Table 3

Effect of all-trans retinol addition to the culture medium (mean ± S. E. M.). Embryos were cultured under low oxygen conditions.

Retinol concentration (μM)
Putative zygote (n)
Cleavage
Blastocyst/ putative zygote
Blastocyst/ cleaved

0
567
86.1 ± 2.5
26.5 ± 2.4a
30.7 ± 2.6a
1.0
312
84.7 ± 3.2
27.1 ± 3.2ab
32.1 ± 3.5a
2.0
414
85.3 ± 2.9
28.8 ± 2.8a
34.1 ± 3.1a
5.0
303
80.8 ± 3.2
20.2 ± 3.2a
25.4 ± 3.5a
10.0
388
81.2 ± 3.0
13.5 ± 3.0c
16.2 ± 3.3b

Values are listed as percentages. abcMeans in the same column with different superscripts were significantly different (p < 0.05).

Livingston et al. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2004 2:83   doi:10.1186/1477-7827-2-83