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Metabolism of the Viable Human Embryo

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Human Gametes and Preimplantation Embryos

Abstract

Regulation of energy production is fundamental to the survival and propagation of any cell type. What makes the preimplantation mammalian embryo so fascinating to study is the fact that the embryo undergoes major changes in its physiology and gene expression profiles during development. As the fertilised oocyte develops and differentiates into the blastocyst, embryonic genes are successively turned on (with the concomitant destruction of maternally derived mRNAs). Subsequently there is a growing energy demand as mitoses and biosynthesis increase post-embryonic-genome activation and as the blastocoel subsequently forms (through the activity of Na/K ATPase in the trophectoderm). Concomitantly, there are major changes in the regulation and relative activities of energy generating pathways. Of clinical interest is the fact that should an embryo at any stage of development have substantially altered energy production, i.e. if the flux of a specific nutrient through a metabolic pathway alters to a significant degree, even for a brief period, then this is associated with significantly impaired development in culture and reduction of viability post-transfer. Clearly it is in our interest to understand how the preimplantation embryo regulates its energy production, and to develop culture systems that best support an ‘optimal’ metabolism. Furthermore, it is evident that analysis of embryo metabolism is an appropriate means of assessing embryonic health and predicting subsequent viability. The task ahead is to determine the optimal range of metabolic functions that reflect viability at successive stages of embryo development.

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Acknowledgments

The author is indebted to Dr Mark Johnson for his comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    David K. Gardner

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  1. David K. Gardner
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Melbourne, Department of Zoology, Royal Parade, Melbourne, 3010, Victoria, Australia

    David K. Gardner

  2. Boston IVF, Second Ave. 130, Waltham, 02451, Massachusetts, USA

    Denny Sakkas

  3. Yale School of Medicine, Dept. of Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences, Cedar St. 333, New Haven, 06510, Connecticut, USA

    Emre Seli

  4. Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of, Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2HW, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

    Dagan Wells

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Gardner, D.K. (2013). Metabolism of the Viable Human Embryo. In: Gardner, D., Sakkas, D., Seli, E., Wells, D. (eds) Human Gametes and Preimplantation Embryos. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6651-2_20

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