GONADOTROPIN HYPERSTIMULATION INFLUENCES THE S-35 METHIONINE METABOLISM OF MOUSE PREIMPLANTATION EMBRYOS

The effects of gonadotropin stimulation on mouse embryo uptake and inc orporation of S-35-methionine were studied. We found that the uptake o f S-35-methionine was reduced in embryos of stimulated females in both the two-cell and the blastocyst developmental stage. The incorporatio n of S-35-methionine into protein was not statistically significantly different between the embryos of stimulated and those of unstimulated females. Qualitatively, protein synthesis was equal in both groups as determined with one-dimensional SDS-PAGE. The results are discussed an d we conclude that mouse embryo viability in vivo is decreased by ovar ian stimulation.