Uptake and Incorporation of Glucose especially into the Glycogen Pools of Preimplantation Mouse Embryos during Culture in vitro

Abstract

Rate of [14C]glucose uptake by mouse embryos during in vitro culture in media containing optimal concentrations of lactate and pyruvate increased throughout preimplantation development. A reduction in the glucose concentration of the medium from 5·56 to 0·28 mM resulted in a two- to fivefold decrease in glucose metabolism, suggesting near-saturation of the membrane carrier at the lower concentration. Changes in the level of lactate and pyruvate in the medium had little effect on glucose metabolism after the third cleavage division. However, further evidence of interaction between energy substrates during the initial cleavage was obtained.