Growth of preimplantation bovine embryos
Lonergan, P.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 35(4): 307-320
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 7676912 Document Number: 430479
A discussion. The development of mammalian embryos in vitro is functionally and temporally inferior to in vivo development. The deficiencies of cultured embryos range from slow cleavage to complete arrest of development, occurring at particular stages in many species. A variety of approaches have been used to overcome arrested development, including the coculture of preimplantation embryos with various somatic cells. However, even with coculture, the development of embryos in vitro is still not equivalent to that in vivo. In most laboratories only 25-40% of inseminated oocytes develop into morulae and blastocysts, in spite of numerous variations on the basic technique. A better understanding of the factors governing embryo growth is required before in vitro development approaches the success of in vivo development.