Dynamic changes of energic metabolism occur in mammalian embryonic development from zygote to blastocyst stage. Pyruvate and lactate play an important role in early cleavage stage for ATP production, and glucose may play a key role for blastocyst development after zygote genome activation. Although the early cleavage development is inhibited by glucose, the late blastocyst formation is required for existing glucose in the culture medium in vitro. It has been reported that the role of glucose in the culture medium can be replaced by fructose. In animal studies, it also has been reported that the blastocyst formation rate is increased by fructose supplementation in the culture medium, and further indicated that combined use of glucose and fructose in the culture medium as energic sources not only increases the blastocyst formation rate but also improves the quality of blastocyst and reduces the cell apoptosis. Those results indicated that there is synergic function of glucose and fructose in the culture medium during embryonic development. In this review, we will discuss the possibility of fructose metabolic routes from the development of zygote to blastocyst stage and explain the functional role of fructose in the culture medium.

Dynamic changes of energic metabolism occur in mammalian embryonic development from zygote to blastocyst stage. Pyruvate and lactate play an important role in early cleavage stage for ATP production, and glucose may play a key role for blastocyst development after zygote genome activation. Although the early cleavage development is inhibited by glucose, the late blastocyst formation is required for existing glucose in the culture medium in vitro. It has been reported that the role of glucose in the culture medium can be replaced by fructose. In animal studies, it also has been reported that the blastocyst formation rate is increased by fructose supplementation in the culture medium, and further indicated that combined use of glucose and fructose in the culture medium as energic sources not only increases the blastocyst formation rate but also improves the quality of blastocyst and reduces the cell apoptosis. Those results indicated that there is synergic function of glucose and fructose in the culture medium during embryonic development. In this review, we will discuss the possibility of fructose metabolic routes from the development of zygote to blastocyst stage and explain the functional role of fructose in the culture medium.

Infertility treatment with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) involves several processes such as the production of zygote (fusion of sperm and oocyte), the culturing of embryos (from zygote to blastocyst stage), and embryo transfer to uterus. The development of culturing embryos from zygote to blastocyst stage is typically called "embryo preimplantation development". In human, it has been noted that from zygote to 8-cell stage of embryo development relies on the accumulation of proteins and mRNAs which the oocyte itself has got, and then continues to develop into the blastocyst stage after zygote genome activation (ZGA). Therefore, in vitro culture of embryos from zygote to blastocyst stage is relatively important for IVF treatment. The composition of culture media directly affects the development of embryos, and in turn, subsequently affects the outcome of the IVF treatment. Among them, lactate may play an important role in early cleavage of zygote during embryonic development cultured in vitro. In this review, we discussed the composition of developed media from zygote to blastocyst stage, dealing especially with the function of lactate in culture for embryonic development. Concurrently, we discussed commercially available materials for the lactate that are used in the making of culture media.

Oocyte vitrification has developed as a first-line solution for female fertility preservation, which is widely used in assisted reproductive technology. As the basis of embryonic development, oocytes play an important role in early embryonic development, including epigenetic reprogramming and maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). They deserve the key to individual development. Oocyte epigenetic modification and transcriptome are very sensitive to stress induced by vitrification. Vitrification cryopreservation may have adverse effects on the epigenetic modification and transcriptome of oocytes as a strong external stimulus. Through the paper, we mainly reviewed the effects of vitrification on epigenetic modification and transcriptome of oocytes, hoping to provide a theoretical basis for the optimization and improvement of vitrification technology.

Infertility treatment with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) involves several processes such as the production of zygote (fusion of sperm and oocyte), the culturing of embryos (from zygote to blastocyst stage), and embryo transfer to uterus. The development of culturing embryos from zygote to blastocyst stage is typically called "embryo preimplantation development". In human, it has been noted that from zygote to 8-cell stage of embryo development relies on the accumulation of proteins and mRNAs which the oocyte itself has got, and then continues to develop into the blastocyst stage after zygote genome activation (ZGA). Therefore, in vitro culture of embryos from zygote to blastocyst stage is relatively important for IVF treatment. The composition of culture media directly affects the development of embryos, and in turn, subsequently affects the outcome of the IVF treatment. Among them, lactate may play an important role in early cleavage of zygote during embryonic development cultured in vitro. In this review, we discussed the composition of developed media from zygote to blastocyst stage, dealing especially with the function of lactate in culture for embryonic development. Concurrently, we discussed commercially available materials for the lactate that are used in the making of culture media.

Oocyte vitrification has developed as a first-line solution for female fertility preservation, which is widely used in assisted reproductive technology. As the basis of embryonic development, oocytes play an important role in early embryonic development, including epigenetic reprogramming and maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). They deserve the key to individual development. Oocyte epigenetic modification and transcriptome are very sensitive to stress induced by vitrification. Vitrification cryopreservation may have adverse effects on the epigenetic modification and transcriptome of oocytes as a strong external stimulus. Through the paper, we mainly reviewed the effects of vitrification on epigenetic modification and transcriptome of oocytes, hoping to provide a theoretical basis for the optimization and improvement of vitrification technology.