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Traut M, Kowalczyk-Zieba I, Boruszewska D, Jaworska J, Gąsiorowska S, Lukaszuk K, Ropka-Molik K, Piórkowska K, Szmatoła T, Woclawek-Potocka I. Deregulation of oxidative phosphorylation pathways in embryos derived in vitro from prepubertal and pubertal heifers based on whole-transcriptome sequencing. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:632. [PMID: 38914933 PMCID: PMC11197288 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10532-7] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although, oocytes from prepubertal donors are known to be less developmentally competent than those from adult donors it does not restrain their ability to produce full-term pregnancies. The transcriptomic profile of embryos could be used as a predictor for embryo's individual developmental competence. The aim of the study was to compare transcriptomic profile of blastocysts derived from prepubertal and pubertal heifers oocytes. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained by ovum pick- up method from prepubertal and pubertal heifers. After in vitro maturation COCs were fertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage. Total RNA was isolated from both groups of blastocysts and RNA-seq was performed. Gene ontology analysis was performed by DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery). RESULTS A higher average blastocyst rate was obtained in the pubertal than in the pre-pubertal group. There were no differences in the quality of blastocysts between the examined groups. We identified 436 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between blastocysts derived from researched groups, of which 247 DEGs were downregulated in blastocysts derived from pubertal compared to prepubertal heifers oocytes, and 189 DEGs were upregulated. The genes involved in mitochondrial function, including oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were found to be different in studied groups using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) pathway analysis and 8 of those DEGs were upregulated and 1 was downregulated in blastocysts derived from pubertal compared to prepubertal heifers oocytes. DEGs associated with mitochondrial function were found: ATP synthases (ATP5MF-ATP synthase membrane subunit f, ATP5PD- ATP synthase peripheral stalk subunit d, ATP12A- ATPase H+/K + transporting non-gastric alpha2 subunit), NADH dehydrogenases (NDUFS3- NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit core subunit S3, NDUFA13- NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A13, NDUFA3- NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A3), cytochrome c oxidase (COX17), cytochrome c somatic (CYCS) and ubiquinol cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 (UQCRC1). We found lower number of apoptotic cells in blastocysts derived from oocytes collected from prepubertal than those obtained from pubertal donors. CONCLUSIONS Despite decreased expression of genes associated with OXPHOS pathway in blastocysts from prepubertal heifers oocytes, the increased level of ATP12A together with the lower number of apoptotic cells in these blastocysts might support their survival after transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Traut
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-747, Poland
| | - Ilona Kowalczyk-Zieba
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-747, Poland
| | - Dorota Boruszewska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-747, Poland
| | - Joanna Jaworska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-747, Poland
| | - Sandra Gąsiorowska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-747, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Lukaszuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-210, Poland
- Invicta Research and Development Center, Sopot, 81-740, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ropka-Molik
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1 St, Balice, 32-083, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Piórkowska
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1 St, Balice, 32-083, Poland
| | - Tomasz Szmatoła
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1 St, Balice, 32-083, Poland
- Center for Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Redzina 1c, Krakow, 30-248, Poland
| | - Izabela Woclawek-Potocka
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-747, Poland.
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Ferré LB, Alvarez-Gallardo H, Romo S, Fresno C, Stroud T, Stroud B, Lindsey B, Kjelland ME. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval in cattle: State-of-the-art and its impact on the in vitro fertilization embryo production outcome. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58:363-378. [PMID: 36510745 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14303] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (commonly called OPU) and in vitro embryo production (IVP) in cattle has shown significant progress in recent years, in part, as a result of a better understanding of the full potential of these tools by end users. The combination of OPU and IVP (OPU-IVP) has been successfully and widely commercially used worldwide. The main advantages are a greater number of embryos and pregnancies per unit of time, faster genetic progress due to donor quick turn around and more elite sires mating combinations, larger spectrum of female age (calves, prepuberal, heifer, cow) and condition (open, pregnant) from which to retrieve oocytes, a reduced number of sperm (even sexed) required to fertilize the oocytes, among other benefits. OPU-IVP requires significant less donor preparation in comparison to conventional embryo transfer (<50% of usual FSH injections needed) to the extent of no stimulating hormones (FSH) are necessary. Donor synchronization, stimulation, OPU technique, oocyte competence, embryo performance, and its impact on cryopreservation and pregnancy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis B Ferré
- National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Chacra Experimental Integrada Barrow (MDA-INTA), Tres Arroyos, Argentina
| | - Horacio Alvarez-Gallardo
- Centro Nacional de Recursos Genéticos, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Salvador Romo
- Laboratorio de Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuautitlán, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Cristóbal Fresno
- Health Sciences Research Center (CICSA), Anáhuac University of México, Huixquilucan, Mexico
| | | | - Brad Stroud
- Stroud Veterinary Embryo Services, Inc, Weatherford, Texas, USA
| | | | - Michael E Kjelland
- Conservation, Genetics and Biotech, LLC, Valley City, North Dakota, USA.,Mayville State University, Mayville, North Dakota, USA
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3
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Lafontaine S, Sirard MA. IGF2R, KCNQ1, PLAGL1, and SNRPN DNA methylation is completed in bovine by the early antral follicle stage. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:290-297. [PMID: 35698757 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23621] [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: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Imprinted genes are inherited with different DNA methylation patterns depending on the maternal or paternal origin of the allele. In cattle (Bos taurus), abnormal methylation of these genes is linked to the large offspring syndrome, a neonatal overgrowth phenotype analogous to the human Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. We hypothesized that in bovine oocytes, some of the methylation patterns on maternally imprinted genes are acquired in the last phase of folliculogenesis. The pyrosequencing analysis of IGF2R, KCNQ1, PLAGL1, and SNRPN imprinted genes showed no clear progression of methylation in oocytes from follicles 1-2 mm (late pre antral/early antral) and up. Instead, these oocytes displayed complete methylation at the imprinted differentially methylated regions (>80%). Other mechanisms related to imprint maintenance should be investigated to explain the hypomethylation at IGF2R, KCNQ1, PLAGL1, and SNRPN maternally imprinted sites observed in some bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Lafontaine
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
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4
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Sirard MA. How the environment affects early embryonic development. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:203-213. [PMID: 35231267 DOI: 10.1071/rd21266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the field of animal reproduction, the environment associated with gametes and embryos refers to the parents' condition as well as conditions surrounding gametes and embryos in vivo or in vitro . This environment is now known to influence not only the functionality of the early embryo but potentially the future phenotype of the offspring. Using transcriptomic and epigenetic molecular analysis, and the bovine model, recent research has shown that both the female and the male metabolic status, for example age, can affect gene expression and gene programming in the embryo. Evidence demonstrates that milking cows, which are losing weight at the time of conception, generates compromised embryos and offspring with a unique metabolic signature. A similar phenomenon has been associated with different culture conditions and the IVF procedure. The general common consequence of these situations is an embryo behaving on 'economy' mode where translation, cell division and ATP production is reduced, potentially to adapt to the perceived future environment. Few epidemiological studies have been done in bovines to assess if these changes result in a different phenotype and more studies are required to associate specific molecular changes in embryos with visible consequences later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-André Sirard
- Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Département des Sciences Animales, Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Currin L, Baldassarre H, Bordignon V. In Vitro Production of Embryos from Prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo: Problems, Progress and Potential. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2275. [PMID: 34438733 PMCID: PMC8388507 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) coupled with in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in prepubertal cattle and buffalo accelerates genetic gain. This article reviews LOPU-IVEP technology in prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo. The recent expansion of genomic-assisted selection has renewed interest and demand for prepubertal LOPU-IVEP schemes; however, low blastocyst development rates has constrained its widespread implementation. Here, we present an overview of the current state of the technology, limitations that persist and suggest possible solutions to improve its efficiency, with a focus on gonadotropin stimulations strategies to prime oocytes prior to follicular aspiration, and IVEP procedures promoting growth factor metabolism and limiting oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; (L.C.); (H.B.)
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Wu C, Sirard MA. Parental Effects on Epigenetic Programming in Gametes and Embryos of Dairy Cows. Front Genet 2020; 11:557846. [PMID: 33173533 PMCID: PMC7591718 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.557846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The bovine represents an important agriculture species and dairy breeds have experienced intense genetic selection over the last decades. The selection of breeders focused initially on milk production, but now includes feed efficiency, health, and fertility, although these traits show lower heritability. The non-genetic paternal and maternal effects on the next generation represent a new research topic that is part of epigenetics. The evidence for embryo programming from both parents is increasing. Both oocytes and spermatozoa carry methylation marks, histones modifications, small RNAs, and chromatin state variations. These epigenetic modifications may remain active in the early zygote and influence the embryonic period and beyond. In this paper, we review parental non-genetic effects retained in gametes on early embryo development of dairy cows, with emphasis on parental age (around puberty), the metabolism of the mother at the time of conception and in vitro culture (IVC) conditions. In our recent findings, transcriptomic signatures and DNA methylation patterns of blastocysts and gametes originating from various parental and IVC conditions revealed surprisingly similar results. Embryos from all these experiments displayed a metabolic signature that could be described as an "economy" mode where protein synthesis is reduced, mitochondria are considered less functional. In the absence of any significant phenotype, these results indicated a possible similar adaptation of the embryo to younger parental age, post-partum metabolic status and IVC conditions mediated by epigenetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l’Agriculture et de l’Alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
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7
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Lafontaine S, Labrecque R, Palomino JM, Blondin P, Sirard MA. Specific imprinted genes demethylation in association with oocyte donor's age and culture conditions in bovine embryos assessed at day 7 and 12 post insemination. Theriogenology 2020; 158:321-330. [PMID: 33010654 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The production of bovine embryos through in vitro maturation and fertilization is an important tool of the genomic revolution in dairy cattle. Gene expression analysis of these embryos revealed differences according to the culture conditions or oocyte donor's pubertal status compared to in vivo derived embryos. We hypothesized that some of the methylation patterns in oocytes are acquired in the last step of folliculogenesis and could be influenced by the environment created in the follicles containing these oocytes. These altered patterns may not be erased during the first week of embryonic development in culture or may be sensitive to the conditions during that time. To quantify the changes related to culture conditions, an in vivo control group consisting of embryos (Day 12 post fertilization for all groups) obtained from superovulated and artificially inseminated cows was compared to in vitro produced (IVP) embryos cultured with or without Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). To measure the effect of the oocytes donor's age, we also compared a fourth group consisting of IVP embryos produced with oocytes collected following ovarian stimulation of pre-pubertal animals. Embryonic disk and trophoblast cells were processed separately and the methylation status of ten imprinted genes (H19, MEST, KCNQ1, SNRPN, PEG3, NNAT, GNASXL, IGF2R, PEG10, and PLAGL1) was assessed by pyrosequencing. Next, ten Day 7 blastocysts were produced following the same methodology as for the D12 embryos (four groups) to observe the most interesting genes (KCNQ1, SNRPN, IGF2R and PLAGL1) at an earlier developmental stage. For all samples, we observed overall lower methylation levels and greater variability in the three in vitro groups compared to the in vivo group. The individual embryo analysis indicated that some embryos were deviant from the others and some were not affected. We concluded that IGF2R, SNRPN, and PEG10 were particularly sensitive to culture conditions and the presence of FBS, while KCNQ1 and PLAGL1 were more affected in embryos derived from pre-pubertal donors. This work provides markers at the single imprinted control region (ICR) resolution to assess the culture environment required to minimize epigenetic perturbations in bovine embryos generated by assisted reproduction techniques, thus laying the groundwork for a better comprehension of the complex interplay between in vitro conditions and imprinted genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Lafontaine
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animals, Faculté des Sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Rémi Labrecque
- SEMEX Boviteq, 3450 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S, Canada
| | | | - Patrick Blondin
- SEMEX Boviteq, 3450 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S, Canada
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animals, Faculté des Sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
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8
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Rivera RM. Consequences of assisted reproductive techniques on the embryonic epigenome in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 32:65-81. [PMID: 32188559 DOI: 10.1071/rd19276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Procedures used in assisted reproduction have been under constant scrutiny since their inception with the goal of improving the number and quality of embryos produced. However, invitro production of embryos is not without complications because many fertilised oocytes fail to become blastocysts, and even those that do often differ in the genetic output compared with their invivo counterparts. Thus only a portion of those transferred complete normal fetal development. An unwanted consequence of bovine assisted reproductive technology (ART) is the induction of a syndrome characterised by fetal overgrowth and placental abnormalities, namely large offspring syndrome; a condition associated with inappropriate control of the epigenome. Epigenetics is the study of chromatin and its effects on genetic output. Establishment and maintenance of epigenetic marks during gametogenesis and embryogenesis is imperative for the maintenance of cell identity and function. ARTs are implemented during times of vast epigenetic reprogramming; as a result, many studies have identified ART-induced deviations in epigenetic regulation in mammalian gametes and embryos. This review describes the various layers of epigenetic regulation and discusses findings pertaining to the effects of ART on the epigenome of bovine gametes and the preimplantation embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Melissa Rivera
- Division of Animal Science University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
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9
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Morin-Doré L, Blondin P, Vigneault C, Grand FX, Labrecque R, Sirard MA. DNA methylation status of bovine blastocysts obtained from peripubertal oocyte donors. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:910-924. [PMID: 32677283 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In the dairy industry, the high selection pressure combined with the increased efficiency of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are leading toward the use of younger females for reproduction purposes, with the aim to reduce the interval between generations. This situation could impair embryo quality, decreasing the success rate of the ART procedures and the values of resulting offspring. Young Holstein heifers (n = 10) were subjected to ovarian stimulation and oocyte collection at 8, 11, and 14 months of age. All the oocytes were fertilized in vitro with semen from one adult bull, generating three pools of embryos per animal. Each animal was its own control for the evaluation of the effects of age. The EmbryoGENE platform was used to compare the DNA methylation status of blastocysts obtained from oocytes collected at 8 versus 14 and 11 versus 14 months of age. Age-related contrast analysis identified 5,787 and 3,658 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in blastocysts from heifers at 8 versus 14 and 11 versus 14 months of age, respectively. For both contrasts, the DMRs were distributed nonrandomly in the different DNA regions. The DNA from embryos from 8-month-old donors was more hypermethylated, while the DNA from embryos from 11-month-old donors displayed an intermediate phenotype. According to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, the upstream regulator genes cellular tumor antigen p53, transforming growth factor β1, tumor necrosis factor, and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α are particularly associated with methylation sensitive targets, which were more hypermethylated in embryos from younger donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léonie Morin-Doré
- Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Centre de recherche en Reproduction, Développement et santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Marc-André Sirard
- Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Centre de recherche en Reproduction, Développement et santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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10
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Chaput C, Sirard MA. Embryonic response to high beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels in postpartum dairy cows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2020; 72:106431. [PMID: 32325411 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2019.106431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cows at the beginning of lactation often do not meet their energy needs by feeding and therefore mobilize body fat, which produces ketone bodies, including β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). They are nevertheless usually inseminated around 60 d postpartum, when they are still in this characteristic period of energy deficit. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of negative energy balance on embryo quality and to identify ways to improve the fertility of dairy cows. Holstein cows (n = 18) grouped as high or low BHB based on blood measurement at day 45 postpartum were estrus-synchronized and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone to obtain multiple follicle development, induced to ovulate and inseminated with sexed semen around day 60 postpartum. Of the 290 embryos collected over 16 mo, 159 were of quality I to IV. Based on microarray analysis of gene expression, exposure to an energy deficit metabolic environment (high BHB) during early development appeared to modify signaling by the mTOR and sirtuins pathways in the embryo, implying mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of transcription, leading to slower cell division, thus programming the embryo to be more energy efficient. Altered methylation markers suggested that such coping mechanisms might persist into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chaput
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Faculté des sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Département des Sciences Animales, Pavillon INAF, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - M A 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 INAF, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
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11
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Wu C, Blondin P, Vigneault C, Labrecque R, Sirard MA. The age of the bull influences the transcriptome and epigenome of blastocysts produced by IVF. Theriogenology 2019; 144:122-131. [PMID: 31951983 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Genetic selection for the best suited offspring drives the dairy industry to use young genitors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to reduce generation intervals. However, sperm samples collected from peri-pubertal bulls have lower counts and quality compared to samples from adult bulls. Moreover, our previous study identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in sperms from early-, peri- and post-pubertal bulls. The aim of this study was to further investigate the impacts of paternal age on early embryos. To achieve this, we evaluated the transcriptome and the epigenome of bovine blastocysts generated from spermatozoa of bulls at 10, 12, and 16 months of age and used in vitro fertilization (IVF) of oocytes recovered from the same adult cows. A total of 259 probes were differentially expressed and 6953 probes were differentially methylated in the 10- vs 16-month and the 12- vs 16-month groups. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of transcriptomic data demonstrated that energy-related pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, EIF2 signaling, and mitochondrial dysfunction were affected the most by the age of the bull. Meanwhile, IPA analysis of the epigenome revealed that protein kinase A signaling, RAR activation, and other pathways were influenced by paternal age. Overall, we showed that the bull's age mainly influenced metabolism-related pathways in blastocysts, and this could therefore impact subsequent development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyang Wu
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - Rémi Labrecque
- L'Alliance Boviteq Inc., Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
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12
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Abstract
IVF success depends on hundreds of factors and details but the oocyte quality remains the most important and problematic issue. All antral follicles contain oocytes and all of them have that have reached their full size, can be aspirated, can mature and can be fertilized in vitro. But only a few will make it to embryo unless harvested at a very specific time/status. The conditions impacting the oocyte competence are essentially dependant on the follicular status. Growing follicles contains oocytes that have not completed their preparation, as they are still writing information (RNA), later, dominant follicles or follicles at the plateau phase, stop transcription and become candidates for development. Once in transcriptional arrest, the oocytes, if not ovulated in a short amount of time, do not always make good embryos. This window is affected by time and follicle size and looks like a bell curve. The following review further explain the physiological and molecular evidences that we have to illustrate the competence window and provides clues on how to optimize ovarian stimulation to maximise oocyte quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-André Sirard
- Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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13
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Landry DA, Labrecque R, Grand FX, Vigneault C, Blondin P, Sirard MA. Effect of heifer age on the granulosa cell transcriptome after ovarian stimulation. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 30:980-990. [PMID: 30447702 DOI: 10.1071/rd17225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic selection is accelerating genetic gain in dairy cattle. Decreasing generation time by using younger gamete donors would further accelerate breed improvement programs. Although ovarian stimulation of peripubertal animals is possible and embryos produced in vitro from the resulting oocytes are viable, developmental competence is lower than when sexually mature cows are used. The aim of the present study was to shed light on how oocyte developmental competence is acquired as a heifer ages. Ten peripubertal Bos taurus Holstein heifers underwent ovarian stimulation cycles at the ages of 8, 11 (mean 10.8) and 14 (mean 13.7) months. Collected oocytes were fertilised in vitro with spermatozoa from the same adult male. Each heifer served as its own control. The transcriptomes of granulosa cells recovered with the oocytes were analysed using microarrays. Differential expression of certain genes was measured using polymerase chain reaction. Principal component analysis of microarray data revealed that the younger the animal, the more distinctive the gene expression pattern. Using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) and NetworkAnalyst (www.networkanalyst.ca), the main biological functions affected in younger donors were identified. The results suggest that cell differentiation, inflammation and apoptosis signalling are less apparent in peripubertal donors. Such physiological traits have been associated with a lower basal concentration of LH.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Landry
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l'Université, Québec, G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Rémi Labrecque
- Boviteq Inc., 19320 Rang Grand Saint Francois Ouest, J2T 5H1, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - François-Xavier Grand
- Boviteq Inc., 19320 Rang Grand Saint Francois Ouest, J2T 5H1, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Christian Vigneault
- Boviteq Inc., 19320 Rang Grand Saint Francois Ouest, J2T 5H1, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Blondin
- Boviteq Inc., 19320 Rang Grand Saint Francois Ouest, J2T 5H1, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l'Université, Québec, G1V0A6, Canada
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14
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Sirard MA, Grand FX, Labrecque R, Vigneault C, Blondin P. ASAS-SSR Triennial Reproduction Symposium: The use of natural cycle's follicular dynamic to improve oocyte quality in dairy cows and heifers. J Anim Sci 2018. [PMID: 29514310 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The selection of the best dairy heifers is mainly driven by the genetic value of their parents. The phenotype analysis of cows and of the daughters of bulls has been used to identify the best genetic value for decades before being replaced by genomic selection of individuals that are not yet parents. Because it is possible to predict the future value of an individual by its genetic makeup, it becomes feasible to do it as early as the blastocyst stage and to decide which should be transferred or not. Because we know the genotype of an animal at birth, or even before, it is becoming desirable to reproduce this animal as soon as possible to reduce generation interval and improve selection speed. Nature provides constraints that can be overcome: a single oocyte per cycle and age at puberty. Indeed, it is now possible to super-stimulate the ovary at any age and to start collecting oocytes at 6 mo by trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The challenge becomes the production of good eggs and embryos capable of implanting and developing into healthy calves. Our understanding of ovarian follicular physiology has been instrumental in designing stimulation protocols that may be adjusted to any physiological context including age, and even the individual animal, to obtain a good response. Therefore, the combination of procedures developed in cows to optimize oocyte quality, for example, FSH coasting, in association with in vitro fertilization and optimal culture conditions can now result in the production of several female embryos twice a month from animals 6 to12 mo of age. The transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses of embryos produced from the same females at different ages were compared and few differences were noted in particular in relation to embryo metabolism. These embryos are as good as the ones obtained from adult animals and can be produced with sexed sperm of bulls 12 mo of age. This combination of these technical optimizations with blastocyst genotyping allows the selection of a second generation within a year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc André Sirard
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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Zarezadeh R, Mehdizadeh A, Leroy JLMR, Nouri M, Fayezi S, Darabi M. Action mechanisms of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the oocyte maturation and developmental competence: Potential advantages and disadvantages. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:1016-1029. [PMID: 30073662 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. Currently, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is widely performed to treat infertility. However, a high percentage of IVF cycles fails, due to the poor developmental potential of the retrieved oocyte to generate viable embryos. Fatty acid content of the follicular microenvironment can affect oocyte maturation and the subsequent developmental competence. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids are mainly used by follicle components as primary energy sources whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a wide range of roles. A large body of evidence supports the beneficial effects of n-3 PUFAs in prevention, treatment, and amelioration of some pathophysiological conditions including heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and psychological disorders. Nevertheless, current findings regarding the effects of n-3 PUFAs on reproductive outcomes in general and on oocyte quality more specifically are inconsistent. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of potential molecular mechanisms by which n-3 PUFAs affect oocyte maturation and developmental competence, particularly in the setting of IVF and thereby aims to elucidate the reasons behind current discrepancies around this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Zarezadeh
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Mehdizadeh
- Endocrine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jo L M R Leroy
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Gamete Research Center, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shabnam Fayezi
- Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Inserm U1091 - CNRS U7277, Nice 06034, France
| | - Masoud Darabi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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