L-carnitine decreases DNA damage and improves the in vitro blastocyst development rate in mouse embryos.

OBJECTIVE

To optimize the L-carnitine (LC) concentration as a supplement in embryo culture medium and to investigate the effect of LC on developing embryos.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

SETTING

Reproductive research center at a tertiary hospital.

INTERVENTION(S): To optimize the LC concentration, 420 mouse embryos were divided into seven groups and incubated with different LC concentrations (0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mg/mL). To investigate the effect of LC on the developing embryos, 500 mouse embryos were divided into three groups and incubated with either actinomycin-D (AD; 0.005 microg/mL), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2); 500 micromol/L), or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha; 500 ng) with and without LC 0.3 or 0.6 mg/mL. Blastocyst development rate (%BDR) and DNA damage were examined for all groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Effect of LC on embryogenesis.

RESULT(S): Significant improvement in %BDR was seen at LC 0.3 mg/mL compared with the control (p = 0.006). L-Carnitine at 0.3 and 0.6 mg/mL significantly reduced the blocking effect of AD, H(2)O(2), and TNF-alpha and significantly decreased the level of DNA damage.

CONCLUSION(S): Embryo culture medium supplementation with LC may offer a novel and a cost-effective technique to improve the embryogenesis of cultured embryos. This may be beneficial in improving IVF outcomes.