the effect of different concentrations of gm-csf on the development of pre-implantation embryos in mice (pilot study)

the cytokine of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (gm-csf) is a glycoprotein, which is synthesized in the female reproductive tract and has embryonic trophic effect in mammals. the objective of this study was to examine the optimal dosage of gm-csf to improve the mouse embryo development in vitro. to collect two and eight cells embryos, the pregnant nmri mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at 48 h and 72 h post hcg injections, respectively. the embryos were cultured randomlly in t6 medium supplemented with 5 mg /ml bovine serum albumin (bsa) and 0, 2, and 10 ng / ml human rgm-csf. the data of blastocyst formation and hatching in different groups of embryo culture were compared by chi-square analysis. the results showed that the developmental rates of 2 and 8 cells embryos to hatching blastocyst in the presence of 2 ng/ml of gm-csf their control groups (51.5% and 49.7%, respectively) were more than those in the other groups, but insignificant. it seems more researches are necessary to confirm this suggestion that the gm-csf with 2 ng/ml concentration may have a better potential, not only to enhance the developmental rates of 2 and 8 cells embryos but also for decreasing the degeneration of those embryos.