Coculture with a human granulosa cell line enhanced the development of murine preimplantation embryos via SCF/c-kit system.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect on the coculture of murine embryos with a human ovarian granulosa tumor derived cell line (KGN cells).


METHODS
We observed microscopically the growth of murine preimplantation embryos in the coculture system with KGN cells or in the presence with exogenous stem cell factor (SCF). The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used to analyze the gene expression of SCF in KGN cells cocultured with murine embryos.


RESULTS
The coculture system with KGN cells significantly increased the rate of embryo development to late blastocyst and to hatching stage. We also found that coculture with murine embryos enhanced the gene expression of SCF in KGN cells. Adding human recombinant SCF to the medium significantly enhanced embryo development to late blastocyst and hatching stage.


CONCLUSIONS
KGN cells may facilitate preimplantion embryo development through SCF/c-kit paracrine system.
Taniguchi
Fuminori
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago 683-8504, Japan. tani4327@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
Harada
Tasuku
T
Nara
Makoto
M
Deura
Imari
I
Mitsunari
Masahiro
M
Terakawa
Naoki
N
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019089:Stem Cell Factor