Register      Login
Reproduction, Fertility and Development Reproduction, Fertility and Development Society
Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of light wavelength exposure during in vitro blastocyst production on preimplantation development of mouse embryos

Ye Rin Jeon A , Song Baek A , Eun Song Lee B and Seung Tae Lee https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8952-3881 A C *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Applied Animal Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.

B College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.

C Kustogen, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.

* Correspondence to: stlee76@kangwon.ac.kr

Handling Editor: Ye Yuan

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 34(16) 1052-1057 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD22125
Published online: 16 September 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context: Despite the absence of light within the body, the application of microscopy during stages of in vitro embryo production has led to the discovery of light irradiation effects on embryo preimplantation development.

Aims: To determine the optimal light irradiation wavelengths at various embryo stages for improving the preimplantation development of mouse embryos and the quality (total cell number) of blastocysts.

Method: All in vitro procedures of zygote or 2-cell embryo manipulation, embryo monitoring, and culture medium exchange were conducted under visible (390–750 nm), blue (445–500 nm), green (500–575 nm), yellow (575–585 nm), or red (620–750 nm) light irradiation wavelength.

Key results: We found that blue, green, and yellow light irradiation during in vitro blastocyst production from zygotes significantly improved blastocyst production and quality, compared to visible and red light irradiation. However, 2-cell embryos exposed to yellow light during in vitro blastocyst production produced significantly more high-quality blastocysts than did 2-cell embryos exposed to visible, blue, green, or red light. After exposure to blue and green – but not yellow – light during in vitro zygote manipulation, yellow light irradiation during embryo monitoring and culture medium exchange triggered significant retardation of preimplantation development.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that yellow light irradiation during in vitro blastocyst production, regardless of embryo stage, improves preimplantation development of mouse embryos.

Implications: The present study will contribute to produce greater high-quality blastocysts and reduce experimental errors generated by light exposure during mouse embryo-related studies.

Keywords: in vitro blastocyst production, in vitro manipulation, light irradiation wavelength, medium exchange, monitoring, mouse, two-cell embryos, yellow, zygotes.


References

Ali, J, Whitten, WK, and Shelton, JN (1993). Effect of culture systems on mouse early embryo development. Human Reproduction 8, 1110–1114.
Effect of culture systems on mouse early embryo development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ali, I, Shah, SZA, Jin, Y, Li, Z-S, Ullah, O, and Fang, N-Z (2017). Reactive oxygen species-mediated unfolded protein response pathways in preimplantation embryos. Journal of Veterinary Science 18, 1–9.
Reactive oxygen species-mediated unfolded protein response pathways in preimplantation embryos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barlow, P, Puissant, F, Van der Zwalmen, P, Vandromme, J, Trigaux, P, and Leroy, F (1992). In vitro fertilization, development, and implantation after exposure of mature mouse oocytes to visible light. Molecular Reproduction and Development 33, 297–302.
In vitro fertilization, development, and implantation after exposure of mature mouse oocytes to visible light.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chatot, CL, Lewis, JL, Torres, I, and Ziomek, CA (1990). Development of 1-cell embryos from different strains of mice in CZB medium. Biology of Reproduction 42, 432–440.
Development of 1-cell embryos from different strains of mice in CZB medium.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dai, S-J, Xu, C-L, Wang, J, Sun, Y-P, and Chian, R-C (2012). Effect of culture medium volume and embryo density on early mouse embryonic development: tracking the development of the individual embryo. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 29, 617–623.
Effect of culture medium volume and embryo density on early mouse embryonic development: tracking the development of the individual embryo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Edwards, LJ, Williams, DA, and Gardner, DK (1998). Intracellular pH of the preimplantation mouse embryo: effects of extracellular pH and weak acids. Molecular Reproduction and Development 50, 434–442.
Intracellular pH of the preimplantation mouse embryo: effects of extracellular pH and weak acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Erbach, GT, Lawitts, JA, Papaioannou, VE, and Biggers, JD (1994). Differential growth of the mouse preimplantation embryo in chemically defined media. Biology of Reproduction 50, 1027–1033.
Differential growth of the mouse preimplantation embryo in chemically defined media.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Erbach, GT, Bhatnagar, P, Baltz, JM, and Biggers, JD (1995). Zinc is a possible toxic contaminant of silicone oil in microdrop cultures of preimplantation mouse embryos. Human Reproduction 10, 3248–3254.
Zinc is a possible toxic contaminant of silicone oil in microdrop cultures of preimplantation mouse embryos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Esteves, TC, van Rossem, FV, Nordhoff, V, Schlatt, S, Boiani, M, and Le Gac, S (2013). A microfluidic system supports single mouse embryo culture leading to full-term development. RSC Advances 3, 26451–26458.
A microfluidic system supports single mouse embryo culture leading to full-term development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ghosh, A, and Shcherbik, N (2020). Effects of oxidative stress on protein translation: implications for cardiovascular diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, 2661.
Effects of oxidative stress on protein translation: implications for cardiovascular diseases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Godley, BF, Shamsi, FA, Liang, F-Q, Jarrett, SG, Davies, S, and Boulton, M (2005). Blue light induces mitochondrial DNA damage and free radical production in epithelial cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 280, 21061–21066.
Blue light induces mitochondrial DNA damage and free radical production in epithelial cells.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gwazdauskas, FC, McCaffrey, C, McEvoy, TG, and Sreenan, JM (1992). In vitro preimplantation mouse embryo development with incubation temperatures of 37 and 39°C. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 9, 149–154.
In vitro preimplantation mouse embryo development with incubation temperatures of 37 and 39°C.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Karagenc, L, Sertkaya, Z, Ciray, N, Ulug, U, and Bahçeci, M (2004). Impact of oxygen concentration on embryonic development of mouse zygotes. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 9, 409–417.
Impact of oxygen concentration on embryonic development of mouse zygotes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kato, Y, and Tsunoda, Y (1994). Effects of the culture density of mouse zygotes on the development in vitro and in vivo. Theriogenology 41, 1315–1322.
Effects of the culture density of mouse zygotes on the development in vitro and in vivo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lane, M, and Gardner, DK (1992). Effect of incubation volume and embryo density on the development and viability of mouse embryos in vitro. Human Reproduction 7, 558–562.
Effect of incubation volume and embryo density on the development and viability of mouse embryos in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lavy, G, Diamond, MP, Pellicer, A, Vaughn, WK, and Decherney, AH (1988). The effect of the incubation temperature on the cleavage rate of mouse embryos in vitro. Journal of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer 5, 167–170.
The effect of the incubation temperature on the cleavage rate of mouse embryos in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lawitts, JA, and Biggers, JD (1991). Optimization of mouse embryo culture media using simplex methods. Reproduction 91, 543–556.
Optimization of mouse embryo culture media using simplex methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lv, B, Liu, C, Chen, Y, Qi, L, Wang, L, Ji, Y, and Xue, Z (2019). Light-induced injury in mouse embryos revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing. Biological Research 52, 48.
Light-induced injury in mouse embryos revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Matsumoto, N, Yoshikawa, K, Shimada, M, Kurita, N, Sato, H, Iwata, T, Higashijima, J, Chikakiyo, M, Nishi, M, Kashihara, H, Takasu, C, Eto, S, Takahashi, A, Akutagawa, M, and Emoto, T (2014). Effect of light irradiation by light emitting diode on colon cancer cells. Anticancer Research 34, 4709–4716.

Oh, SJ, Gong, SP, Lee, ST, Lee, EJ, and Lim, JM (2007). Light intensity and wavelength during embryo manipulation are important factors for maintaining viability of preimplantation embryos in vitro. Fertility and Sterility 88, 1150–1157.
Light intensity and wavelength during embryo manipulation are important factors for maintaining viability of preimplantation embryos in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ottosen, LDM, Hindkjaer, J, and Ingerslev, J (2007). Light exposure of the ovum and preimplantation embryo during ART procedures. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 24, 99–103.
Light exposure of the ovum and preimplantation embryo during ART procedures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schiewe, MC, Schmidt, PM, Bush, M, and Wildt, DE (1985). Toxicity potential of absorbed-retained ethylene oxide residues in culture dishes on embryo development in vitro. Journal of Animal Science 60, 1610–1618.
Toxicity potential of absorbed-retained ethylene oxide residues in culture dishes on embryo development in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schulte, K, Ehmcke, J, Schlatt, S, Boiani, M, and Nordhoff, V (2015). Lower total cell numbers in mouse preimplantation embryos cultured in human assisted reproductive technique (ART) media are not induced by apoptosis. Theriogenology 84, 1620–1630.
Lower total cell numbers in mouse preimplantation embryos cultured in human assisted reproductive technique (ART) media are not induced by apoptosis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schumacher, A, and Fischer, B (1988). Influence of visible light and room temperature on cell proliferation in preimplantation rabbit embryos. Reproduction 84, 197–204.
Influence of visible light and room temperature on cell proliferation in preimplantation rabbit embryos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sequeira, RC, Criswell, T, Atala, A, and Yoo, JJ (2020). Microfluidic systems for assisted reproductive technologies: advantages and potential applications. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 17, 787–800.
Microfluidic systems for assisted reproductive technologies: advantages and potential applications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tafur, J, and Mills, PJ (2008). Low-intensity light therapy: exploring the role of redox mechanisms. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 26, 323–328.
Low-intensity light therapy: exploring the role of redox mechanisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Umaoka, Y, Noda, Y, Nakayama, T, Narimoto, K, Mori, T, and Iritani, A (1992). Effect of visual light on in vitro embryonic development in the hamster. Theriogenology 38, 1043–1054.
Effect of visual light on in vitro embryonic development in the hamster.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhang, J, Cui, J, Ling, X, Li, X, Peng, Y, Guo, X, Heng, BC, and Tong, GQ (2009). Vitrification of mouse embryos at 2-cell, 4-cell and 8-cell stages by cryotop method. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 26, 621–628.
Vitrification of mouse embryos at 2-cell, 4-cell and 8-cell stages by cryotop method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |