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.

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.