title: Colony-stimulating factor 2 inhibits induction of apoptosis in the bovine preimplantation embryo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Addition of colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) to culture medium increases post-transfer survival of bovine embryos. Here we provide evidence that one mechanism by which CSF2 affects the embryo is through inhibition of apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the first experiment, genes and pathways whose expression were regulated by CSF2 were identified by microarray analysis. Embryos were treated with 10 ng/ml CSF2 or vehicle at Day 5 after insemination; morulae were selected for microarray analysis at Day 6. In a second experiment, antiapoptotic effects of CSF2 were determined. Embryos were treated with CSF2 or vehicle at Day 5. On Day 6 (24 h after treatment), morulae were cultured for 15 h at either 42°C (a temperature that induces apoptosis) or 38.5°C (cow body temperature).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first experiment, a total of 214 genes were differentially regulated and 160 of these could be annotated (67 upregulated genes and 93 downregulated genes). Differentially expressed genes could be placed in 13 biological process ontologies in four functional groups (development and differentiation process, cell communication, apoptosis and cell adhesion). Antiapoptotic effects of CSF2 were confirmed in the second experiment because the magnitude of the increase in TUNEL positive cells caused by heat shock was reduced by CSF2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSF2 blocks apoptosis in bovine embryos through actions associated with regulation of genes controlling apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences and D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Lilian J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Mauricio G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Favoreto
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046228:Microarray Analysis
chemical_list: D007377:Interleukin-3