Effect of lysophosphatidic acid on the preimplantation development of mouse embryos

Abstract

The effect of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on the preimplantation development of mouse embryos was examined. The blastocyst rates from 2-cell and 4-cell stage embryos were significantly higher in the presence of LPA at the pronuclear stage. However, the blastocyst rate from 4-cell stage embryos was significantly lower when LPA was added to the medium at the 4-cell stage than when it was added at the pronuclear stage. Furthermore, pretreatment of pronuclear stage embryos with pertussis toxin suppressed LPA-induced embryo development, suggesting that it is probably mediated by a Gi-protein-linked receptor.