Background: In vitro culture of mammalian embryos can slow or stop growth completely. This may be due to the medium used, pH, temperature, or light. There is considerable concern about the harmful effect of light in the laboratory environment. Cell number and apoptosis are useful parameters that indicate embryonic development and health. In this study, we assessed these two factors in the blas...

Using the whole-cell voltage clamp technique, we have studied junctional conductance (Gj), and Lucifer Yellow (LY) coupling in 2-cell and 32-cell ascidian embryos. Gj ranges from 17.5 to 35.3 nS in the 2-cell embryo where there is no passage of LY, and from 3.5 to 12.2 nS in the later embryo where LY dye spread is extensive. In both cases, Gj is independent of the transjunctional potential (Vj)...

  Various recent studies in both human and laboratory animals have indicated an influential role of glucose and phosphate in embryonic development of different strains and species in various media. So this study was initiated to investigate the effects of different concentrations of glucose (G0=0, Gl=0.2, G2=5.5 mM) in the absence (P0) and presence (P1=0.39 mM) of inorganic phosphate, designate...

We describe a fluorimetric method for measuring the level of H2O2 in individual mouse oocytes and early embryos. Levels of H2O2 are low but detectable in unfertilized oocytes recovered freshly from the female reproductive tract. The levels in early cleaving embryos (1-cell to 8-cell stages) immediately after recovery from the female tract seem to be slightly higher the later the stage examined....

A recent study from our lab revealed that the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) exclusively reduces level PGE2 (Prostaglandin E2) among prostanoids and hampers normal development several structures, strikingly cranial vault, in chick embryos. In order to unearth mechanism behind deviant features, expression pattern various factors are known influence neural crest cell (CNCC) migration was ...

Abstract Study question Screen the key gene groups that determine development of blastocyst. Explore effect ovol1/2 on early embryonic development. Summary answer We founded there were insufficient activation Major ZGA genes in AE group,and focused candidate ovol1/2. What is known already At present, clinical success rate assisted reproductive technology (ART) less than 50%. A large number embr...

The birth rate of embryos produced in vitro (IVF) is still lower than that vivo. Three major steps for the success IVF technique are maturation immature oocytes, fertilization matured and culture resulting embryos. Studying mRNA expression early embryonic development stages important can help to assess embryo quality optimize production protocols vitro. current study aimed determine levels deve...