The Murine Prepuberal Oviduct Supports Early Embryo Development In Vitro: (mouse embryo coculture/2 cell-block/immature oviduct/protein secretion/early embryo signal).

Swiss albino mice were used to evaluate the ability of explanted murine oviducts to support development through the block stage. One cell eggs develop as well when cultured 50 hours in oviducts explanted from pregnant mice or in oviducts from immature mice: The blastocyst formation occurs at a similar rate in both cases. The viability of the blastocysts was high (8/9) when transferred to pseudopregnant (C 57 Black) recipient mice. Only a few difference was observed in the polypeptide pattern of immature and pregnant explanted oviduct. In immature oviduct, the polypeptide secretory profile is not modified by the presence of fertilized embryos transferred into it, and so nor is it directly egg dependent. It is concluded that oviduct's ability to sustain normal early embryonic developments is not dependent upon sexual maturity.