Effect of lysophosphatidic acid on the preimplantation development of mouse embryos

The effect of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on the preimplantation development of mouse embryos was examined. The blastocyst rates from 2-cell and 4-cell stage embryos were significantly higher in the presence of LPA at the pronuclear stage. However, the blastocyst rate from 4-cell stage embryos was significantly lower when LPA was added to the medium at the 4-cell stage than when it was added at the pronuclear stage. Furthermore, pretreatment of pronuclear stage embryos with pertussis toxin suppressed LPA-induced embryo development, suggesting that it is probably mediated by a Gi-protein-linked receptor.