Antioxidants in culture and vitrification media alters mouse liver and placenta gene expression

A multitude of factors encompassing assisted reproductive technologies present compounding stresses and cause synergistic damage to cell function and embryo development in vitro. We have previously reported that antioxidant supplementation of culture and vitrification media ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of in vitro culture and cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanisms by which antioxidants improve embryo and fetal development by comparing mRNA profiles of E14.5 post-implantation fetal (liver) and placental tissue following supplementation of either in vitro culture or vitrificiation media with or without antioxidants. In vitro samples are compared with tissues derived from in vivo derived fetuses and placentae. Post-implantation mouse liver and placenta (E14.5) mRNA profiles following in vitro culture or vitrification in the presence or absence of antioxidants, or from in vivo derived embryos.