We have analysed the endogenous retinoids present in whole mouse embryos from day 9 to day 14 of development and in individual components of the embryo at two stages, day 10.5 and day 13, by HPLC. We can only detect two retinoids, all-trans-RA (tRA) and all-trans-retinol (t-retinol), and t-retinol is ...

The changes that occur in the female reproductive tract during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy, in preparation for embryo implantation and subsequent placental and fetal development, have long attracted the interest of reproductive biologists. The early embryo expresses growth factors and growth factor receptors that are, in general, ...

RU486, an antiprogestational agent, and anordiol (dihydroxylated metabolite of anordrin) which has an estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity, are known to inhibit fertility. These agents were administered orally, alone or together, to rats prior to implantation, on Day 2 of pregnancy. Control animals were fed with the vehicle only. The effectiveness ...

In Drosophila developmental biological studies, X-gal staining is commonly employed to study the spatio-temporal expression of the lacZ reporter gene in the transformed flies or their embryos. Study of the lacZ pattern in embryos often suffers from the lack of an efficient and high yielding technique for devitellinization of X-gal ...

The capability of the mouse embryo to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) was examined. Post-implantation embryos were carefully harvested on Day 8 of pregnancy and the production of ROS was quantified using luminol-sensitized chemiluminescence. The embryos were stimulated with either phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or all-trans-retinal (retinal) and the reaction ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal protocol for cryopreservation of human embryos obtained from IVF. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: Consenting patients in an academic research environment. PATIENTS: Couples undergoing IVF. INTERVENTIONS: A cohort of 2,220 supernumerary multicellular embryos were obtained from 488 patients who were randomized over slow freezing protocols ...

The effect of acute ethanol intoxication (ethanol 33% in a.d.) in mice on day 4 of pregnancy (at 9 o'clock a.m.) upon in vitro hatching has been investigated. The embryos were cultured in modified Brinster medium (1963), at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2 in air beginning at 2 o'clock ...

PURPOSE: To study the effects of r-hLH as ovulatory stimulus in does. METHOD: New Zealand does, 18 wk old, in estrus, received 25 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed at 48 h either by 50 IU of r-hLH (n = 20) or hCG (n = 20) to induce ...

This observation reports a case of susperfetation which occurred in connection with gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). The macroscopic and histological examination of a spontaneous abortion from a 33-year-old woman (15th week of pregnancy) revealed the existence of two embryos with a monochorionic diamniotic placenta (developmental age approximately 41 days) and ...

The timing of development was examined in 496 embryos from female Monodelphis domestica collected at known time intervals after video recorded mating. Ovulation occurred approximately 20 hr (day 1) after mating, and fertilization was observed by 24 hr. Transport through the oviducts was rapid, and pronuclear stage embryos were recovered ...

The uptake of pyruvate by human embryos derived from natural cycles in the first 24 h following fertilization was examined. Since only one egg was obtained and therefore only one embryo transferred to the woman, it was possible to relate pyruvate consumption by a particular embryo to the outcome of ...

Retinoids have important roles in pattern formation during embryonic development and might act as endogenous morphogens. They are necessary for normal odontogenesis and excess retinol alters the pattern of odontogenesis producing supernumerary buds of the dental lamina in the diastema region of the mouse mandible. Because the metabolism of retinoids ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency of pregnancy loss following successful development of anatomical embryonic landmarks identified with endovaginal ultrasound. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-two women with positive urinary pregnancy tests and no antecedent history of vaginal bleeding had endovaginal sonography performed at the initial visit and at subsequent visits as indicated ...

Etretinate, a synthetic retinoid, is a potent teratogen. It has previously been shown that acute exposure of gestational day 8 (equivalent to human week 4 post-fertilization) C57BL/6J mouse embryos to this retinoid results in a spectrum of abnormalities that are recognized as constituting caudal regression (dysgenesis). These defects, which include ...

Six cases of identical twin pregnancies which occurred in 2163 cycles of in-vitro fertilization during a 3 year period are reported. Monozygosity was confirmed when the number of fetuses exceeded the number of embryos replaced (n = 4) or when two concepti were observed in a single amniotic sac (n ...

Developing embryos of the inland silverside fish, Menidia beryllina, were exposed to conidiospores of the insect pathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, that possessed activity against the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes. Various adverse effects were observed in Menidia beryllina embryos and larvae. They included rupture of the chorion, embryo death, developmental defects ...

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to find a medium to enhance mouse zygote development and, hopefully, to apply the results to a coculture system and to enhance the ART pregnancy rate. DESIGN: The study was designed to compare different media's support of mouse zygote development with/without serum supplement. The outcome measure ...

Incubation of chicken embryos with either 0.01 or 0.03 ppm polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for 12, 15, or 18 d resulted in a significant decrease in liver and body weight associated with enhanced mortality. Teratological examination revealed an increased frequency of malformations including hydrops, eventration, wry neck, and brevicollis. PCB exposure ...

Using simultaneous B-mode and time-motion transvaginal ultrasonography we measured embryonic heart rate (EHR) in dated human embryos during the first trimester in a prospective study. In 160 pregnant women who had undergone assisted reproductive procedures, 139 singleton embryos and 46 embryos from 21 multiple pregnancies were studied between the 37th ...

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis was performed in 122 embryos obtained by IVF from 11 patients carriers of haemophilia, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, Barth's syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher syndrome or Rett's syndrome. After multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with multiple probes, 28 embryos diagnosed as not ...

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to assess the clinical application of dual fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for the diagnosis of sex in the human preimplantation embryo. RESULTS: Over a 2-year period, 18 couples at risk of transmitting X-linked recessive disorders underwent preimplantation diagnosis of embryo sex by dual FISH with ...

Embryo morphology and cleavage rates represent useful, but not absolute, measures of embryo viability. Oocyte and embryo chromosomal abnormalities affect embryo viability and are reflected to some degree in the morphology of oocytes and embryos. Microassisted fertilization techniques have been successfully used to treat severe male-factor infertility. Zona drilling using ...

Porcine embryos obtained from estrus-induced prepuberal gilts were split at the 4-cell and morula stage. The in vitro development of the demi-embryos was compared with that of intact control embryos. The intact control embryos developed according to expectation. The in vitro survival of the demi-embryos was inferior to that of ...

When the Y chromosome of a Mus musculus domesticus mouse strain is placed onto the C57BL/6J (B6) inbred background, the XY progeny develop ovaries or ovotestes but never normal testes during fetal life. While some of the hermaphroditic males become fertile, none of the XY females produces litters. Here, we ...

We have investigated the effect of caffeine on embryo growth and development. Caffeine (25 mg/kg) was administered on gestation day (g.d.) 8-9 and the embryos examined histologically 24 h after the final dose. The crown-rump length of caffeine treated embryos (1.92 +/- 0.08 mm) was significantly smaller (P < 0.001) ...

The viability of sex-diagnosed bovine demi-embryos was investigated after transfer. Day-7 morulae and blastocysts were subjected to splitting and biopsy in PBS + 4mg/ml polyvinylpyrrolidone + 200mM sucrose using a microblade. The biopsy (approximately 2 to 8 blastomeres) was transferred to a tube, and its presence in the tube was ...

The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo developmental abilities of equine embryos cryopreserved by vitrification. Twenty-eight embryos were recovered from Native pony and Thoroughbred mares at Days 5 to 7 by nonsurgical uterine flushing (detection of ovulation=Day 0). The vitrification solution contained 40% ...

Body growth, blood chemistry, and long bone development of 10- to 16-day chick embryos (Gallus gallus) treated with aluminum (Al) citrate, sodium (Na) citrate, or sodium chloride (NaCl) were investigated. Two administration protocols were used. Acutely-treated embryos received 6.0 mumol Al citrate or Na citrate on day 8 of incubation. ...

We have previously reported an inhibitory effect of gossypol and its metabolite on bovine and mouse early embryonic development. In the present study, eggs were collected from oviducts of superovulated hamsters. Epididymal sperm were used for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Gossypol at 5, 10, and 30 micrograms/ml significantly inhibited the ...

OBJECTIVE: To measure fetal developmental potential of mouse eggs fertilized and cleaved in modified Ham's F-10 medium (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) containing the chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a model for establishing criteria for human IVF and GIFT procedures. DESIGN: Optimum concentrations of EDTA in modified Ham's ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of sperm defects on embryo quality. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: In vitro fertilization center. PATIENTS: Embryo transfers (710) from IVF attempts for tubal disease (626) or male infertility (84). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Embryo morphology as a function of causes of infertility, semen, and follicular growth ...

Accurate information on the normal growth rate of the human embryo is fundamental to a better understanding of the embryonic period of pregnancy. Crown-rump length measured previously in utero (N = 227) with vaginal ultrasound in 107 in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) singleton pregnancies was compared ...

The advent of the polymerase chain reaction technique has revolutionized the science of prenatal diagnosis including sex selection. The technique is now available to identify the sex of human preimplantation embryos after in-vitro fertilization or to determine the sex of a fetus by non-invasive methods. Where medical indication exists, selected ...

We present a case of heterotopic pregnancy occurring after ET of pronuclear-stage embryos. This case demonstrates that pronuclear embryos have a good implantation potential and suggests that the potentially adverse effect of high follicular-phase serum progesterone levels on endometrial development might be offset by early ET of pronuclear embryos. This, ...

The objective of this study was to determine whether bovine embryos become more resistant to deleterious effects of maternal heat stress as early embryonic development progresses. Superovulated, lactating Holstein cows were bred by AI and assigned to be heat stressed on d 1, 3, 5, or 7 of pregnancy (d ...

Widespread incorporation of human embryo cryopreservation into IVF programs may reduce the risk of multiple gestation and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome as well as contributing to an overall increase in pregnancy rates. Slow cooling techniques appropriate to the stage of embryo development are most commonly employed. Growing experience with ultrarapid ...

The teratogenic effect of toxins 544 and 514 from K. humboldtiana upon the mouse embryo was evaluated. One half of the LD50 dose for the mouse was administered at day 8 of gestation. At the end of pregnancy, reproduction and fetal data were recorded. Dams treated with toxin 544, but ...

We investigated the in-vitro and in-vivo development of cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos, from which one to seven blastomeres were removed by micromanipulation. The results clearly indicate that the in-vitro and in-vivo development of biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos depended on the number of blastomeres removed: the more blastomeres ...

A technique for endoscopic transfer of one-cell, one-two-cell, two-cell or morula stage embryos to the Fallopian tubes of rabbits was developed in two phases. Phase I of the experiments involved the transfer of 30-65 embryos to each of nine recipients and resulted in pregnancies in all animals. After 12 days ...

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of sera from women with reproductive disorders on the in vitro growth of mouse and human embryos up to the blastocyst stage and to determine the influence on human pregnancy outcome. DESIGN: The growth of mouse embryos and in vitro fertilized human embryos up to ...

The effect of zinc and copper on the in vitro development of mouse preimplantation embryos and on metallothionein (MT) levels was studied by exposing the embryos to 100 microM concentrations of the metals for 24 h at the 1-cell, 2-cell, 4-cell, 6-8-cell, morula and blastocyst stages. Zinc affected embryo development ...

The occurrence of in vivo parthenogenesis is documented for laboratory-bred individuals of the Australian dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata. About 30% of females that had been isolated from males for a greater period of time than the length of pregnancy were found, on dissection of their uteri, to have embryos present. ...

The effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure during the preimplantation period of pregnancy on the subsequent development and implantation of mouse embryos were examined. Injection of a high dose of Cd (38 mumol Cd/kg body wt.) on day 2 (D1 = vaginal plug), when the embryo is at the two-cell stage, ...

OBJECTIVE: To develop an experimental model for embryos with a defect specific to hatching, with the purpose of clarifying the mammalian embryo hatching mechanism. DESIGN: A microneedle was inserted under the zona pellucida (ZP) of mouse embryos, and either 1/2 or 1/4 of the blastomeres were mechanically destroyed. The remainder ...

Two experiments were conducted to determine if early ovine embryos produce prostaglandins and if prostaglandins may have a role in the shedding of the zona pellucida, i.e., embryo hatching. For Experiment 1, embryos were collected on day (d) 4, 8, 10, 12 or 14 of pregnancy and incubated with 1 ...

Sidedness of left/right asymmetric body structures is strongly biased in most animals by mechanisms that are not well understood. In rat embryos, axial rotation starts at the 9-10 somite stage and is almost completed at the 17-18 somite stage. As a result, the ventrally flexed tail (caudal part of the ...

The objectives of the present study were to develop an antibody probe to the porcine estrogen-dependent oviductal glycoproteins and to determine, by use of immunogold electron microscopy, whether these glycoproteins become associated with oviductal and uterine oocytes and early embryos. Polyclonal antibody, prepared using the M(r) 75,000-85,000 glycoprotein, separated from ...

Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) causes regression of the Müllerian ducts during a critical period in embryonic development in male mammals. In Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS), an autosomal recessive trait in humans and dogs, the Müllerian ducts fail to regress in otherwise normal males. Previously we reported that PMDS-affected dogs ...

Fetal embryo, head, and brain tissue from different gestational ages were analyzed for retinol content, nuclear retinoic acid receptor and cytosolic retinoic acid binding protein levels after maternal ethanol ingestion and compared with fetal levels in control diet pregnancies. Retinol levels in fetal embryo and brain of ethanol-ingesting pregnancies were ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine which factor, or factors, may influence the success of an embryo-freezing program. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: An established, private IVF clinic. PATIENTS: This study comprises data from 185 consecutive thaw cycles (161 patients) that resulted in embryo replacement. The influence of the following factors, with regard to pregnancy ...