Korean J Fertil Steril.  2002 Jun;29(2):83-90.

Effect of GM-CSF on the Embryonic Development and the Expression of Implantation Related Genes of Mouse Embryos

• Kim DH
• Ko DS
• Lee HC
• Lee HJ
• Kang HG
• Kim TJ
• Park WI
• Kim SS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the current series of experiments were to assess the effect of GM-CSF, as a medium supplement, on the development of mouse embryos and the expression of LIF and IL-1beta mRNA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mouse 2-cell embryos were collected from the oviducts of 6 weeks old ICR mice at 48 hours after hCG injection. Embryos were cultured in P-1 medium supplemented with mouse GM-CSF(0,1,5,10 ng/ml). The embryo development to blastocysts and hatching blastocysts was assessed and the cell number in blastocyst was also examined. Using RT-PCR, the expressions of LIF and IL-1beta mRNA in blastocyst were evaluated in the GM-CSF supplemented group and control group.
RESULTS
In mouse, the addition of GM-CSF increased the percentage of blastocysts(65.5%, 68.6%, 73.0% and 76.1% for control and 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml, respectively), and increased the proportion of hatching blastocysts(35.2%, 36.4%, 43.2% and 53.0% for control and 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml, respectively). The mean cell numbers in blastocyst were significantly increased in GM-CSF supplemented groups compared to control group. LIF and IL-1beta expression in blastocysts were significantly higher in GM-CSF supplemented group than in control group.
CONCLUSION
The results of experiment by mouse embryos showed beneficial effects of GM-CSF as a medium supplement. Furthermore, the addition of GM-CSF significantly increased the expression of LIF and IL-1beta in mouse embryos. These results suggest that GM-CSF might be a important molecule in embryo implantation.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blastocyst
Cell Count
Embryo Implantation
Embryonic Development*
Embryonic Structures*
Female
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor*
Mice*
Mice, Inbred ICR
Oviducts
Pregnancy
RNA, Messenger
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
RNA, Messenger