These experiments were carried out to optimize the parameters of electrical activation, methods of parthenogenetic activation and embryo culture in vitro and meanwhile to isolate embryonic stem cells-like (ESCs) derived from porcine parthenogenetic blastocysts (pPBs). These results showed that, as the electric field strength increased from 1.0 to 2.7 kV/cm, the cleavage rate of parthenogenetic ...

AIM We investigated whether recombinant mouse interleukin-6 (IL-6) affects the development of preimplantation embryos and induces the -signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway by binding IL-6 signal transducer (IL-6st) and regulating Fos and Jun gene expression, thereby accounting for the negative effect of superovulation on embryo development. METHODS W...

The objective was to determine whether aging of sperm caused by incubation at normothermic (38.5 C) or heat shock (40 C) temperatures for 4 h prior to oocyte insemination affects sperm motility, fertilizing ability, competence of the resultant embryo to develop to the blastocyst stage and blastocyst sex ratio. In the first experiment, the percent of sperm that were motile was reduced by aging (...

Circulating embryotoxic factors could be responsible for reproductive failures observed in patients suffering from recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) and endometriosis. The mouse bioassay has been widely used to detect such factors, since sera from these patients inhibit early embryonic development. This bioassay consists in the in-vitro culture of two-cell mouse embryos in the presence of d...

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) modulators have been used to avoid spontaneous oocyte maturation and concomitantly improve oocyte developmental competence. The current work evaluated the effects of the addition of cAMP modulators forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and cilostamide during in vitro maturation on the quality and yields of blastocysts. The following experimental gro...

Formation of a fully differentiated, implantation competent blastocyst requires the expression of a complex repertoire of molecules. However, the events that drive morphogenesis are poorly elucidated in the human embryo. In this work, we describe the amplification of representative cDNAs from morphologically and developmentally normal, individual human embryos at all stages from pronucleate to ...

The mouse haemochorial placenta is a complex mixture of maternal cells and foetal trophectoderm and inner cell mass (ICM)-derived cells. The majority of the placental tissue is assumed to be trophoblast in origin but the exact extent and localization of the ICM and maternal contribution has not previously been determined. Using embryo transfer and reconstituted blastocyst techniques, combined w...

• It is accepted that the implantation consists of establishment of contacts between the trophoblast cells of blastocystic ring and the uterine epithelium. Prior to the contact with uterine epithelium the blastocyst undergoes a series of physiological and developmental changes. The formation and differentiation of blastocystic ring and its ultrastructural and cytochemical aspects have been exte...

Abstract Study question Does constant supplementation of antioxidants to the culture media increase blastocyst formation from oocyte donors? Summary answer The increases donors What is known already use a combination various in embryo has recently been investigated explore potential benefit for development and clinical outcomes. However, concentration added only determined by its effect. In thi...