title: Platelet-activating factor production from in vitro and in vivo fertilized murine embryos is similar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study measured platelet-activating factor (PAF) production of in vitro and in vivo fertilized murine embryos to ascertain whether site of fertilization impacted subsequent embryonic PAF production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oocytes and embryo were collected from stimulated B6D2F1 mice. PAF production throughout the preimplantation phase from the two-celled stage through expanded blastocysts was measured and compared among normally developing embryos with the only difference being site of fertilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A striking increase in PAF production was noted for both in vivo and in vitro fertilized embryos over the four days of culture. Significantly higher (P < .001) levels of PAF production were noted with development from the two-celled stage (47.22 +/- 4.13; 44.30 +/- 2.43) to expanded blastocysts (254.31 +/- 24.01; 255.11 +/- 5.35 ng/embryo/24 h) for both in vitro and in vivo fertilized embryos, respectively. There was no significant difference (P > .05) in PAF production between the two groups of embryos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Embryonic PAF production in the mouse increases in a stage-specific manner, and specifically the site of fertilization in vitro versus in vivo does not affect PAF production in normally developing embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ripps
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Burwinkel
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buster
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Minhas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor