many investigators are interested in finding the new cultural systems that can support the in vitro development of pre-implantation embryos better. previous studies suggested that growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (egf) are important in pre-implantation embryo development and implantation process. on the other hand, it is very important to support post thaw development of frozen em...

The endometrium is a highly dynamic tissue empowered with the capacity to undergo cyclic dramatic changes in response to ovarian steroid hormones, ultimately aiming to create a window of receptivity for blastocyst implantation. Intensive research has been performed to understand and establish morphological and molecular correlates of embryo implantation. However, it still remains a biological m...

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an established alternative to prenatal testing for couples at risk of transmitting genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis (CF).PGD screens pre-implantation embryos, allowing the safe transfer of those identified as unaffected. Awareness of CF carrier status in Ireland is increasing following the introduction of neonatal screening in 2011. PGD is th...

Most human pre-implantation embryos are mosaics of euploid and aneuploid cells. To determine the fate of aneuploid cells and the developmental potential of mosaic embryos, here we generate a mouse model of chromosome mosaicism. By treating embryos with a spindle assembly checkpoint inhibitor during the four- to eight-cell division, we efficiently generate aneuploid cells, resulting in embryo de...

The implantation of embryo depends on the quality of the embryo and the receptivity of the endometrium. While the factors affecting embryo quality were optimized, the implantation rates did not reach the desirable levels. This directs the blaming for endometrial receptivity which already has been affected by supra-physiological levels of hormone, namely estradiol, in controlled ovarian hypersti...

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...

Clinical studies have shown that in pathological conditions such as endometriosis and reproductive tract infection (male and female) there is an activation status of macrophages that produce large quantities of nitric oxide (NO) in addition to other effector molecules. Large amounts of NO may have embryotoxic roles and produce infertility. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of diffe...

Background: Hyaluronan (HA) is a structural component of extracellular matrix synthesised by HA synthases HAS1-3, which produce HA of different molecular sizes with distinct biological functions associated with reproductive processes. Hyaluronidase (HYAL) cleaves the HA into biologically active small fragments which are known to regulate cell proliferation through CD44 receptor signaling. HA is...

Oocyte maturation and embryo development are controlled by intra-ovarian factors such as steroid hormones. Progesterone (P4) exists in the follicular fluid that contributes to normal mammalian ovarian function and has several critical functions during embryo development and implantation, including endometrial receptivity, embryonic survival during gestation and transformation of the endometrial...

In mammals, the development of pluripotency and specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) have been studied predominantly using mice as a model organism. However, divergences among mammalian species for such processes have begun to be recognized. Between humans and mice, pre-implantation development appears relatively similar, but the manner and morphology of post-implantation development a...