PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR PRODUCTION FROM IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO FERTILIZED MURINE EMBRYOS IS SIMILAR

PROBLEM: This study measured platelet-activating factor (PAF) producti on of in vitro and in vivo fertilized murine embryos to ascertain whet her site of fertilization impacted subsequent embryonic PAF production . METHOD: Ooocytes and embryo were collected from stimulated B6D2F1 mi ce. PAF production throughout the preimplantation phase from the two-c elled stage through expanded blastocysts was measured and compared amo ng normally developing embryos with the only difference being site of fertilization. RESULTS: A striking increase in PAF production was note d for both in vivo and in vitro fertilized embryos over the four days of culture. Significantly higher (P<.001) levels of PAF production wer e 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, r espectively. There was no significant difference (P>.05) in PAF produc tion between the two groups of embryos. CONCLUSIONS: Embryonic PAF pro duction in the mouse increases in a stage-specific manner, and specifi cally the site of fertilization in vitro versus in vivo does not affec t PAF production in normally developing embryos.