P. Drakakis et al., A PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF GROWTH-HORMONE ON MOUSE PREIMPLANTATION EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT IN-VITRO, Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 40(4), 1995, pp. 222-226
The role of growth hormone (GH) in follicular development, ovulation a
nd embryo development is currently under reconsideration. In this stud
y, we have tried to investigate the effect of GH on preimplantation de
velopment. of mouse embryos in vitro. Zygotes and two-cell mouse embry
os were cultured without (control) or with GH. For zygotes, the additi
on of 0.2 mu g/ml of GH resulted in 77 +/- 1% of blastocysts formed an
d 66 +/- 3% rate of hatching (control 64 +/- 4 and 31 +/- 3%, p < 0.05
and p < 0.01, respectively). For two-cell embryos, the addition of 0.
2 mu g/ml of GH resulted in 87 +/- 2% of blastocysts formed and 60 +/-
4% hatching rate (control 76 +/- 4 and 47 +/- 5%, p < 0.05 for both).
This positive effect of GH addition implies that the latter can suppo
rt mouse preimplantation development in vitro and it suggests, along w
ith its local action on the ovary and its possible effects, via the in
sulin-like growth factor system, on the tubal and uterine epithelium,
a continuous role of this hormone in reproductive physiology from foll
icular maturation to embryonic development and, possibly, implantation
.