Abstract:
The inßuence of the sperm motility stimulant pentoxifylline (PF) onpreimplantation embryo development in hamsters was evaluated. Eight-cellembryos were cultured in hamster embryo culture medium (HECM)-2, with orwithout PF (0· 0233·6 mM). There was 90%, 37% and29% inhibition of blastocyst development by 3·6 (used for humansperm), 0·9 and 0 ·45 mM PF, respectively. However, 23 µMPF (exposed to hamster oocytes during IVF) signicantly(P < 0·05) improved blastocyst development(63· 6% v. 51· 8%); morulaedevelopment was, however, not curtailed by 0·45 mM or 0·9 mM PF(51·8%±6·0 or50·5%±11·3, respectively). Post-implantationviability of PF-treated embryos was assessed by embryo transfer; 43% of80 PF-treated embryos implanted compared with 40% of 79 controlembryos. Of the 9 recipients, 6 females delivered pups (19, i.e. 16% oftransferred embryos or 53% of implanted embryos). These data show thatin hamsters, continuous presence of PF at 0·45-3·6 mM isdetrimental to 8-cell embryo development whereas 23 µM PF improves thedevelopment of embryos to viable blastocysts which produce live offspring.