EFFECT OF CHEMICALLY DEFINED LIPID MOLECULES ON BLASTOCYST DEVELOPMENT AND OUTGROWTH Anagha Nawal * 1 , Peter Temple Smith 2 , Sally Catt 3 . *1 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Aurangabad [MS], India. 2  Associate Professor and Director, EPRD  Department Southern Clinical School, Monash University Clayton, Australia. 3  Coordinator of MCE, EPRD  Department Southern Clinical School, Monash University Clayton, Australia. Correspondence   Address:    Dr.   Anagha   Nawal,   Assistant   Professor,   Dept.   of   Anatomy,   Mahatma   Gandhi   Medical   College,   Aurangabad   [MS],   India.   E-Mail:   dranagha2000@gmail.com ABSTRACT Introduction:    Fatty   acids   play   a   diverse   role   in   early   embryonic   development   and   implantation.   This   study   examined   the   effect   of   a   chemically   defined additive containing saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on mouse fertilization and embryo development in vitro. Objective:    To   observe   the   effect   of   a   chemically   defined   addition   of   fatty   acids   on   in-vitro   fertilization,   early   embryonic   development   and   blastocyst outgrowth Study   Design:    F1   mice   (4-6   weeks)   were   superovulated   and   16   hours   later   oocytes   were   collected   and   prepared   for   IVF   using   spermatozoa   from   F1   males. Oocytes    (n=355)    were    randomly    allocated    to    global    fertilization    medium    with    (+)    or    without    (-)    chemically    defined    lipid    (# 11905-031,    Life     Global Technologies).   Fertilization   was   checked   (2-PN)   6-9hrs   after   insemination   and   embryos   were   grown   up   in   blastocyst   culture   medium   +   lipid   additive   or controls.   Embryo   development   was   monitored   daily   until   D5   when   blastocysts   were   transferred   to   96-well   plates.   Blastocyst   outgrowths   were   imaged   on D6,   D7   and   D9   using   XY-Cyclone   software.   Data   was   analyzed   (Chi-squares)   to   compare   the   effect   of   lipid   on   fertilization   rate,   blastocyst   development   and outgrowths. Result:   Oocytes   (n=355)   randomly   allocated   to   control   (n=170)   or   +lipid   groups   for   fertilization   showed   no   difference   in   fertilization   rates   in   medium   with (n=155)   or   without   lipid.   Addition   of   lipid   to   blastocyst   medium   resulted   in   a   significant   increase   (p<0.05)   in   blastocyst   formation   (73%   vs   87%).   but produced no difference in blastocyst hatching or outgrowth area. Conclusion :   A   chemically   defined   lipid   additive   promoted   embryonic   development   in   vitro.   Further   studies   are   needed   to   examine   the   dose-response   effect of lipid on fertilization and embryo development. KEY WORDS: Blastocysts, Implantation, Fatty acids and In vitro culture. References 1 . 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