Prostacyclin enhances mouse embryo development and hatching but not increased embryonic cell number and volume.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in vitro effects of prostacyclin (PGI2), we cultured mouse embryos with a PGI2 analogue, because human fallopian tube cells synthesize abundant amounts of PGI2.


METHODS
Animal model.


METHODS
Animal study in a private infertility clinic.


METHODS
Mouse embryos.


METHODS
In vitro effects of PGI2 analogue on mouse embryos.


METHODS
Development rate, blastocyst volume, rate of complete hatching, and cell number of hatched blastocysts.


RESULTS
Exposure to PGI2 analogue during the four-cell to morula stages was critical to enhanced embryo development and hatching but did not increase blastocyst volume or cell number of hatched blastocysts. The effects of PGI2 analogue were statistically significant at 1.0 micromol/L and 2.0 micromol/L in human tubal fluid medium, with or without 1% bovine serum albumin.


CONCLUSIONS
Prostacyclin analogue enhanced embryo development and hatching, but PGI2 did not increase number of cells in hatched blastocysts or blastocyst volume.
Liu
Chung-Hsien
CH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Lee
Maw-Sheng
MS
Hsieh
Ching-Hung
CH
Huang
Chun-Chia
CC
Tsao
Hui-Mei
HM
Hsieh
Yih-Shou
YS
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001826:Body Fluids; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000502:physiology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009028:Morula / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D003470:Culture Media; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D011464:Epoprostenol; D016285:Iloprost