Development of 1-Cell Embryos from Different Strains of Mice in CZB Medium1

One-cell embryos from several different strains of mice have been cultured to the blastocyst stage in CZB medium. CZB medium can be used to culture CF1 x B6SJLF1/J 1-cell embryos to the blastocyst stage provided glucose is introduced into the medium on Day 3 of culture. The amount of glucose required for embryo development was titrated using a concentration range of 5.5 to 49.5 mM. With the exception of the highest concentration, all glucose levels tested supported 65-85% development to the morula and blastocyst stages. Variations of CZB medium were tested for their ability to support the development of 1-cell embryos from 4 strains of mice. For embryos from CF1 and DBA/2J (both x B6SJLF1/J) mice, which exhibit a "2-cell block" to development in vitro, CZB medium containing glutamine with the addition of glucose on Day 3 supported optimum development from the 1-cell stage to morula and blastocysts (79% and 87%). For embryos from B6D2F1/J and CD1 female mice (both x B6SJLF1/J males), which do not exhibit a "2-cell block" to in vitro development, optimum development to morula and blastocyst stages (95% and 50%) was in CZB medium containing both glutamine and glucose from the start of culture.