title: In vitro culture does not alter the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in single murine preimplantation embryos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vitro culture of embryos, as widely used in assisted reproduction techniques, may influence embryonic development and subsequently the establishment of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine a potential influence of the in vitroculture regarding VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 mRNA expression in developing single mouse embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine embryos were isolated on day 1 post coitus (p.c.) and cultivated for a developmental time course followed by examination for mRNA expression using RT-nested PCR. Furthermore, in vitro cultured blastocysts were compared to in vivo development at 101 h p.c.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 101 h p.c. there were no significant differences between in vivo and in vitro cultured blastocysts regarding the expression of VEGF and its receptors. In the developmental time course, VEGF expression increased up to 94% in late blastocysts whereas the VEGF receptor expression remained low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the in vitro culture did not alter the embryonic VEGF and VEGFR mRNA expression reassuring that the culture conditions in assisted reproduction techniques are well suited for maintaining the VEGF mRNA expression profile. Additionally, nearly 100% VEGF expression in late blastocysts highlights its importance for angiogenesis induction at the fetal-maternal interface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and REI, Heinrich Heine University Medical Center, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Baston-Buest
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kruessel
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ingmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirchenhain
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Janni
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2