Publications by authors named "Catherine Pretty"
Article Synopsis
- Development involves key interactions between the epiblast, trophectoderm, and hypoblast, which play crucial roles in forming the embryo, placenta, and yolk sac, respectively.
- Recent studies using human embryos and stem cell models have revealed how these signaling interactions occur after implantation, with specific dependencies on factors like NODAL and BMP.
- The research demonstrates both conserved and unique requirements for embryonic development in humans compared to mice, underscoring the importance of comparing different species to better understand human embryogenesis.
The cumulus-corona-oocyte complex, composed of cumulus granulosa cells embedded in a matrix of hyaluronan oligosaccharide chains cross-linked by hyaluronan binding proteins and proteoglycans, surrounds each oocyte and must be removed prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This is traditionally achieved using enzymatic digestion of the matrix with a bovine-derived hyaluronidase followed by mechanical denudation through pipetting. A human recombinant hyaluronidase (Cumulase) has been developed with the intent of circumventing the problems and concerns associated with the animal origin and lack of purity of the bovine-derived form of the enzyme.
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