Effect of RNA Interference Hsp72 Gene Expression on Development of Mouse Preimplantation Embryos

The method of RNAi was used to inhibit the expression of induced heat shock protein 70 (Hsp72) in the 4-cell stage mouse embryos and the embryo development competence was analyzed to identify the functions of Hsp72 on embryonic heat resistance. The results indicated that the inhibition rates of siRNA1 for Hsp72 mRNA and Hsp72 protein were 87.1 and 78.5%, respectively. The blastocysts development rates were 41, 86, and 84% for the siRNA1 group, the Lipofectamine (TM) 2 000 exposed group, and the 37 degrees C group, respectively, and the hatched blastocysts development rates for the above three groups were 35, 72, and 68%, respectively. The data suggest that the siRNA I has a significant inhibiting effect on Hsp72 gene, and Hsp72 gene silence reduces the blastocysts development rate and hatched blastocysts rate after heat shock during the development of mouse preimplantation embryos.