Kruppel-like transcription factors (Klfs) are essential for the induction and maintenance of pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), yet little is known about their roles in establishing the three lineages of the pre-implantation embryo. Here, we show that Klf5 is required for the formation of the trophectoderm (TE) and the inner cell mass (ICM), and for repressing primitive endoderm (PE) ...

Mouse pre-implantation development gives rise to the blastocyst, which is made up of at least three distinct cell types: the trophectoderm (TE) that surrounds a cavity, and an inner cell mass (ICM) comprising the primitive endoderm (PE) and epiblast (EPI). However, the underlying mechanisms involved in patterning the cleavage-stage embryo are still unresolved. By analyzing the distribution of t...

An understanding of oocyte and embryo metabolism is critical to understanding and developing in vitro culture systems. In the last 60-70 years there has been a constant evolution in the way metabolism studies have been conducted. This includes a change from studying the metabolism of the oocyte alone vs. as a whole cumulus oocyte complex. The study of in vivo environments has lead to the creati...

Embryo implantation is a crucial step in mammalian reproduction. However, little is known regarding the physiological roles of microRNAs in the regulation of embryo implantation. Here we show that a minimum uterine expression of miR-181 is essential for the onset of embryo implantation. Both transient and prolonged transgenic expression of miR-181 led to impaired implantation, which can be resc...

BACKGROUND Hormonal modulation of the endometrium towards receptivity is well established; however, the role of embryonic stimuli in modulation of the endometrium prior to implantation, especially in primates, is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the endometrial histology when the embryo was present in its vicinity prior to implantation. METHODS Preimplantation factor (PIF...

background: there is no doubt that luteal phase support is essential to enhance the reproductive outcome in ivf cycles. in addition to progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin, several studies have described gnrh agonists as luteal phase support to improve implantation rate, pregnancy rate and live birth rate, whereas other studies showed dissimilar conclusions. all of these studies have b...