title: Rho-kinase is involved in mouse blastocyst cavity formation.
abstract: During mammalian embryonic development, the formation and subsequent expansion of a fluid-filled cavity, the blastocoel, is crucial for successful implantation. Our present experiments were aimed at exploring the contribution of Rho-kinase, a downstream effector of the small GTP-binding protein RhoA, to mouse blastocoel formation. RT-PCR analysis showed that Rho-kinase mRNA is present throughout mouse preimplantation development. When 2-cell embryos were cultured in the presence of a specific inhibitor of Rho-kinase, Y-27632, they developed to the morula stage but failed to develop to the blastocyst stage. Y-27632 inhibited the formation of the blastocoel cavity from the morula stage, and this inhibitory effect was reversible when embryos were returned to medium without Y-27632. Moreover, Y-27632 reduced the rate of re-expansion of blastocysts collapsed by cytochalasin D upon transfer to the control medium. These results suggest that Rho-kinase is likely involved in blastocyst formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Rikako
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawagishi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahara
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikebuchi
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishige
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tasaka
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C108830:Y 27632; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases