Abstract
Mouse 1-cell embryos from C57BL/6J were cultured in CZB medium containing lactate, pyruvate, glutamine, EDTA and BSA. When examined 24, 36 and 48 h after culture, embryos developed to the 2-cell (86%), 4-to 7-cell (59%) and ≥8-cell (54%) stages, respectively, but hardly to the ≥morula stage 72 h after culture. When 5.55 mM-glucose was added to the medium 24 or 36 h after culture, significantly higher proportions (71-75%) of blastocyst-stage embryos were obtained 96 h after culture compared with when glucose was added 0 (43%) and 48 (26%) h after culture. Exposure of embryos to glucose for only 12 h between 36 and 48 h after culture could support their development to the blastocyst stage (64%). If only glucose was present during this period, the additional exposure of embryos to glucose between 24 and 36 h and/or 48 and 96 h after culture neither inhibits nor promotes development of embryos to the blastocyst stage.
