Female mice generating oocytes lacking complex N- and O-glycans (double mutants (DM)) produce only one small litter before undergoing premature ovarian failure (POF) by 3 months. Here we investigate the basis of the small litter by evaluating ovulation rate and embryo development in DM (Mgat1(F/F)C1galt1(F/F):ZP3Cre) and Control (Mgat1(F/F)C1galt1(F/F)) females. Surprisingly, DM ovulation rate ...

Implantation is the final frontier to embryogenesis and successful pregnancy. Over the past three decades, there have been tremendous advances in the understanding of human embryo development. Since the advent of In Vitro Fertilization, the embryo has been readily available to study outside the body. Indeed, the study has led to much advancement in embryonic stem cell derivation. Unfortunately,...

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) plays an indispensible role in embryo implantation. Aberrant LIF production is linked to implantation failure. LIF regulates multiple processes prior to and during implantation such as uterine transformation into a receptive state, decidualization, blastocyst growth and development, embryo-endometrial interaction, trophoblast invasion, and immune modulation. Du...

Implantation is crucial for placental development that will subsequently impact fetal growth and pregnancy success with consequences on postnatal health. We postulated that the pattern of genes expressed by the endometrium when the embryo becomes attached to the mother uterus could account for the final outcome of a pregnancy. As a model, we used the bovine species where the embryo becomes prog...

One of the key factors for successful embryo implantation is the presence of a receptive endometrium. The achievement of a receptive endometrium involves proliferation and thickening of the endometrium, synchronization of the micro architectural changes of the endometrium with the stage of embryo development and the presence of a proper cytokine environment [1]. Despite its complexity, the proc...

The mycotoxin citrinin (CTN), a natural contaminant in foodstuffs and animal feeds, exerts cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on various mammalian cells and embryos. A previous investigation by our group revealed potentially hazardous effects of CTN on mouse oocyte maturation and pre- and post-implantation embryo development via the induction of apoptosis. The present study showed that CTN induces...

The protein content of fluids isolated from the lumen of the uterus of the ferret was correlated with growth of the pre-implantation embryo. Similar observations were made with mink for comparative purposes. Tt is concluded that in the ferret: Protein content rises coincidentally with blastocyst expansion, becoming especially high when the embryo is implanting. The proteins present early in the...

background: gnrh agonist and antagonist were developed to control the premature release of lh surge. there is some difference between two protocols. objective: we compared the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer in infertile women who used gnrh agonist or antagonist protocol for previous coh cycle and evaluation of any adverse effect of gnrh antagonist on oocyte and embryo. materials and m...

A critical point in mammalian development is when the early embryo implants into its mother's uterus. This event has historically been difficult to study due to the fact that it occurs within the maternal tissue and therefore is hidden from view. In this review, we discuss how the mouse embryo is prepared for implantation and the molecular mechanisms involved in directing and coordinating this ...