title: Effect of prolactin in the absence of hCG on maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development of in vitro matured mouse oocytes.
abstract: Oocyte maturation is a complex process involving both the progression of meiotic cycle and the reprogramming of cytoplasmic events. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prolactin (PRL) in the in vitro maturation (IVM) of preantral mouse oocytes, in the absence of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Mouse preantral follicles were collected from female mice without prior hormonal ovarian stimulation and were cultured in the presence of varying concentrations of PRL (20, 100, 200, and 300 ng/mL) for 12 days. A group of in vitro matured oocytes were assessed for polar body (PB) formation, while the rest were fertilized and embryonic development was recorded. The maturation of preantral mouse follicles, as well as their fertilization and cleavage rates, observed when the culture medium was supplemented with middle- and high-range doses of PRL was beneficially affected. This effect was considerably high, although the culture media lacked hCG, a hormone extensively used in modern ovulation induction regiments, as well as in IVM media.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. ekiapek@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Erasmia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiapekou
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zapanti
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastorakos
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beretsos
authors.forename: Ritsa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bletsa
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drakakis
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
authors.forename: Aristidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011388:Prolactin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003470:Culture Media; D011388:Prolactin