effects of human follicular fluid and synthetic serum substitute on human embryonic development and cell cleavage

the development of culture media able to mimic the preovulatory stage of follicular environment and support nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of oocyte is important for in-vitro fertilization (ivf) programs. it seems that the best culture media for embryonic development and cell cleavage is the natural composition which surrounds the oocyte which has been used occasionally in human ivf programs. for further investigation of effects of natural media composition of human follicular fluid (hff) on embryo development, we compared the biochemical constituents of hff with synthetic serum substitute (3s) and their effects on embryo development and cell cleavage. from a total of 40 women with unexplained infertility, who attended for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (icsi) in ivf center of mirzakoochak khan hospital, we collected the hff during oocyte pick-up in operation room. the chemical composition of hff was compared to 3s medium culture to identify which natural components of follicular fluid might enhance embryo maturation in vitro. the results of comparison between hff and 3s culture media indicated significant differences in biochemical component except for na and bilirubin concentration and ph level (p<0.05) and significant differences between the rates of cell cleavage in 3s compared to hff media (p<0.05). furthermore the rate of embryo cell cleavage related to hff is faster than 3s medium. there was no significant difference between the development of embryos in 3s and hff media culture. our data confirm the benefit of the use of hff as a culture medium.