Illustrating the Past, Present and Future Perspective of Human Embryo Culture Media.

Saugandhika, Shrabani; Sharma, Vishal; Khatak, Kamini

Culture media has an important role in in vitro embryo development and in determining the success rate of assisted reproduction technologies. Extensive research during the last few decades has brought about major advancements in the culture media of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Studies on the composition of the mammalian oviductal fluids and the uterine fluids have improved our understanding of the evolving metabolic needs of the preimplantation embryo. This has led to the gradual development of human IVF media, from simple salt solutions to highly complex defined media. Regarding the ideal composition of IVF culture media, two different philosophies have come up “back-to-nature” or sequential culture principle and “let-the-embryo-choose” or one-step culture principle. Sequential culture closely mimics the physiological conditions of the female reproductive tract, while the monoculture system employs simultaneous use of all components in an optimal concentration. Besides the role in viability maintenance, culture media can also take up a new role as a therapeutic agent in the future. The improvised media apart from maintaining the viability may work on improving the quality of gametes/embryos obtained from poor prognosis patients. This review would discuss the progressive evolution of embryo culture media based on studies on pre-implantation embryo physiology and lastly will hypothesize the future of this technology.

HUMAN embryos; CULTURE media (Biology); PREIMPLANTATION genetic diagnosis; MONOCULTURE agriculture; HYPOTHESIS

Animal Reproduction Update, 2022, Vol 2, Issue 1, p90

2583-326X

Academic Journal

10.48165/aru.2022.2106