Figure 7
From: The dynamics between in vitro culture and metabolism: embryonic adaptation to environmental changes
Simplified schematic model proposed for the metabolism of blastocysts cultured in optimized in vitro conditions. The best culture system allows the embryos to obtain pyruvate from glycolysis. As a consequence, there is lower need to consume pyruvate directly from the culture media. Pyruvate is irreversibly converted to acetyl-CoA, which enters the TCA cycle to provide electrons for oxidative phosphorylation and produce ATP. In this context, high ATP production, with low amount of ROS would represent the healthy activity of mitochondria. Finally, in the proposed model, lipid metabolism is driven towards esterification, generating important precursor for membrane synthesis and energy storage.
