LAUSR

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Assisted Reproductive Technology Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor (G-CSF), initially identified as a growth factor for neutrophils, is encoded by a single gene found on chromosome 17 q11-22 (1). In addition, G-CSF is found to have an important role in human reproduction and is regarded as the basis for studies which combine the use of G-CSF and ART. Further, G-CSF positively affects implantation through its “action on neutrophilic granulocyte proliferation and the macrophages of decidual cells” (2). It is also found to be synthesized de novo in the female reproductive system and hence, it is hypothesized to have some influences on the growth and development of the embryo (2). Based on the results of a previous study investigating the effect of G-CSF on an embryo culture medium, the inclusion of G-CSF to culture media increased the survival rate of the transferred embryos to week 12, as well as the live birth rate (2,3).