Recombinant human activin A stimulates development of bovine one-cell embryos matured and fertilized in vitro.
The effects of recombinant human activin A on the development of bovine one-cell embryos matured and fertilized in vitro were investigated. In experiment 1, one-cell embryos were cultured in a chemically-defined medium, of modified synthetic oviduct fluid supplemented with 1 mg/ml polyvinyl alcohol (mSOF-PVA), containing different concentrations of activin (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml) until 240 hr after in vitro fertilization. The addition of > or = 1 ng/ml activin to mSOF-PVA improved development to the blastocyst stage (14.5-17.1%), compared with no addition of activin (5.6%). However, there was no significant difference in hatching rate of embryos among treatments. In experiments 2 and 3, the embryos were also cultured in mSOF-PVA at various periods of exposure to 10 ng/ml activin, to evaluate development to the morula and blastocyst stages, respectively. The proportion of morulae was significantly higher in culture with activin at 20-120 hr postinsemination (37.2%) than with control (25.7%). Total number of cells in morulae at 120 hr postinsemination significantly increased by the addition of activin at 20-72 hr (26.1 cells) and 20-120 hr (24.2 cells) postinsemination, compared with control (20.1 cells). When activin was added to the medium during 20-120 hr and 20-192 hr postinsemination, the percentages of blastocysts (18.0% and 18.7%, respectively) were significantly higher than in the control (9.6%). However, the total number of cells in blastocysts was not significantly different. These results demonstrate that activin stimulates the development of bovine one-cell embryos to the morula and blastocyst stages in vitro.
Laboratory of Reproductive Physiopathology, National Institute of Animal Health, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Yoshioka
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Kamomae
D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins