Threeª²dimensional coª²culture model of blastocyst and uterine endometrium in mice

    TAN Dongª²Mei, TAN Yi, ZHAO Jie, AI Ling, WANG Zhiª²Biao

    1Center of Laboratory Animals, 2Ultrasound Engineering Institute of Medical Science, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400016, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To develop a threeª²dimensional coª²culture model of blastocyst and endometrium in mice and to provide a tool for the study of implantation mechanism. METHODS: The blastocyst was coª²cultured with the endometrium of the same mouse at the gasª²liquid interface with air and mixed gas containing 500 mL/L, 750 mL/L and 950 mL/L O2 respectively. The adherence rate of blastocysts was recorded to explore the optimal concentration of O2 for the coª²culture system in vitro. The endometrium, which had been adhered by blastocyst, was fixed in paraformaldehyde and examined after H.E staining. RESULTS: The embryonic adherence rate in different O2 concentration was 64.75%, 47.86%, 42.37% and 30.97% respectively, with a significant difference (¦Ö2=28.145, P=0.000). The adherence rate decreased with the increase of O2 concentration. Mixed gas with 50 mL/L CO2 plus 950 mL/L air proved most beneficial to the coª²culture system of blastocyst and endometrium. Following adherence, blastocyst invaded the endometrium without any outgrowth of trophoblasts. CONCLUSION: 50 mL/L CO2 plus 950 mL/L air is most favourable to the coª²culture of blastocyst and endometrium. In this system, the adhered blastocyst invades the endometrium directly. A threeª²dimensional coª²culture model of blastocyst and endometrium in mice is successfully developed. ......