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Bao S, Yin T, Liu S. Ovarian aging: energy metabolism of oocytes. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:118. [PMID: 38822408 PMCID: PMC11141068 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01427-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In women who are getting older, the quantity and quality of their follicles or oocytes and decline. This is characterized by decreased ovarian reserve function (DOR), fewer remaining oocytes, and lower quality oocytes. As more women choose to delay childbirth, the decline in fertility associated with age has become a significant concern for modern women. The decline in oocyte quality is a key indicator of ovarian aging. Many studies suggest that age-related changes in oocyte energy metabolism may impact oocyte quality. Changes in oocyte energy metabolism affect adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) production, but how related products and proteins influence oocyte quality remains largely unknown. This review focuses on oocyte metabolism in age-related ovarian aging and its potential impact on oocyte quality, as well as therapeutic strategies that may partially influence oocyte metabolism. This research aims to enhance our understanding of age-related changes in oocyte energy metabolism, and the identification of biomarkers and treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglan Bao
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tailang Yin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Su Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-Implantation, , Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Shenzhen Zhongshan Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital (Formerly Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
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Meulders B, Marei WFA, Xhonneux I, Bols PEJ, Leroy JLMR. Effect of lipotoxicity on mitochondrial function and epigenetic programming during bovine in vitro embryo production. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21664. [PMID: 38066095 PMCID: PMC10709407 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49184-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal metabolic disorders may cause lipotoxic effects on the developing oocyte. Understanding the timing at which this might disrupt embryo epigenetic programming and how this is linked with mitochondrial dysfunction is crucial for improving assisted reproductive treatments, but has not been investigated before. Therefore, we used a bovine in vitro model to investigate if pathophysiological palmitic acid (PA) concentrations during in vitro oocyte maturation and in vitro embryo culture alter embryo epigenetic patterns (DNA methylation (5mC) and histone acetylation/methylation (H3K9ac/H3K9me2)) compared to control (CONT) and solvent control (SCONT), at the zygote and morula stage. Secondly, we investigated if these epigenetic alterations are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and changes in ATP production rate, or altered expression of epigenetic regulatory genes. Compared to SCONT, H3K9ac and H3K9me2 levels were increased in PA-derived zygotes. Also, 5mC and H3K9me2 levels were increased in PA-exposed morulae compared to SCONT. This was associated with complete inhibition of glycolytic ATP production in oocytes, increased mitochondrial membrane potential and complete inhibition of glycolytic ATP production in 4-cell embryos and reduced SOD2 expression in PA-exposed zygotes and morulae. For the first time, epigenetic alterations in metabolically compromised zygotes and morulae have been observed in parallel with mitochondrial dysfunction in the same study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Meulders
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Waleed F A Marei
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Inne Xhonneux
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Peter E J Bols
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jo L M R Leroy
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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Tutt DAR, Guven-Ates G, Kwong WY, Simmons R, Sang F, Silvestri G, Canedo-Ribeiro C, Handyside AH, Labrecque R, Sirard MA, Emes RD, Griffin DK, Sinclair KD. Developmental, cytogenetic and epigenetic consequences of removing complex proteins and adding melatonin during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1280847. [PMID: 38027209 PMCID: PMC10647927 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1280847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In vitro maturation (IVM) of germinal vesicle intact oocytes prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) is practiced widely in animals. In human assisted reproduction it is generally reserved for fertility preservation or where ovarian stimulation is contraindicated. Standard practice incorporates complex proteins (CP), in the form of serum and/or albumin, into IVM media to mimic the ovarian follicle environment. However, the undefined nature of CP, together with batch variation and ethical concerns regarding their origin, necessitate the development of more defined formulations. A known component of follicular fluid, melatonin, has multifaceted roles including that of a metabolic regulator and antioxidant. In certain circumstances it can enhance oocyte maturation. At this stage in development, the germinal-vesicle intact oocyte is prone to aneuploidy and epigenetic dysregulation. Objectives To determine the developmental, cytogenetic and epigenetic consequences of removing CP and including melatonin during bovine IVM. Materials and methods The study comprised a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement comparing (i) the inclusion or exclusion of CP, and (ii) the addition (100 nM) or omission of melatonin, during IVM. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were retrieved from stimulated cycles. Following IVM and IVF, putative zygotes were cultured to Day 8 in standard media. RNAseq was performed on isolated cumulus cells, cytogenetic analyses (SNP-based algorithms) on isolated trophectoderm cells, and DNA methylation analysis (reduced representation bisulfite sequencing) on isolated cells of the inner-cell mass. Results Removal of CP during IVM led to modest reductions in blastocyst development, whilst added melatonin was beneficial in the presence but detrimental in the absence of CP. The composition of IVM media did not affect the nature or incidence of chromosomal abnormalities but cumulus-cell transcript expression indicated altered metabolism (primarily lipid) in COCs. These effects preceded the establishment of distinct metabolic and epigenetic signatures several days later in expanded and hatching blastocysts. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of lipid, particularly sterol, metabolism by the COC during IVM. They lay the foundation for future studies that seek to develop chemically defined systems of IVM for the generation of transferrable embryos that are both cytogenetically and epigenetically normal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desmond A. R. Tutt
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| | - Gizem Guven-Ates
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| | - Wing Yee Kwong
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Simmons
- Paragon Veterinary Group, Carlisle, United Kingdom
| | - Fei Sang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Alan H. Handyside
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marc-André Sirard
- CRDSI, Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Richard D. Emes
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| | - Darren K. Griffin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin D. Sinclair
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
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Shi M, Sirard MA. Effects of NEFAs during IVM on pig embryos from granulosa cell-cocultured oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:805-816. [PMID: 34841613 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Circulating levels of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are elevated in some females, which can impair oocyte maturation and embryo development, and may alter the phenotype of the progeny. However, the effects of NEFAs on human embryo development are not clear due to ethical limitations. Thus, we used pig as the model to investigate the impacts of NEFAs on oocyte and embryo due to their similar reproductive and metabolic physiologies to humans. In this study, porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes were in vitro maturated under a pathologically high concentration of NEFAs (468 μM palmitic acid, 194 μM stearic acid, and 534 μM oleic acid) with the presence of granulosa cell monolayer, in contrast to control without NEFAs. The mature oocytes were fertilized to produce embryos for further analysis of the transcriptome and DNA methylation patterns. The elevated level of NEFAs decreased the blastocyst rate and delayed the blastocyst development. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed that the most affected gene pathways were related mainly to cell activities, metabolism, and inflammation. These findings indicated that oocytes exposed to the exogenous high level of NEFAs during in vitro maturation resulted in altered gene expression and DNA methylation of early embryos, which have detrimental impacts on blastocyst quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihong Shi
- Département des Sciences Animales, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Faculté des sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Pavillon Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Département des Sciences Animales, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Faculté des sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Pavillon Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
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Shi M, Sirard MA. Cocultured porcine granulosa cells respond to excess non-esterified fatty acids during in vitro maturation. J Ovarian Res 2021; 14:142. [PMID: 34711256 PMCID: PMC8554973 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-021-00904-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are one of the main lipid components of follicular fluid at concentrations that depend on circulating levels. Elevated levels of NEFAs impair oocyte quality, development potential, and may subsequently influence the metabolism and reproductive fitness of offspring. Granulosa cells (GCs) are the follicular cells that are closely communicating with the oocyte. However, the responses of GCs exposed to high levels of NEFAs when cocultured with cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and how they attenuate the negative effects of NEFAs on oocytes, are unclear. Results To better understand this protective effect, monolayers of porcine GCs were cocultured with COCs during in vitro maturation (IVM) in the presence of elevated levels of NEFAs. Genomic expression analysis was conducted to explore the responses of the GCs to the elevated levels of NEFAs. After limma algorithm analysis, 1,013 genes were differentially expressed between GCs cultured with and without elevated NEFAs. Among them, 438 genes were upregulated and 575 were downregulated. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in pathways related to metabolism, inflammation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conclusions The pathways and upstream regulators suggested that the cocultured GCs responded to the elevated NEFAs with (1) inhibition of the transition from granulosa to luteal cell, (2) interactions of metabolism change, anti-inflammation, mitochondrial function, and cell transition, (3) intercommunication with cocultured COCs of anti-inflammatory factors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-021-00904-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihong Shi
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Département des Sciences Animales, Pavillon Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Département des Sciences Animales, Pavillon Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
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