title: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) may improve embryonic development and implantation by increasing vitronectin receptor (integrin alphanubeta3) expression in peri-implantation mouse embryos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of HB-EGF on expression of integrin alphanubeta3 and implantation of embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-cell embryos were recovered and cultured with or without 10 ng/mL HB-EGF for 96h. Expression of integrin alphanubeta3 in cultured embryos was examined by real time-RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis; embryos were cultured with or without HB-EGF, then transferred into the uteri of pseudo-pregnant female mice in order to analyze their implantation rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HB-EGF improved embryonic hatching and outgrowth during extended culture, and up-regulated expression of integrin alphanubeta3 in both the preimplantation embryo and outgrowing blastocyst. Also, integrin alphanubeta3 subunits were localized at the pericellular borders and cell-cell contact areas. The number of successful implantation sites of transferred HB-EGF-treated embryos in the uterus was increased when compared to number of implantation sites with non-treated controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HB-EGF may improve implantation by accelerating expression of integrin alphanubeta3 in peri-implantation mouse embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, College of Natural Science, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea. limjj7657@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Jung Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Dong Ryul
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Haeng-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kye-Seong
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Ki
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Myung Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gye
authors.forename: Moon Kyoo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C587884:Hbegf protein, mouse; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor