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Manssur TSB, Sebastião TRC, Franchi FF, Dos Santos PH, Razza EM, Nunes SG, Castilho ACDS, Fontes PK. Pre-fertilization approach using α-l-fucosidase modulates zona pellucida hardening during bovine in vitro embryo production. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1135-1147. [PMID: 38191818 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10291-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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The polyspermy occurrence is considerably lower under in vivo compared to in vitro embryo culture conditions, suggesting that the presence of some factors in the maternal environment is responsible for this. The α-L-fucosidase (FUCA) is a natural glycosidase present in the oviductal fluid, therefore, this study aimed at investigating the effect of adding FUCA to the hardening of the zona pellucida (ZP), polyspermy control, and embryonic yield and quality of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro. In the first experiment, the effect of FUCA (0.125 U/mL) was evaluated during the entire in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, it was demonstrated to be embryotoxic by completely inhibiting the blastocyst formation. In the second experiment, the FUCA (0.125 U/mL) was tested as short-term incubation before IVF (pre-fertilization step) for 30 min or 2 h, which demonstrated that FUCA treatment for 30 min resulted in ZP hardening. In the third experiment, a pre-fertilization FUCA treatment (1 h) at different concentrations (0, 0.0625, and 0.125 U/mL) showed that FUCA (0.0625 U/mL) improved pre-fertilization ZP hardening and tended to increase monospermic fertilization rates but did not improve embryo yield and quality. Together, it has been demonstrated that FUCA can induce oocyte pre-fertilization ZP hardening and might improve monospermic fertilization performance, and this effect is dependent on both variables (protein concentration and incubation time).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fernanda Fagali Franchi
- Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo State (UNESP), Rua Prof. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, S/N, Zip Code: 18618689, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Priscila Helena Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo State (UNESP), Rua Prof. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, S/N, Zip Code: 18618689, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Montanari Razza
- Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo State (UNESP), Rua Prof. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, S/N, Zip Code: 18618689, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Sarah Gomes Nunes
- Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo State (UNESP), Rua Prof. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, S/N, Zip Code: 18618689, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | | | - Patricia Kubo Fontes
- Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo State (UNESP), Rua Prof. Antonio Celso Wagner Zanin, S/N, Zip Code: 18618689, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.
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Fontes PK, Razza EM, Pupulim AGR, Barros CM, de Souza Castilho AC. Equine chorionic gonadotropin increases estradiol levels in the bovine oviduct and drives the transcription of genes related to fertilization in superstimulated cows. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:1582-1591. [PMID: 31353672 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In the bovine oviduct, estradiol (E2) stimulates secretion and cell proliferation, whereas progesterone (P4) suppresses them. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of two superstimulatory protocols (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] or FSH combined with equine chorionic gonadotropin [eCG]) on the oviductal levels of E2 and P4 and its outcome on oviductal cells. Compared with the control group (a single pre-ovulatory follicle), we have observed that the cows submitted to FSH/eCG treatment showed a higher concentration of E2 in the oviduct tissue, together with a higher abundance of messenger RNA encoding steroid receptors (ESR1 and progesterone receptor), and genes linked to gamete interactions and regulation of polyspermy (oviduct-specific glycoprotein 1, heat-shock protein family A member 5, α-l-fucosidase 1 [FUCA1], and FUCA2) in the infundibulum and ampulla segments of the oviduct. However, we did not observe any modulation of gene expression in the isthmus segment. Even though the FSH protocol upregulated some of the genes analyzed, we may infer that the steady effect of FSH combined with eCG on oviduct regulation might benefit fertilization and may potentially increase pregnancy rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia K Fontes
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo M Razza
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ciro M Barros
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
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Romar R, Cánovas S, Matás C, Gadea J, Coy P. Pig in vitro fertilization: Where are we and where do we go? Theriogenology 2019; 137:113-121. [PMID: 31182223 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.05.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The pig is an important livestock animal. Biotechnological interest in this species has increased due to its use, among others, in the generation of transgenic animals for use in biomedicine based on its greater physiological proximity to the human species than other large domestic animals. This development has paralleled an improvement in Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) used for this species. However, the ability to generate animals from embryos produced entirely in vitro is still limited and a wide margin for improvement remains. Here we review the procedures, additives, and devices used during pig in vitro fertilization (IVF), focusing on the main points of each step that have offered the best results in terms of increased efficiency of the system. The lack of standardized protocols and consensus on the parameters to be assessed makes it difficult to compare results across different studies, but some conclusions are drawn from the literature. We anticipate that new physiological protocols will advance the field of swine IVF, including induction of prefertilization ZP hardening with oviductal fluid, sperm preparation by swim-up method, increased viscosity through the addition of inert molecules or reproductive biofluids, and the incorporation of 3D devices. Here we also reflect on the need to expand the variables on which the efficiency of pig IVF is based, providing new parameters that should be considered to supply more objective and quantitative assessment of IVF additives and protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Romar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Sebastián Cánovas
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carmen Matás
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Joaquín Gadea
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar Coy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
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Fontes PK, Ereno RL, Peixoto AR, Carvalho RF, Scarano WR, Trinca LA, Barros CM, Castilho ACDS. Can the antral follicular count modulate the gene expression of bovine oviducts in Aberdeen Angus and Nelore heifers? PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202017. [PMID: 30157205 PMCID: PMC6114296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of visible ovarian antral follicles (antral follicle count—AFC) is repeatable in bovine individuals, but highly variable between animals, and with differences between Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds. Several studies have tried to determine the correlation between AFC and increased fertility in cattle. While the impacts of AFC on embryo production, hormonal levels, and pregnancy rates have been described, the molecular effects of AFC on bovine oviducts have not yet been investigated. Here, the aim was to investigate the impact of breeds, such as Aberdeen Angus and Nelore heifer with high or low AFC, on abundance of transcripts and protein related to oviductal transport, sperm reservoir formation, monospermy control, and gamete interaction in the oviducts. In summary, the ovulation side was the major factor that affected transcript abundance on bovine oviducts. However, a discreet effect among AFC and cattle breeds was also observed. Based on this, we concluded and reinforced here that differential microenvironments between ipsilateral and contralateral oviducts have a major effect on modulating the transcripts related to oviductal transport, sperm reservoir formation, monospermy control, and gamete interaction. However, we cannot exclude that there is minimal effect of AFC or breed on regulation of some genes (such as AGTR1, ACE1, FUCA1, and VEGFA) in bovine oviducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Kubo Fontes
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Luis Ereno
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Rebello Peixoto
- Departament of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Robson Francisco Carvalho
- Departament of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wellerson Rodrigo Scarano
- Departament of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luzia Aparecida Trinca
- Departament of Biostatistic, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ciro Moraes Barros
- Departament of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
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Júnior GAO, Perez BC, Cole JB, Santana MHA, Silveira J, Mazzoni G, Ventura RV, Júnior MLS, Kadarmideen HN, Garrick DJ, Ferraz JBS. Genomic study and Medical Subject Headings enrichment analysis of early pregnancy rate and antral follicle numbers in Nelore heifers. J Anim Sci 2017; 95:4796-4812. [PMID: 29293733 PMCID: PMC6292327 DOI: 10.2527/jas2017.1752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebu animals () are known to take longer to reach puberty compared with taurine animals (), limiting the supply of animals for harvest or breeding and impacting profitability. Genomic information can be a helpful tool to better understand complex traits and improve genetic gains. In this study, we performed a genomewide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with reproductive traits in Nelore beef cattle. Heifer pregnancy (HP) was recorded for 1,267 genotyped animals distributed in 12 contemporary groups (CG) with an average pregnancy rate of 0.35 (±0.01). Disregarding one of these CG, the number of antral follicles (NF) was also collected for 937 of these animals, with an average of 11.53 (±4.43). The animals were organized in CG: 12 and 11 for HP and NF, respectively. Genes in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the associated variants can be considered in a functional enrichment analysis to identify biological mechanisms involved in fertility. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) were detected using the MESHR package, allowing the extraction of broad meanings from the gene lists provided by the GWAS. The estimated heritability for HP was 0.28 ± 0.07 and for NF was 0.49 ± 0.09, with the genomic correlation being -0.21 ± 0.29. The average LD between adjacent markers was 0.23 ± 0.01, and GWAS identified genomic windows that accounted for >1% of total genetic variance on chromosomes 5, 14, and 18 for HP and on chromosomes 2, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 22 for NF. The MeSH enrichment analyses revealed significant ( < 0.05) terms associated with HP-"Munc18 Proteins," "Fucose," and "Hemoglobins"-and with NF-"Cathepsin B," "Receptors, Neuropeptide," and "Palmitic Acid." This is the first study in Nelore cattle introducing the concept of MeSH analysis. The genomic analyses contributed to a better understanding of the genetic control of the reproductive traits HP and NF and provide new selection strategies to improve beef production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - B. C. Perez
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - J. B. Cole
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350
| | | | - J. Silveira
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - G. Mazzoni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section of Systems Genomics, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - R. V. Ventura
- Beef Improvement Opportunities, Guelph, ON N1K1E5, Canada
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada
| | | | - H. N. Kadarmideen
- Section of Systems Genomics, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Dráb T, Ren Š, Maňásková-Postlerová P, Tichá M, Jonáková V, Liberda J. Glycosidases in porcine follicular fluid and their effect on zona pellucida-AWN 1 spermadhesin interaction. Theriogenology 2017; 100:80-87. [PMID: 28708538 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Oligosaccharide moieties on the surface of the oocyte belong to the key molecules that direct the course of fertilization and are subjected to changes during oocyte maturation in the follicle. In our study, we focused on the activities of five glycosidases in the fluids from porcine secondary and preovulatory follicles (α-l-fucosidase, α-d-galactosidase, β-d-galactosidase, β-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase, and α-d-mannosidase). All of them were detected active at neutral and acidic pH. However, changes in their activities associated with follicle development were observed only in the case of α-d-mannosidase, which was increased (P < 0.001), and β-d-galactosidase, which was decreased (P < 0.001) at neutral pH, and of α-d-galactosidase and β-N-acetylhexosaminidase, which were decreased (P < 0.0001) at the acidic pH. The comparison of glycosidases from follicular fluid and from blood plasma using red native electrophoresis revealed that most of the glycosidases are present in more than one isoenzyme form; some of them were detected mainly in the follicular fluid. Finally, we tested the effect of glycosidases on the interaction between zona pellucida and AWN 1 spermadhesin (putative sperm receptor of zona pellucida) and demonstrated that the effect of both β-d-galactosidase and to a lesser degree α-d-mannosidase led to a decrease in this interaction. We can hypothesize that these two glycosidases modulate the amount of zona pellucida oligosaccharide moieties and/or their structures for an optimal sperm binding in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Dráb
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, Prague 2, Czech Republic; Division of Crop Protection and Plant Health, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507/73, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Štěpán Ren
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, Prague 2, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Maňásková-Postlerová
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, Vestec, Czech Republic.
| | - Marie Tichá
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Věra Jonáková
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Liberda
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, Prague 2, Czech Republic
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In vitro fertilization in pigs: New molecules and protocols to consider in the forthcoming years. Theriogenology 2015; 85:125-34. [PMID: 26271164 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Assisted reproduction technology (ART) protocols are used in livestock for the improvement and preservation of their genetics and to enhance reproductive efficiency. In the case of pigs, the potential use of embryos for biomedicine is being followed with great interest by the scientific community. Owing to the physiological similarities with humans, embryos produced in vitro and many of those produced in vivo are used in research laboratories for the procurement of stem cells or the production of transgenic animals, sometimes with the purpose of using their organs for xenotransplantation. Several techniques are required for the production of an in vitro-derived embryo. These include in vitro oocyte maturation, sperm preparation, IVF, and further culture of the putative zygotes. Without doubt, among these technologies, IVF is still a critical limiting factor because of the well-known, but still unsolved, question of polyspermy. Despite the improvements made in the past decade, current IVF systems hardly reach 50% to 60% efficiency and any progression in porcine ARTs requires an unavoidable improvement in the monospermy rate. It is time, then, to learn from what happens under in vivo physiological conditions and to transfer this knowledge into ART. This review describes the latest advances in porcine IVF, from sperm preparation procedures to culture media supplements with special attention paid to molecules with a known or potential role in in vivo fertilization. Oviductal fluid is the natural medium in which fertilization takes place, and, in the near future, could become the definitive supplement for culture media, where it would help to solve many of the problems inherent in ARTs in swine and improve the quality of in vitro-derived porcine embryos.
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