1
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Wooldridge LK, Keane JA, Rhoads ML, Ealy AD. Bioactive supplements influencing bovine in vitro embryo development. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6620796. [PMID: 35772761 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovum pickup and in vitro production (IVP) of bovine embryos are replacing traditional multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) as the primary means for generating transferable embryos from genetically elite sires and dams. However, inefficiencies in the IVP process limit the opportunities to produce large numbers of transferable embryos. Also, the post-transfer competency of IVP embryos is inferior to embryos produced by artificial insemination or MOET. Numerous maternal, paternal, embryonic, and culture-related factors can have adverse effects on IVP success. This review will explore the various efforts made on describing how IVP embryo development and post-transfer competency may be improved by supplementing hormones, growth factors, cytokines, steroids and other bioactive factors found in the oviduct and uterus during early pregnancy. More than 40 of these factors, collectively termed as embryokines, are reviewed here. Several embryokines contain abilities to promote embryo development, including improving embryo survivability, improving blastomere cell numbers, and altering the distribution of blastomere cell types in blastocysts. A select few embryokines also can benefit pregnancy retention after IVP embryo transfer and improve neonatal calf health and performance, although very few embryokine-supplemented embryo transfer studies have been completed. Also, supplementing several embryokines at the same time holds promise for improving IVP embryo development and competency. However, more work is needed to explore the post-transfer consequences of adding these putative embryokines for any adverse outcomes, such as large offspring syndrome and poor postnatal health, and to specify the specific embryokine combinations that will best represent the ideal conditions found in the oviduct and uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jessica A Keane
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Michelle L Rhoads
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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2
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Fontes PLP, Oosthuizen N, Ciriaco FM, Sanford CD, Canal LB, Cooke RF, Pohler KG, Henry DD, Mercadante VRG, Ealy AD, Johnson SE, DiLorenzo N, Lamb GC. Effects of nutrient restriction on the metabolic profile of Bos indicus-influenced and B. taurus suckled beef cows. Animal 2021; 15:100166. [PMID: 33500214 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research from our group demonstrated that Bos indicus-influenced suckled beef cows had greater resilience to withstand nutrient restriction and establish pregnancy compared with B. taurus cows exposed to the same conditions. To further understand these findings, differences in metabolic profile between these same B. indicus-influenced and B. taurus females were explored. Suckled beef cows (n = 134) were enrolled in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. On day -21, Angus (AN; Bos taurus) and Brangus (BN; B. indicus-influenced) cows were randomly assigned to 1) a diet that met daily energy maintenance requirements (MAINT), or 2) a diet that restricted intake to 70% of the daily energy maintenance requirements (RESTR). Cows were exposed to an estrus synchronization protocol and received an embryo 7 d after ovulation was pharmacologically induced on day 0. Blood samples were collected on days -21 and 19 to determine circulating concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), insulin, glucose, and IGF-1. Pregnancy status after embryo transfer was determined on day 28. As a consequence of the proposed diets, cows in the RESTR diet had less body condition score (BCS) on day 19 (P = 0.008) across breed types. Moreover, BCS change from day -21 to 19 was included as independent covariate into subsequent analyses, allowing for the comparison of breed types under an equivalent level of body reserve mobilization. A breed × diet interaction was observed for plasma insulin (P = 0.03) and IGF-1 (P = 0.04) on day 19, where AN-RESTR cows had less plasma concentrations on day 19 compared with AN-MAINT cows. Diets did not impact (P > 0.10) plasma insulin and IGF-1 concentrations in BN cows. No diet or breed effects were observed in circulating concentrations of NEFA, BHB, and glucose (P > 0.10). Across breed types and nutritional treatment, there was positive linear effect (P ≤ 0.04) of plasma concentrations of insulin and IGF-1 on the probability of pregnancy to fixed-time embryo transfer. In summary, the negative impacts of nutrient restriction on the somatotropic axis, independently of body tissue mobilization, were heightened in Bos taurus females compared with B. indicus-influenced cohorts, which corroborate with the differences observed in fertility between these subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P L P Fontes
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States of America; Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America.
| | - N Oosthuizen
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - F M Ciriaco
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States of America
| | - C D Sanford
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States of America
| | - L B Canal
- North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, United States of America
| | - R F Cooke
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - K G Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - D D Henry
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States of America
| | - V R G Mercadante
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States of America
| | - A D Ealy
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States of America
| | - S E Johnson
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States of America
| | - N DiLorenzo
- North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, United States of America
| | - G C Lamb
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
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3
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Effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin on pregnancy per artificial insemination, corpus luteum cellular composition and endometrial gland morphometry in beef cattle. Theriogenology 2019; 141:180-185. [PMID: 31550601 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) on pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI), cellular composition of the corpus luteum (CL) and endometrial gland morphometry. In Experiment 1, Nelore cows (n = 587) received a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol and, at insemination, received 0, 250 or 500 mg of bST subcutaneously (SC). In Experiment 2, Nelore cows (n = 243) received 0 or 500 mg of bST, SC, on D7 (D0 = day of FTAI). Blood samples were collected on D7 and D16 to measure progesterone (P4) concentrations. In Experiments 1 and 2, pregnancy diagnosis was performed 30 days after FTAI. In Experiment 3, Nelore heifers (n = 20) received a FTAI protocol, but were not inseminated, and on D0 (ovulation day), they received 0 (bST 0; n = 9) or 500 mg of bST (bST 500; n = 11), SC. The heifers were slaughtered on D15 (D0 = ovulation day), at which time the CL was evaluated for diameter, weight, a percentage of large (LLC) and small (SLC) luteal cells, and the concentration of progesterone in plasma measured. The number, perimeter and area of superficial and deep endometrial glands were evaluated. There was no difference in P/AI when bST was applied on D0 and D7. In Experiment 1, P/AI did not differ among treatments, with 59.28% (115/194), 58.38% (115/197) and 65.82% (129/196) for the bST 0, 250 and 500 treatments, respectively. In Experiment 2, P/AI did not differ between treatments, with 57.3% (71/124) and 60.5% (62/119) for the bST 0 and 500 treatments, respectively. Plasma progesterone concentrations on D16 was greater in the bST 500 (11.63 ± 0.84 ng/mL) than bST 0 (9.83 ± 0.88 ng/mL). In Experiment 3, there was no difference in ovarian diameter and weight, CL diameter, percentage of SLC, P4 concentrations and endometrial gland morphology. Heifers in the bST 500 treatment had heavier CL (3.11 ± 0.32 vs. 2.25 ± 0.20 g); however, the bST 0 treatment heifers had a greater percentage of LLC than did the bST 500 treatment (13.72 ± 1.16% vs. 8.60 ± 1.52). It was concluded that the doses of bST used in this study do not increase P/AI; however, they do cause changes in P4 concentration and the cellular composition of the CL.
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4
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Darbandi S, Darbandi M, Khorram Khorshid HR, Sadeghi MR, Agarwal A, Sengupta P, Al-Hasani S, Akhondi MM. Ooplasmic transfer in human oocytes: efficacy and concerns in assisted reproduction. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2017; 15:77. [PMID: 28969648 PMCID: PMC5625659 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-017-0292-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ooplasmic transfer (OT) technique or cytoplasmic transfer is an emerging technique with relative success, having a significant status in assisted reproduction. This technique had effectively paved the way to about 30 healthy births worldwide. Though OT has long been invented, proper evaluation of the efficacy and risks associated with this critical technique has not been explored properly until today. This review thereby put emphasis upon the applications, efficacy and adverse effects of OT techniques in human. MAIN BODY Available reports published between January 1982 and August 2017 has been reviewed and the impact of OT on assisted reproduction was evaluated. The results consisted of an update on the efficacy and concerns of OT, the debate on mitochondrial heteroplasmy, apoptosis, and risk of genetic and epigenetic alteration. SHORT CONCLUSION The application of OT technique in humans demands more clarity and further development of this technique may successfully prove its utility as an effective treatment for oocyte incompetence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Darbandi
- Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Darbandi
- Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Reza Sadeghi
- Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Pallav Sengupta
- Physiology Unit Faculty of Medicine Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Safaa Al-Hasani
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Akhondi
- Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Tauroursodeoxycholic acid enhances the development of porcine embryos derived from in vitro-matured oocytes and evaporatively dried spermatozoa. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6773. [PMID: 28754923 PMCID: PMC5533721 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07185-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaporative drying (ED) is an alternative technique for long-term preservation of mammalian sperm, which does not require liquid nitrogen or freeze-drying equipment, but offers advantages for storage and shipping at ambient temperature and low cost. However, the development of zygotes generated from these sperms was poor. Here, we demonstrated that the supplementation of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an endogenous bile acid, during embryo culture improved the developmental competency of embryos derived from in vitro matured pig oocytes injected intracytoplasmically with boar ED spermatozoa by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species, the DNA degradation and fragmentation, and the expression of apoptosis-related gene Bax and Bak, and by increasing the transcription of anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-XL and Bcl-2. Furthermore, TUDCA treatment promoted the blastocyst quality manifested by the total cell numbers and the ratio of inner cell mass. Taken together, our data suggest that evaporative drying would be a potentially useful method for the routine preservation of boar sperm in combination with further optimization of subsequently embryo culture conditions.
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6
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Veraguas D, Gallegos PF, Castro FO, Rodriguez-Alvarez L. Cell cycle synchronization and analysis of apoptosis-related gene in skin fibroblasts from domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) and kodkod (Leopardus guigna). Reprod Domest Anim 2017; 52:881-889. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D Veraguas
- Department of Animal Science; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences; Universidad de Concepcion; Chillán Chile
| | - PF Gallegos
- Department of Animal Science; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences; Universidad de Concepcion; Chillán Chile
| | - FO Castro
- Department of Animal Science; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences; Universidad de Concepcion; Chillán Chile
| | - L Rodriguez-Alvarez
- Department of Animal Science; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences; Universidad de Concepcion; Chillán Chile
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7
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Kawa MP, Stecewicz I, Piecyk K, Paczkowska E, Rogińska D, Sobuś A, Łuczkowska K, Pius-Sadowska E, Gawrych E, Petriczko E, Walczak M, Machaliński B. The Impact of Growth Hormone Therapy on the Apoptosis Assessment in CD34+ Hematopoietic Cells from Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18010111. [PMID: 28067847 PMCID: PMC5297745 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18010111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) modulates hematopoietic cell homeostasis and is associated with apoptosis control, but with limited mechanistic insights. Aim of the study was to determine whether GH therapeutic supplementation (GH-TS) could affect apoptosis of CD34+ cells enriched in hematopoietic progenitor cells of GH deficient (GHD) children. CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of 40 GHD children were collected before and in 3rd and 6th month of GH-TS and compared to 60 controls adjusted for bone age, sex, and pubertal development. Next, apoptosis assessment via different molecular techniques was performed. Finally, to comprehensively characterize apoptosis process, global gene expression profile was determined using genome-wide RNA microarray technology. Results showed that GH-TS significantly reduced spontaneous apoptosis in CD34+ cells (p < 0.01) and results obtained using different methods to detect early and late apoptosis in analyzed cells population were consistent. GH-TS was also associated with significant downregulation of several members of TNF-alpha superfamily and other genes associated with apoptosis and stress response. Moreover, the significant overexpression of cyto-protective and cell cycle-associated genes was detected. These findings suggest that recombinant human GH has a direct anti-apoptotic activity in hematopoietic CD34+ cells derived from GHD subjects in course of GH-TS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miłosz Piotr Kawa
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Iwona Stecewicz
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Cardiology of the Developmental Age, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 1 Unii Lubelskiej Street, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Piecyk
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Edyta Paczkowska
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Dorota Rogińska
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Anna Sobuś
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Karolina Łuczkowska
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Ewa Pius-Sadowska
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Elżbieta Gawrych
- Department of Pediatric and Oncological Surgery, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 1 Unii Lubelskiej Street, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Elżbieta Petriczko
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Cardiology of the Developmental Age, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 1 Unii Lubelskiej Street, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Mieczysław Walczak
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Cardiology of the Developmental Age, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 1 Unii Lubelskiej Street, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Bogusław Machaliński
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. Street, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
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8
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Ribeiro ES, Greco LF, Bisinotto RS, Lima FS, Thatcher WW, Santos JE. Biology of Preimplantation Conceptus at the Onset of Elongation in Dairy Cows1. Biol Reprod 2016; 94:97. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.134908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
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9
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Hull KL, Harvey S. Growth hormone and reproduction: a review of endocrine and autocrine/paracrine interactions. Int J Endocrinol 2014; 2014:234014. [PMID: 25580121 PMCID: PMC4279787 DOI: 10.1155/2014/234014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The somatotropic axis, consisting of growth hormone (GH), hepatic insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and assorted releasing factors, regulates growth and body composition. Axiomatically, since optimal body composition enhances reproductive function, general somatic actions of GH modulate reproductive function. A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that GH also modulates reproduction directly, exerting both gonadotropin-dependent and gonadotropin-independent actions in both males and females. Moreover, recent studies indicate GH produced within reproductive tissues differs from pituitary GH in terms of secretion and action. Accordingly, GH is increasingly used as a fertility adjunct in males and females, both humans and nonhumans. This review reconsiders reproductive actions of GH in vertebrates in respect to these new conceptual developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry L Hull
- Department of Biology, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1M 1Z7 ; Centre de Recherche Clinique Etienne-Le Bel, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1H 5N4
| | - Steve Harvey
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2R3
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10
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Luna M, Martínez-Moreno CG, Ahumada-Solórzano MS, Harvey S, Carranza M, Arámburo C. Extrapituitary growth hormone in the chicken reproductive system. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 203:60-8. [PMID: 24642390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that growth hormone (GH) expression is not limited to the pituitary, as it can be produced in many other tissues. It is known that growth hormone (GH) plays a role in the control of reproductive tract development. Acting as an endocrine, paracrine and/or autocrine regulator, GH influences proliferation, differentiation and function of reproductive tissues. In this review we substantiate the local expression of GH mRNA and GH protein, as well as the GH receptor (GHR) in both male and female reproductive tract, mainly in the chicken. Locally expressed GH was found to be heterogeneous, with a 17 kDa variant being predominant. GH secretagogues, such as GHRH and TRH co-localize with GH expression in the chicken testis and induce GH release. In the ovarian follicular granulosa cells, GH and GHR are co-expressed and stimulate progesterone production, which was neutralized by a specific GH antibody. Both testicular and follicular cells in primary cultures were able to synthesize and release GH to the culture medium. We also characterized GH and GH mRNA expression in the hen's oviduct and showed that it had 99.6% sequence identity with pituitary GH. Data suggest local reproductive GH may have important autocrine/paracrine effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricela Luna
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Carlos G Martínez-Moreno
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico; Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Marisela S Ahumada-Solórzano
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Steve Harvey
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Martha Carranza
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Carlos Arámburo
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico.
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11
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Absalón-Medina VA, Butler WR, Gilbert RO. Preimplantation embryo metabolism and culture systems: experience from domestic animals and clinical implications. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:393-409. [PMID: 24682781 PMCID: PMC3969471 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0179-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advantages of in vitro embryo production in many species, widespread use of this technology is limited by generally lower developmental competence of in vitro derived embryos compared to in vivo counterparts. Regardless, in vivo or in vitro gametes and embryos face and must adjust to multiple microenvironments especially at preimplantation stages. Moreover, the embryo has to be able to further adapt to environmental cues in utero to result in the birth of live and healthy offspring. Enormous strides have been made in understanding and meeting stage-specific requirements of preimplantation embryos, but interpretation of the data is made difficult due to the complexity of the wide array of culture systems and the remarkable plasticity of developing embryos that seem able to develop under a variety of conditions. Nevertheless, a primary objective remains meeting, as closely as possible, the preimplantation embryo requirements as provided in vivo. In general, oocytes and embryos develop more satisfactorily when cultured in groups. However, optimization of individual culture of oocytes and embryos is an important goal and area of intensive current research for both animal and human clinical application. Successful culture of individual embryos is of primary importance in order to avoid ovarian superstimulation and the associated physiological and psychological disadvantages for patients. This review emphasizes stage specific shifts in embryo metabolism and requirements and research to optimize in vitro embryo culture conditions and supplementation, with a view to optimizing embryo culture in general, and culture of single embryos in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Absalón-Medina
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - W. R. Butler
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - R. O. Gilbert
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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12
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Ribeiro ES, Bruno RG, Farias AM, Hernández-Rivera JA, Gomes GC, Surjus R, Becker LF, Birt A, Ott TL, Branen JR, Sasser RG, Keisler DH, Thatcher WW, Bilby TR, Santos JE. Low Doses of Bovine Somatotropin Enhance Conceptus Development and Fertility in Lactating Dairy Cows1. Biol Reprod 2014; 90:10. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.114694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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13
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Li XX, Lee KB, Lee JH, Kim KJ, Kim EY, Han KW, Park KS, Yu J, Kim MK. Glutathione and cysteine enhance porcine preimplantation embryo development in vitro after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Theriogenology 2013; 81:309-14. [PMID: 24139601 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Because intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) had been introduced to animal science, not only reproductive biology of domestic animals, but also medicine to treat infertility has been developed. This assisted reproductive technology is beneficial for generating transgenic animals, especially pigs, because polyspermy is the greatest hurdle in porcine IVF when researchers make highly qualified preimplantation embryos. However, ICSI-derived embryos expressed high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to cause serious dysfunction during preimplantation development. The objective of this study was to investigate the developmental competence, ROS level, and apoptosis index when glutathione (GSH) or cysteine was supplemented into the in vitro culture medium for ICSI-derived porcine embryos. First, we evaluated the effect of different concentrations of GSH or cysteine on developmental ability of porcine ICSI-derived embryos. The cleavage rate (79.6%) and the blastocyst formation rate (20.9%) were significantly improved in culture medium supplemented with 1 mmol/L GSH compared with other concentrations or no supplementation. Also, 1.71 mmol/L cysteine showed a significantly higher proportion of cleavage (80.7%) and blastocyst formation (22.5%) than other cysteine-supplemented groups. Next, we confirmed that intracellular ROS level was significantly reduced in the group of blastocysts cultured with GSH or cysteine after ICSI compared with the no supplementation group. Finally, we found that terminal uridine nick-end labeling index, fragmentation, and total apoptosis were significantly decreased and the total cell number was significantly increased in blastocysts when ICSI-derived embryos were cultured with supplementation of 1.71 mmol/L cysteine or 1 mmol/L GSH. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that GSH or cysteine can improve the developmental competence of porcine ICSI-derived embryos by reducing intracellular ROS level and the apoptosis index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xia Li
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Kyung-Bon Lee
- Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ji Hye Lee
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Keun Jung Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eun Young Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Kil-Woo Han
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Kang-Sun Park
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jung Yu
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Min Kyu Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
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14
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Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) plays an important role in early embryo development. It has been shown to activate multiple pathways, the most comprehensively studied being the STAT/JAK (Signal transducers and activators of transcription/Janus kinase) pathway. The objective of the present study was to investigate STAT5A gene expression during early bovine embryogenesis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the abundance of STAT5A transcripts. The mRNA was present at all stages of preimplantation bovine embryos investigated. The most abundant STAT5A expression occurred at the 2-cell stage. Expression was markedly reduced between the 4-cell and 8-cell stages, coinciding with the known time of embryo genome activation and loss of maternal mRNAs. This finding suggests that the embryonic STAT5A gene is primarily activated by maternal gene products.
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Kireev RA, Vara E, Tresguerres JAF. Growth hormone and melatonin prevent age-related alteration in apoptosis processes in the dentate gyrus of male rats. Biogerontology 2013; 14:431-42. [PMID: 23852044 PMCID: PMC3739870 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-013-9443-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 07/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that the age-related decrease in the number of neurons in the hippocampus that leads to alterations in brain function, may be associated with an increase in apoptosis due to the reduced secretion of growth hormone (GH) and/or melatonin in old animals. In order to investigate this possibility, male Wistar rats of 22 months of age were divided into three groups. One group remained untreated and acted as the control group. The second was treated with growth hormone (hGH) for 10 weeks (2 mg/kg/d sc) and the third was subjected to melatonin treatment (1 mg/kg/d) in the drinking water for the same time. A group of 2-months-old male rats was used as young controls. All rats were killed by decapitation at more than 24 month of age and dentate gyri of the hippocampi were collected. Aging in the dentate gyrus was associated with an increase in apoptosis promoting markers (Bax, Bad and AIF) and with the reduction of some anti-apoptotic ones (XIAP, NIAP, Mcl-1). Expressions of sirtuin 1 and 2 (SIRT1 and 2) as well as levels of HSP 70 were decreased in the dentate gyrus of old rats. GH treatment was able to reduce the pro/anti-apoptotic ratio to levels observed in young animals and also to increase SIRT2. Melatonin reduced also expression of pro-apoptotic genes and proteins (Bax, Bad and AIF), and increased levels of myeloid cell leukemia-1 proteins and SIRT1. Both treatments were able to reduce apoptosis and to enhance survival markers in this part of the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Kireev
- Department Physiology, Medical School, University Complutense of Madrid, Spain.
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16
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Kireev RA, Cuesta S, Vara E, Tresguerres JAF. Effect of growth hormone and melatonin on the brain: from molecular mechanisms to structural changes. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2011; 7:337-50. [PMID: 25961272 DOI: 10.1515/hmbci.2011.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Aging of the brain causes important reductions in quality of life and has wide socio-economic consequences. An increase in oxidative stress, and the associated inflammation and apoptosis, could be responsible for the pathogenesis of aging associated brain lesions. Melatonin has neuroprotective effects, by limiting the negative effects of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals. Growth hormone (GH) might exert additional neuro-protective and or neurogenic effects on the brain. The molecular mechanisms of the protective effects of GH and melatonin on the aging brain have been investigated in young and old Wistar rats. A reduction in the total number of neurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus was evident at 24 months of age and was associated with a significant increase in inflammation markers as well as in pro-apoptotic parameters, confirming the role of apoptosis in its reduction. Melatonin treatment was able to enhance neurogenesis in old rats without modification of the total number of neurons, whereas GH treatment increased the total number of neurons without enhancing neurogenesis. Both GH and melatonin were able to reduce inflammation and apoptosis in the hippocampus. In conclusion, neuroprotective effects demonstrated by GH and melatonin in the hippocampus were exerted by decreasing inflammation and apoptosis.
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17
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Cui XS, Xu YN, Shen XH, Zhang LQ, Zhang JB, Kim NH. Trichostatin A Modulates Apoptotic-Related Gene Expression and Improves Embryo Viability in Cloned Bovine Embryos. Cell Reprogram 2011; 13:179-89. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2010.0060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Shun Cui
- Center for Laboratory Animal, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Nan Xu
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Korea
| | - Xing-Hui Shen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Qun Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Bao Zhang
- Center for Laboratory Animal, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Nam-Hyung Kim
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Korea
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18
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Abstract
Pituitary somatotrophs secrete growth hormone (GH) into the bloodstream, to act as a hormone at receptor sites in most, if not all, tissues. These endocrine actions of circulating GH are abolished after pituitary ablation or hypophysectomy, indicating its pituitary source. GH gene expression is, however, not confined to the pituitary gland, as it occurs in neural, immune, reproductive, alimentary, and respiratory tissues and in the integumentary, muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems, in which GH may act locally rather than as an endocrine. These actions are likely to be involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells and tissues prior to the ontogeny of the pituitary gland. They are also likely to complement the endocrine actions of GH and are likely to maintain them after pituitary senescence and the somatopause. Autocrine or paracrine actions of GH are, however, sometimes mediated through different signaling mechanisms to those mediating its endocrine actions and these may promote oncogenesis. Extrapituitary GH may thus be of physiological and pathophysiological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Harvey
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, 7-41 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada,
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19
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Growth hormone exerts no effect on the timing of the first zygotic cleavage in cattle. Theriogenology 2010; 74:581-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2009] [Revised: 03/11/2010] [Accepted: 03/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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20
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Antunes G, Chaveiro A, Santos P, Marques A, Jin HS, Moreira da Silva F. Influence of Apoptosis in Bovine Embryo’s Development. Reprod Domest Anim 2010; 45:26-32. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01131.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Bogazzi F, Ultimieri F, Raggi F, Russo D, Lombardi M, Cosci C, Brogioni S, Gasperi M, Bartalena L, Martino E. Reduced colonic apoptosis in mice overexpressing bovine growth hormone occurs through changes in several kinase pathways. Growth Horm IGF Res 2009; 19:432-441. [PMID: 19230732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2009.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2008] [Revised: 12/03/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Growth hormone (GH) has antiapoptotic effects in several cell lines, including human colonic adenocarcinoma cells. In addition, it has been reported that patients with acromegaly have reduced apoptosis in colonic mucosa. The aim of the study was to investigate colonic apoptosis and underlying molecular mechanisms in transgenic mice overexpressing bovine GH (Acro) aged 3 months (young) or 9 months (elder). DESIGN AND METHODS Apoptosis in colonic epithelial cells was evaluated by TUNEL and Annexin V; expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins was assessed by Western blot. GH action was blocked treating Acro with a selective GH receptor antagonist. RESULTS Young and elder Acro had lower colonic apoptosis [driven by GH through p38, p44/42 and PI3 kinase pathways], than littermate controls; changes were abolished by treating Acro with a selective GH receptor antagonist. The effects of GH were consistent with an anti-apoptotic phenotype (reduced cytosolic cytochrome-c, Bad and Bax and increased Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL level) leading to lower activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Changes in apoptotic proteins reversed after treatment with a GH receptor antagonist, suggesting a direct effect of GH. In addition, antiapoptotic phenotype of Acro had a protective role against doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that GH leads to increased and reduced levels of anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins, respectively, lowering apoptosis in either young or elder transgenic animals through activation of several kinase pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Bogazzi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Ospedale Cisanello, Pisa, Italy.
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22
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Alviggi C, Humaidan P, Howles CM, Tredway D, Hillier SG. Biological versus chronological ovarian age: implications for assisted reproductive technology. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2009; 7:101. [PMID: 19772632 PMCID: PMC2764709 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2009] [Accepted: 09/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women have been able to delay childbearing since effective contraception became available in the 1960s. However, fertility decreases with increasing maternal age. A slow but steady decrease in fertility is observed in women aged between 30 and 35 years, which is followed by an accelerated decline among women aged over 35 years. A combination of delayed childbearing and reduced fecundity with increasing age has resulted in an increased number and proportion of women of greater than or equal to 35 years of age seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. METHODS Literature searches supplemented with the authors' knowledge. RESULTS Despite major advances in medical technology, there is currently no ART treatment strategy that can fully compensate for the natural decline in fertility with increasing female age. Although chronological age is the most important predictor of ovarian response to follicle-stimulating hormone, the rate of reproductive ageing and ovarian sensitivity to gonadotrophins varies considerably among individuals. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to depletion of the ovarian oocyte pool and reduction in oocyte quality. Thus, biological and chronological ovarian age are not always equivalent. Furthermore, biological age is more important than chronological age in predicting the outcome of ART. As older patients present increasingly for ART treatment, it will become more important to critically assess prognosis, counsel appropriately and optimize treatment strategies. Several genetic markers and biomarkers (such as anti-Müllerian hormone and the antral follicle count) are emerging that can identify women with accelerated biological ovarian ageing. Potential strategies for improving ovarian response include the use of luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH). When endogenous LH levels are heavily suppressed by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, LH supplementation may help to optimize treatment outcomes for women with biologically older ovaries. Exogenous GH may improve oocyte development and counteract the age-related decline of oocyte quality. The effects of GH may be mediated by insulin-like growth factor-I, which works synergistically with follicle-stimulating hormone on granulosa and theca cells. CONCLUSION Patients with biologically older ovaries may benefit from a tailored approach based on individual patient characteristics. Among the most promising adjuvant therapies for improving ART outcomes in women of advanced reproductive age are the administration of exogenous LH or GH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Alviggi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ostetriche e Ginecologiche - Medicina della Riproduzione, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Peter Humaidan
- The Fertility Clinic, Skive Regional Hospital, Skive, Denmark
| | - Colin M Howles
- Merck Serono S.A. - Geneva (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Donald Tredway
- Endocrinology and Reproductive Health GCDU, EMD Serono, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Rockland, MA, USA
| | - Stephen G Hillier
- University of Edinburgh, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh, UK
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23
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Pretheeban T, Gordon M, Singh R, Perera R, Rajamahendran R. Differential mRNA expression in in vivo produced pre-implantation embryos of dairy heifers and mature cows. Mol Reprod Dev 2009; 76:1165-72. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.21084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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24
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Survivin protein expression in bovine follicular oocytes and their in vitro developmental competence. Anim Reprod Sci 2008; 108:319-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2007] [Revised: 07/24/2007] [Accepted: 09/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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25
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mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and -7 cannot be used as a marker for apoptosis in bovine blastocysts. Anim Reprod Sci 2008; 106:168-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2007] [Revised: 12/14/2007] [Accepted: 12/20/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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26
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Gjørret JO, Fabian D, Avery B, Maddox-Hyttel P. Active caspase-3 and ultrastructural evidence of apoptosis in spontaneous and induced cell death in bovine in vitro produced pre-implantation embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 74:961-71. [PMID: 17393434 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this study we investigated chronological onset and involvement of active caspase-3, apoptotic nuclear morphology, and TUNEL-labeling, as well as ultrastructural evidence of apoptosis, in both spontaneous and induced cell death during pre-implantation development of bovine in vitro produced embryos. Pre-implantation embryos (2-cell to Day 8 blastocysts) were cultured with either no supplementation (untreated) or with 10 microM staurosporine for 24 hr (treated). Embryos were subjected to immunohistochemical staining of active caspase-3, TUNEL-reaction for detection of DNA degradation and DAPI staining for detection of apoptotic nuclear morphology, and subjected to fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, treated and untreated blastocysts were fixed and processed for ultrastructural identification of apoptosis. Untreated embryos revealed no apoptotic features at 2- and 4-cell stages. However, active caspase-3 and apoptotic nuclear morphology were observed in an untreated 8-cell stage, and TUNEL-labeling was observed from the 16-cell stage. Blastomeres concurrently displaying all apoptotic features were present in a few embryos at 16-cell and morula stages and in all blastocysts. All three features were observed from the 8-cell stage in treated embryos, and blastomeres with apoptotic features appeared more numerous in treated than in untreated embryos. Ultrastructural evidence of apoptosis occurred with a comparable distribution pattern as apoptotic features detected by fluorescence microscopy in both treated and untreated blastocysts. Activation of caspase-3 is likely involved in both spontaneous and induced apoptosis in bovine pre-implantation embryos, and immunohistochemical staining of active caspase-3 may be used in combination with other markers to identify apoptosis in pre-implantation embryos.
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27
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Warzych E, Wrenzycki C, Peippo J, Lechniak D. Maturation medium supplements affect transcript level of apoptosis and cell survival related genes in bovine blastocysts produced in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 74:280-9. [PMID: 16955406 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether protein or macromolecule supplements to in vitro maturation media affect transcript abundance of seven genes (Bax, Bcl2, Hsp70, IGF1, IGF1R, IGF2, and IGF2R) in oocytes and blastocysts. Cumulus-oocyte complexes aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in TCM199 medium supplemented either with 10% FBS, 6% fatty acid free BSA (fafBSA) or 4% PVP40, then inseminated and cultured in vitro for 9 days. Transcript abundance analysis was carried out on immature and in vitro matured oocytes, as well as on blastocysts. Total RNA was isolated from pools of oocytes and embryos, reverse transcribed into cDNA and subjected to transcript analysis by real-time PCR. No transcript of IGF1 gene was detected either in oocytes or in blastocysts. Maturation conditions significantly affected transcript levels of investigated loci in blastocysts but not in matured oocytes, with one exception. Only relative abundance (RA) of IGF2 gene was higher in oocytes matured with fafBSA. Moreover, oocyte maturation with fafBSA elevated transcript abundance of IGF1R, IGF2, and IGF2R genes in resulting blastocysts, whereas Hsp70 transcription was stimulated by FBS supplementation. Thus, under described conditions, fafBSA may be the optimal supplement to IVM medium due to higher transcript level of growth factor coding genes accompanied by a lower transcript level of Hsp70.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Warzych
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Agricultural University of Poznan, Wolynska, Poznan, Poland
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28
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Warzych E, Peippo J, Szydlowski M, Lechniak D. Supplements to in vitro maturation media affect the production of bovine blastocysts and their apoptotic index but not the proportions of matured and apoptotic oocytes. Anim Reprod Sci 2007; 97:334-43. [PMID: 16504427 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2005] [Revised: 01/12/2006] [Accepted: 01/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the effect of different supplements to the basic IVM medium (TCM199) on the efficiency of cattle oocyte maturation and blastocyst production, and the incidence of apoptosis in both oocytes and blastocysts. Two protein supplements (FBS and fafBSA) and a macromolecule (PVP40) were compared in a 3 treatmentsx9 replicates design. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured for 24h in TCM199 medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 6% fafBSA or 4% PVP40 (50-70 COCs in each treatment/replicate), then inseminated and cultured in vitro for 8 days. Immature and mature oocytes as well as Day 8 blastocysts were subjected to TUNEL analysis. Cleavage rate was monitored on Day 2 post-insemination (pi), whereas blastocyst yield on Day 8 pi. The composition of maturation media did not affect zygotic cleavage rate on Day 2 (on average 71.0%), however the blastocyst rate on Day 8 pi was significantly lower (P<0.001) for embryos derived from oocytes matured with PVP40 (16.0%) than for those matured with FBS (22.4%) or fafBSA (22.1%). The rate of TUNEL positive oocytes differed significantly between immature (1.4%) and mature (11.2%) oocytes (P<0.01). Supplements to maturation medium were not related to the incidence of apoptosis in mature oocytes (11.2%) and the rate of oocytes at the second metaphase stage (71.5%). Cumulus cell expansion was reduced by maturation in medium supplemented with PVP40. This macromolecule was also correlated with higher apoptotic index in blastocysts (5.8%) when compared to FBS (3.2%) and fafBSA (3.1%; P<0.001). In conclusion, lower blastocyst rate and elevated apoptotic index in embryos derived from oocytes matured with PVP40 may suggest that synthetic macromolecule provides less balanced environment for oocyte maturation and therefore should be treated with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Warzych
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Agricultural University of Poznan, Wolynska 33, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
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29
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Park SY, Kim EY, Jeon K, Cui XS, Lee WD, Kim NH, Park SP, Lim JH. Survivin acts as anti-apoptotic factor during the development of bovine pre-implantation embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 74:582-90. [PMID: 17075833 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptotic protein containing a single baculoviral inhibit apoptotic protein repeat domain, is a bifunctional protein that suppresses apoptosis and regulates cell division. Thus, we used double stranded RNA (dsRNA) interference to manipulate survivin expression in bovine embryos and analyze its role in blocking apoptosis and facilitating development of pre-implantation embryos. In vitro fertilized embryos (1-cell) were injected with survivin dsRNA, and expression of survivin mRNA was evaluated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. To analyze survivin protein expression, we performed immunocytochemistry using a rabbit anti-bovine suvivin antibody. Expression levels of survivin mRNA and protein were decreased in the dsRNA group compared to the sham group. Rates of in vitro blastocyst development were lower in the survivin dsRNA-injected group than in the sham-injected group. Also, the total cell number seen in blastocysts was decreased in the dsRNA group. TUNEL assays of DNA fragmentation indicated an increased apoptotic index in the dsRNA group compared to the sham group. These results indicate that survivin is important for optimal development of bovine blastocysts and confirm that survivin expression suppresses apoptosis of pre-implantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sae Young Park
- Maria Infertility Hospital Medical Institute/Maria Biotech, Seoul, and Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk, South Korea.
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30
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Gupta MK, Uhm SJ, Lee HT. Differential but beneficial effect of phytohemagglutinin on efficiency of in vitro porcine embryo production by somatic cell nuclear transfer or in vitro fertilization. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 74:1557-67. [PMID: 17474088 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In vitro production of porcine embryos has become routine in most laboratories but the yield and quality of the resultant blastocysts remains sub-optimal. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is an N-acetylgalactosamine/galactose sugar-specific lectin with a wide variety of biological activities including mitogenesis, mediation of cell recognition and agglutination of cells. This study was therefore, designed to investigate the effect of PHA on the preimplantation development and quality of parthenogenetic, somatic cell nuclear transferred (SCNT) and in vitro fertilized (IVF) porcine embryos cultured in the absence or presence of PHA. Analysis showed that, supplementation of PHA significantly improved the blastocyst rate of parthenogenetic (70.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 51.4 +/- 0.6%) and SCNT (27.7 +/- 1.7 vs. 12.5 +/- 0.3%) embryos but not IVF embryos (25.0 +/- 14.3 vs. 20.1 +/- 12.7%). Nonetheless, PHA-treated blastocysts had higher hatching ability and contained higher cell number than control blastocysts in all the groups (P < 0.05). TUNEL labeling revealed that blastocysts cultured in the presence of PHA were less predisposed to biochemical apoptosis and showed lower indices of TUNEL, fragmentation and total apoptosis than those cultured in the absence of PHA (P < 0.05). Real time qRT-PCR analysis of parthenogenetic blastocysts revealed that PHA decreased the expression ratio of BAX:BCL-xL transcripts. Therefore, our study suggests that PHA improves the blastocyst yield and quality by enhancing blastocyst expansion, hatching and total cell number and decreasing the apoptosis. However, PHA has a differential effect on development rate of IVF derived embryos. These results may represent an approach towards achieving better preimplantation development of porcine embryos in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Bio-Organ Research Center, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
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31
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Gupta MK, Uhm SJ, Han DW, Lee HT. Embryo quality and production efficiency of porcine parthenotes is improved by phytohemagglutinin. Mol Reprod Dev 2007; 74:435-44. [PMID: 16998814 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In vitro production of porcine embryos has become routine in most laboratories but the yield and quality of the resultant blastocysts remain suboptimal. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is an N-acetylgalactosamine/galactose sugar-specific lectin with a wide variety of biological activities including mitogenesis, mediation of cell recognition, and agglutination of cells. This study was therefore, designed to investigate the effect of PHA on the preimplantation embryo development and quality of in vitro produced porcine parthenotes. Parthenogenetic presumptive diploid zygotes were produced in vitro by electrical activation and cultured in the absence or presence of PHA at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 microg/ml). There were no significant differences in the cleavage rate of porcine parthenotes in control and treatment groups at all tested concentrations of PHA (P < 0.05). However, supplementation of PHA at the concentration of 15 microg/ml significantly improved the blastocyst rate (68.9 +/- 1.5% vs. 43.1 +/- 4.1%), hatching rate (25.8 +/- 3.1% vs. 8.9 +/- 2.0%), and total nuclei number (95.5 +/- 9.3 vs. 63.4 +/- 4.3) when compared to control group (P > 0.05). TUNEL labeling revealed that blastocysts in PHA group were less predisposed to biochemical apoptosis than in control group while total apoptosis and nuclear fragmentation remained unaltered. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis further revealed that PHA decreased the expression ratio of BAX/BCL-XL and enhanced the relative abundance of IGF2 transcripts. Therefore, our study suggests that PHA improves the blastocyst yield and quality by enhancing blastocyst expansion, hatching, and total cell number and decreasing the apoptosis by positively modulating the expression of embryo survival related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bio-Organ Research Center, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
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32
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Harvey S, Baudet ML, Sanders EJ. Growth hormone and cell survival in the neural retina: caspase dependence and independence. Neuroreport 2006; 17:1715-8. [PMID: 17047459 DOI: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000239952.22578.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Growth hormone has recently been shown to be expressed in the retinal ganglion cells of embryonic chicks, in which it induces cell survival during neurogenesis. The mechanism of this action has been examined in neural retina explants from 6-day-old and 8-day-old embryos that were incubated for 48 h in 10 M growth hormone, to reduce the number of spontaneous apoptotic cells. This anti-apoptotic action was accompanied by a reduction in caspase-3 expression and, at embryonic day 8, by reduced expression of apoptosis inducing factor-1, which is caspase independent. These actions were specific, as other genes involved in apoptotic signaling (bcl-2, bcl-x, bid and inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1) were unaffected. These results therefore demonstrate caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways in growth hormone-induced retinal cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Harvey
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Deane EE, Woo NYS. Growth hormone increases hsc70/hsp70 expression and protects against apoptosis in whole blood preparations from silver sea bream. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006; 1040:288-92. [PMID: 15891044 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1327.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Preparations of whole blood, from silver sea bream (Sparus sarba), were used for heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and apoptosis studies. It was found that the expression of both gene members of the hsp70 family (hsc70 and hsp70) were upregulated during acute heat shock. The transcript abundance of both of these genes was increased when cells were exposed to growth hormone (GH) at concentrations of 10 and 100 ng/mL. It was also found that GH at concentrations of 10 and 100 ng/mL could protect whole blood from camptothecin-induced apoptosis as determined by DNA fragmentation analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddie E Deane
- Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Bogazzi F, Russo D, Locci MT, Chifenti B, Ultimieri F, Raggi F, Cosci C, Sardella C, Costa A, Gasperi M, Bartalena L, Martino E. Apoptosis is reduced in the colonic mucosa of patients with acromegaly. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2005; 63:683-8. [PMID: 16343104 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2005.02405.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with acromegaly have an increased risk of developing colonic tumours; reduced apoptosis is considered a leading mechanism in tumorigenesis. GH and IGF-1 decrease apoptosis in several cell lines including human colonic adenocarcinoma, but it is unknown whether epithelial cells of colonic mucosa of patients with acromegaly have reduced apoptosis. AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of apoptosis in a cross-sectional study, in biopsy samples of colonic mucosa obtained from patients with acromegaly. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eleven patients with active, untreated acromegaly (AcroUntr), 16 patients with acromegaly in remission (AcroRem) and 23 controls were enrolled in the study. Samples of colonic mucosa were obtained during colonoscopy; apoptosis was evaluated by either DNA fragmentation or terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay. RESULTS Apoptotic cells were 60.0 +/- 2.5% in samples of colonic mucosa of controls, 62.0 +/- 3.4% in those from patients with AcroRem (P = ns vs. controls), and 39.0 +/- 4.1% in those from patients with AcroUntr (P < 0.0001 vs. the other groups). Apoptosis was inversely related to serum IGF-I (r = 0.771, P < 0.001) or GH (r = 0.404, P = 0.05) levels and less to the estimated duration of disease (r = 0.384, P = 0.07). PPARgamma is considered to be a tumour suppressor gene the expression of which might be involved in colonic tumorigenesis. The expression of PPARgamma was lower in the colonic mucosa of patients with AcroUntr (2845 +/- 947 transcripts) than in that of controls (35 200 +/- 2450 transcripts) or AcroRem (29 547 +/- 3650 transcripts) (P < 0.005). The recovery of PPARgamma expression was associated with apoptosis in most cells. The lower degree of apoptosis in patients with AcroUntr was associated with a reduced expression of the antiapoptotic Bax protein. CONCLUSION In conclusion, patients with AcroUntr have reduced apoptosis in colonic mucosa that is apparently reversed after acromegaly is cured. It is conceivable that reduced apoptosis may represent an early event in colonic tumorigenesis of patients with acromegaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Bogazzi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Jurisicova A, Detmar J, Caniggia I. Molecular mechanisms of trophoblast survival: From implantation to birth. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 75:262-80. [PMID: 16425250 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fetal development depends upon a coordinated series of events in both the embryo and in the supporting placenta. The initial event in placentation is appropriate lineage allocation of stem cells followed by the formation of a spheroidal trophoblastic shell surrounding the embryo, facilitating implantation into the uterine stroma and exclusion of oxygenated maternal blood. In mammals, cellular proliferation, differentiation, and death accompany early placental development. Programmed cell death is a critical driving force behind organ sculpturing and eliminating abnormal, misplaced, nonfunctional, or harmful cells in the embryo proper, although very little is known about its physiological function during placental development. This review summarizes current knowledge of the cell death patterns and molecular pathways governing the survival of cells within the blastocyst, with a focus on the trophoblast lineage prior to and after implantation. Particular emphasis is given to human placental development in the context of normal and pathological conditions. As molecular pathways in humans are poorly elucidated, we have also included an overview of pertinent genetic animal models displaying defects in trophoblast survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Jurisicova
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Walters AH, Saacke RG, Pearson RE, Gwazdauskas FC. The incidence of apoptosis after IVF with morphologically abnormal bovine spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2005; 64:1404-21. [PMID: 15893815 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Normal embryonic development depends on the maintenance of a population of normal healthy cells within each embryo. The aim of this study was to use a combination of apoptotic measures to assess differences in embryo quality after IVF with semen samples with high percentages of abnormal spermatozoa. Semen samples were obtained and cryopreserved from four Holstein bulls before (5 day prior) and after (2 week-post-insult; 2 week-PI and day 20; 3 week-PI) a scrotal insulation period of 48 h (day 0). The swim-up sperm separation method was used. The post-thaw morphology revealed a decrease (P < 0.01) in the percentages of normal spermatozoa in the 3 week-PI samples in comparison with the pre-insult samples for Bulls I and III (74-22.3 and 67.7-0.5%, respectively). The percentage of vacuolated spermatozoa increased significantly for Bull II. After 18 h of sperm-oocyte co-incubation, zygotes were cultured and subpopulations were removed from culture at day 8 and subjected to either the TUNEL or caspase assay. On day 8, caspase intensity increased significantly for both Bull I (217+/-147) and Bull III (229+/-98) for the 3 week-PI embryo groups compared to the equivalent embryo groups for Bull II (98+/-115) and Bull IV (90+/-111). In conclusion, the inability to consistently measure apoptosis with TUNEL alone complicated the assessment of differences in embryo quality. Thus, it is uncertain exactly when during early pre-implantation development the differences in embryo quality are first manifest. Despite discrepancies, our results clearly indicated a difference in the embryo quality between embryos obtained after IVF with semen samples from bulls that had an intense response to scrotal insulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Walters
- Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0315, USA
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Feugang JM, Donnay I, Mermillod P, Marchandise J, Lequarre AS. Impact of pro-oxidant agents on the morula-blastocyst transition in bovine embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2005; 71:339-46. [PMID: 15806560 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Exposing day 5 bovine morulae to reactive oxygen species induces a delayed degeneration of some blastocysts on day 8 post-insemination (pi) but without affecting the blastocyst rates. The aim of this study was to characterize the resisting and the degenerating population of blastocysts. The kinetics of degeneration of the embryos exposed to the two pro-oxidant agents: 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) was evaluated using time-lapse cinematography. With both agents the first signs of degeneration appeared at day 7.5 pi but the duration of the degeneration process was shorter in presence of AAPH than BSO (4.2 vs. 12.5 hr, ANOVA, P < 0.05). The resisting blastocysts derived from morulae with a larger diameter (mean diameter: 161 vs. 154 microm, ANOVA, P < 0.05) and showed an earlier cavitation (135 vs. 142 hpi, P < 0.05) than the degenerating ones. The profile of protein neosynthesis at day 7 was not affected by the treatment. The proportion of male embryos was more important in the resisting than in the degenerating population (70 vs. 55%, chi2, P < 0.05) especially when the stress was induced by AAPH. The quality of the resisting embryos, measured by the total cell number and the rate of apoptosis, did not seem to be affected when compared to control embryos. In conclusion, resistance to oxidative stress seems related to the kinetics of development and/or the sex of the embryos. Resisting embryos apparently display a quality similar to untreated embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Magloire Feugang
- Unité des Sciences vétérinaires, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Sanders EJ, Harvey S. Growth hormone as an early embryonic growth and differentiation factor. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 209:1-9. [PMID: 15480774 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-004-0422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In this review we consider the evidence that growth hormone (GH) acts in the embryo as a local growth, differentiation, and cell survival factor. Because both GH and its receptors are present in the early embryo before the functional differentiation of pituitary somatotrophs and before the establishment of a functioning circulatory system, the conditions are such that GH may be a member of the large battery of autocrine/paracrine growth factors that control embryonic development. It has been clearly established that GH is able to exert direct effects, independent of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), on the differentiation, proliferation, and survival of cells in a wide variety of tissues in the embryo, fetus, and adult. The signaling pathways behind these effects of GH are now beginning to be determined, establishing early extrapituitary GH as a bona fide developmental growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmond J Sanders
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, T6G 2H7 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Pavlok A, Lapathitis G, Cech S, Kubelka M, Lopatárová M, Holý L, Klíma J, Motlík J, Havlícek V. Simulation of intrafollicular conditions prevents GVBD in bovine oocytes: A better alternative to affect their developmental capacity after two-step culture. Mol Reprod Dev 2005; 71:197-208. [PMID: 15791591 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
To increase the developmental competence of bovine oocytes isolated from small, medium, and large follicles (2-3, 3-4, and 4-6 mm in diameter, respectively), we tried to modify the conditions for their in vitro culture. The first step involved conditions maintaining at least for 48 hr a reversible inhibition of the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the second step stimulated the resumption of meiosis and completion of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation during the subsequent 20-22 hr of culture. The effectiveness of this model depended mainly on the medium composition (reduced NaHCO3, substitution of serum with serum albumin, addition of antioxidants (curcumin), increased viscosity by agar, the reduction of oxygen concentration (within 6%-8%), the reduction of the proportion between the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and the reduction of the amount of a medium (within 6-7 mul per COC) to amplify the GVBD-inhibitory effect of oocyte surrounding granulosa cells. The COCs were incubated in clumps of 6-7 COCs. The effectiveness and reversibility of GVBD inhibition depended also on the duration of COCs isolation. The full reversibility of the GV block was controlled morphologically and also by measuring histone H1 and MAP kinase activities. The two-step versus one-step (24 hr) maturation technique was evaluated by the percentage of total and hatched blastocysts at day 9. When compared with one-step maturation, the two-step culture showed a slightly increased proportion of total and hatched blastocysts developed from growing follicles, mainly from the smallest category (13.9% vs. 7.1% and 9.2% vs. 3.3% for total blastocysts and hatched, respectively). However, the two-step culture of oocytes from large regressing follicles substantially reduced the blastocyst yield (9.7% vs. 39.1% and 4.9% vs. 26.7% for total blastocysts and hatched, respectively). The transfer of ten blastocysts (developed after two-step culture) to ten recipients resulted in seven pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonín Pavlok
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libêchov, Czech Republic.
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40
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Bogazzi F, Ultimieri F, Raggi F, Russo D, Vanacore R, Guida C, Brogioni S, Cosci C, Gasperi M, Bartalena L, Martino E. Growth hormone inhibits apoptosis in human colonic cancer cell lines: antagonistic effects of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma ligands. Endocrinology 2004; 145:3353-62. [PMID: 15070854 DOI: 10.1210/en.2004-0225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
GH has antiapoptotic effects on several cells. However, the antiapoptotic mechanisms of GH on colonic mucosa cells are not completely understood. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) activation enhances apoptosis, and a link between GH and PPARgamma in the colonic epithelium of acromegalic patients has been suggested. We investigated the effects of GH and of PPARgamma ligands on apoptosis in colonic cancer cell lines. Colonic cells showed specific binding sites for GH, and after exposure to 0.05-50 nm GH, their apoptosis reduced by 45%. The antiapoptotic effect was due to either GH directly or GH-dependent local production of IGF-1. A 55-85% reduction of PPARgamma expression was observed in GH-treated cells, compared with controls (P < 0.05). However, treatment of the cells with 1-50 microm ciglitazone (cig), induced apoptosis and reverted the antiapoptotic effects of GH by increasing the programmed cell death up to 3.5-fold at 30 min and up to 1.7-fold at 24 h. Expression of Bcl-2 and TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand was not affected by either GH or cig treatment, whereas GH reduced the expression of Bax, which was increased by cig treatment. In addition, GH increased the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b, which might be involved in the down-regulation of PPARgamma expression. In conclusion, GH may exert a direct antiapoptotic effect on colonic cells, through an increased expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b and a reduction of Bax and PPARgamma. The reduced GH-dependent apoptosis can be overcome by PPARgamma ligands, which might be useful chemopreventive agents in acromegalic patients, who have an increased colonic polyps prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Bogazzi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Kidson A, Rubio-Pomar FJ, Van Knegsel A, Van Tol HTA, Hazeleger W, Ducro-Steverink DWB, Colenbrander B, Dieleman SJ, Bevers MM. Quality of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro in the presence or absence of GH. Reproduction 2004; 127:165-77. [PMID: 15056782 DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
GH receptor (GHR) mRNA is expressed in bovinein vitroproduced embryos up to the blastocyst stage and GH improves the quality of bovine embryos by increasing blastocyst cell numbers and reducing the incidence of apoptosis as evaluated by DNA strand-break labelling. Porcinein vitroproduced blastocysts have lower cell numbers thanin vivoblastocysts and exhibit higher incidences of apoptosis. Therefore we investigated the effects of 100 ng GH/ml NCSU23 medium duringin vitroculture of presumptivein vitrofertilized sow zygotes on embryo development and blastocyst quality (defined by diameter, cell number, apoptosis and survival after non-surgical transfer).In vivoproduced blastocysts were analysed concurrently as a reference value. GHR was expressed in embryos from the 2-cell to blastocyst stages. GH had no effect on blastocyst development or cell numbers, but increased the mean blastocyst diameter. The incidence of apoptosis, detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL), was decreased by GH, but when non-TUNEL-labelled apoptotic fragmented nuclei were included, no difference was seen. GH appeared to slow down the progression of apoptosis though.In vivoproduced blastocysts presented no apoptotic nuclei, and contained higher cell numbers and larger diameters. Pregnancy rates on day 11 were similar for all groups, but survival was poorer forin vitrothanin vivoproduced blastocysts. In this study GH appeared to be beneficial only from the blastocyst stage, but the presence of GHR from early cleavage stages nevertheless indicates a role for GH throughout porcine embryo development and deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kidson
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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42
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Knijn HM, Gjørret JO, Vos PLAM, Hendriksen PJM, van der Weijden BC, Maddox-Hyttel P, Dieleman SJ. Consequences of in vivo development and subsequent culture on apoptosis, cell number, and blastocyst formation in bovine embryos. Biol Reprod 2003; 69:1371-8. [PMID: 12826584 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.017251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine embryos produced in vitro differ considerably in quality from embryos developed in vivo. The in vitro production system profoundly affects the competence to form blastocysts, the number of cells of the total embryo and of the inner cell mass (ICM), and the incidence of apoptosis. To our knowledge, the effects of different postfertilization regimens before and after completion of the fourth embryonic cell cycle on these aspects have not yet been investigated. In the present study, we assessed the blastulation rate by stereomicroscopy and the cell number of the total embryo, of the ICM, and of the cells with apoptotic changes by confocal laser-scanning microscopy after staining with propidium iodide and TUNEL. Two groups of embryos were developed in heifers, after superovulation, until 45 or 100 h postovulation (po) and, after collection on slaughter, were further cultured in vitro until Day 7 po. A third and fourth group comprised embryos that were produced entirely in vitro or in vivo. The results indicate that passage in vivo of the fourth cell cycle does not prevent acceleration of the formation of the blastocoele in vitro but may be the critical factor contributing to a higher cell number in the total blastocyst and its ICM. The lower quality of in vitro-produced embryos can be attributed to the ICM having less viable cells because of a lower number of cells and a higher incidence of apoptosis that appears to be determined before completion of the fourth cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiemke M Knijn
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Gjørret JO, Knijn HM, Dieleman SJ, Avery B, Larsson LI, Maddox-Hyttel P. Chronology of apoptosis in bovine embryos produced in vivo and in vitro. Biol Reprod 2003; 69:1193-200. [PMID: 12773422 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.013243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The postimplantation developmental potential of embryos can be affected by various forms of cell death, such as apoptosis, at preimplantation stages. However, correct assessment of apoptosis is needed for adequate inference of the developmental significance of this process. This study is the first to investigate the independent chronological occurrence of apoptotic changes in nuclear morphology and DNA degradation (detected by the TUNEL reaction) and incidences of nuclei displaying these features at various preimplantation stages of bovine embryos produced both in vivo and in vitro. Different elements of apoptosis were observed at various developmental stages and appeared to be differentially affected by in vitro production. Nuclear condensation was observed from the 6-cell stage in vitro and the 8-cell stage in vivo, whereas the TUNEL reaction was first observed at the 6-cell stage in vitro and the 21-cell stage in vivo. Morphological signs of other forms of cell death were also observed in normally developing embryos produced both in vivo and in vitro. The onset of apoptosis seems to be developmentally regulated in a stage-specific manner, but discrete features of the apoptotic process may be differentially regulated and independently modulated by the mode of embryo production. Significant differences in indices of various apoptotic features were not evident between in vivo- and in vitro-produced embryos at the morula stage, but such differences could be observed at the blastocyst stage, where in vitro production was associated with a higher degree of apoptosis in the inner cell mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob O Gjørret
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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Wolf E, Arnold GJ, Bauersachs S, Beier HM, Blum H, Einspanier R, Fröhlich T, Herrler A, Hiendleder S, Kölle S, Prelle K, Reichenbach HD, Stojkovic M, Wenigerkind H, Sinowatz F. Embryo-maternal communication in bovine - strategies for deciphering a complex cross-talk. Reprod Domest Anim 2003; 38:276-89. [PMID: 12887567 DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0531.2003.00435.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Early embryonic development, implantation and maintenance of a pregnancy are critically dependent on an intact embryo-maternal communication. So far, only few signals involved in this dialogue have been identified. In bovine and other ruminants, interferon tau is the predominant embryonic pregnancy recognition signal, exhibiting antiluteolytic activity. However, this is just one aspect of the complex process of embryo-maternal signalling, and a number of other systems are more likely to be involved. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of these important mechanisms, integrated projects involving specialists in embryology, reproductive biotechnology and functional genome research are necessary to perform a systematic analysis of interactions between pre-implantation stage embryos and oviduct or uterine epithelial cells, respectively. State-of-the-art transcriptomic and proteomic technologies will identify reciprocal signals between embryos and their maternal environment and the respective downstream reaction cascades. For in vivo studies, the use of monozygotic twins as recipient animals provides elegant model systems, thus eliminating genetic variability as a cause of differential gene expression. In addition, suitable systems for the co-culture of oviduct epithelial or endometrium cells with the respective embryonic stages need to be established for functional validation of candidate genes potentially involved in the dialogue between embryos and their maternal environment. The knowledge of these mechanisms should help to increase the pregnancy rate following embryo transfer and to avoid embryonic losses. Candidate genes involved in embryo-maternal communication will also be used to define new quality criteria for the selection of embryos for transfer to recipients. Another application is the supplementation of embryotrophic factors or components of embryo-maternal signalling in optimized formulations, such as bioartificial matrices. As a long-term goal, signalling mechanisms identified in bovine will also be functionally evaluated in other species, including the human.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Wolf
- Institut für Molekulare Tierzucht, Genzentrum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.
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Sirisathien S, Brackett BG. TUNEL analyses of bovine blastocysts after culture with EGF and IGF-I. Mol Reprod Dev 2003; 65:51-6. [PMID: 12658633 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Experiments were carried out to investigate the beneficial effects of IGF-I or EGF on bovine embryo development in chemically defined embryo culture media and resultant incidences of nuclear DNA fragmentation as an indication of embryo quality. Presumptive IVF zygotes were randomly cultured in either control (with no added growth factor) or treatment groups, i.e., with 50 ng/ml IGF-I (experiment 1) or 5 ng/ml EGF (experiment 2). IGF-I supplemented to culture media significantly improved proportions of blastocysts from oocytes inseminated compared to untreated controls (38.0% vs. 28.5%). Only embryos reaching the blastocyst stage on day 8 showed significant effects of IGF-I treatment by resulting in higher blastocyst cell numbers (162 vs. 141) and lower percentages of TUNEL positive nuclei (2.1% vs. 3.3%) when compared to controls. Blastocyst development from oocytes was also improved by EGF supplementation compared to untreated controls (38.5% vs. 30.7%). Cell numbers of either day 7 or day 8 blastocysts were not affected by EGF treatment, nor were percentages of TUNEL positive nuclei when compared with controls. Similar proportions of parthenogenetically activated oocytes developed to blastocysts as for inseminated oocytes (28.8%). Parthenogenetic blastocysts contained fewer cells (93) and an increased percentage of TUNEL positive nuclei (5.7%) than were found for IVF embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sirisathien
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA
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Joudrey EM, Lechniak D, Petrik J, King WA. Expression of growth hormone and its transcription factor, Pit-1, in early bovine development. Mol Reprod Dev 2003; 64:275-83. [PMID: 12548660 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
During bovine embryogenesis, bovine growth hormone (bGH) contributes to proliferation, differentiation, and modulation of embryo metabolism. Pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (Pit-1) is a transcription factor that binds to promoters of GH, prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone-beta (TSHbeta) encoding genes. A polymorphism in the fifth exon of the bGH gene resulting in a leucine (Leu) to valine (Val) substitution provides an Alu I restriction site when the Leu allele is present. To determine the onset of embryonic expression of the bGH gene, oocytes derived from ovaries homozygous for Leu alleles were fertilized in vitro with spermatozoa obtained from a Val homozygote. For each developmental stage examined, three separate pools of embryos composed of approximately 100 cell samples underwent RNA isolation, reverse transcription to cDNA, and amplification by nested PCR (nPCR). Bovine GH gene transcripts were identified at 2- to 4-cell (n = 162), 8- to 16-cell (n = 73), morulae (n = 51), and blastocyst (n = 15) stages. Likewise, transcripts for Pit-1 were detected at 2-cell (n = 125), 4-cell (n = 114), 8-cell (n = 56), 12-to-32-cell (n = 32), morulae (n = 68), and blastocyst (n = 14) stages. After digestion with Alu1, bGH cDNA was genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Bovine GH mRNA was present in all pools of stages examined. Both Leu and Val alleles (maternal and paternal) were only detected in pools of embryos that had reached 8- to 16-cell stage. Results suggest that transcription of the bGH gene begins at the 8- to 16-cell stage in bovine embryos, possibly under control of the transcription factor, Pit-1, and that RFLP analysis of the bGH gene can be used to determine parental origin of transcripts in early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Joudrey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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47
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Paula-Lopes FF, Hansen PJ. Apoptosis is an adaptive response in bovine preimplantation embryos that facilitates survival after heat shock. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002; 295:37-42. [PMID: 12083763 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)00619-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock compromises development of preimplantation bovine embryos and the percentage of blastomeres labeled as TUNEL-positive. It was hypothesized that TUNEL labeling represents apoptosis and that apoptosis after heat shock is beneficial for continued embryonic development. To test these hypotheses, experiments were performed with z-DEVD-fmk, an inhibitor of group II caspases, on heat shock responses of embryos > or =16-cell stage at day 4 after insemination. Heat shock of 41 degrees C for 9 h increased group II caspase activity and the proportion of TUNEL positive cells; z-DEVD-fmk blocked these effects. The reduction in development of embryos exposed to heat shock for 6-9 h was magnified in the presence of z-DEVD-fmk. Results indicate that group II caspases mediate heat-induced apoptosis in bovine embryos and that inhibition of these caspases has a detrimental effect on embryonic resistance to heat shock. Apoptosis can be viewed as an adaptative mechanism to allow embryonic survival and development following stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- F F Paula-Lopes
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
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Abstract
Studies across several species, particularly the mouse, show that growth hormone (GH, somatotrophin) is an important determinant of litter size, and to a lesser extent, of birth length. GH acts at all stages of development, from ovulation through preimplantation development to the late fetus, with actions on both embryo/fetus and mother contributing to successful fetal development. The fact that these are not more obvious in vivo is likely a result of redundancy of cytokine hormone action, particularly in relation to prolactin, which shares common actions and receptor locations with GH.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Waters
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, 4072, St Lucia, Australia.
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