Microscopic observation of mouse embryo holded in a microfluidic channel

Abstract

Mammalian embryo inside oviduct experiences fluid shear stress (FSS) from oviductal fluid. During in vitro culture of embryos, embryonic development improved under physiological FSS, while apoptosis of embryo was observed when the embryo was under excess FSS. We can discuss about mechanism for this apoptosis by microscopic observation of cells in the embryos after FSS induced by fluid motion in vitro. We developed embryo microscopic observation system to apply quantitative FSS to the embryo. Mouse embryo was hold in microfluidic channel using holding pipette. We observed bright and fluorescence images of cells inside morula and blastocyst applied with FSS using syringe pump. When FSS of 33.3 and 133.3 dyne/mm2 were applied to the embryo, cell inside embryos expanded, and the larger expansion of morula was observed compared with that of blastocyst. We consider that these phenomena might be related with the apoptosis of mammalian embryo induced by excess FSS.