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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Prostacyclin stimulates embryonic development via regulation of the cAMP response element-binding protein–cyclo-oxygenase-2 signalling pathway in cattle

Bong-Seok Song A , Ji-Su Kim A , Cheol-Hee Kim B , Yong-Mahn Han C , Dong-Seok Lee D , Kyung-Kwang Lee A and Deog-Bon Koo A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Center for Regenerative Medicine, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 111 Gwahangno, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-806, Korea.

B Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.

C Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, Korea.

D School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sankyuk-dong, Puk-ku, Daegu 702-701, Korea.

E Corresponding author. Email: dbkoo@kribb.re.kr

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(3) 400-407 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD08180
Submitted: 22 August 2008  Accepted: 17 October 2008   Published: 4 March 2009

Abstract

Prostacyclin (PGI2) in oviducal fluid is synthesised from arachidonic acid by cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and prostacyclin synthetase and enhances the implantation and live birth potential of mouse embryos. In the present study, we investigated the developmental competence of bovine embryos by examining the effects of the PGI2 analogue iloprost on blastocyst development, quality and COX-2 expression during IVF and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Bovine IVF and SCNT embryos were cultured in CR1-aa medium supplemented with 0.3% bovine serum albumin in either the presence or absence of 1 μm iloprost at 38.5°C and 5% CO2. After 3 days of culture, cleaved embryos were cultured for 4 days in the same medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. For both IVF and SCNT embryos, iloprost improved the blastocyst developmental rate and cell numbers. In the presence of iloprost, the proportion of expanded blastocysts was significantly higher among the IVF embryos and fewer apoptotic cell nuclei were observed. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein, evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting, respectively, was increased in the presence of iloprost. These results suggest that PGI2 improves the developmental competence of embryos via regulation of the cAMP response element-binding protein–COX-2 signalling pathway in cattle.

Additional keyword: iloprost.


Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a grant (2006-04082) from KOSEF, Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea.


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