Pn. Zarmakoupiszavos et Pm. Zavos, FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE THE MOUSE EMBRYO BIOASSAY, Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 179(3), 1996, pp. 141-149
The mouse embryo bioassay (MEB) is a biologically relevant means of qu
ality control (QC) in almost all modes of Assisted Reproductive Techno
logies (ART). Such QC tests are essential to guarantee that all proced
ures performed and media used are of adequate quality which would not
compromise subsequent pregnancy rates. Although most reports on the us
e of the MEB for QC in ART laboratories refer to its use in the QC of
other parameters such as contact materials, contaminants and environme
ntal parameters of the culture conditions, these same bioassays have b
een also criticized as not being sensitive enough to suboptimal cultur
e conditions that may affect the outcome of human in-vitro fertilizati
on. The aim of this review is to define the conditions of the MEB as a
QC Bat as they may affect the outcome of human in vitro fertilization
and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).