Effect of essential amino acids on mouse embryo viability and ammonium production

Purpose. To examine the effect of essential amino acids concentrations on m ouse embryo development. Methods: Mouse embryos were cultured in medium with different concentration s of essential amino acids and development to the blastocyst stage and viab ility assessed. Ammonium production resulting from medium breakdown and ami no acid metabolism by embryos were also assessed. Results. Reducing the essential amino acid concentration significantly incr eased blastocyst development and cell numbers. Lowering the essential amino acid concentration decreased ammonium production in the medium. Conclusions. Culture media for the development of preimplantation embryos s hould have a reduced essential aml. no acid concentration to facilitate emb ryo development.