Optimizing tubal epithelial cell growth promotes mouse embryo hatching in coculture

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between human tubal epithelial cell growth characteristics and mouse embryonic development to determine which cellular requirements should be preferentially provided in a coculture system. Methods: Cell growth and viability were assessed for 5 days in alpha-minimal essential medium or human tubal fluid supplemented with 10% human serum or 10% synthetic serum. Two-cell mouse embryo development to blastocyst and hatching blastocyst stages was also assessed with or without coculture. Results: Both epithelial cell growth and embryo development were dependent on serum supplementation with better cell viability and growth rates in human serum and better blastocyst development in synthetic serum. The highest proportion of hatching blastocysts was found in alpha-minimal essential medium and human serum with coculture. Conclusions: Culture conditions which improve tubal epithelial cell growth also improve the hatching rate of mouse embryos in coculture, This indicates that by meeting the metabolic and nutritional demands for epithelial cell growth, the beneficial effects of coculture on embryo development may be optimized.