title: Leukemia inhibitory factor induces cumulus expansion in immature human and mouse oocytes and improves mouse two-cell rate and delivery rates when it is present during mouse in vitro oocyte maturation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) during in vitro maturation (IVM) on human and mice cumulus expansion and mice oocyte competence by in vitro fertilization (IVF), culture, and embryo transfer (ET).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective animal and human study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serono laboratories and IVF clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy women volunteers and 8-week-old female mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cumulus compacted human and mice oocytes were matured in IVM media with and without recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and with and without LIF. Mice IVM oocytes with and without 0.2 IU/mL of recombinant FSH; or with and without recombinant FSH + LIF (0.1, 1.0, 1000.0 ng/mL) and ovulated oocytes were in vitro fertilized and cultured. We transferred 395 blastocysts to the uterine horn of 2.5-day pseudopregnant female mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cumulus expansion in human and mice oocytes, and two-cell rate, blastocyst rate, and delivered rate of live pups in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In human and mouse oocytes, LIF induced cumulus expansion. When 1000 ng/mL of LIF was added in combination with recombinant FSH, a statistically significant increase in cleavage rate, embryo development rate, and birth rate was observed when compared with oocytes matured with FSH alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leukemia inhibitory factor induced cumulus expansion similarly in human and mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes, and recombinant FSH plus LIF supplementation during mouse IVM significantly improved oocyte competence as measured by cleavage rate, blastocyst development, and birth rate.
authors.affiliation: EMD Serono Research Institute, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370, USA. dematosdg@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: De Matos
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Cam Anh
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kagan
authors.forename: Selva G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Nataraja
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000187:drug effects*; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins