title: A preliminary study of the effect of growth hormone on mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro.
abstract: The role of growth hormone (GH) in follicular development, ovulation and embryo development is currently under reconsideration. In this study, we have tried to investigate the effect of GH on preimplantation development of mouse embryos in vitro. Zygotes and two-cell mouse embryos were cultured without (control) or with GH. For zygotes, the addition of 0.2 micrograms/ml of GH resulted in 77 +/- 1% of blastocysts formed and 66 +/- 3% rate of hatching (control 64 +/- 4 and 31 +/- 3%, p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). For two-cell embryos, the addition of 0.2 micrograms/ml of GH resulted in 87 +/- 2% of blastocysts formed and 60 +/- 4% hatching rate (control 76 +/- 4 and 47 +/- 5%, p < 0.05 for both). This positive effect of GH addition implies that the latter can support mouse preimplantation development in vitro and it suggests, along with its local action on the ovary and its possible effects, via the insulin-like growth factor system, on the tubal and uterine epithelium, a continuous role of this hormone in reproductive physiology from follicular maturation to embryonic development and, possibly, implantation.
authors.affiliation: Alexandra Maternity Hospital, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drakakis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milingos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michalas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallianidis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bletsa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aravantinos
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011247:Pregnancy; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015053:Zygote / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013002:Somatomedins; D013006:Growth Hormone