Overexpression of signal transducers and activators of transcription in embryos derived from vitrified oocytes negatively affect E-cadherin expression and embryo development

Transcriptome analysis of porcine embryos derived from oocytes vitrified at the germinal vesicle stage

Vitrification of porcine immature oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage reduces subsequent embryo yield and changes at the molecular level may occur during embryonic development. Therefore, the present study used porcine parthenogenetic embryos as a model to investigate the effect of GV oocyte vitrification on the transcriptional profiles of the resultant embryos at the 4-cell and blastocyst stages using the Smart-seq2 RNA-seq technique. We identified 743 (420 up-regulated and 323 down-regulated) and 994 (554 up-regulated and 440 down-regulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from 4-cell embryos and blastocysts derived from vitrified GV oocytes, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs in 4-cell embryos showed that vitrification of GV oocytes influenced regulatory mechanisms related to transcription regulation, apoptotic process, metabolism and key pathways such as the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, DEGs in blastocysts produced from vitrified GV oocytes were enriched in critical biological functions including cell adhesion, cell migration, AMPK signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway and so on. In addition, the transcriptomic analysis and quantitative real-time PCR results were consistent. In summary, the present study revealed that the vitrification of porcine GV oocytes could alter gene expression patterns during subsequent embryonic developmental stages, potentially affecting their developmental competence.

In vitro production of small ruminant embryos: latest improvements and further research

This review presents the latest advances in and main obstacles to the application of invitro embryo production (IVEP) systems in small ruminants. This biotechnology is an extremely important tool for genetic improvement for livestock and is essential for the establishment of other biotechnologies, such as cloning and transgenesis. At present, the IVEP market is almost non-existent for small ruminants, in contrast with the trends observed in cattle. This is probably related to the lower added value of small ruminants, lower commercial demand and fewer qualified professionals interested in this area. Moreover, there are fewer research groups working on small ruminant IVEP than those working with cattle and pigs. The heterogeneity of oocytes collected from growing follicles in live females or from ovaries collected from abattoirs remains a challenge for IVEP dissemination in goats and sheep. Of note, although the logistics of oocyte collection from live small ruminant females are more complex than in the bovine, in general the IVEP outcomes, in terms of blastocyst production, are similar. We anticipate that after appropriate training and repeatable results, the commercial demand for small ruminant invitro -produced embryos may increase.

Adhesion molecules in gamete transport, fertilization, early embryonic development, and implantation-role in establishing a pregnancy in cattle: A review

Cell-cell adhesion molecules have critically important roles in the early events of reproduction including gamete transport, sperm-oocyte interaction, embryonic development, and implantation. Major adhesion molecules involved in reproduction include cadherins, integrins, and disintegrin and metalloprotease domain-containing (ADAM) proteins. ADAMs on the surface of sperm adhere to integrins on the oocyte in the initial stages of sperm-oocyte interaction and fusion. Cadherins act in early embryos to organize the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. The trophoblast and uterine endometrial epithelium variously express cadherins, integrins, trophinin, and selectin, which achieve apposition and attachment between the elongating conceptus and uterine epithelium before implantation. An overview of the major cell-cell adhesion molecules is presented and this is followed by examples of how adhesion molecules help shape early reproductive events. The argument is made that a deeper understanding of adhesion molecules and reproduction will inform new strategies that improve embryo survival and increase the efficiency of natural mating and assisted breeding in cattle.

Obesity-Dependent Increases in Oocyte mRNAs Are Associated With Increases in Proinflammatory Signaling and Gut Microbial Abundance of Lachnospiraceae in Female Mice

RNAs stored in the metaphase II-arrested oocyte play important roles in successful embryonic development. Their abundance is defined by transcriptional activity during oocyte growth and selective degradation of transcripts during LH-induced oocyte maturation. Our previous studies demonstrated that mRNA abundance is increased in mature ovulated oocytes collected from obese humans and mice and therefore may contribute to reduced oocyte developmental competence associated with metabolic dysfunction. In the current study mouse models of diet-induced obesity were used to determine whether obesity-dependent increases in proinflammatory signaling regulate ovarian abundance of oocyte-specific mRNAs. The abundance of oocyte-specific Bnc1, Dppa3, and Pou5f1 mRNAs as well as markers of proinflammatory signaling were significantly increased in ovaries of obese compared with lean mice which were depleted of fully grown preovulatory follicles. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analyses also demonstrated increased association of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 with the Pou5f1 promoter in ovaries of obese mice suggesting that proinflammatory signaling regulates transcription of this gene in the oocyte. The cecum microbial content of lean and obese female mice was subsequently examined to identify potential relationships between microbial composition and proinflammatory signaling in the ovary. Multivariate Association with Linear Models identified significant positive correlations between cecum abundance of the bacterial family Lachnospiraceae and ovarian abundance of Tnfa as well as Dppa3, Bnc1, and Pou5f1 mRNAs. Together, these data suggest that diet-induced changes in gut microbial composition may be contributing to ovarian inflammation which in turn alters ovarian gene expression and ultimately contributes to obesity-dependent reduction in oocyte quality and development of infertility in obese patients.