Markers of cellular senescence are higher in in-vitro cultured embryos compared to in-vivo embryos

Cellular senescence is characterized by stable cell cycle arrest triggered by a variety of stresses. Senescent cells are viable and metabolically active. The aim of this study was to test if in-vitro embryo culture induces senescence. Single-cell mouse embryos from superovulated FVB-mice were cultured in-vitro to blastocysts. In-vivo developed mouse blastocysts were collected from superovulated FVB-mice 4 days post coitum. Blastocysts were stained for senescence-associated-beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) and phosphorylated H2A.X (γ-H2A.X). Blastocysts were SA-beta-gal-positive when blue color was evident. γ-H2A…