ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To review current technologies for the analytical examination of the embryonic metabolome and its perspectives. DESIGN: Review article. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, and University Hospital, Brno, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nowadays, very sensitive analytical technologies are available. They enable exact measurement of various molecules - products of embryo metabolism during first days of cultivation. The capillary electrophoresis is one of promising method. Recent studies analysed metabolic differences between embryos that result in a pregnancy and those that do not. Amino acid levels, glucose or pyruvate in the embryo culture media were analysed most frequently. However, results of these studies are ambiguous. CONCLUSIONS: The capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection may provide a useful data of the embryonic metabolome. A comprehensive analysis of the used culture medium may represent a valuable adjunct to morphological criteria for enhanced rates of implantation and delivery.
