Culture of rabbit embryos and isolated blastomeres in hydrogel chambers implanted in the peritoneal cavity of intermediate mouse recipients.

Chambers made from polymerized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate were used for the in vivo culture of rabbit embryos or isolated blastomeres. In Experiment 1, culture of 119, one-cell embryos for 72 hr in saline-filled chambers implanted in the peritoneal cavity of male mice resulted in 72 morulae and 25 blastocysts. Transfer of these 97 embryos to recipient does resulted in the birth of 3 live offspring (3%). Culture of 119, one-cell embryos for 72 hr in saline-filled chambers implanted in the peritoneal cavity of female mice resulted in 23 morulae and 68 blastocysts. Transfer of these 91 embryos to recipient does resulted in the birth of 20 live offspring (22%). All of the 119 control, one-cell embryos had degenerated after 72 hr of in vitro culture in saline-filled chambers. In Experiment 2, culture of 80 blastomeres isolated from four-cell embryos for 72 hr in compartmentalized, medium-filled chambers implanted in the peritoneal cavity of female mice resulted in 21 morulae and 43 blastocysts. For both experiments, the recovery rate for embryos or isolated blastomeres after in vivo culture was 100%.