Fluorescent immunodetection of epigenetic modifications on preimplantation mouse embryos

Somatic Reprograming by Nuclear Transfer

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a powerful technique, although challenging, to study reprograming into the totipotent state of differentiated nuclei in mammals. This procedure was initially applied in farm animals, then rodents, and more recently in primates. Nuclear transfer of embryonic stem cells is known to be more efficient, but many types of somatic cells have now been successfully reprogramed with this procedure. Moreover, SCNT reprograming is more effective on a per cell basis than induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) and provides interesting clues regarding the underlying processes. In this chapter, we describe the protocol of nuclear transfer in mouse that combines cell cycle synchronization of the donor cells, enucleation of metaphase II oocyte and Piezo-driven injection of a donor cell nucleus followed by activation of the reconstructed embryos and nonsurgical transfer into pseudo-pregnant mice. Moreover, this protocol includes two facultative steps to erase the epigenetic "memory" of the donor cells and improve chromatin remodeling by histones modifications targeting.

Comparative dynamics of 5-methylcytosine reprogramming and TET family expression during preimplantation mammalian development in mouse and sheep

Despite previous assumption that paternal active DNA demethylation is an evolutionary conserved phenomenon in mammals, emerging studies in other species, particularly sheep, do not support this issue. Recently, ten eleven translocation (TET) enzymes have been suggested as intermediates in genome-wide DNA demethylation through the iterative conversion of five methylcytosine (5mC) into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC)/5-formylcytosine/5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) derivatives. This study investigated whether TET enzymes and 5mC derivatives are also involved in dynamic reprogramming of early sheep embryos derived by fertilization. Mouse zygotes and developing embryos were considered as control. Obtained results reported substantial differences in dynamics of parent-of-origin-specific patterns of 5mC reprogramming and generation/dilution of 5mC derivatives (5hmC and 5caC) between mouse and sheep early zygotes. Sheep zygotes reported a gradual and insignificant decrease pattern of parental pronucleus 5mC, which was notably replication independent, coincided with gradual generation of 5hmC and 5caC. Although the expression profiles of TET family of enzymes (Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3), with the main exception being Tet2 at later developmental stages, were similar between mouse and sheep developing embryos. In addition, although the expression level of Tet3 was higher than Tet1 and Tet2 in MII oocytes and zygotes in both mouse and sheep, the expression of Tet3 in mouse was higher than sheep in both MII oocytes and zygotes. The contrasting dynamics of 5mC reprogramming between these two species may be associated with the particular evolutionary differences that exist between developmental program of rodents and ruminants, particularly during peri-implantation stages.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) in mammals: epigenetic and developmental alterations. Scientific and bioethical implications for IVF in humans

The advent of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in animals and humans implies an extraordinary change in the environment where the beginning of a new organism takes place. In mammals fertilization occurs in the maternal oviduct, where there are unique conditions for guaranteeing the encounter of the gametes and the first stages of development of the embryo and thus its future. During this period a major epigenetic reprogramming takes place that is crucial for the normal fate of the embryo. This epigenetic reprogramming is very vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions such as the ones implied in IVF, including in vitro culture, nutrition, light, temperature, oxygen tension, embryo-maternal signaling, and the general absence of protection against foreign elements that could affect the stability of this process. The objective of this review is to update the impact of the various conditions inherent in the use of IVF on the epigenetic profile and outcomes of mammalian embryos, including superovulation, IVF technique, embryo culture and manipulation and absence of embryo-maternal signaling. It also covers the possible transgenerational inheritance of the epigenetic alterations associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including its phenotypic consequences as is in the case of the large offspring syndrome (LOS). Finally, the important scientific and bioethical implications of the results found in animals are discussed in terms of the ART in humans.