The vitrification of human embryos is more and more frequently being utilized as a method of assisted reproduction. For this technique, gentle treatment of the embryos after thawing is crucial. In this study, the balance of amino acids released to/consumed from the cultivation media surrounding the warmed embryos was observed in the context of a cultivation environment, which was with the atmospheric oxygen concentration ≈20% or with a regulated oxygen level-hysiological (5%). It is the first time that total amino acid turnover in human embryos after their freezing at post compaction stages has been evaluated. During this study, progressive embryos (developed to blastocyst stage) and stagnant embryos (without developmental progression) were analyzed. It was observed that the embryos cultivated in conditions of physiological oxygen levels (5% oxygen) showed a significantly lower consumption of amino acids from the cultivation media. Progressively developing embryos also had significantly lower total amino acid turnovers (consumption and production of amino acids) when cultured in conditions with physiological oxygen levels. Based on these results it seems that a cultivation environment with a reduced oxygen concentration decreases the risk of degenerative changes in the embryos after thawing. Therefore, the cultivation of thawed embryos in an environment with physiological oxygen levels may preclude embryonal stagnation, and can support the further development of human embryos after their thawing.

Department of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Sciences 61 701 Poznan Poland

Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science Masaryk University 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Histology and Embryology Poznan University of Medical Sciences 61 701 Poznan Poland

Department of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Veterinary Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Veterinary Surgery Nicolaus Copernicus University 87 100 Torun Poland

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