Objective: To evaluate the expression pattern of Dazl (deleted in azoospermia-like) protein in the mouse preimplantation embryo.
Design: Experimental study.
Setting: Medical research laboratory in a university hospital.
Animal(s): Twenty female 28- to 35-day-old FVB mice.
Intervention(s): Embryo collection at 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 days postcoitus (plug date, 0.5 d postcoitus) to examine the Dazl protein expression from the two-cell embryo to the blastocyst.
Main outcome measure(s): Dazl protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescent staining.
Result(s): There is abundant expression of Dazl protein in the cytoplasm of the blastomere. Strong fluorescent signals of Dazl protein expression were found in preimplantation embryo cytoplasm, including two-cell, eight-cell, morula, and blastocyst.
Conclusion(s): By using an antibody raised against mouse Daz-like protein (Dazl), we showed that Dazl protein is present in all cleaving stages of the preimplantation embryo. This is the first report on the protein expression of a Dazl gene during embryogenesis in mice. However, further study is needed to evaluate the molecular functional role of Dazl.