Table 2.
Mouse studies of ART and cardiovascular effects
| Reference | Experimental groups | Genetic background | Superovulation | Embryo Culture | Transfer | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donjacour et al. 2014 | IVF Whitten’s medium Controls: SO+ET |
CF-1xB6D2F1 | 5 IU PMSG 5 IU hCG |
Whitten’s medium under 20% oxygen | surgical transfer to CF-1 females | Whitten’s medium males had reduced systolic BP and enlarged left heart. Diastolic BP and heart weight were normal. |
| Ramirez-Perez et al. 2014 | SO+IVC+ET SO+IVC+ET high fat diet Control: natural Control: natural high fat diet |
CF-1xB6D2F1 | 5 IU PMSG 5 IU hCG |
two-cell to blastocyst stage in Whitten’s medium | surgical transfer to CF-1 females | SO+IVC+ET high fat diet mice display mesenteric artery endothelial dysfunction and signs of vascular remodeling. |
| Rexhaj et al. 2015 | IVF Control: natural |
FVB | 5 IU PMSG 5 IU hCG |
to blastocyst stage in sequential G1 and G2 media | surgical transfer to NMRI females | IVF mice exhibited mesenteric artery endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular stiffness in vitro, and increased arterial BP in vivo. Effects were normalized when adult males were administered butyrate. |
| Schenewerk et al. 2013 | SO+IVC+ET Control: natural |
CF-1xB6D2F1 | 5 IU PMSG 5 IU hCG |
two-cell to blastocyst stage in Whitten’s medium | surgical transfer to CF-1 females | No differences in mean arterial BP under normal diet conditions or high fat diet. ART mice display increased oxidative stress in mesenteric resistance arteries of juvenile offspring regardless of diet. |
| Watkins et al. 2007 | SO+IVC+ET SO+ET Control: natural Control: natural, litter culled to 6 pups |
CBA/B6xMF1 | 5 IU PMSG 5 IU hCG |
two-cell to blastocyst stage in T6 medium with or without BSA | surgical transfer to CBA/B6 females | In both males and females, SO+IVC+ET had higher systolic BP than SO+ET or both natural groups. |
BP=blood pressure; BSA=bovine serum albumin; ET=embryo transfer; hCG=human chorionic gonadotropin; ICSI=intracytoplasmic sperm injection; IU=international unit; IVC=in vivo fertilization but embryos were cultured; IVF=in vitro fertilization; PMSG=pregnant mare gonadotropin; SO=superovulation.