Stimulatory effect of epidermal growth factor on the development of mouse early embryos in vitro.
Effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the development of mouse 2-cell embryos cultured in vitro were investigated. The addition of EGF at a concentration of 0.5 ng/ml enhanced the development of 2-cell embryos during 24 h of incubation. As expected, EGF stimulated the synthesis of DNA in the 2-cell embryos about 4-fold over the control. The growth-promoting effect of EGF seemed to be specific in that other growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) had no effect on the embryonal development. The addition of EGF also increased the rate of RNA synthesis in a dose-related manner between 0.1 and 50 ng/ml. However, protein synthesis was unaffected by EGF. These results raise the possibility that EGF may participate in the process of early embryogenesis in vivo.
Kuo
T M
TM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Taketani
Y
Y
Ayabe
T
T
Tsutsumi
O
O
Mizuno
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D012313:RNA; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I