| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 解剖學及細胞生物學研究所 === 100 === Cryopreservation of blastocyst can be applied extensively in assisted reproductive technology to help infertile couples have their own baby. Previous studies shown that cryopreservation may induce blastomeres apoptosis and accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration in the embryo. However, the mechanisms of vitrified blastocysts underlying survival still remain unclear. In this study, we compared frozen-thawed blastocyst to fresh embryo by investigating whether the signaling pathways activated, followed by exam underlying mechanisms. We found that both extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were activated in the frozen-thawed blastocysts. Treating the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 caused the frozen-thawed blastocysts incapable re-expansion and induced blastomeres apoptosis. By contrast, there was no effect on the frozen-thawed blastocysts when treating ERK inhibitor PD98059. In addition, the downstream kinases of PI3K/Akt pathway (Bcl-2 and Bax) were also activated. Our results demonstrated that the PI3K/Akt pathway might play an important role in the vitrification-thawed blastocysts; helping blastocysts survival and preventing blastomeres apoptosis. Our findings may help clarify the signaling pathways regarding survival of blastocysts during frozen-thawed process, which may improve the successful rate of cryopreservation oocytes and assisted reproductive technology.
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