DNA methylation patterns were evaluated during preimplantation mouse development by analyzing the binding of monoclonal antibody to 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC) on metaphase chromosomes. Specific chromosome patterns were observed in each cell stage. A banding pattern predominated in chromosomes at the one-cell stage. Banding was replaced at the two-cell stage by an asymmetrical labeling of the sist...

This paper examines some of the problems and questions that must be considered in relation to research on the role of growth factors in preimplantation embryos. It reviews and summarizes the large body of work on gene expression of growth factor receptors and ligands in preimplantation embryos and in oviduct and uterine tissue. It also reviews the literature on the effects of gene knockout in p...

Diploid gynogenetic mouse embryos were produced in a three-step procedure: fertilization in vitro, suppression of the 2nd polar body formation by Cytochalasin B, and microsurgical removal of the male pronucleus. The operated eggs were transplanted to the oviduct of recipient females for 72 or 96 h. The overall recovery rate was 73%, but compacted morulae and blastocysts constituted only 28.6% o...

Preimplantation development of canine embryos is not well understood. To understand the timing of preattachment embryogenesis relative to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, early embryonic development was examined in Labrador Retrievers after artificial insemination. The embryos migrated from the oviduct to the uterus beginning on day 11 after the LH surge. This transport must be completed wit...

This study investigates the suitability of surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry for analysis of the proteins released by the mouse preimplantation embryo in vitro. SELDI-TOF analysis with CM10 or IMAC30 (but not Q10) protein chips detected a protein peak at m/z approximately 8570 released by both C57BL6 a...

The mechanisms regulating cell division during development of the mouse pre-implantation embryo are poorly understood. We have investigated whether bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is involved in controlling cell cycle during mouse pre-implantation development. We mapped and quantitated the dynamic activities of BMP signaling through high-resolution immunofluorescence imaging combined...

Motivation Embryonic development is a highly complex process that requires precise spatial and temporal regulations. Through the preimplantation stages, single-cell zygotes undergo drastic gene expression changes to form multicellular blastocysts. Proper blastocyst formation is crucial to the success of fetus development, as poor blastocyst quality often lead to failure in post-in vitro fertili...

Female mice generating oocytes lacking complex N- and O-glycans (double mutants (DM)) produce only one small litter before undergoing premature ovarian failure (POF) by 3 months. Here we investigate the basis of the small litter by evaluating ovulation rate and embryo development in DM (Mgat1(F/F)C1galt1(F/F):ZP3Cre) and Control (Mgat1(F/F)C1galt1(F/F)) females. Surprisingly, DM ovulation rate ...

early in the development of many animals, before transcription begins, any change in the pattern of protein synthesis is attributed to a change in the translational activity or stability of mrna in the egg and early embryo. as a result, translational control is critical for a variety of developmental decisions, including oocyte maturation and initiation of preimplantation development. in this s...

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated responses are critical to embryonic development in the challenging in vitro environment. ROS production increases during early embryonic development with the increase in protein requirements for cell survival and growth. The ER is a multifunctional cellular organelle responsible for protein fold...