UNLABELLED BACKGROUNDS Previous studies suggested that endocrine disruptors (ED) are toxic on preimplantation embryos and inhibit development of embryos in vitro culture. However, information about the toxicity of endocrine disruptors on preimplantation development of embryo in human reproductive environment is lacking. METHODS Bisphenol A (BPA) and Aroclor 1254 (polychlorinated biphenyls)...

The robust independence of preimplantation embryo development in vitro suggests that the developmental programme is autonomous. The rapid accumulation of evidence during the last decade for participation of many hormones, growth factors and their receptors in these early stages of embryogenesis has challenged this conclusion. In this review, the insulin and epidermal growth factor families, whi...

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We have constructed amplified cDNA preparations from replicate samples of human oocytes and individual preimplantation embryos. Differential display of the cDNA preparations shows disparate patterns of gene expression in the individual embryos at all stages of preimplantation development. The variation in patterns of genes expressed is in part due to the low starting cell number undergoing the ...

Mouse preimplantation development is characterized by three major transitions and two lineage segregations. Each transition or lineage segregation entails pronounced changes in the pattern of gene expression. Thus, research into the function of genes with obvious changes in expression pattern will shed light on the molecular basis of preimplantation development. We have described a simplified a...

The embryo culture technique has been improving, but the detailed demands for energy substrates such as glucose, fructose, pyruvate and lactate of preimplantation embryos are still unclear. In the present study, the demands of pig preimplantation embryos at each different developmental stage were investigated by use of parthenogenetic diploids as a model of pig preimplantation embryos. Pig part...

We have developed a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) sensitive enough to detect and quantify as little as 2-fold differences in gene expression in individual oocytes and embryos throughout human preimplantation development. This RT-PCR assay can be tailored for the examination of any specific gene and so will give a unique insight into human preimplantation d...

The Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase plays a pivotal role during preimplantation development; it establishes a trans-epithelial ionic gradient that facilitates the formation of the fluid-filled blastocyst cavity, crucial for implantation and successful pregnancy. The Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase is also implicated in regulating tight junctions and cardiotonic steroid (CTS)-induced signal transduction via SRC. We investi...