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Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in human preimplantation embryos derived from tripronuclear
J Krüssel1, B Behr, J Hirchenhain
1Reproductive Immunology Laboratory, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center, California, Palo Alto, USA. kruessel@uni.duesseldorf.de
Objective:
To detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and/or secretion of VEGF protein by human preimplantation embryos.
Design:
Human preimplantation embryos not suitable for uterine transfer were examined for beta-actin and VEGF mRNA expression. Culture media from normally fertilized and developing preimplantation embryos were assessed for VEGF protein secretion.
Setting:
Clinics and academic research laboratories at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Stanford University, Palo Alto, California and the Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Patient(S):
Couples undergoing IVF by intracytoplasmic sperm injection for various reasons.
Intervention(S):
Six unfertilized oocytes and 33 pathologically fertilized (tripronucleic, 3PN) preimplantation embryos were examined for VEGF mRNA expression, and 16 embryos were examined for VEGF protein secretion.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Embryonic expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF protein as determined by reverse transcription (RT)/nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ELISA.
Result(S):
VEGF mRNA and protein could not be detected in unfertilized oocytes. However, 30/33 preimplantation embryos did express VEGF mRNA (11/12 10-to-16-cell embryos, 3/4 morulae, 11/12 early blastocysts, 5/5 hatched blastocysts). The VEGF protein level was below the sensitivity of the ELISA.
Conclusion(S):
Production of VEGF may give the embryo the ability to induce neoangiogenesis at the implantation site, thus creating an environment necessary for its survival.
