116 In Vitro Transcriptomic Response of Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cells to Direct or Indirect Embryo Contact

We observed that in vitro transcriptomic response of bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC) to the early embryo could be the result of a contact-dependent signalling effect or interactions with embryo secretions. In order to determine this, BOEC were co-cultured directly with embryos or indirectly with embryo-conditioned media (CM); BOEC from the isthmus of oviducts at early luteal phase were cultured with TCM-199+10% fetal calf serum (FCS) in 4-well plates in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C for 6 days until confluence. In vitro 2- and 8-cell embryos as well as their CM were produced in parallel. A day before co-culture, BOEC medium was replaced with SOF+10% FCS. Groups for 2- and 8-cell embryos were established: BOEC in direct contact with embryos; BOEC in the same well as embryos but not in indirect contact; BOEC with embryo CM; and BOEC without embryos, as a control. Polyester mesh was used to maintain embryos position on top of the cells. After 48 h of co-culture, BOEC were recovered for gene expression analysis (4 replicates). The relative abundance of candidate genes previously shown to be affected by the presence of embryo in vivo (Maillo et al. 2015 Biol Reprod. 92, 144) [SMAD6 (BMP signalling pathway); ROCK1, ROCK2 (cytokinesis); SOCS3 (inflammatory response); PRELP (extracellular matrix)] or in vitro (Schmaltz-Panneau et al. 2014 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 149, 103-106) [GPX4, NFE2L2 (oxidative stress); SCN9A (sodium ion binding); EPSTI1 (tissue remodelling); IGFBP3 (insulin-like growth factor binding); TDGF1 (BMP signalling pathway); AGR3 (regulation of ciliary beating)] was assessed by RT-qPCR. H2A.Z and ACTG1 were used as housekeeping genes. Statistical analysis was assessed by ANOVA. The BOEC responded to the presence of 2-cell embryos only when in direct contact by significantly decreasing abundance of NFE2L2. Both direct and indirect embryo contact or culture with CM significantly decreased GPX4, ROCK2, and SCN9A transcripts compared with control. The presence of 2-cell embryos irrespective of being in direct or indirect contact reduced the expression of SMAD6 compared with the control and CM groups. In the case of CM, expression of IGFBP3 was enhanced compared with the control but was similar to the presence of the 2-cell embryos. In the presence of 8-cell embryos, direct contact with BOEC significantly down-regulated the expression for GPX4 and SOCS3, whereas expression of SCN9A was up-regulated. The opposite was observed when compared with control. The presence of 8-cell embryos down-regulated the expression of SMAD6 and ROCK2 compared with the CM group, whereas direct or indirect contact with BOEC or culture with CM down-regulated the expression of PRELP compared to control. In conclusion, these results provide evidence for a differential affect on the transcriptome of BOEC in vitro depending on embryo stage. These changes may be related either with direct embryo contact or embryo secretions released into the media. Research supported by Spanish MINECO-AGL2015-70140-R; AGL2015-66145-R; OECD-Co-operative Programme TAD/CRP JA00092482.

115 In Vivo Transcriptomic Response of Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cells to the Early Embryo

The presence of a single 8-cell embryo does not alter the transcriptome of the cells of the oviducal isthmus, although a local effect at the precise position of the embryo cannot be ruled out. Thus, we aimed to study the local embryo effect on the transcriptomic response of the epithelial cells of the oviduct in vivo. Fifteen heifers were synchronized and all showed standing heat and were artificially inseminated. All heifers were slaughtered on Day 2.5 after oestrus. The oviducts from 13 animals (with a corpus luteum, CL) were isolated, trimmed free of tissue and divided between ampulla and isthmus. The ipsilateral isthmus was then divided into smaller sections (2 cm). Each section was sequentially flushed until the embryo was located and was then opened and scraped longitudinally to obtain the epithelial cells. Cells were snap-frozen in LN2 for gene expression analysis. All recovered embryos were found at the beginning of the isthmus of the oviduct ipsilateral to the CL. Three at 2-cell stage and 1 at 8-cell stage. The recovery rate was 30.8% (4/13) and only samples from these 4 animals were used for analysis. The 2-cm sections selected for the transcriptomic analysis were embryo section (ES), in which the embryo was found; proximal section (PS), through which the embryo had passed; distal section (DS), on the uterine side of the embryo; and contralateral section (CS), section from the contralateral isthmus. The expression pattern of 10 differentially expressed genes between the isthmus of pregnant and cyclic heifers (Maillo et al. 2015 Biol Reprod. 92, 144) were assessed by RTq-PCR relative to 2 housekeeping genes, H2A.Z and ACTG. Five up-regulated genes (STK32A, SLC26A3, KERA, QRFPR, MCTP1) and 5 down-regulated (SOD3, PRELP, VAT1L, SOCS3, CCL20) were analysed. One-way ANOVA and t-test was used for statistical analysis. Comparison between ES and the CS revealed one significantly altered gene (VAT1L). This is in agreement with our in vivo results in which VAT1L was also down-regulated in the presence of embryos. Comparison within the ipsilateral oviduct of ES and PS samples revealed STK32A, SLC26A3, QRFPR, MCTP1, and SOCS3 transcripts significantly down-regulated compared with DS samples, whereas the expression for CCL20 was different between ES and DS but similar to the PS. In conclusion, the fact that 5 out of 10 transcripts were different between the segment where the embryo was collected and other locations in the oviduct suggests the presence of embryo site-specific signal. However, comparison between the ipsilateral embryo site with the contralateral site revealed that only one transcript was different. Moreover, the similarities in the ipsilateral oviduct between embryo and proximal site may be due to the passage of the embryo. Furthermore, the location of the embryo close to the ampullary-isthmic junction may mask the effect due to the spatial differences of the bovine oviduct. Research supported by EU, Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie, REPBIOTECH 675526; Spanish MINECO AGL2015-70140-R & AGL2015-66145-R; OECD-CoOperative Prog TAD/CRP JA00092482.

80 EFFECT OF BOVINE OVIDUCTAL FLUID ON DNA METHYLATION OF BOVINE BLASTOCYSTS PRODUCED IN VITRO

During the transit through the oviduct, the early embryo undergoes an epigenetic reprogramming of its genome, which induces changes in DNA methylation pattern. Given that epigenetic modifications are susceptible to environmental influence, the oviducal milieu may affects DNA methylation marks in the developing embryo. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether bovine oviducal fluid (OF) exerts an effect on methylation status of genomic regions at different time points of embryo development. In vitro-produced zygotes were cultured in SOF + 3 mg mL−1 BSA (control, C) or in SOF + 1.25% OF at 3 different time points: until 98 h post-insemination (hpi) (OF1–16: 1–16 cell), 52 hpi (OF1–8: 1–8 cell), or from 52 until 98 hpi (OF8–16: 8–16 cell). The OF used was acquired from Embryocloud (Murcia, Spain) from cow oviducts at the early luteal phase (Day 1–4). After, embryo culture took place in control medium up to Day 8. For all the groups, the speed of development was considered, and normal developing embryos that reached ≥6 cells at 52 hpi and ≥16 cells at 98 hpi were selected and separately cultured from slow developing embryos. Cleavage (52 hpi) and blastocyst yield (Day 7–8) were analysed by ANOVA (8 replicates). Expanding blastocysts (Day 7–8) from the normal developing groups were collected for bisulfite sequencing analysis. The DNA bisulfite conversion was performed with a MethylEdge Bisulfite Conversion System kit (Promega, WI, USA) in groups of 20 blastocysts obtained from 5 replicates. Methylation status was analysed on regions localised in 4 developmental important genes (MTERF2, ABCA7, OLFM1, and GMDS) and within 2 LINE L1 elements located on chromosomes 9 (L9) and 29 (L29). Methylation percentages (10 sequenced clones/group) were compared using statistical z-test. No significant differences were found on cleavage rate (C: 89.7 ± 1.0, OF1–16: 84.9 ± 1.7; OF1–8: 85.4 ± 1.9; OF8–16: 89.1 ± 1.9%) and blastocyst yield between normal developing embryos (C: 36.8 ± 5.3; OF1–16: 34.7 ± 3.7; OF1–8: 41.0 ± 3.8; OF8–16: 43.9 ± 5.1%). Blastocysts derived from all OF groups showed the CpG region of MTERF2 hypomethylated compared with C group (20.0, 26.2, and 32.9% v. 56.2%, respectively; P < 0.001). The CpG sequence of ABCA7 exhibited significant hypomethylation in embryos from OF1–16 group compared with OF1–8, OF8–16, and C groups (31.1 v. 56.8, 57.9, and 65.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). Although the methylation of the CpG region within OLFM1 did not differ between OF1–16 and C groups (24.1 v. 19.4%, respectively), embryos from OF1–8 group showed a highly methylated region (47.1%) compared with OF1–16 and C groups (P < 0.001). The CpG sequence on L9 showed a high methylation level in blastocysts derived from OF1–16 group compared with OF8–16 and C groups (36.4 v. 14.5 and 20.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). There were no differences in methylation marks between groups examined for CpG regions of GMDS and L29. These results indicated that embryos exhibit a temporal sensitivity to OF at early embryonic stages, which is reflected by DNA methylation changes of specific genes at blastocyst stage. This is the first report describing that OF could modify specific epigenetic marks of the bovine embryonic genome.

83 BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN SIGNALING DURING INTERACTION OF THE BOVINE EMBRYO WITH OVIDUCTAL EPITHELIAL CELLS IN VITRO

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that different signalling components of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are expressed in an anatomically and temporally regulated fashion in the bovine oviduct. However, a local response of this signalling to the embryo presence has not been elucidated yet. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the interaction of the embryo with the oviduct can induce changes in the gene expression of BMP signalling components. For this purpose, we used an in vitro co-culture system of a bovine oviducal epithelial cell (BOEC) monolayer with pre-implantation embryos in 2 developmental time points: before and during the main phase of embryonic genome activation (EGA). Isthmus epithelial cells from post-ovulatory stage oviducts (Day 2–4) were cultured in 500 μL of SOF + 10% FCS in 4-well plates at 38.5°C, 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2. On Day 6 of culture, medium was replaced with SOF + 5% FCS, and 24 h later BOEC monolayer was cultured in the absence or presence of in vitro-produced embryos from 2- to 8-cell stage [G1 BOEC; 33–54 h post-insemination (hpi)] or from 8- to 16-cell stage (G2 BOEC; 54–98 hpi) in the same conditions. In both groups, a polyester mesh was used to define a local co-culture area, and 30 embryos per well were placed in a 6 × 5 grid over the monolayer. In addition, as control groups, embryos in both developmental stages were cultured either in SOF + 5% FCS (G1 FCS and G2 FCS) or in SOF + 3 mg mL−1 BSA (G1 BSA and G2 BSA). At 54 hpi (G1 BOEC/BSA/FCS) or 98 hpi (G2 BOEC/BSA/FCS), embryos that reached 8- or 16-cell stage, respectively, were transferred to SOF + BSA and cultured until Day 9. The mRNA expression levels of 3 BMP receptors (BMPRIA/IB/II), 2 signalling proteins (SMAD1/5), 1 inhibitor (SMAD6), and 1 target gene (ID2) were analysed by qPCR in 5 samples of BOEC cultured with or without embryos before or during EGA, and in 3 pools of 10 embryos at 8 (54 hpi), 16 (98 hpi), and blastocyst stage (Day 7–8) from all groups. Genes H2A.Z and ACTG1 were used as housekeeping genes, and statistical differences were assessed by ANOVA. The presence of the embryo, irrespective the stage, significantly reduced the expression levels of BMPRIB, BMPRII, SMAD1, SMAD6, and ID2 in BOEC. Embryos that interacted with BOEC before EGA (G1 BOEC) showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of SMAD1 at the 8-cell stage compared with controls. Moreover, embryos that interacted with BOEC during EGA (G2 BOEC) showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of BMPRIB, BMPRII, and ID2 at the 16-cell stage when compared with controls. However, no differences were observed in the mRNA expression levels of BMP signalling components in the blastocysts between groups. In conclusion, local embryo-oviduct interaction in vitro induces changes in the transcriptional levels of BMP signalling, causing a bidirectional response that reduces the expression levels of this signalling in the oviducal cells while increases them in the embryo at early stages. This suggests that BMP signalling pathway could be involved in an early cross-talk between the bovine embryo and the oviduct during first stages of development.

99 EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES OF BOVINE OVIDUCTAL FLUID MODIFY THE GENE EXPRESSION ON BOVINE IN VITRO-DERIVED EMBRYOS

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as intercellular communicators through their protein, lipid, and mRNA content. The interaction of EVs from oviducal environment and the first stages of embryo development is currently an enigma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the developmental competence and the expression profile of bovine blastocysts cultured with previously purified EVs recovered from ampullary and isthmic oviducal fluid (OF) under different centrifugal forces. OF-EVs recovered from oviducts of slaughtered heifers in early luteal phase were quantified with a nanoparticle tracking analysis system, and their integrity and size were assessed by electron microscopy. In vitro-produced zygotes were cultured in SOF+3 mg mL–1 BSA (C–), C– with 3 × 105 OF-EVs/mL from the ampulla (A) and isthmus (I) isolated at 1 × 103 (A10k and I10k, respectively) and 1 × 105 (A100k and I100k, respectively) × g. A control culture group of SOF+5% FCS (C+) was included. Blastocyst development was recorded on Day 7, 8, and 9 (D0: day of fertilization). Blastocysts on Days 7/8 cultured in C–, C+, I10k, and I100k were used to measure the relative mRNA expression of genes related with membrane trafficking (AQP3, AQP11, and ATP1A1), metabolism (LDLR and LDHA), and epigenetics (DNMT3A, IGF2R, GRB10, and SNRPN) by RT-qPCR. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The size of ampullary and isthmic OF-EVs was similar with a mean of 220 nm. The concentration of I10k was significantly lower compared with A100k (3.6 × 108 v. 10.5 × 108 EVs/mL, respectively; P < 0.05); however, no differences were found in the rest of the groups with a mean concentration of 7.6 × 108 EVs/mL. EVs and C– groups showed a delayed embryo development at Day 7 compared with C+ (range: 12.0–13.8 v. 20.6%, respectively, P < 0.05); however, it was compensated at Days 8 and 9 (Day 9 range: 28.5–30.8%). The water channel related protein AQP3, associated with blastocoel formation, water, and cryoprotectant movement during cryopreservation, was up-regulated in I10k and I100k blastocysts compared with C+. The lipid receptor LDLR, proposed as a regulator of lipid uptake in blastocysts, was significantly down-regulated in C+ compared with the other groups, a possible consequence of a higher concentration of lipids in the C+ group. The de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A and the imprinting gene SNRPN were down-regulated in the C+ compared with I100k, suggesting alterations in imprinting. In conclusion, bovine isthmic OF-EVs supplementation in in vitro embryo culture has a positive effect on gene expression patterns of developmental related genes compared with serum supplementation, suggesting an association between the oviducal environment and the developing embryo. Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2012–37510 and AGL2012–39652-C02–01).

Comparison of Two Concentration Methods for the Molecular Detection of Enteroviruses in Raw and Treated Sewage

Human enteric viruses are a major causative agent of emerging waterborne diseases and constitute a serious public health concern. Environmental contamination occurs through discharge of waste materials from infected persons. Methods for viral detection should be developed to detect low infective dose of enteric viruses in environment. In this study, we aimed at comparing two concentration methods for the detection of naturally occurring enteroviruses in raw and treated sewage. In the first method, polyethylene glycol is used to concentrate viral particles from the collected samples. The second method is based on ultracentrifugation of viral particles at high speed (110,000×g). Genomes of enteroviruses were quantified by the quantitative real-time PCR method in raw and treated sewage samples. PEG-based method yielded higher genomic copies of enteric viruses (with an average of 5.9 log10 genomic copies/100 mL) when applied to raw sewage samples. While the ultracentrifugation assay in the second method decreases genomic copies number (with an average of 5.4 log10 genomic copies/100 mL). The recovery differences between the two methods were not significant when applied to clean samples (treated sewage). This could be explained by the presence of inhibitors, which interfere with qRT-PCR, in less quantity comparatively to raw sewage. PEG-based method would be more accurate for samples with high-organic matter load. This report emphasizes the importance of matrices nature on the recovery of enteroviruses from sewage samples. This should be taken into consideration for establishing standardized virological assays to ensure the virological quality control of discharged water in environment.

Removal of Rotavirus and Bacteriophages by Membrane Bioreactor Technology from Sewage

Human enteric viruses constitute a public health concern due to their low infectious dose and their resistance to environmental factors and to inactivation processes. We aimed at assessing the performance of a laboratory scale Submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) treating abattoir wastewaters for Rotavirus (RV) and total coliphages removal. We also aimed at evaluating removal efficiency of enteric viruses through conventional activated sludge treatment by measuring concentrations of total coliphages, considered as fecal and viral contamination indicators, with double-layer agar technique. The Log10 reduction values of bacteriophages ranged from 1.06 to 1.47. Effluents were analyzed to investigate and quantify RV, hepatitis A virus (HAV), Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Noroviruses genogroup I (NoV GI) and genogroup II (NoVGII), and Enterovirus (EV) by real-time PCR, using standardized detection kits (ceeramTools detection kits(®)). All effluent samples were positive for RV; concentrations ranged from 5.2 × 10(5) to 1.3 × 10(7) genome copies/L. These results highlight the inefficiency of conventional biological process for viral removal. A complete removal of RV during Membrane Bioreactor treatment was obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study providing an evidence of removal of RV simultaneously with total coliphages by SMBR.

Mechanical and Chemical Characterization of a TiC/C System Synthesized Using a Focus Plasma Arc

Titanium carbide-graphite (TiC/C) composite was successfully synthesized from Ti and C starting elemental powders using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis technique in an ultra-high plasma inert medium in a single stage. The TiC was exposed to a high-temperature inert medium to allow recrystallization. The product was then characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, nanoindentation, and micro-hardness to determine the product's properties. The recorded micro-hardness of the product was 3660 HV, which is a 14% enhancement and makes is comparable to TiC materials.

Massive Hemi-facial Edema After Permanent Filler Removal in an HIV-Positive Patient. Precautions and Patient Information

HIV-related lipodystrophy and facial lipo-atrophy are well-described problems stigmatizing many HIV patients. As these patients often require large volumes of filler material, a more permanent solution is necessary. Before the popularization of lipofilling, synthetic permanent fillers have mostly been used. We describe a case report of a patient who had undergone removal of a permanent filler, polyacrylamide gel, because of dislocation of the filler, but who presented a massive hemi-facial edema immediately after the removal. Swelling subsided after 5 days. The use of permanent fillers has diminished due to frequent early and late complications, but a high awareness for permanent filler removal complications remains necessary. Possible pathways to explain these late complications are described.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

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