Positive effect of high voltage electrostatic field on the development of in vitro fertilized mouse embryos

In order to investigate the effect of high voltage electrostatic field (HVESF) on the preimplantation development of an in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryo, we used the mouse model to attempt at understanding the effect that HVESF may benefit preimplantation development. The optimal dosage (field intensity and treatment time) was selected according to the proportion of 1 or 2-cell embryos which developed into blastocysts or hatched blastocysts during in vitro culture. Using the optimal dosage treatment on mouse embryos, the effect of HVESF at different cell stages on their developmental potential was also investigated. The results showed that the HVESF can significantly promote the preimplantation development of embryos in vitro, at the optimal dosage stimulation the proportion of blastocysts increased from 42.4% to 67.5%, hatched blastocysts increased from 20.8% to 48.4% when compared to control, and there was significant difference between the optimal dosage group and control group. Different sensitivities existed among the embryos at different cell stage for HVESF, to which the 1 or 2-cell stage embryos were significantly more sensitive than others. Following, we have provided, to our knowledge, the first report of application of HVESF on mammalian embryology.