Expression of Apoptotic Genes in Mouse Preimplantation Embryo Development.

Lee,  Yu il; Lee,  Jin; Kim,  Mi Young; Chun,  Sang Young

Original Article

Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2003;30(1):77-84.
Published online March 1, 2003.

Expression of Apoptotic Genes in Mouse Preimplantation Embryo Development.

Yu il Lee, Jin Lee, Mi Young Kim, Sang Young Chun

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
²Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three different media on preimplatation embryo development and the expression of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, and Bok in mouse. MATERiALS AND METHODS: Two-cell embryos were retrieved from iCR female mice (4 weeks old) at 48 hr after hCG injection and cultured in Ham's F-10, HTF, and G1.2 media. The developmental rate of 2-cell embryos was evaluated from 24 hr to 72 hr after culture. RT-PCR was performed for the detection of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, and Bok gene expression. RESULTS: The rates of morula and blastocyst in HTF and G1.2 media (88%, 98.1%) were significantly higher than those in Ham's F-10 media (39.6%) at 48 hr. Likewise, the rates of hatching and hatched blastocyst in HTF and G1.2 media (21.9%, 52.9%) were higher than those in Ham's F-10 media (3.5%) at 72 hr. Bcl-2 and Bax mRNAs were highly detected in embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 when compared in embryos cultured in HTF and G1.2. in contrast, the expression of Mcl-1 and Bok was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: These results show that HTF and G1.2 culture media increase the rate of blastocyst formation and stimulate Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression in mouse preimplantation embryos.

Key Words: Blastocyst; Culture medium; Apoptotic gene; Preimplantation embryo