Prostacyclin enhances mouse embryo development and hatching but not increased embryonic cell number and volume

To evaluate in vitro effects of prostacyclin (PGI 2), we cultured mouse embryos with a PGI 2 analogue, because human fallopian tube cells synthesize abundant amounts of PGI 2. Animal model. Animal study in a private infertility clinic. Mouse embryos. In vitro effects of PGI 2 analogue on mouse embryos. Development rate, blastocyst volume, rate of complete hatching, and cell number of hatched blastocysts. Exposure to PGI 2 analogue during the four-cell to morula stages was critical to enhanced embryo development and hatching but did not increase blastocyst volume or cell number of hatched blastocysts. The effects of PGI 2 analogue were statistically significant at 1.0 μmol/L and 2.0 μmol/L in human tubal fluid medium, with or without 1% bovine serum albumin. Prostacyclin analogue enhanced embryo development and hatching, but PGI 2 did not increase number of cells in hatched blastocysts or blastocyst volume.