Effect of glucose concentration in culture medium on the human preimplantation embryo methylome
Study question: Does glucose concentration in culture medium have an impact on the DNA methylome of the early human embryo? Summary answer: Glucose concentration is associated with changes in gene expression, global DNA methylation, methylation levels at CpG islands and at key histone modifications in human blastocysts. What is known already: Preimplantation human embryos are highly sensitive to their local environment, and this may have long term implications for the health of the developing embryo, fetus and offspring. Glucose is a standard component of human embryo culture media, due to its importance as a nutrient. However, concentrations of glucose differ widely between different commercially available types. The present study was designed to determine whether changes in glucose concentration could influence global methylation and gene expression in the human preimplantation embryo. Study design, size, duration: Human embryos were cultured in clinically relevant concentrations of