| First Author | Terada A | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | J Assist Reprod Genet | Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 404-11 |
| PubMed ID | 9285326 | Mgi Jnum | J:42633 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1096058 | Doi | 10.1007/BF02766149 |
| Citation | Terada A, et al. (1997) Effects of epidermal growth factor on preimplantation mouse embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 14(7):404-11 |
| abstractText | PURPOSE: Our purpose was to clarify the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on mouse preimplantation embryos. METHODS: We examined the effect of EGF on two-cell and four-cell stage mouse embryos cultured in vitro. In preimplantation embryos, we analyzed the binding of 125I-EGF by autoradiography and EGF receptor mRNA by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: At more than 0.005 ng/ml, EGF relieved the two-cell block and regulated the differentiation of morula-stage embryos. These effects were negated by antiserum. EGF did not exhibit any marked effect on embryos between the four-cell and the morula stages. Specific binding for EGF and EGF receptor mRNA was detected during and after the morula stage. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of EGF on preimplantation mouse embryos differed according to the stage of development, promoting cleavage before the four-cell stage and regulating differentiation after the morula stage. This regulatory action is thought to be transmitted to the cells via EGF receptors. |
