Diagnosis of the viability of early bovine embryos by fluorescence microscopy

Abstract

Introduction.

The use of eosin B to assess the viability and developmental potential of rat embryos

“…Evaluation of the staining response of embryos while immersed in dye has been reported (Brock andRowson 1950, Hutz et al 1985). However, most methods for embryonic assessment using dyes require or recommend that the embryo is washed prior to evaluation of the staining response (Church and Raines 1980, Hoppe and Bavister 1984, Kardymowicz 1972, Mohr and Trounson 1980, Schilling et al 1979, Thadani et al 1982. Of those studies, only a few (Mohr andTrounson 1980, Thadani et al 1982) exposed the embryo to the dye in the same medium used to culture the embryo and then determined the staining response, after washing…”

“…Mohr and Trounson (1980) noted that the amount and rate of fluorescein accumulation varied greatly within embryos or even between embryos at the same stage of development. However, none of the studies so far reported has specifically Investigated for an influence of the stage of embryonic development on the staining response (Church and Raines 1980, Hoppe and Bavlster 1984, Hutz et al 1985, Mohr and Trounson 1980, Schilling et al 1979). …”

“…In fact, most reports have formulated the dye solution in buffered saline solutions, completely avoiding the use of culture media (Church and Raines 1980, Hoppe and Bavlster 1984, Hutz et al 1985, Kardymowicz 1972, Schilling et al 1979). …”

“…Rhodamine 123 and ethidium bromide has been used to estimate viability of human spermatozoa (Evenson et al 1982 (Church and Raines 1980, Hoppe and Bavister 1984, Renard et al 1982, Schilling et al 1979, hamster (Hoppe andBavister 1984, Hutz et al 1985), mouse (Jackowski 1977, Mohr andTrounson 1980), rabbit (Schilling et al 1979), and squirrel monkey (Chan et al, 1982).…”

“…Acridine orange was shown to stain the nuclei of bovine embryos, however, the dye was cytotoxic to the embryo (Schilling et al 1979). Neutral red was used as an Indicator of viability of sheep embryos (Kardymowicz 1972), based on the ability of embryos to retain neutral red for 2 hours.…”