Platelet-activating factor production from in vitro and in vivo fertilized murine embryos is similar
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B A Ripps1, Y P Zhu, T H Burwinkel
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
Problem:
This study measured platelet-activating factor (PAF) production of in vitro and in vivo fertilized murine embryos to ascertain whether site of fertilization impacted subsequent embryonic PAF production.
Method:
Oocytes and embryo were collected from stimulated B6D2F1 mice. PAF production throughout the preimplantation phase from the two-celled stage through expanded blastocysts was measured and compared among normally developing embryos with the only difference being site of fertilization.
Results:
A striking increase in PAF production was noted for both in vivo and in vitro fertilized embryos over the four days of culture. Significantly higher (P < .001) levels of PAF production were noted with development from the two-celled stage (47.22 +/- 4.13; 44.30 +/- 2.43) to expanded blastocysts (254.31 +/- 24.01; 255.11 +/- 5.35 ng/embryo/24 h) for both in vitro and in vivo fertilized embryos, respectively. There was no significant difference (P > .05) in PAF production between the two groups of embryos.
Conclusions:
Embryonic PAF production in the mouse increases in a stage-specific manner, and specifically the site of fertilization in vitro versus in vivo does not affect PAF production in normally developing embryos.