Embryotropic effect of glycosaminoglycans and receptors in development of porcine pre-implantation embryos

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 1167 - 1180
• Main Authors: Kim, Hye-soo, Lee, Gab-sang, Hyun, Sang-hwan, Nam, Dong-hyun, Lee, So-hyun, Jeong, Yeon-woo, Kim, Sue, Kim, Ji-hye, Kang, Sung-keun, Lee, Byeong-chun, Hwang, Woo-suk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Blastocyst; Blotting, Southern; Cell number; Culture Media; embryo culture; Embryo Culture Techniques - veterinary; Embryo development; embryogenesis; Embryonic Development - drug effects; GAGs; GAGs receptors; Gene Expression; Glycosaminoglycans - pharmacology; Heparin - administration & dosage; Hyaluronan Receptors - genetics; Hyaluronic Acid - administration & dosage; Porcine IVF; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - physiology; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; swine; Swine - embryology; Porcine IVF; Cell number; Embryo development; GAGs; GAGs receptors
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.06.001

The present study investigated the expression of receptors for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the effect of GAGs supplementation on development of porcine IVF embryos. Total RNA was prepared from oocytes, 2-, 4- and 8-cell embryos, morulae and blastocysts. The expression of hyaluronic acid receptor (CD44) and heparin (HP) interacting protein (HIP) was determined using RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis. The CD44 and HIP mRNA were detected from in vitro matured oocytes and all stages of pre-implantation embryos. The IVF embryos were cultured in modified NCSU-23 medium supplemented with various concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/mL) of hyaluronic acid (HA) or heparin. Supplementing with 0.5 mg/mL HA significantly increased total cell number compared to other experimental groups, due to increase in trophectoderm cells. Supplementing with 1.0 mg/mL, HP significantly increased blastocyst formation rate compared to the control group. Supplementing media, in which IVF embryos were cultured with 0.5 mg/mL HA + 1.0 mg/mL HP, significantly increased blastocyst formation rate compared to the control group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the expression of HA and HP receptors and the embryotrophic effect of HA or HP on porcine IVF embryos.