Effect of Human Hydrosalpinx Fluid on in vitro Mouse Embryogenesis

Abstract
Objective: Women with hydrosalpinx have an unfavorable pregnancy rate. As one approach to elucidate the effect of hydrosalpinx on uterine tubal functioning, we examined the effect of hydrosalpinx fluid on early embryo development in mice.Methods: Hyperovulation was induced in ICR mice, and late 2‐cell‐stage embryos were harvested 42 hours after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Hydrosalpinx fluid was obtained from patients during surgery after informed consent was obtained. The embryos were cultured in 3 culture fluids: (1) mBWW medium containing 0.3% bovine serum albumin (positive‐control medium) (BSA), (2) Ca2+, Mg2+‐free phosphate buffered saline (negative‐control medium) (PBS), and (3) 100% human hydrosalpinx fluid. The developmental status of the embryos 120 hours after hCG administration was examined.Results: Embryogenesis from a 2‐cell‐stage embryo to a blastocyst was observed in 98.3% (118/120) of the embryos cultured in the mBWW medium, in 0% (0/120) of the embryos cultured in PBS, and in 98.3% (118/120) of the embryos cultured in 100% human hydrosalpinx fluid.Conclusion: In the micro‐environment of human hydrosalpinx fluid, late 2‐cell embryos of ICR mice developed normally to blastocysts. The present results also suggest that non‐species‐specific embryogenetic factors might be present in human hydrosalpinx fluid.