Applying the Lessons of Physiological Cell Culture to Human Embryo Culture for In Vitro Fertilization

Growth media for human cell culture were developed in the twentieth century, when the first immortal human cell lines were established. The nutrient compositions of these media arose not from a desire to reproduce the microenvironment of the cells in vivo, but rather to encourage continuous replicative growth. Armed with comprehensive datasets detailing the metabolomes of the various fluid compartments within which cells reside, cell culturists are now exploring the effects of media designed to reproduce the in vivo environment on cell biology. The early results of this research indicate the media composition has profound impacts on cell form and function. In parallel, taking care to maintain oxygen at the relatively low levels found in vivo also affects many cellular activities. The lessons learned from ‘physiological cell culture’ should be applied to the culture of human embryos in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic, where a critical stage of growth and development might be best supported by recreating, to the greatest extent possible, the environment of the oviduct and uterus. In this review, we translate recent advancements in physiological cell culture to emerging approaches in human embryo culture.