Abstract
The proper pH of media is a crucial parameter for optimizing efficacy of gamete and embryo culture. Selecting the right media pH and stabilizing this pH are important variables in minimizing intracellular stress and optimizing development. Regulation of intracellular (pHi) and extracellular pH (pHe) is discussed, as well as methods to prevent harmful pHe oscillations. Furthermore, proper approaches to ensure accurate measurement of media pHe are described.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Barr KJ, Garrill A, Jones DH, Orlowski J, Kidder GM (1998) Contributions of Na+/H+ exchanger isoforms to preimplantation development of the mouse. Mol Reprod Dev 50(2):146–153
Zhao Y, Chauvet PJ, Alper SL, Baltz JM (1995) Expression and function of bicarbonate/chloride exchangers in the preimplantation mouse embryo. J Biol Chem 270(41):24428–24434
Lane M, Baltz JM, Bavister BD (1998) Regulation of intracellular pH in hamster preimplantation embryos by the sodium hydrogen (Na+/H+) antiporter. Biol Reprod 59(6):1483–1490
Lane M, Baltz JM, Bavister BD (1999) Bicarbonate/chloride exchange regulates intracellular pH of embryos but not oocytes of the hamster. Biol Reprod 61(2):452–457
Lane M, Baltz JM, Bavister BD (1999) Na+/H+ antiporter activity in hamster embryos is activated during fertilization. Dev Biol 208(1):244–252
Lane M, Bavister BD (1999) Regulation of intracellular pH in bovine oocytes and cleavage stage embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 54(4):396–401
Dale B, Menezo Y, Cohen J, DiMatteo L, Wilding M (1998) Intracellular pH regulation in the human oocyte. Hum Reprod 13(4):964–970
Edwards LJ, Williams DA, Gardner DK (1998) Intracellular pH of the mouse preimplantation embryo: amino acids act as buffers of intracellular pH. Hum Reprod 13(12):3441–3448
Edwards LJ, Williams DA, Gardner DK (1998) Intracellular pH of the preimplantation mouse embryo: effects of extracellular pH and weak acids. Mol Reprod Dev 50(4):434–442
Phillips KP, Leveille MC, Claman P, Baltz JM (2000) Intracellular pH regulation in human preimplantation embryos. Hum Reprod 15(4):896–904
Phillips KP, Petrunewich MA, Collins JL, Baltz JM (2002) The intracellular pH-regulatory HCO −3 /Cl− exchanger in the mouse oocyte is inactivated during first meiotic metaphase and reactivated after egg activation via the MAP kinase pathway. Mol Biol Cell 13(11):3800–3810
Zhao Y, Baltz JM (1996) Bicarbonate/chloride exchange and intracellular pH throughout preimplantation mouse embryo development. Am J Physiol 271(5 Pt 1):1512–1520
Fitzharris G, Baltz JM (2006) Granulosa cells regulate intracellular pH of the murine growing oocyte via gap junctions: development of independent homeostasis during oocyte growth. Development 133(4):591–599
FitzHarris G, Siyanov V, Baltz JM (2007) Granulosa cells regulate oocyte intracellular pH against acidosis in preantral follicles by multiple mechanisms. Development 134(23): 4283–4295
Phillips KP, Baltz JM (1999) Intracellular pH regulation by HCO −3 /Cl− exchange is activated during early mouse zygote development. Dev Biol 208(2):392–405
Lane M, Lyons EA, Bavister BD (2000) Cryopreservation reduces the ability of hamster 2-cell embryos to regulate intracellular pH. Hum Reprod 15(2):389–394
Leclerc C, Becker D, Buehr M, Warner A (1994) Low intracellular pH is involved in the early embryonic death of DDK mouse eggs fertilized by alien sperm. Dev Dyn 200(3):257–267
Zander-Fox DL, Mitchell M, Thompson JG, Lane M (2010) Alterations in mouse embryo intracellular pH by DMO during culture impair implantation and fetal growth. Reprod Biomed Online 21(2):219–229
Squirrell JM, Lane M, Bavister BD (2001) Altering intracellular pH disrupts development and cellular organization in preimplantation hamster embryos. Biol Reprod 64(6): 1845–1854
Gibb CA, Poronnik P, Day ML, Cook DI (1997) Control of cytosolic pH in two-cell mouse embryos: roles of H(+)-lactate cotransport and Na+/H+ exchange. Am J Physiol 273(2 Pt 1):C404–419
Hugentobler S, Morris DG, Kane MT, Sreenan JM (2004) In situ oviduct and uterine pH in cattle. Theriogenology 61(7–8):1419–27
Elrod CC, Butler WR (1993) Reduction of fertility and alteration of uterine pH in heifers fed excess ruminally degradable protein. J Anim Sci 71(3):694–701
Good NE, Winget GD, Winter W et al (1966) Hydrogen ion buffers for biological research. Biochemistry 5(2):467–477
Good NE, Izawa S (1972) Hydrogen ion buffers. Methods Enzymol 24:53–68
Ferguson WJ, Braunschweiger KI, Braunschweiger WR et al (1980) Hydrogen ion buffers for biological research. Anal Biochem 104(2):300–310
Swain JE (2010) Optimizing the culture environment in the IVF laboratory: impact of pH and buffer capacity on gamete and embryo quality. Reprod Biomed Online 21(1):6–16
Swain JE, Pool TB (2009) New pH-buffering system for media utilized during gamete and embryo manipulations for assisted reproduction. Reprod Biomed Online 18(6):799–810
Quinn P, Cooke S (2004) Equivalency of culture media for human in vitro fertilization formulated to have the same pH under an atmosphere containing 5 % or 6 % carbon dioxide. Fertil Steril 81(6):1502–1506
Pooler PM, Wahl ML, Rabinowitz AB, Owen CS (1998) pH measurement: a comparison of results using glass membrane electrodes vs solid-state electrodes as a function of solution composition. Anal Biochem 256(2):238–240
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Swain, J.E. (2012). Media Composition: pH and Buffers. In: Smith, G., Swain, J., Pool, T. (eds) Embryo Culture. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 912. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-971-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-971-6_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-970-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-971-6
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols