Development of Baboon Preimplantation Embryos to Post-Implantation Stages In Vitro1

Abstract

Preimplantation baboon embryos were recovered nonsurgically and cultured in vitro to postimplantation stages. Most embryos (61/69) were cultured in CMRL-1066 medium supplemented with glutamine (1 mM), pyruvate (0.37 mM) and antibiotics; plus 20% heat-inactivated human cord serum (1-ICS) or fetal calf serum (FCS). Embryos were cultured in microtiter plate wells containing approximately 250 zl of medium in a gas atmosphere of 5% 02, depending upon the stage of development at recovery: and up to a 7-to 8-fold increase in size was achieved. These post-attachment embryos correspond in size and morphological appearance to 11-to 12-day (Stage Vc-VI) human and rhesus monkey embryos after fixation.