PEPTIDE GROWTH-FACTORS AND PREIMPLANTATION DEVELOPMENT

This paper examines some of the problems and questions that must be co nsidered in relation to research on the role of growth factors in prei mplantation embryos. It reviews and summarizes the large body of work on gene expression of growth factor receptors and ligands in preimplan tation embryos and in oviduct and uterine tissue. It also reviews the literature on the effects of gene knockout in preimplantation embryos and concludes with a review of work on the effects of growth factors o n cultured embryos.