Study of low-temperature (4 degrees C) transport of mouse two-cell embryos enclosed in oviducts.

PURPOSE: We examined usefulness of a mouse embryo transportation system for low-temperature transport of oviducts containing mouse two-cell embryos. METHODS: Oviducts containing two-cell mouse embryos were stored at 4 degrees C for 36 h. After that, embryos were collected and cultured for 96 h in Potassium Simplex Optimized Medium (KSOM) medium and evaluated for their rate of development to hatched blastocysts. Embryos were transferred to recipients, and the rate of survival to live young was investigated. The oviducts were then transported from Yamagata to Kumamoto (distance of approx. 1,000 km). At the destination, embryos were implanted in recipient dams and were studied to evaluate their survival to live young. RESULTS: After preservation for 36 h at 4 degrees C, 68.3% of two-cell embryos developed to hatched blastocysts. As a result of transplanting 546 embryos into 25 recipients, 109 normal live young mice were obtained; the rate of development was 20.0%. Results of oviduct transport from Yamagata to Kumamoto indicated that 30.2% of transplanted embryos developed to live young. CONCLUSION: Low-temperature transport of two-cell embryos in oviducts is useful as a method of shipping mouse embryos between institutes.