title: Regulation of peri-attachment embryo development in the golden hamster: role of growth factors.
abstract: The molecular regulation of mammalian peri-implantation development is complex and difficult to study in vivo. We successfully cultured hamster blastocysts through hatching and peri-attachment stages, using a chemically defined medium, HECM-2h. Using this system, we showed that a species-specific, embryonic cysteine-like protease is involved in blastocyst hatching and that the process is modulated by growth factors. In particular, heparin binding-epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) or leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) enhance blastocyst hatching, and the former also improves attachment and trophoblast outgrowth. We observed interesting changing patterns of expression of mRNA and/or immunoreactive protein for EGF, HB-EGF, LIF and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the embryo and/or endometrial tissue, during peri-implantation development. Together, it appears that hamster blastocyst hatching, attachment and trophoblast outgrowth are regulated by autocrine and/or paracrine growth factors, produced by the embryo-endometrial tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India. polani@mrdg.iisc.ernet.in
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Seshagiri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003470:Culture Media; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006133:Growth Substances; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases