Effects of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and its inhibitor, Noggin, on in vitromaturation and culture of bovine preimplantation embryos

Table 6 Oct-4 expression in PA and IVF blastocysts from in vitro culture experiments

	Treatment	N	Total cells	Oct-4 positive cells	% Oct-4/Total cells
PA	Control	3	163	129	79
	BMP4	3	180	142	79
	Noggin	2	115	84	73
IVF	Control	3	275	229	83^a
	BMP4	3	324	235	72^b**
	Noggin	3	256	185	72^b**

Oct-4 expression in PA and IVF blastocysts. Embryos were cultured with 100 ng/ml of either BMP4 or Noggin, Controls were cultured without supplementation. Different superscripts indicate statistical differences, 'Difference of proportions test' **p < 0.01.

ISSN: 1477-7827