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Thomas B Pool

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas B Pool.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

An update on embryo culture for human assisted reproductive technology: media, performance, and safety.

Several culture medium formulations are now available for the successful production and propagation of viable human embryos. In the most popular format, nutrients are provided in a temporal sequence that matches metabolic and amino acid composition with the requirements of specific developmental stage. An alternative philosophy, that all nutritional requirements for preimplantation embryogenesis can be met with a single medium formulation, is represented in commercially available formulations as well. Regardless of format employed, it is not widely appreciated in assisted reproductive technology laboratories that medium performance is strongly influenced by other components of the culture system, such as transitional conditions employed during the retrieval, pH, gas phase, and patient-specific characteristics. There is now further concern that in vitro culture, in general, modifies normal embryonic epigenetic processes and gene expression, genetic changes that may relate to specific ingredients of culture media.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Development of culture media for human assisted reproductive technology.

Contemporary culture systems in human assisted reproductive technologies meet the metabolic needs of preimplantation embryos by addressing energetic and amino acid requirements in a stage-specific manner. This approach significantly enhances viability compared with the historical use of simple salt solutions or complex somatic cell media.

Culture Media↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recent advances in the production of viable human embryos in vitro.

The introduction of stress to embryonic blastomeres through inappropriate culture conditions results ultimately in the loss of viability. Retention of normal metabolic function in human preimplantation embryos, as well as those of other mammalian species, has been improved by the use of stage-appropriate culture media wherein energy substrates and amino acids are provided in a temporally evolving sequence. While the time dependence of nutrient exposure to embryos has received wide attention, spatial considerations in the embryonic microenvironment have received none. The manner in which media are presented to embryos, the rate at which media are changed, the rate at which cell products are removed and the macromolecular influences upon embryonic microenvironments have received far less attention in the experimental literature. Recent advances in micro-scale engineering allows for the rapid production of matrices containing culture channels slightly larger than the dimensions of preimplantation embryos. Microfluidic systems hold great promise for providing physical configurations yielding significantly reduced volumes but simultaneously providing control over the dynamics of media change and waste removal via fluid flow with time. Additionally, macromolecules may be presented from fixed sites in a minimum volume of solvent thus allowing us to test the importance of space and geometry in facilitating the physical and chemical effectiveness of the embryonic milieu.

Blastocyst↗