Embryonic development of fertilized rat oocytes induced to mature by an analogue of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone.
A gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) was administered to hypophysectomized immature rats. Postovulatory mature oocytes obtained under these conditions were exposed in vitro to a sperm suspension for fertilization. Developmental ability of the fertilized ova was studied by transfer of the 2-cell stage embryos to oviducts of foster mothers. The potential of oocytes, undergoing maturation in response to GnRHa, to develop into 2-cell embryos was similar to that of oocytes stimulated by hCG (76.4% and 83.1% respectively). The 2-cell stage embryos obtained from such oocytes were equally able to implant in the uteri of foster mothers (25.7% and 21.2% respectively) and subsequently develop into live embryos (15.3% and 15.2%, respectively, at Day 20 of pregnancy).
Shalgi
R
R
Department of Embryology and Teratology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
Dekel
N
N
D000818:Animals; D002064:Buserelin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002064:Buserelin