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Fernandes CADC, Lopes AC, Gonçalves FC, Pereira JR, Guimarães JPDA, Castilho ACDS, Caixeta ES. Improvement in early antral follicle development and gene expression modulation prior to follicle aspiration in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes by equine chorionic gonadotropin. Theriogenology 2021; 172:281-288. [PMID: 34303227 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.07.003] [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: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the morphological ovarian response to equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) prior to ovum pick-up (OPU) and its effects on the molecular phenotype of immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from Nelore cow (Bos indicus) donors. To this end, 20 Nelore cows were distributed randomly into the synchronized-OPU (Sync-OPU) and synchronized plus stimulated-OPU (Sync + eCG-OPU) groups using a cross-over experimental design, as each cow was used in both treatments. On a random day of the estrus cycle (Day 0), all cows received an intravaginal implant with 1.0 g of progesterone and 2 mg IM of estradiol benzoate. On the morning of Day 3, only the Sync + eCG-OPU group received 400 IU of eCG IM. On the morning of Day 5, the P4 device was removed and OPU was conducted in both groups. Before OPU management, ultrasonography was used to identify and measure the follicles. The aspirated COCs were morphologically classified based on their cumulus cells (CC) layers and the texture of the ooplasm. The COCs classified as Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 were considered viable and used for the assessment of quality markers. Oocytes and CC were mechanically separated from pools of 25 immature COCs of the Sync-OPU and Sync + eCG-OPU groups immediately after the follicular aspiration and stored at -80 °C until RNA extraction. Relative quantification of several markers for oocyte quality was assessed by RT-qPCR. The eCG treatment increased the number of follicles sized 3.0-5.0 mm and >5.0 mm compared to that in Sync-OPU group. Moreover, the protocol with eCG improved the total number of oocytes and the number of viable oocytes, which is related to a high number of oocytes in Grade 3. Regarding the impact on transcriptional regulation in immature oocytes, the mRNA encoding BMP15, SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, ACACA, and CPT1A was upregulated in Sync + eCG-OPU compared with the Sync-OPU group. Moreover, the relative mRNA abundance of CTSZ, a member of the cathepsins family functionally related to reduced oocyte competence, was lower in the Sync + eCG-OPU group than in the Sync-OPU group. In addition, CC CTSB, CTSS, and CTSK mRNA abundances were lower in the Sync + eCG-OPU group than in the Sync-OPU group. However, the relative abundance of AREG and EREG mRNA was higher in CC recovered from cows stimulated with eCG. In conclusion, the eCG approach addressing follicular stimulation in Nelore cows had a positive impact on early antral follicle development, followed by a positive morphological and molecular phenotype in bovine COCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asafe Costa Lopes
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Felipe Costa Gonçalves
- Department of Animal Reproduction, University of José Rosário Vellano, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jessica Ruiz Pereira
- Department of Animal Reproduction, University of José Rosário Vellano, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ester Siqueira Caixeta
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Villarraza CJ, Antuña S, Tardivo MB, Rodríguez MC, Mussio P, Cattaneo L, Fontana D, Díaz PU, Ortega HH, Tríbulo A, Macagno A, Bó GA, Ceaglio N, Prieto C. Development of a suitable manufacturing process for production of a bioactive recombinant equine chorionic gonadotropin (reCG) in CHO-K1 cells. Theriogenology 2021; 172:8-19. [PMID: 34082223 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone produced by pregnant mares that has been used to improve reproductive performance in different domestic species. Several strategies to produce the hormone in a recombinant way have been reported; nevertheless, no approach has been able to produce a recombinant eCG (reCG) with significant in vivo bioactivity or in sufficient quantities for commercial purposes. For this reason, the only current product available on the market consists of partially purified preparations from serum of pregnant mares (PMSG). Herein, we describe a highly efficient process based on third-generation lentiviral vectors as delivery method for the production of reCG in suspension CHO-K1 cells, with productivities above 20 IU 106 cell-1.d-1 and 70% purification yields after one purification step. Importantly, reCG demonstrated biological activity in cattle, since around 30 μg of reCG were needed to exert the same biologic effect of 400 IU of PMSG in an ovulation synchronization protocol. The results obtained demonstrate that the developed strategy represents an attractive option for the production of reCG and constitutes an auspicious alternative for the replacement of animals as a source of PMSG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Javier Villarraza
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Cell Culture Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242, (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Antuña
- Biotecnofe S.A., PTLC, Ruta 168 Pje El Pozo, (CP3000), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - María Celeste Rodríguez
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Cell Culture Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242, (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pablo Mussio
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Biotechnological Development Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - Diego Fontana
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Cell Culture Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242, (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina; Cellargen Biotech S.R.L., Antonia Godoy 6369 (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina; Biotecnofe S.A., PTLC, Ruta 168 Pje El Pozo, (CP3000), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pablo U Díaz
- UNL, FCV, R.P. Kreder, 2805, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina; Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular Aplicada, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias Del Litoral (ICiVet Litoral), Universidad Nacional Del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Hugo H Ortega
- UNL, FCV, R.P. Kreder, 2805, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina; Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular Aplicada, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias Del Litoral (ICiVet Litoral), Universidad Nacional Del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Andres Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Paraje Pozo Del Tigre, Zona Rural Gral, Paz, (X5145), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Macagno
- Instituto AP de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), Villa Del Rosario, (X5963), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gabriel A Bó
- Instituto AP de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), Villa Del Rosario, (X5963), Córdoba, Argentina; Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Paraje Pozo Del Tigre, Zona Rural Gral, Paz, (X5145), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Natalia Ceaglio
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Cell Culture Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242, (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Claudio Prieto
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Biotechnological Development Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina; Cellargen Biotech S.R.L., Antonia Godoy 6369 (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina; Biotecnofe S.A., PTLC, Ruta 168 Pje El Pozo, (CP3000), Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Min KS, Park JJ, Lee SY, Byambaragchaa M, Kang MH. Comparative gene expression profiling of mouse ovaries upon stimulation with natural equine chorionic gonadotropin (N-eCG) and tethered recombinant-eCG (R-eCG). BMC Biotechnol 2020; 20:59. [PMID: 33176770 PMCID: PMC7661263 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-020-00653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) induces super-ovulation in laboratory animals. Notwithstanding its extensive usage, limited information is available regarding the differences between the in vivo effects of natural eCG (N-eCG) and recombinant eCG (R-eCG). This study aimed to investigate the gene expression profiles of mouse ovaries upon stimulation with N-eCG and R-eCG produced from CHO-suspension (CHO-S) cells. R-eCG gene was constructed and transfected into CHO-S cells and quantified. Subsequently, we determined the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of N-eCG and R-eCG up to 24 h after intravenous administration through the mice tail vein and identified differentially expressed genes in both ovarian tissues, via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS R-eCG was markedly expressed initially after transfection and maintained until recovery on day 9. Glycan chains were substantially modified in R-eCG protein produced from CHO-S cells and eliminated through PNGase F treatment. The MCR was higher for R-eCG than for N-eCG, and no significant difference was observed after 60 min. Notwithstanding their low concentrations, R-eCG and N-eCG were detected in the blood at 24 h post-injection. Microarray analysis of ovarian tissue revealed that 20 of 12,816 genes assessed therein were significantly up-regulated and 43 genes were down-regulated by > 2-fold in the group that received R-eCG (63 [0.49%] differentially regulated genes in total). The microarray results were concurrent with and hence validated by those of RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and IHC analyses. CONCLUSIONS The present results indicate that R-eCG can be adequately produced through a cell-based expression system through post-translational modification of eCG and can induce ovulation in vivo. These results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the up- or down-regulation of specific ovarian genes and the production of R-eCG with enhanced biological activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwan-Sik Min
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung, 17579 South Korea
- School of Animal Life Convergence Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung, 17579 South Korea
| | - Jong-Ju Park
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung, 17579 South Korea
| | - So-Yun Lee
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung, 17579 South Korea
| | - Munkhzaya Byambaragchaa
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung, 17579 South Korea
| | - Myung-Hwa Kang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499 South Korea
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