Cell Signaling During Mammalian Early Embryo Development

Abstract

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology presents multidisciplinary and dynamic findings in the broad fields of experimental medicine and biology. The wide variety in topics it presents offers readers multiple perspectives on a variety of disciplines including neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering and cancer research. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology has been publishing exceptional works in the field for over 30 years and is indexed in Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, BIOSIS, Biological Abstracts, CSA, Biological Sciences and Living Resources (ASFA-1), and Biological Sciences. The series also provides scientists with up to date information on emerging topics and techniques. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. PrefaceInterest in cell signalling in the early embryo extends over the last 30 years, following extensive research on this topic in somatic cells largely in the context of exogenous growth factors and hormones. Thus, Edirisinghe and Wales (1985), working on preimplantation mouse embryos examined the effect of a variety of agents: glucagon, insulin, adrenaline, cAMP, theophylline and caffeine on glucose metabolism while O'Neill (1985), a pioneer in this field, reported that mouse embryos produced platelet-activating factor (PAF) which stimulated blastocyst rates and cell number. Research then focussed largely on peptide growth factors including their origini.e., whether growth factor ligands and/or receptors were produced by the embryo itself or by the female tract (oviduct and uterus), and their cellular effects, which could be autocrine, paracrine or juxtacrine. A number of excellent reviews of these studies were published: e.g., Schultz and Heyner (1993); Kaye (1997); Kane et al. (1997); Hardy and Spanos (2002).In the last few years interest in embryonic signalling has exploded with (i) the increasing use of ART procedures in animals and humans and the need to improve success rates and safety; (ii) ren...

Correlated Response to Selection for Litter Size Residual Variance in Rabbits

“…We hypothesize that the line selected for increase litter size variability can delay the development of the embryos, as a consequence of higher sensitivity to illness and to stress than the homogenous line. It is known that embryo development can be delayed under stress due to disruption of protein involving embryonic growth (review by Puscheck et al, 2015). For example, lack of DICER1, MATER, ZAR1, PADI6, and SEBOX does not allow embryo to develop beyond the 2-cell stage, while embryo is unable to reach the 8-cell or morulae stage in absence either of SMARCA4, DNMT1, DNMT3A, TET, KLF4 or OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, respectively (see review by Argente, 2016).…”