Krisher R L, Wheeler M B
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821, USA.
Reprod Fertil Dev. 2010;22(1):32-9. doi: 10.1071/RD09219.
Mammalian embryo development is still relatively inefficient in vitro. Much research has been conducted on the chemical environment, or culture medium, surrounding the embryo, but little attention has been given to the actual physical culture environment, which has changed very little over the years. The application of microfluidics to embryo production in vitro is a tantalising approach that may alleviate some of the limits that traditional microdrop culture places on embryo development and research into gamete and embryo physiology. These devices may lead to enhanced in vitro embryo development and quality by more closely mimicking the in vivo environment. Initial work in this area is promising and gives us proof-of-principle that these unique microfluidic systems may indeed be applicable to in vitro culture of gametes and embryos. The present paper reviews the advantages of microfluidics for in vitro embryo production: how the platforms are manufactured, the current uses of microfluidics in assisted reproduction, static v. dynamic culture environments, individual gamete and embryo culture and the future directions of microfluidic application to in vitro embryo production and manipulation. Finally, preliminary data from our laboratory using a new microfluidic well insert for porcine, bovine and murine embryo culture is discussed.
哺乳动物胚胎的体外发育效率仍然相对较低。人们已经对胚胎周围的化学环境，即培养基进行了大量研究，但对实际的物理培养环境却很少关注，而多年来这一环境几乎没有变化。将微流控技术应用于体外胚胎生产是一种很有吸引力的方法，它可能会缓解传统微滴培养对胚胎发育以及配子和胚胎生理学研究造成的一些限制。这些装置通过更紧密地模拟体内环境，可能会提高体外胚胎的发育和质量。该领域的初步工作很有前景，为我们提供了原理证明，即这些独特的微流控系统确实可能适用于配子和胚胎的体外培养。本文综述了微流控技术在体外胚胎生产中的优势：平台的制造方式、微流控技术在辅助生殖中的当前应用、静态与动态培养环境、单个配子和胚胎培养以及微流控技术在体外胚胎生产和操作中的未来应用方向。最后，讨论了我们实验室使用一种新型微流控孔插入物进行猪、牛和小鼠胚胎培养的初步数据。
