Rat embryo culture using rabbit serum as a medium for developmental toxicity studies.

The usefulness of rabbit serum as a culture medium for postimplantation rat embryos was examined. Rat embryos at day 9.5 of gestation were cultured in a mixture of rat and rabbit sera at various ratios (v/v) for 48 h. In 100% rat serum, a usual medium, rat embryos grew well. On the contrary, rat embryos died with little growth in 100% rabbit serum. In 75% rabbit and 25% rat sera, rat embryos grew but were morphologically abnormal. In 50% rabbit and 50% rat serum, however, rat embryos grew well showing no morphological abnormalities, as in 100% rat serum. It was concluded from these results that rabbit serum could be used at a proportion up to 50% as a medium for postimplantation rat embryo culture in a mixed form with rat serum. The rat embryo culture using rabbit serum as a medium would be useful in developmental toxicity studies, especially those involving species differences and toxicokinetics.