Chromosome segregation and nuclear reprogramming in oocytes and embryos
Human reproduction is an inefficient process, mostly due to chromosomal and epigenetic errors in developing embryos. Two critical events during embryonic development are the segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and the nuclear reprogramming of early-stage embryos. Defects in either of these processes are detrimental to embryo development. We plan to investigate the strength of the spindle assembly checkpoint, which assures correct chromosomal segregation, in a mouse model of early embryo development, and the subsequent nuclear reprogramming of the cells. This will hopefully shed light on aspects that may contribute to the high rates of developmental arrest in human embryos.
We wish to isolate oocytes and zygotes from mice post-mortem, after injection with pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The experiments are characterized as mild. Mice provide a good animal model for investigating early embryonic division. Our experiments use well established techniques, and procedures on living mice are limited to a total of two intraperitoneal injections of PMSG and hCG.
We wish to isolate oocytes and zygotes from mice post-mortem, after injection with pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The experiments are characterized as mild. Mice provide a good animal model for investigating early embryonic division. Our experiments use well established techniques, and procedures on living mice are limited to a total of two intraperitoneal injections of PMSG and hCG.