Adverse effects of retinoic acid on embryo development and the selective expression of retinoic acid receptors in mouse blastocysts

Abstract

This is the first evidence to show the impacts of RA on mouse blastocysts in vitro and any carry-over effects in the uterus. There is a retardation of early postimplantation blastocyst development and then subsequent blastocyst death. Our findings also show that there is some degree of selective induction of retinoic acid receptors when excess RA is administered to the blastocysts.