Metabolism of Specifically Labelled Pyruvate by Mouse Embryos During Culture from the Two-Cell Stage to the Blastocyst

Abstract

Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24, 48, and 72 hr in media containing 0·5 mM sodium [l_14C]pyruvate or sodium [2_14C]pyruvate. Radioactive lactate was the main metabolite accumulating in the medium when [1_14C]pyruvate was used. Labelled lactate and acetate were identified in the medium at the end of the culture period when [2_14C]pyruvate was the energy source.