Effects of Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor on the Expression of MMP-9 and ATPase gamma-subunit mRNA in the Mouse Embryo / 대한불임학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) on the rate of blastocyst formation and hatching in the mouse embryos and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and ATPase g-subunit mRNA. METHODS: Late 2-cell mouse embryos was cultured for 72 hours in HTF medium containing with 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml HB-EGF. The mRNA expression level of MMP-9 and ATPase gamma-subunit was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The rate of hatching was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group containing with 1 ng/ml HB-EGF than other groups. Also, the rate of hatched blastocyst was significantly higher (p<0.05) in 10 ng/ml. The mRNA expression level of MMP-9 mRNA was not shown any difference among groups, but ATPase g-subunit was higher than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together these results suggest that HB-EGF has the positive effect to promote the blastocyst formation and hatching process and influences the blastocoel expansion by promoting the ATPase mRNA expression in the mouse embryos.