In-vitro development of preimplantation embryos recovered from IUD-bearing mice

Abstract

Embryos were collected from the oviducts and uterine horns of mice bearing a unilateral IUD [intrauterine device] and of non-IUD control mice at various times p.c. [post coitum], examined for the presence or absence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and cultured. Normal numbers of embryos were obtained on the IUD side at 48 h p.c., but reduced numbers were recovered at 60-66 and 72 h p.c. The numbers of embryos that hatched from those collected from control, IUD-bearing and contralateral non-IUD bearing tracts were, respectively, 81, 29 and 36% for 48 h embryos, 78, 47 and 51% for 60-66 h embryos and 88, 47 and 54% for 72 h embryos. At 48 h and 60-66 h p.c. the arrest of development occurred at the expanded blastocyst stage, but at 72 h p.c. some compacted morulae were affected. Some embryos associated with PMNL at collection developed normally when the PMNL were dispersed before culture. An initial association with leukocytes is not necessarily detrimental to the subsequent in vitro development of the embryo in mice.