HOMEOBOX GENE-EXPRESSION IN HUMAN OOCYTES AND PREEMBRYOS

Homeobox gene expression in human preimplantation development has not been established. We used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain react ion (RT-PCR) with intron spanning primer sets to investigate the prese nce of mRNA of homeobox genes in human oocytes and preembryos. RT-PCR products obtained from normal and unfertilized oocytes, from cleaving normal and triploid embryos, and from morulae and blastocysts were clo ned, sequenced, and analyzed for the presence of homeobox sequences. T he presence of mRNA of homeoboxes HoxA4 and HoxA7 was demonstrated; Ho xA4 was present in normal and unfertilized oocytes and also in a 4-cel l embryo. HoxA7 was present in normal oocytes and cleaving triploid em bryos. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.