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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model
Published on: April 7, 2023
Reduced uterine receptivity for mouse embryos developed from in-vitro matured oocytes
Yu-Hung Lin1, Ching-Yen Tsai, Lee-Wen Huang
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, No. 95, Wen Chang Road, Shih Lin District, Taipei, Taiwan.
Purpose:
The outcomes of in-vitro maturation (IVM) are inferior compared to those of IVF. The purpose of the study was to compare the implantation rates of IVM- and in-vivo maturation (IVO)- derived embryos, and to evaluate their effects on uterine receptivity.
Methods:
The IVM- and IVO- oocytes were obtained from female mice, fertilized and transferred to separate oviducts of the same pseudo-pregnant mice. After 5 days, the implanted blastocysts were dissected out of the uterine horns, and the uterine horns were analyzed for the expression of mRNAs encoding leukemia inhibitory factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4, progesterone receptor, and Hoxa-10.
Results:
The maturation rate of the IVM- oocytes was 81.2%. The fertilization rate of the IVM oocytes was lower than that of the IVO oocytes (50.5% vs. 78.0%, p = 0.038), as was their implantation rate (14.5% vs. 74.7%, p < 0.001). All 5 mRNAs examined were expressed at significantly lower levels in the uterine horns that received the IVM-derived embryos than in those that received the IVO-derived embryos.
Conclusions:
The IVM-derived embryos are less competent in inducing expression of implantation-related mRNAs in the uterine horn.
