The Effect of Different Concentrations of GM-CSF on the Development of Pre-Implantation Embryos in Mice (Pilot Study)

The cytokine of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a glycoprotein, which is synthesized in the female reproductive tract and has embryonic trophic effect in mammals. The objective of this study was to examine the optimal dosage of GMCSF to improve the mouse embryo development in vitro. To collect two and eight cells embryos, the pregnant NMRI mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at 48 h and 72 h post hCG injections, respectively. The embryos were cultured randomlly in T6 medium supplemented with 5 mg /ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0, 2, and 10 ng / ml human rGM-CSF. The data of blastocyst formation and hatching in different groups of embryo culture were compared by chi-square analysis. The results showed that the developmental rates of 2 and 8 cells embryos to hatching blastocyst in the presence of 2 ng/ml of GM-CSF their control groups (51.5% and 49.7%, respectively) were more than those in the other groups, but insignificant. It seems more researches are necessary to confirm this suggestion that the GM-CSF with 2 ng/ml concentration may have a better potential, not only to enhance the developmental rates of 2 and 8 cells embryos but also for decreasing the degeneration of those embryos.