Predictive variables of in vitro fertilization and pre-implantation embryo development in the mouse

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development 2002-09, Vol.63 (1), p.38-46
• Main Authors: TarÍn, Juan J., Gómez-Piquer, Vanessa, PÉrez-AlbalÁ, Sonia, Hermenegildo, Carlos, Cano, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Blastocyst - physiology; blastocysts; Cell Count; Cell Division; Crosses, Genetic; embryo development; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; in-vitro fertilization; Linear Models; Male; Mammalian female genital system; Mice - embryology; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred CBA; Mitotic Index; Morphology. Physiology; Ovulation; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10157

The present study aims to analyze the cause–effect relationships among several in‐vitro fertilization and pre‐implantation embryo development variables in the mouse. Superovulation of hybrid (C57Bl/6JIco female X CBA/JIco male) female mice of 4–6 weeks of age was induced by a priming injection of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin at the estrus stage of the estrous cycle followed after a 48‐hr interval by human chrorionic gonadotropin. Ovulated cumulus‐enclosed oocytes were inseminated with sperm from hybrid males of 12–16 weeks of age. The multiple linear regression analyses performed indicated that (a) total number of ovulated oocytes is a good predictor of both fertilization frequency and total number of cells in day‐5 blastocysts; (b) fertilization frequency predicts percentage of day‐5 blastocysts; (c) total number of cells in day‐5 blastocysts is predicted by percentage of day‐5 blastocysts; and (d) total number of cells in day‐5 blastocysts predicts percentage of apoptotic cells, number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells, and ICM/TE ratio in day‐5 blastocysts. Mitotic index in day‐5 blastocysts was positively correlated with total number of ovulated oocytes, percentage of ovulated cumulus‐enclosed oocytes, fertilization frequency, percentage of day‐5 blastocysts and total number of cells in day‐5 blastocysts. On the contrary, it was negatively correlated with percentage of apoptotic cells in day‐5 blastocysts. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 63: 38–46, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.