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Gómez-Guzmán JA, Parra-Bracamonte GM, Velazquez MA. Impact of Heat Stress on Oocyte Developmental Competence and Pre-Implantation Embryo Viability in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2280. [PMID: 39123806 PMCID: PMC11311040 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152280] [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: 07/14/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Rectal and vaginal temperatures are utilised in both in vivo and in vitro models to study the effects of heat stress on oocyte competence and embryo viability in cattle. However, uterine temperature increases by only 0.5 °C in heat-stressed cows, significantly lower than simulated increases in in vitro models. Temperature variations within oviducts and ovarian follicles during heat stress are poorly understood or unavailable, and evidence is lacking that oocytes and pre-implantation embryos experience mild (40 °C) or severe (41 °C) heat stress inside the ovarian follicle and the oviduct and uterus, respectively. Gathering detailed temperature data from the reproductive tract and follicles is crucial to accurately assess oocyte competence and embryo viability under realistic heat stress conditions. Potential harm from heat stress on oocytes and embryos may result from reduced nutrient availability (e.g., diminished blood flow to the reproductive tract) or other unidentified mechanisms affecting tissue function rather than direct thermal effects. Refining in vivo stress models in cattle is essential to accurately identify animals truly experiencing heat stress, rather than assuming heat stress exposure as done in most studies. This will improve model reliability and aid in the selection of heat-tolerant animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier A. Gómez-Guzmán
- Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Reynosa 88710, Tamaulipas, Mexico; (J.A.G.-G.); (G.M.P.-B.)
| | - Gaspar M. Parra-Bracamonte
- Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Reynosa 88710, Tamaulipas, Mexico; (J.A.G.-G.); (G.M.P.-B.)
| | - Miguel A. Velazquez
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
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Lee YJ, Lee JW, Huang CW, Yang KT, Peng SY, Yu C, Lee YH, Lai IL, Shen PC. Identification of Molecular Profile of Ear Fibroblasts Derived from Spindle-Transferred Holstein Cattle with Ooplasts from Taiwan Yellow Cattle under Heat Stress. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1371. [PMID: 38731375 PMCID: PMC11083940 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091371] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Global warming has a significant impact on the dairy farming industry, as heat stress causes reproductive endocrine imbalances and leads to substantial economic losses, particularly in tropical-subtropical regions. The Holstein breed, which is widely used for dairy production, is highly susceptible to heat stress, resulting in a dramatic reduction in milk production during hot seasons. However, previous studies have shown that cells of cows produced from reconstructed embryos containing cytoplasm (o) from Taiwan yellow cattle (Y) have improved thermotolerance despite their nuclei (n) being derived from heat-sensitive Holstein cattle (H). Using spindle transfer (ST) technology, we successfully produced ST-Yo-Hn cattle and proved that the thermotolerance of their ear fibroblasts is similar to that of Y and significantly better than that of H (p < 0.05). Despite these findings, the genes and molecules responsible for the different sensitivities of cells derived from ST-Yo-Hn and H cattle have not been extensively investigated. In the present study, ear fibroblasts from ST-Yo-Hn and H cattle were isolated, and differentially expressed protein and gene profiles were compared with or without heat stress (hs) (42 °C for 12 h). The results revealed that the relative protein expression levels of pro-apoptotic factors, including Caspase-3, -8, and -9, in the ear fibroblasts from the ST-Yo-Hn-hs group were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those from the H-hs group. Conversely, the relative expression levels of anti-apoptotic factors, including GNA14 protein and the CRELD2 and PRKCQ genes, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the ear fibroblasts from the ST-Yo-Hn-hs group compared to those from the H-hs group. Analysis of oxidative phosphorylation-related factors revealed that the relative expression levels of the GPX1 gene and Complex-I, Complex-IV, CAT, and PGLS proteins were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the ear fibroblasts from the ST-Yo-Hn-hs group compared to those from the H-hs group. Taken together, these findings suggest that ear fibroblasts from ST-Yo-Hn cattle have superior thermotolerance compared to those from H cattle due to their lower expression of pro-apoptotic factors and higher expression of oxidative phosphorylation and antioxidant factors. Moreover, this improved thermotolerance is attributed, at least partially, to the cytoplasm derived from more heat-tolerant Y cattle. Hence, using ST technology to produce more heat-tolerant H cattle containing Y cytoplasm could be a feasible approach to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress on dairy cattle in tropical-subtropical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ju Lee
- Graduate Institute of Bioresources, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (Y.-J.L.); (I.-L.L.)
| | - Jai-Wei Lee
- Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (J.-W.L.); (C.-W.H.)
| | - Chao-Wei Huang
- Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (J.-W.L.); (C.-W.H.)
| | - Kuo-Tai Yang
- Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (K.-T.Y.); (S.-Y.P.); (C.Y.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - Shao-Yu Peng
- Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (K.-T.Y.); (S.-Y.P.); (C.Y.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - Chi Yu
- Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (K.-T.Y.); (S.-Y.P.); (C.Y.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - Yen-Hua Lee
- Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (K.-T.Y.); (S.-Y.P.); (C.Y.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - I-Ling Lai
- Graduate Institute of Bioresources, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (Y.-J.L.); (I.-L.L.)
| | - Perng-Chih Shen
- Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; (K.-T.Y.); (S.-Y.P.); (C.Y.); (Y.-H.L.)
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Dode MAN, Caixeta FMC, Vargas LN, Leme LO, Kawamoto TS, Fidelis AAG, Franco MM. Genome transfer technique for bovine embryo production using the metaphase plate and polar body. J Assist Reprod Genet 2023; 40:943-951. [PMID: 36864182 PMCID: PMC10224876 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02758-3] [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: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite many studies in humans and mice using genome transfer (GT), there are few reports using this technique in oocytes of wild or domestic animals. Therefore, we aimed to establish a GT technique in bovine oocytes using the metaphase plate (MP) and polar body (PB) as the sources of genetic material. In the first experiment, GT was established using MP (GT-MP), and a sperm concentration of 1 × 106 or 0.5 × 106 spermatozoa/ml gave similar fertilization rates. The cleavage rate (50%) and blastocyst rate (13.6%) in the GT-MP group was lower than that of the in vitro production control group (80.2% and 32.6%, respectively). The second experiment evaluated the same parameters using PB instead of MP; the GT-PB group had lower fertilization (82.3% vs. 96.2%) and blastocyst (7.7% vs. 36.8%) rates than the control group. No differences in the amount of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were observed between groups. Finally, GT-MP was performed using vitrified oocytes (GT-MPV) as a source of genetic material. The cleavage rate of the GT-MPV group (68.4%) was similar to that of the vitrified oocytes (VIT) control group (70.0%) and to that of the control IVP group (81.25%, P < 0.05). The blastocyst rate of GT-MPV (15.7) did not differ neither from the VIT control group (5.0%) nor from the IVP control group (35.7%). The results suggested that the structures reconstructed by the GT-MPV and GT-PB technique develop in embryos even if vitrified oocytes are used.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A N Dode
- University of Brasilia, DF, Brasília, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | | | - L N Vargas
- Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - L O Leme
- Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - T S Kawamoto
- Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | | | - M M Franco
- Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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Gambini A, Briski O, Canel NG. State of the art of nuclear transfer technologies for assisting mammalian reproduction. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:230-242. [PMID: 35642677 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The transfer of nuclear genomic DNA from a cell to a previously enucleated oocyte or zygote constitutes one of the main tools for studying epigenetic reprogramming, nucleus-cytoplasm compatibility, pluripotency state, and for genetic preservation or edition in animals. More than 50 years ago, the first experiences in nuclear transfer began to reveal that factors stored in the cytoplasm of oocytes could reprogram the nucleus of another cell and support the development of an embryo with new genetic information. Furthermore, when the nuclear donor cell is an oocyte, egg, or a zygote, the implementation of these technologies acquires clinical relevance for patients with repeated failures in ART associated with poor oocyte quality or mitochondrial dysfunctions. This review describes the current state, scope, and future perspectives of nuclear transfer techniques currently available for assisting mammal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Gambini
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Olinda Briski
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Gabriela Canel
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín," Instituto Universitario de Fertilidad y Reproducción Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Oocyte Penetration Speed Optimization Based on Intracellular Strain. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13020309. [PMID: 35208433 PMCID: PMC8875814 DOI: 10.3390/mi13020309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Oocyte penetration is an essential step for many biological technologies, such as animal cloning, embryo microinjection, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Although the success rate of robotic cell penetration is very high now, the development potential of oocytes after penetration has not been significantly improved compared with manual operation. In this paper, we optimized the oocyte penetration speed based on the intracellular strain. We firstly analyzed the intracellular strain at different penetration speeds and performed the penetration experiments on porcine oocytes. Secondly, we studied the cell development potential after penetration at different penetration speeds. The statistical results showed that the percentage of large intracellular strain decreased by 80% and the maximum and average intracellular strain decreased by 25–38% at the penetration speed of 50 μm/s compared to at 10 μm/s. Experiment results showed that the cleavage rates of the oocytes after penetration increased from 65.56% to 86.36%, as the penetration speed increased from 10 to 50 μm/s. Finally, we verified the gene expression of oocytes after penetration at different speeds. The experimental results showed that the totipotency and antiapoptotic genes of oocytes were significantly higher after penetration at the speed of 50 μm/s, which verified the effectiveness of the optimization method at the gene level.
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Cellular and Molecular Nature of Fragmentation of Human Embryos. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031349. [PMID: 35163271 PMCID: PMC8836137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryo fragmentation represents a phenomenon generally characterized by the presence of membrane-bound extracellular cytoplasm into the perivitelline space. Recent evidence supports the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of embryo fragments. In this narrative review, we described the different embryo fragment-like cellular structures in their morphology, molecular content, and supposed function and have reported the proposed theories on their origin over the years. We identified articles related to characterization of embryo fragmentation with a specific literature search string. The occurrence of embryo fragmentation has been related to various mechanisms, of which the most studied are apoptotic cell death, membrane compartmentalization of altered DNA, cytoskeletal disorders, and vesicle formation. These phenomena are thought to result in the extrusion of entire blastomeres, release of apoptotic bodies and other vesicles, and micronuclei formation. Different patterns of fragmentation may have different etiologies and effects on embryo competence. Removal of fragments from the embryo before embryo transfer with the aim to improve implantation potential should be reconsidered on the basis of the present observations
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