ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fibroblastic growth factor on resumption of meiosis, in vitro maturation of immature mouse oocytes and resulting embryo development with and without basic fibroblastic growth factor-4 [bFGF-4].Cumulus - oocyte complex [COCs] and germinal vesicle [GV] were obtained from female NMRI mice 46-48 hours after administration of an intra-peritoneal injection of 5 IU PMSG. COCs were cultured in TCM199 supplemented with different dosages of bFGF-4. After 24 hours, metaphase II [MII] oocytes were co-incubated with sperms for 4-6 hours in 16 medium. For all groups, the rate of cleaved embryos was assessed in the T6 medium until blastocyst stage. In all compared groups, the percentage of matured MII oocytes in the 10 ng/ml [%94.4] and 20 ng/ml [%92.5] of bFGF-4 treatment groups, was significantly higher [P<0.05] than those of the control group but the percentage of embryos that developed to blastocyst in 20 ng/ml bFGF-4 treatment group was significantly higher than those of the control group [P<0.05]. Exogenous bFGF-4 improved the oocyte maturation and embryo development