The effect of antiserum to heat-shock proteins 70 (Hsp 70) on the in vitro development of porcine embryos exposed to hyperthermia

Abstract

We studied the influence of short-term exposure (6 h) to the elevated temperature (41.5°C) on the vitality of porcine embryos with blocked heat-shock proteins 70 (Hsp70). Intrinsic Hsp70 in embryos was blocked by adding the antiserum to Hsp70. The embryos at morula stage were cultured either at standard temperature (37.5 °C) or hyperthermic (41.5 °C) conditions for 6h and post-incubated at 37.5 °C for 24 h. Embryo development to the blastocyst stage, embryo cell number and apoptosis occurrence were examined. Hyperthermia alone did not affect the blastocyst rate, cell number or apoptosis (TUNEL-index) compared to control. However, anti-Hsp70 addition caused significant decreases in cell number and blastocyst rate, whilst TUNEL-index was dramatically increased compared to non-blocked embryos. These results show that brief exposure to hyperthermia does not affect embryo development, whereas the blockage of Hsp70 leads to developmental failure mainly under hyperthermic conditions.