Background: Hyaluronan (HA) is a structural component of extracellular matrix synthesised by HA synthases HAS1-3, which produce HA of different molecular sizes with distinct biological functions associated with reproductive processes. Hyaluronidase (HYAL) cleaves the HA into biologically active small fragments which are known to regulate cell proliferation through CD44 receptor signaling. HA is...

Developmental biology teachers use the example of the frog embryo to introduce young scientists to the wonders of vertebrate development, and to pose the crucial question, 'How does a ball of cells become an exquisitely patterned embryo?'. Classical embryologists also recognized the power of the amphibian model and used extirpation and explant studies to explore early embryo polarity and to def...

Increased genetic selection over the past 40 years has resulted in a dairy cow with an improved biological efficiency for producing milk but with an associated reduced fertility. Embryo loss is the greatest factor contributing to the failure of a cow to conceive. The extent and timing of embryo loss indicates that 70% to 80% of this loss occurs in the first 2 weeks after artificial insemination...

BACKGROUND Peritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with endometriosis can inhibit early embryo development via probable functional changes of embryo mitochondria in the early stage of embryo development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of PF from patients with endometriosis on mitochondrial function and development of early mouse embryos. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS PF wa...

OBJECTIVES In the past several scoring systems were proposed for early human development aiming to assist in the identification of the best embryos. Scoring criteria are usually assessed at static developmental time points by microscopy. For almost every scoring system controversial results on its benefit can be found in the literature. With the introduction of time-lapse imaging static assessm...