1
|
Bernstein LR, Mackenzie ACL, Chaffin CL, Lee SJ, Kraemer DC, Merchenthaler I. Gonadotropin elevation is ootoxic to ovulatory oocytes and inhibits oocyte maturation, and activin decoy receptor ActRIIB:Fc therapeutically restores maturation. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:52. [PMID: 38711160 PMCID: PMC11071334 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01224-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated FSH often occurs in women of advanced maternal age (AMA, age ≥ 35) and in infertility patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). There is controversy on whether high endogenous FSH contributes to infertility and whether high exogenous FSH adversely impacts patient pregnancy rates. METHODS The senescence-accelerated mouse-prone-8 (SAMP8) model of female reproductive aging was employed to assess the separate impacts of age and high FSH activity on the percentages (%) of viable and mature ovulated oocytes recovered after gonadotropin treatment. Young and midlife mice were treated with the FSH analog equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) to model both endogenous FSH elevation and exogenous FSH elevation. Previously we showed the activin inhibitor ActRIIB:Fc increases oocyte quality by preventing chromosome and spindle misalignments. Therefore, ActRIIB:Fc treatment was performed in an effort to increase % oocyte viability and % oocyte maturation. RESULTS The high FSH activity of eCG is ootoxic to ovulatory oocytes, with greater decreases in % viable oocytes in midlife than young mice. High FSH activity of eCG potently inhibits oocyte maturation, decreasing the % of mature oocytes to similar degrees in young and midlife mice. ActRIIB:Fc treatment does not prevent eCG ootoxicity, but it restores most oocyte maturation impeded by eCG. CONCLUSIONS FSH ootoxicity to ovulatory oocytes and FSH maturation inhibition pose a paradox given the well-known pro-growth and pro-maturation activities of FSH in the earlier stages of oocyte growth. We propose the FOOT Hypothesis ("FSH OoToxicity Hypothesis), that FSH ootoxicity to ovulatory oocytes comprises a new driver of infertility and low pregnancy success rates in DOR women attempting spontaneous pregnancy and in COS/IUI patients, especially AMA women. We speculate that endogenous FSH elevation also contributes to reduced fecundity in these DOR and COS/IUI patients. Restoration of oocyte maturation by ActRIB:Fc suggests that activin suppresses oocyte maturation in vivo. This contrasts with prior studies showing activin A promotes oocyte maturation in vitro. Improved oocyte maturation with agents that decrease endogenous activin activity with high specificity may have therapeutic benefit for COS/IVF patients, COS/IUI patients, and DOR patients attempting spontaneous pregnancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lori R Bernstein
- Pregmama, LLC, Gaithersburg, MD, 20886, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Texas A & M School of Medicine, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Amelia C L Mackenzie
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Texas A & M School of Medicine, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- FHI 360, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Charles L Chaffin
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Se-Jin Lee
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Duane C Kraemer
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A & M School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Istvan Merchenthaler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang J, Pan Y, Zhao L, Zhao T, Yu S, Cui Y. Identification of key genes and biological pathways in different parts of yak oviduct based on transcriptome analysis. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1016191. [PMID: 36504863 PMCID: PMC9727391 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1016191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The oviduct consists of three parts: the infundibulum (In), ampulla (Am), and isthmus (Is). These have the same histological structure, but different physiological functions. In this study, transcriptomics was used to analyze mRNA in these three parts of yak oviduct. The results showed that there were 325 up-regulated genes and 282 down-regulated genes in the infundibulum and ampulla. Moreover, there were 234 up-regulated genes and 776 down-regulated genes in the isthmus and ampulla, as well as 873 up-regulated genes and 297 down-regulated genes in the infundibulum and isthmus. The expression of C3 in the infundibulum was significantly higher than that in the ampulla and isthmus. The expression of FAU in the isthmus was significantly lower than that in the ampulla and infundibulum, and the expression of EEF1A1 in the ampulla was significantly higher than that in the ampulla and infundibulum. When the infundibulum was compared with the ampulla and isthmus, it was found that the up-regulated genes were enriched in the lysosome, phagosome, staphylococcus aureus infection, and leishmaniasis pathway. When the isthmus was compared with the ampulla and infundibulum, the up-regulated genes were present in the apoptosis pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, and viral myocarditis pathway. When the isthmus was compared with the infundibulum and ampulla, the down-regulated pathways were protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and the endocytosis. The Epstein-Barr virus infection pathway was up-regulated according to a comparison of the isthmus and infundibulum and was down-regulated based on a comparison of the isthmus and ampulla. Transcriptional misregulation in the Middle East pathway was up-regulated based on a comparison of the isthmus and ampulla and was down-regulated based on a comparison of the isthmus and infundibulum. ERBB2, JUP, CTNND1, and KRT7 were defined as the hub genes of the yak oviduct. The results of this study provide sufficient omics data for yak fertilization, which is also of great significance to altitude medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yangyang Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tian Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sijiu Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Sijiu Yu
| | - Yan Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China,Yan Cui
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Antonouli S, Palmerini MG, Bianchi S, Rossi G, Cecconi S, Belli M, Bernardi S, Khalili MA, Familiari G, Nottola SA, Macchiarelli G. Repeated hyperstimulation affects the ultrastructure of mouse fallopian tube epithelium. J Reprod Dev 2020; 66:387-397. [PMID: 32350229 PMCID: PMC7470905 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2019-147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is routinary used in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to increase the yields of mature oocytes. The possibility that patients
with a history of failures or poor-responders may develop side-effects following these treatments is still debated. Epidemiological studies reported controversial results about
pregnancy outcome and the risk of developing gynecological cancers. By using a mouse model, here we compared the ultrastructural features of fallopian tubes (FTs) obtained from
mice undergoing or not (control, CTR) four (4R) and eight (8R) rounds of gonadotropin stimulation. Although the morphological characteristics of oviductal layers seemed unaffected
by repeated treatments, dose-response ultrastructural alterations in the ampulla appeared in the 4R group and even more in the 8R group. The targets were oviductal ciliated (CCs)
and non-ciliated (NCCs) cells, which showed damaged mitochondria and glycogen accumulations in the cytoplasm. The drastic reduction of CCs, evident after 4R, was supported by the
absence of cilia. After 8R, glycogen granules were significantly reduced and massive degeneration of mitochondria, which appeared swollen and/or vacuolated, occurred in NCCs.
Moreover, disintegrated mitochondria were found at the periphery of mitophagic vacuoles with evident signs of cristolysis. The morphometric analysis evidenced a significant
increase in the density and frequency of damaged mitochondria after 4R and 8R. The absence of cilia, necessary to sustain oviductal transport of oocytes, spermatozoa and embryos,
may originate from either mitochondrial dysfunction or glycogen consumption. These results suggest that repeated COH treatments could induce alterations impairing fertilization and
embryo transport toward the uterus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sevastiani Antonouli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Palmerini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Serena Bianchi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Gianna Rossi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Sandra Cecconi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Manuel Belli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Sara Bernardi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Mohammad Ali Khalili
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Yazd Institute for Reproductive Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Giuseppe Familiari
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Annarita Nottola
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Macchiarelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xia Y, Wang Q, He XD, Chen Y, JiGe MT, Zi XD. Cloning and expression analysis of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene in the reproductive axis of female yaks (Bos grunniens). Domest Anim Endocrinol 2020; 70:106383. [PMID: 31479928 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2019.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) plays a central role in promoting follicle maturation through the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-mediated cAMP pathway in animals. The objectives of the present study were to clone the FSHR gene of yaks (Bos grunniens) and compare differences in FSHR mRNA expression in the reproductive axis between yaks and cattle. Hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, oviduct, ovary, and uterus tissue samples were collected from adult female yaks (n = 5) and cattle (n = 5) during the follicular phase. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found that the FSHR coding region of the yak is 2088 bp and encodes 695 amino acids. Its amino acid sequence showed 99.38%-72.22% similarity to the homologous genes of cattle, goats, sheep, cats, donkeys, horses, humans, chickens, monkeys, mice, rats, and wild boar. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that the FSHR gene was expressed in all tissues examined. Expression of the FSHR gene in the yak was higher in the uterus than other tissues (P < 0.05) but, in cattle, was higher in the ovary than other tissues (P < 0.05). The FSHR gene expression level in the cattle ovary was significantly higher than that in the yak ovary (P < 0.01). These results indicate that the FSHR gene is relatively conserved in the course of animal evolution. The variation in sequence and expression level of FSHR between the two species might be associated with the difference in their reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Xia
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Q Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - X D He
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Conservation & Utilization of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resources, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Y Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Conservation & Utilization of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resources, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - M T JiGe
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - X D Zi
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Composing the Early Embryonic Microenvironment: Physiology and Regulation of Oviductal Secretions. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010223. [PMID: 31905654 PMCID: PMC6982147 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The oviductal fluid is the first environment experienced by mammalian embryos at the very beginning of life. However, it has long been believed that the oviductal environment was not essential for proper embryonic development. Successful establishment of in vitro embryo production techniques (which completely bypass the oviduct) have reinforced this idea. Yet, it became evident that in vitro produced embryos differ markedly from their in vivo counterparts, and these differences are associated with lower pregnancy outcomes and more health issues after birth. Nowadays, researchers consider the oviduct as the most suitable microenvironment for early embryonic development and a substantial effort is made to understand its dynamic, species-specific functions. In this review, we touch on the origin and molecular components of the oviductal fluid in mammals, where recent progress has been made thanks to the wider use of mass spectrometry techniques. Some of the factors and processes known to regulate oviductal secretions, including the embryo itself, as well as ovulation, insemination, endogenous and exogenous hormones, and metabolic and heat stress, are summarized. Special emphasis is laid on farm animals because, owing to the availability of sample material and the economic importance of fertility in livestock husbandry, a large part of the work on this topic has been carried out in domestic animals used for dairy and/or meat production.
Collapse
|
6
|
Fontes PK, Razza EM, Pupulim AGR, Barros CM, de Souza Castilho AC. Equine chorionic gonadotropin increases estradiol levels in the bovine oviduct and drives the transcription of genes related to fertilization in superstimulated cows. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:1582-1591. [PMID: 31353672 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In the bovine oviduct, estradiol (E2) stimulates secretion and cell proliferation, whereas progesterone (P4) suppresses them. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of two superstimulatory protocols (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] or FSH combined with equine chorionic gonadotropin [eCG]) on the oviductal levels of E2 and P4 and its outcome on oviductal cells. Compared with the control group (a single pre-ovulatory follicle), we have observed that the cows submitted to FSH/eCG treatment showed a higher concentration of E2 in the oviduct tissue, together with a higher abundance of messenger RNA encoding steroid receptors (ESR1 and progesterone receptor), and genes linked to gamete interactions and regulation of polyspermy (oviduct-specific glycoprotein 1, heat-shock protein family A member 5, α-l-fucosidase 1 [FUCA1], and FUCA2) in the infundibulum and ampulla segments of the oviduct. However, we did not observe any modulation of gene expression in the isthmus segment. Even though the FSH protocol upregulated some of the genes analyzed, we may infer that the steady effect of FSH combined with eCG on oviduct regulation might benefit fertilization and may potentially increase pregnancy rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia K Fontes
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo M Razza
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ciro M Barros
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Arianmanesh M, Moosavi S, Ganji H, Ramezanikhah H. Human chorionic gonadotropin in vitro: Effects on rat sperm motility and fertilization outcome. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION 2018. [DOI: 10.4103/2305-0500.241206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
|