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Morawiec S, Ajduk A, Stremplewski P, Kennedy BF, Szkulmowski M. Full-field optical coherence microscopy enables high-resolution label-free imaging of the dynamics of live mouse oocytes and early embryos. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1057. [PMID: 39191989 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06745-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
High quality label-free imaging of oocytes and early embryos is essential for accurate assessment of their developmental potential, a key element of assisted reproduction procedures. To achieve this goal, we propose full-field optical coherence microscopy (FF-OCM), constructed as a compact module fully integrated with a commercial wide-field fluorescence microscope. Our system achieves optical sectioning in wide-field, high in-plane resolution of 0.5 µm, and high sensitivity to backscattered light. To demonstrate its imaging capabilities, we study live mouse oocytes and embryos at all important stages of meiotic maturation and early embryogenesis. Our system enables visualization of intracellular structures, which are not visible in common bright-field microscopy, i.e., internal structure of nuclear apparatus, cytoskeletal filaments, cellular cortex, cytoplasmic protrusions, or zona pellucida features. Additionally, we visualize and quantify intracellular dynamics like cytoplasmic stirring motion, nuclear envelope fluctuations and nucleolus mobility. Altogether, we demonstrate that FF-OCM is a powerful tool for research in developmental biology that also holds great potential for non-invasive time-lapse monitoring of oocyte and embryo quality in assisted reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seweryn Morawiec
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland.
| | - Anna Ajduk
- Department of Embryology, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycjusz Stremplewski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Brendan F Kennedy
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
- BRITElab, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Maciej Szkulmowski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
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Wheeler MB, Rabel RAC, Rubessa M, Popescu G. Label-free, high-throughput holographic imaging to evaluate mammalian gametes and embryos†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1125-1134. [PMID: 38733568 PMCID: PMC11180620 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae057] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproduction is one of the significant tools to treat human infertility. Morphological assessment is the primary method to determine sperm and embryo viability during in vitro fertilization cycles. It has the advantage of being a quick, convenient, and inexpensive means of assessment. However, visual observation is of limited predictive value for early embryo morphology. It has led many to search for other imaging tools to assess the reproductive potential of a given embryo. The limitations of visual assessment apply to both humans and animals. One recent innovation in assisted reproduction technology imaging is interferometric phase microscopy, also known as holographic microscopy. Interferometric phase microscopy/quantitative phase imaging is the next likely progression of analytical microscopes for the assisted reproduction laboratory. The interferometric phase microscopy system analyzes waves produced by the light as it passes through the specimen observed. The microscope collects the light waves produced and uses the algorithm to create a hologram of the specimen. Recently, interferometric phase microscopy has been combined with quantitative phase imaging, which joins phase contrast microscopy with holographic microscopy. These microscopes collect light waves produced and use the algorithm to create a hologram of the specimen. Unlike other systems, interferometric phase microscopy can provide a quantitative digital image, and it can make 2D and 3D images of the samples. This review summarizes some newer and more promising quantitative phase imaging microscopy systems for evaluating gametes and embryos. Studies clearly show that quantitative phase imaging is superior to bright field microscopy-based evaluation methods when evaluating sperm and oocytes prior to IVF and embryos prior to transfer. However, further assessment of these systems for efficacy, reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, and embryo/gamete safety must take place before they are widely adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Wheeler
- Department of Animal Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - R A Chanaka Rabel
- Department of Animal Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Marcello Rubessa
- Department of Animal Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Gabriel Popescu
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Podico G, Canisso IF. Mule embryos share identical morphological features to horse embryos. Theriogenology 2024; 216:196-202. [PMID: 38194755 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the morphometry of horse and mule embryos. The study's hypothesis was that the micronuclei and nuclear fragmentation indexes are higher in mule embryos than in horse embryos. Twenty-two mares were randomly assigned in a crossover design to receive semen from a horse and a donkey; thirteen horse and thirteen mule embryos were obtained. Embryos were recovered eight days post-ovulation and classified according to the stage of development and quality with a score from 1 (excellent) to 4 (degenerate). Embryos were stained with Hoechst33342, and images were acquired with a fluorescence microscope. Nuclei were categorized as compact, mitotic, or fragmented; the fragmented and mitotic indexes were calculated based on their proportion over the total amount of nuclei counted. Embryo size and nuclear morphometry were assessed through ImageJ. Data analyses were carried out with GraphPad using ANOVA and T-test; significance was set at P < 0.05. The number of positive flushes in cycles bred with donkey or stallion semen did not differ when compared per cycle or per ovulation (13 vs. 12) (P > 0.05). One set of twins was recovered from a mare bred to the stallion that had a double ovulation; a mule and horse embryos were both recovered from eight mares. There was no difference in size between mule and horse embryos (915.5 ± 288 μm vs. 575.8 ± 69.6 μm) (P > 0.05) size of the study. The mule embryos scored between grade 1 (n = 9) and grade 2 (n = 4); similarly, the horse embryos scored between grade 1 (n = 6) and grade 2 (n = 7). The evaluation of the nuclear morphometry revealed that horse and mule embryos have a similar number of compact nuclei per sector (148.7 ± 6.8 nuclei/sector in mule embryos vs. 156.5 ± 8.5 nuclei/sector in horse embryos) (P > 0.05); however, the number of mitotic nuclei tended to be higher in mule embryos (5.2 ± 0.82) than in horse embryos (3.3 ± 0.3) (P = 0.08). The fragmented nuclei index was similar between mule (0.25 ± 0.1%) and horse (0.22 ± 0.1%) embryos (P = 0.4); the mitotic nuclei index was higher in mule embryos (3.2 ± 0.4%) than in horse embryos (2.2 ± 0.2%) (P = 0.02). In conclusion, embryo morphology of mares bred to a donkey and a horse shares similar nuclear ultrastructure features, except that mule embryos have a higher mitotic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Podico
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Igor F Canisso
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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Tsopp E, Kilk K, Taalberg E, Pärn P, Viljaste-Seera A, Kavak A, Jaakma Ü. Associations of the Single Bovine Embryo Growth Media Metabolome with Successful Pregnancy. Metabolites 2024; 14:89. [PMID: 38392981 PMCID: PMC10890179 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14020089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether metabolomic fingerprints of bovine embryo growth media improve the prediction of successful embryo implantation. In this prospective cohort study, the metabolome from in vitro-produced day 7 blastocysts with successful implantation (n = 11), blastocysts with failed implantation (n = 10), and plain culture media without embryos (n = 5) were included. Samples were analyzed using an AbsoluteIDQ® p180 Targeted Metabolomics Kit with LC-MS/MS, and a total of 189 metabolites were analyzed from each sample. Blastocysts that resulted in successful embryo implantation had significantly higher levels of methionine sulfoxide (p < 0.001), DOPA (p < 0.05), spermidine (p < 0.001), acetylcarnitine-to-free-carnitine ratio (p < 0.05), C2 + C3-to-free-carnitine ratio (p < 0.05), and lower levels of threonine (nep < 0.001) and phosphatidylcholine PC ae C30:0 (p < 0.001) compared to control media. However, when compared to embryos that failed to implant, only DOPA, spermidine, C2/C0, (C2 + C3)/C0, and PC ae C30:0 levels differentiated significantly. In summary, our study identifies a panel of differential metabolites in the culture media of bovine blastocysts that could act as potential biomarkers for the selection of viable blastocysts before embryo transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Tsopp
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kalle Kilk
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Egon Taalberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pille Pärn
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anni Viljaste-Seera
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ants Kavak
- Chair of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülle Jaakma
- Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
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Tatíčková M, Trebichalská Z, Kyjovská D, Otevřel P, Kloudová S, Holubcová Z. The ultrastructural nature of human oocytes' cytoplasmic abnormalities and the role of cytoskeleton dysfunction. F&S SCIENCE 2023; 4:267-278. [PMID: 37730013 DOI: 10.1016/j.xfss.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the structural bases of human oocytes' cytoplasmic abnormalities and the causative mechanism of their emergence. Knowledge of an abnormal oocyte's intracellular organization is vital to establishing reliable criteria for clinical evaluation of oocyte morphology. DESIGN Laboratory-based study on experimental material provided by a private assisted reproduction clinic. SETTING University laboratory and imaging center. PATIENTS A total of 105 women undergoing hormonal stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) donated their spare oocytes for this study. INTERVENTIONS Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to analyze the fine morphology of 22 dysmorphic IVF oocytes exhibiting different types of cytoplasmic irregularities, namely, refractile bodies; centrally located cytoplasmic granularity (CLCG); smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) disc; and vacuoles. A total of 133 immature oocytes were exposed to cytoskeleton-targeting compounds or matured in control conditions, and their morphology was examined using fluorescent and electron microscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The ultrastructural morphology of dysmorphic oocytes was analyzed. Drug-treated oocytes had their maturation efficiency, chromosome-microtubule configurations, and fine intracellular morphology examined. RESULTS TEM revealed ultrastructural characteristics of common oocyte aberrations and indicated that excessive organelle clustering was the underlying cause of 2 of the studied morphotypes. Inhibition experiments showed that disruption of actin, not microtubules, allows for inordinate aggregation of subcellular structures, resembling the ultrastructural pattern seen in morphologically abnormal oocytes retrieved in IVF cycles. These results imply that actin serves as a regulator of organelle distribution during human oocyte maturation. CONCLUSION The ultrastructural analogy between dysmorphic oocytes and oocytes, in which actin network integrity was perturbed, suggests that dysfunction of the actin cytoskeleton might be implicated in generating common cytoplasmic aberrations. Knowledge of human oocytes' inner workings and the origin of morphological abnormalities is a step forward to a more objective oocyte quality assessment in IVF practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Tatíčková
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Trebichalská
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Drahomíra Kyjovská
- Reprofit International, Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Otevřel
- Reprofit International, Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Soňa Kloudová
- Reprofit International, Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Holubcová
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Reprofit International, Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Rabel RAC, Marchioretto PV, Bangert EA, Wilson K, Milner DJ, Wheeler MB. Pre-Implantation Bovine Embryo Evaluation-From Optics to Omics and Beyond. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2102. [PMID: 37443900 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132102] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 80% of the ~1.5 million bovine embryos transferred in 2021 were in vitro produced. However, only ~27% of the transferred IVP embryos will result in live births. The ~73% pregnancy failures are partly due to transferring poor-quality embryos, a result of erroneous stereomicroscopy-based morphological evaluation, the current method of choice for pre-transfer embryo evaluation. Numerous microscopic (e.g., differential interference contrast, electron, fluorescent, time-lapse, and artificial-intelligence-based microscopy) and non-microscopic (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and nuclear magnetic resonance) methodologies have been tested to find an embryo evaluation technique that is superior to morphologic evaluation. Many of these research tools can accurately determine embryo quality/viability; however, most are invasive, expensive, laborious, technically sophisticated, and/or time-consuming, making them futile in the context of in-field embryo evaluation. However accurate they may be, using complex methods, such as RNA sequencing, SNP chips, mass spectrometry, and multiphoton microscopy, at thousands of embryo production/collection facilities is impractical. Therefore, future research is warranted to innovate field-friendly, simple benchtop tests using findings already available, particularly from omics-based research methodologies. Time-lapse monitoring and artificial-intelligence-based automated image analysis also have the potential for accurate embryo evaluation; however, further research is warranted to innovate economically feasible options for in-field applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Chanaka Rabel
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Paula V Marchioretto
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Bangert
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Kenneth Wilson
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Derek J Milner
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Matthew B Wheeler
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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