Prostacyclin enhances mouse embryo development and hatching but not increased embryonic cell number and volume.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate in vitro effects of prostacyclin (PGI2), we cultured mouse embryos with a PGI2 analogue, because human fallopian tube cells synthesize abundant amounts of PGI2.

DESIGN

Animal model.

SETTING

Animal study in a private infertility clinic.

ANIMAL(S): Mouse embryos.

INTERVENTION(S): In vitro effects of PGI2 analogue on mouse embryos.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Development rate, blastocyst volume, rate of complete hatching, and cell number of hatched blastocysts.

RESULT(S): Exposure to PGI2 analogue during the four-cell to morula stages was critical to enhanced embryo development and hatching but did not increase blastocyst volume or cell number of hatched blastocysts. The effects of PGI2 analogue were statistically significant at 1.0 micromol/L and 2.0 micromol/L in human tubal fluid medium, with or without 1% bovine serum albumin.

CONCLUSION(S): Prostacyclin analogue enhanced embryo development and hatching, but PGI2 did not increase number of cells in hatched blastocysts or blastocyst volume.