Embryo implantation is a highly orchestrated process that involves blastocyst-uterine interactions. This process is confined to a defined interval during gestation referred to as the "window of embryo implantation receptivity". In mice this receptive period is controlled by ovarian estrogen and involves a coordination of blastocyst adhesion competence and uterine receptivity. Mechanisms coordin...

The developmental capacity of (a) single blastomeres of 4-cell embryos, (Jb) pairs of blastomeres of 8-cell embryos and (c) single blastomeres of 8-cell embryos was studied. The blastomeres were inserted into evacuated foreign zonae pellucidae, embedded in agar, transferred to ligated oviducts of dioestrous ewes, and recovered when their total age was 5-Jto 6̂ days. At lecovery the majority of e...

Excellent fertility and prolificacy have been reported after non-surgical deep uterine transfers of fresh in vivo-derived porcine embryos. Unfortunately, when this technology is used with vitrified embryos, the reproductive performance of recipients is low. For this reason and because the embryos must be stored until they are transferred to the recipient farms, we evaluated the potential applic...

BACKGROUND Placenta accreta is a rare obstetrical condition that mainly occurs in the third trimester leading to life-threatening complications. Hereby, a case of uterine rupture due to placenta accreta occuring in the second trimester is presented. CASE PRESENTATION A forty-year old patient who conceived after in vitro fertilization treatment (oocyte donation and embryo transfer) presented i...

Embryonic diapause is the reversible arrest of embryo development prior to implantation under a regime of uterine control that is not well understood. Our objective was to explore uterine modifications associated with the emergence of embryonic diapause in the mink, a species in which embryonic diapause characterizes every gestation. We investigated the uterine transcriptome at reactivation usi...

Background: One of the main problems in ART is low pregnancy rates. The factors involved in successful pregnancy include; 1. mother related factors such as the status of endometrial receptivity and hormonal status of the mother. 2. embryo related factors such as; number of transferred embryo, embryo scores including: number and size of the blastomeres, and their fragmentation. The aim of the pr...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of the use of cumulus-aided embryo transfer on pregnancy rates. To study the proximity of expanded cumulus cells to the developing embryo. To document by light microscopy the anchoring of day 3 to day 4 embryos by the expanded cumulus cells. To demonstrate by transmission electron microscopy the cellular activity of the expanded cumulus cells. To evaluate the ex...

N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase (NPL) catalyzes N-acetylneuraminic acid, the predominant sialic acid. Microarray analysis of the periimplantation mouse uterine luminal epithelium (LE) revealed Npl being the most downregulated (35×) gene in the LE upon embryo implantation. In natural pregnant mouse uterus, Npl expression increased 56× from gestation day 0.5 (D0.5) to D2.5. In ovariectomized m...

Implantation, the beginning of fetal life in utero, has complex and dynamic processes including apposition and attachment of embryo to the uterine endometrial surface, invasion, placentation and decidualization. In mice, the period when uterus is available to accept the conceptus implanted called “implantation window”, is a very limited time, around day 3-5 post-coitum (p.c.). Orchestral regula...