Abstract: In order to investigate glucose metabolism pathways and their changes in Kunming mouse preimplantation 1-,2-,4-,8-cell,and morula embryos,the mRNA level for the genes involved in glucose metabolism was tested by nested RT-PCR on embryos at different development stages in vivo.These genes were glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH),phospho-fructokinase (PFK),and phosphoglucomutase (PGM),representing pentose phosphate pathway (PPP),glycolysis,and glycogensis and glycogenolysis respectively.Three sets of inner and outer primers were designed and synthesized based on cDNA sequences of G6PDH,PFK and PGM.RT-PCR results revealed that G6PDH gene transcription was found in Kunming mouse 1-8 cell embryos,and not in morula embryos;it indicated that 1-8 cell embryos may metabolize glucose by pentose phosphate pathway,but morula embryos can not do so.PFK gene transcription was found in 1-8 cell and morula embryos;it is probable that there exists glycolysis in those embryos.PGM gene transcription was not found in 1-8 cell and morula embryos,so glycogenesis and glycogenolysis in these embryos were not present.