The zygote in flowering plants usually divides transversely to form a terminal cell, which gives rise to the embryo proper, and a vacuolated basal cell, which often divides rapidly to form a structure known as the suspensor. Angiosperm suspensors vary widely in size and morphology from a single cell to a massive column of several hundred cells (Maheshwari, 1950; Wardlaw, 1955; Lersten, 1983). I...

Mammalian steroid hormones (MSH) are also inherently synthesized by several plant species. However, external application of further stimulates cell division, pollen germination, growth and development. There is little known about the effects MSH on polymorphism DNA damage in Triticum aestivum L under vitro conditions. In this study, inter-primer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon coupled restr...

oocyte, embryo and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are being increasingly proposed for fertility preservation among cancer patients undergoing therapy to enable them to have babies after the cancer is cured. embryo cryopreservation is not appropriate for single girls without any sperm partner and also because oocyte retrieval is an extended procedure, it is impossible in cases requiring immedia...

BACKGROUND Determination of oocyte fertilization and embryo quality are one of the most important purposes in ART cycles. Follicular fluid provides an important microenvironment for development of oocytes and some biochemical characteristics of the follicular fluid, such as pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), may play an important role in prediction of success rate of ART. OBJECTI...

Agave tequilana is an angiosperm species that belongs to the family Asparagaceae (formerly Agavaceae). Even though there is information regarding to some aspects related to the megagametogenesis of A. tequilana, this is the first report describing the complete process of megasporogenesis, megagametogenesis, the early embryo and endosperm development process in detail. The objective of this work...

One of the technical bottlenecks in producing nonhuman primate models is that current assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro culture and frozen conservation of multicell-stage embryos, often result in poor embryo quality and subsequently lead to low birth rates. We investigated whether pronuclear embryo transfer can be used as an effective means for improving pregnancy and live birt...

Ribosomal proteins are involved in numerous essential cell activities in plants. However, the regulatory role in specific plant developmental processes has not yet been fully elucidated. Here we identified the new ribosomal protein L18aB, which is specifically involved in sexual reproduction and plays a critical role in male gametophyte development and embryo pattern formation. In rpl18aB mutan...

BACKGROUND Embryo implantation remains the main limiting factor in IVF/ICSI program. Endometrial immune remodeling events begin before implantation and are a vital process for pregnancy, preparing future maternal immune tolerance and regulating the placentation process. METHODS Between 2012 and 2014, 193 patients (analyzed group) enrolled in our IVF program benefitted of an endometrial immune...

The proteome of zygotic embryos of Acer platanoides L. was analyzed via high-resolution 2D-SDS-PAGE and MS/MS in order to: (1) identify significant physiological processes associated with embryo development; and (2) identify changes in the proteome of the embryo associated with the acquisition of seed dormancy. Seventeen spots were identified as associated with morphogenesis at 10 to 13 weeks a...

The FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay: Xenopus) protocol was adapted to determine whether or not exposure of mature female Xenopus to CdCl2 causes malformed embryos. Twelve females (Group A) were exposed to 18 microM Cd(II) for 11 wk; eight females (Group B) were exposed to 90 microM Cd(II) for 4 wk; controls were also tested. The females were induced to ovulate; their eggs were fertilized...