Impact of In Vitro embryo Culture on long-term liver disease risk

In vitro embryo culture (IVC), a foundational technique in assisted reproductive technologies, may unintentionally program long-term metabolic vulnerabilities in offspring. This study investigates how IVC impacts liver health in mice, uncovering pronounced sex-specific effects. IVC appears to predispose offspring to divergent liver pathologies: females exhibit an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while males are more susceptible to severe oxidative liver injury.

These findings highlight how early embryonic environmental conditions, such as those introduced by IVC, can have enduring consequences on organ development and function—potentially elevating disease risk in adulthood. Our results emphasize the critical need to assess long-term health outcomes in the application of reproductive biotechnologies.