Figure 5.

Developmental and growth parameters of embryos cultured in rat serum (RS) or in the four combination (diluted) media. (a) Yolk sac circulation scores. RS diluted with N2B27 supports significantly diminished yolk sac circulation compared with 100% RS, whereas dilution with DMEM produces significantly enhanced scores. Dilution with KnockOut serum‐free (KOSF) medium or GMEM + defined supplements (DS) shows no significant difference from 100% RS controls. (b) Turning score. No significant differences in turning score are observed between 100% RS and the four combination media. (c) Yolk sac diameter is significantly reduced when DMEM is the diluent, whereas other media do not differ from the RS control. Dorsal length is significantly reduced in cultures containing KOSF medium or DMEM. Head length is significantly reduced by all diluents except GMEM + DS, which does not differ from 100% RS. (d) Somite number. No significant differences are observed between 100% RS and the four combination media. (E) Total protein content. No significant differences in turning score are observed between 100% RS and the four combination media. Statistical analysis: (a and b) Chi‐square tests comparing all score categories across the five culture media are significant for yolk sac circulation (p ≤ .001) but not for turning score (p > .05). Post hoc tests of combination media versus RS: **p ≤ .01 and *p ≤ .05; 2 × 4 chi‐square tests for yolk sac circulation. (c–e) One‐way ANOVA shows significant variation in growth measurement between the five culture media (p ≤ .05) but not in somite number or protein content. Post hoc tests of combination media versus RS: ***p ≤ .001, **p ≤ .01, *p ≤ .05; Student's t tests. RS: n = 43. Diluted media: KOSF: n = 16; N2B27 serum‐free: n = 16; DMEM: n = 21; GMEM + DS: n = 16