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Enabling Hamster Embryo Culture System: Development of Preimplantation Embryos

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Comparative Embryo Culture

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2006))

Abstract

Development of preimplantation embryos, from fertilization to hatched-blastocyst stage, has been a challenging task, regardless of the mammalian species being studied. While the mouse model has been versatile for studying in vitro development of early embryos, other rodent species are important to gain insights into comparative early embryogenesis. The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) offers unique advantages to study cellular and molecular regulation of gamete maturation, fertilization and preimplantation development, including the phenomenon of blastocyst hatching. Achieving in vitro fertilization and first cleavage division is relatively easy; however, subsequent development past the two-/four-cell stage had been difficult in hamsters. Pioneering research, carried out over three decades has markedly enabled successful in vitro development of one-cell embryos to blastocysts. This article provides a comprehensive perspective (historical and current) on the embryo culture systems and details an optimized culture protocols to achieve normal and viable development of preimplantation embryos in the golden hamster.

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Acknowledgments

P.B.S. would like to dedicate this chapter to Prof. Barry D. Bavister who is the pioneer of hamster embryo culture technology. P.B.S. is immensely indebted to Prof. Bavister for his invaluable inputs during P.B.S.’s initial research phase on hamster preimplantation embryogenesis and for his generous encouragement of P.B.S.’s research career. We thank Ms. Madhulika Pathak and M.S. Pamdavathy for help during the preparation of the manuscript. We gratefully acknowledge the funding support received from the Indian Institute of Science and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi. High-end confocal imaging facility provided by the Department of Biotechnology (Government of India, New Delhi) is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

    Polani B. Seshagiri & Venkatappa Vani

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  1. Polani B. Seshagiri
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  2. Venkatappa Vani
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Correspondence to Polani B. Seshagiri .

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  1. Department of Reproductive Sciences, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, NE, USA

    Jason R. Herrick

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Seshagiri, P.B., Vani, V. (2019). Enabling Hamster Embryo Culture System: Development of Preimplantation Embryos. In: Herrick, J. (eds) Comparative Embryo Culture. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2006. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9566-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9566-0_4

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