OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor (LIF-R) transcripts in human and murine preimplantation embryos. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Human oocytes were obtained from patients undergoing IVF treatment. Two-cell murine embryos were obtained from ICR strain mice. INTERVENTION(S): Second-day intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures were performed on oocytes that failed to be fertilized by IVF. Embryos were cultured to various stages and collected for study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The transcript levels of LIF and LIF-R in these embryos were examined and semiquantitated using single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction methodology. RESULT(S): Leukemia inhibitory factor and LIF-R transcripts were detectable in most human preimplantation embryos (30 of 34 and 31 of 34 embryos showed LIF and LIF-R messenger RNA, respectively). There was a trend toward decreased expression of both transcripts in embryos at the four-cell stage and in embryos in which growth had been arrested for 24-48 hours. The expression of LIF and LIF-R genes in murine embryos was inconsistent. CONCLUSION(S): Preimplantation human embryos express LIF and LIF-R messenger RNA. It is suggested that LIF may be able to affect embryo development through its action at stages before implantation in an autocrine or paracrine manner.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor (LIF-R) transcripts in human and murine preimplantation embryos. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Human oocytes were obtained from patients undergoing IVF treatment. Two-cell murine embryos were obtained from ICR strain mice. INTERVENTION(S): Second-day intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures were performed on oocytes that failed to be fertilized by IVF. Embryos were cultured to various stages and collected for study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The transcript levels of LIF and LIF-R in these embryos were examined and semiquantitated using single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction methodology. RESULT(S): Leukemia inhibitory factor and LIF-R transcripts were detectable in most human preimplantation embryos (30 of 34 and 31 of 34 embryos showed LIF and LIF-R messenger RNA, respectively). There was a trend toward decreased expression of both transcripts in embryos at the four-cell stage and in embryos in which growth had been arrested for 24-48 hours. The expression of LIF and LIF-R genes in murine embryos was inconsistent. CONCLUSION(S): Preimplantation human embryos express LIF and LIF-R messenger RNA. It is suggested that LIF may be able to affect embryo development through its action at stages before implantation in an autocrine or paracrine manner.
Authors: O Genbacev; N Larocque; K Ona; A Prakobphol; T Garrido-Gomez; M Kapidzic; A Bárcena; M Gormley; S J Fisher Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2016-04-15 Impact factor: 6.918