thinner zona pellucida.

Additional keywords: dynamic culture system, mechanical stimuli, shear stress.


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