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Pyruvate and glucose uptake by 73 indivudial human oocytes and preimplantation embryos was measured non-invasively, using an ultramicrofluorescence assay to analyse changes in substrate levels in microdroplets of culture medium. The uptake of both substrates was measured over successive daily incubations between days 1(unfertilized oocytes)or 2 (‘spare’ embryos which were not transferred) and day 6 (dat 0= day of insemination). Under these conditions, 58% (25/43) of fertilized embryos with two pronuclei on day 1 developed to the blastocyst stage by day 6. The pyruvate uptake of these embryos increased from ∼ 28 to a maximum of 40 pmol/ embryo/h between days 2.5 and 4.5. Similarly, glucose uptake increased from ∼8 to 14 pmol/embryo/h between days 2.5 and 4.5, but then increased further to 24 pmol/embryo/h on day 5 at the blastocyst stage. The pyruvate uptake of fertilized 4.5, but then …