Cell-free human amniotic fluid as culture medium for mouse and human embryos.

Differences between murine and human preimplantation embryonic growth in cell-free human amniotic fluid and medium F-10 supplemented with human fetal cord serum were assessed. Two-cell mouse embryos cultured in human amniotic fluid developed more consistently to the expanded blastocyst stage than those cultured in F-10. No significant difference in human preimplantation embryo cleavage was observed between the two culture conditions. However, amniotic fluid was significantly worse than F-10 + human serum in its ability to maintain embryos that could establish pregnancy after transfer.