Abstract:
A method of liquid nitrogen surface vitrification requiring an embryo washed in a rinsing medium, then incubated in a base medium and incubated in a hold medium before being washed in a vitrification medium and produced into a vitrification droplet (270). For forming the droplet, vitrification medium (210), an intermediary fluid such as air, followed by vitrification medium containing at least one embryo (250) are aspirated into the channel. The vitrification droplet consequently can contain an air bubble (220). The vitrification droplet can be produced from an instrument with a channel and dropped directly into liquid phase nitrogen producing a vitrified droplet. The vitrified droplet can be stored in cryo-vessels, and warmed for revitalization of biological function of vitrified biological cell mass or tissues, such as oocytes and/or embryos.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to the fields of reproductive medicine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel human embryo co-culture system to improve human embryo growth in vitro and, consequently, increase pregnancy rates in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of growing an embryo to a blastocyst stage of development comprising the step of coculturing said embryo in the presence of a population of cumulus cells.
Abstract:
Methods, compositions and kits for determining the developmental potential of one or more embryos or pluripotent cells and/or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in one or more embryos or pluripotent cells are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in identifying embryos and oocytes in vitro that are most useful in treating infertility in humans.
Abstract:
Methods and compositions for enhancing development of a preimplantation mammalian embryo and for increasing the live birth potential of an in vitro fertilized mammalian embryo are disclosed. An in vitro method of activating the peroxisome proliferator activator receptor d (PPARd) in a preimplantation mammalian embryo comprises culturing an embryo in an embryo culture medium, and upon or after commencement of expression of PPARd in the cells of the embryo, activating the PPARd by adding an amount of a PPARd ligand to said medium effective to bind to PPARd to deter apoptosis in the cells of the cultured embryo and/or increase proliferation of the cells of the cultured embryo.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to the field of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and to the creation of cloned animals and cells. The disclosure relates to a method of cloning a mammal, obtaining pluripotent cells such as embryonic stem cells, or for reprogramming a mammalian cell using an oocyte and a fertilized embryo.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a system and method for determining embryo quality comprising monitoring the embryo for a time period, said time period having a length sufficient to comprise at least one cell division period and at least a part of an inter-division period, and determining the length of the at least one cell division period; and/or ii) determining the extent and/or spatial distribution of cellular or organelle movement during the cell division period; and/or iii) determining duration of an inter-division period; and/or iv) determining the extent and/or spatial distribution of cellular or organelle movement during the inter-division period thereby obtaining an embryo quality measure. Thus, the selection of optimal embryos to be implanted after in vitro fertilization (IVF) is facilitated based on the timing, duration, spatial distribution, and extent of observed cell divisions and associated cellular and organelle movement.
Abstract:
This present invention provides novel methods for deriving embryonic stem cells, those cells and cell lines, and the use of the cells for therapeutic and research purposes without the destruction of the embryo. It also relates to novel 5 methods of establishing and storing an autologous stem cell line prior to implantation of an embryo, e.g., in conjunction with reproductive therapies such as IVF.
Abstract:
A novel human embryonic stem cell line (hES-NCL1) is described together with a method for culturing a blastocyst and obtaining an embryonic stem cell line therefrom. Also described is the spontaneous partial differentiation of the embryonic stem cell line so obtained to produce fibroblast-like cells which act as an autogeneic feeder system to the stem cells. A novel fibroblast-like cell line hESC-NCL is described.