PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATOR RECEPTOR DELTA (PPAR DELTA) AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREIMPLANTATION EMBRYOS

摘要

Methods and compositions for enhancing development of a preimplantation mammalian embryo and for increasing the live birth potential of an in vitro fertilized mammalian embryo are disclosed. An in vitro method of activating the peroxisome proliferator activator receptor d (PPARd) in a preimplantation mammalian embryo comprises culturing an embryo in an embryo culture medium, and upon or after commencement of expression of PPARd in the cells of the embryo, activating the PPARd by adding an amount of a PPARd ligand to said medium effective to bind to PPARd to deter apoptosis in the cells of the cultured embryo and/or increase proliferation of the cells of the cultured embryo.