Previously, we revealed that neurotensin (NTS) derived from the oviduct and uterus can function during fertilization. However, little is known about NTS actions on the pre-implantation embryo after fertilization. Here, we found that pro-Nts mRNA is expressed in the oviduct and uterus during when preimplantation embryos develop and an increase in mRNA level in the uterus is induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment. Expression of mRNA for two NTS receptors, Ntr1 and Ntr3, was found throughout these stages, whereas Ntr2 mRNA was not detected, suggesting that NTS signaling occurred through NTR1 and NTR3. Supplementation of 1, 10, 100 or 1000 nM NTS to embryo culture medium after fertilization showed that 100 nM NTS significantly improved the blastocyst formation. In comparison, the total number of cells and inner cell mass ratio of blastocysts was not significant different between the 0 nM and 100 nM NTS treatment groups. These results indicate that NTS has a positive effect upon preimplantation embryo development in vitro.

中文翻译：

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神经降压素对培养的小鼠植入前胚胎的影响

以前，我们揭示了来自输卵管和子宫的神经降压素 (NTS) 在受精过程中可以发挥作用。然而，关于 NTS 对受精后植入前胚胎的作用知之甚少。在这里，我们发现在植入前胚胎发育期间，pro-Nts mRNA 在输卵管和子宫中表达，并且人类绒毛膜促性腺激素 (hCG) 治疗诱导了子宫中 mRNA 水平的增加。在这些阶段发现了两种 NTS 受体 Ntr1 和 Ntr3 的 mRNA 表达，而未检测到 Ntr2 mRNA，表明 NTS 信号传导通过 NTR1 和 NTR3 发生。受精后向胚胎培养基中补充 1、10、100 或 1000 nM NTS 表明 100 nM NTS 显着改善了囊胚形成。相比之下，0 nM和100 nM NTS处理组之间的囊胚细胞总数和内细胞质量比没有显着差异。这些结果表明 NTS 对体外植入前胚胎发育具有积极影响。