Ghazaleh Moshkdanian - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Moghani-Ghoroghi - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Parichehr Pasbakhsh - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-Mahani - Department of Anatomy, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Atefeh Najafi - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iranv
Iraj Ragerdi Kashani - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Objective(s): To evaluated the effects of melatonin on early embryo competence and the expression rate of the primary implantation receptors (ErbB۱ and ErbB۴). Materials and Methods: Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured in ۳ groups: simple media, melatonin-treated (۱۰-۹ M melatonin) and Luzindole-treated (۱۰-۹ M luzindole). Then, the rate of ErbB۱ and ErbB۴ gene and protein expression, the level of intracellular ROS, antioxidant capacity, and also the number of cells were evaluated and compared with the fourth group in vivo developed blastocysts (control group). Results: We concluded that melatonin significantly up-regulated the ErbB۱ and ErbB۴ gene and protein expression, decreased intracellular ROS, increased the total antioxidant capacity, and also elevated the cell numbers in the melatonin-treated group compared with the other groups (P≤۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The use of melatonin may be a helpful factor in improving the embryo quality and enhancing the expression of ErbB۱ and ErbB۴, two important implantation-related genes and proteins.

Antioxidant, ErbB۱, ErbB۴, Melatonin, Pre-implantation embryo, Reactive Oxygen Species