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Ma Y, Gu M, Chen L, Shen H, Pan Y, Pang Y, Miao S, Tong R, Huang H, Zhu Y, Sun L. Recent advances in critical nodes of embryo engineering technology. Theranostics 2021; 11:7391-7424. [PMID: 34158857 PMCID: PMC8210615 DOI: 10.7150/thno.58799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The normal development and maturation of oocytes and sperm, the formation of fertilized ova, the implantation of early embryos, and the growth and development of foetuses are the biological basis of mammalian reproduction. Therefore, research on oocytes has always occupied a very important position in the life sciences and reproductive medicine fields. Various embryo engineering technologies for oocytes, early embryo formation and subsequent developmental stages and different target sites, such as gene editing, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technologies, have all been established and widely used in industrialization. However, as research continues to deepen and target species become more advanced, embryo engineering technology has also been developing in a more complex and sophisticated direction. At the same time, the success rate also shows a declining trend, resulting in an extension of the research and development cycle and rising costs. By studying the existing embryo engineering technology process, we discovered three critical nodes that have the greatest impact on the development of oocytes and early embryos, namely, oocyte micromanipulation, oocyte electrical activation/reconstructed embryo electrofusion, and the in vitro culture of early embryos. This article mainly demonstrates the efforts made by researchers in the relevant technologies of these three critical nodes from an engineering perspective, analyses the shortcomings of the current technology, and proposes a plan and prospects for the development of embryo engineering technology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwen Ma
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Mingwei Gu
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Liguo Chen
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yifan Pan
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yan Pang
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sheng Miao
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ruiqing Tong
- Cardiology, Dushuhu Public Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Haibo Huang
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Cambridge-Suda Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lining Sun
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics & Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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2
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Ascorbic acid improves parthenogenetic embryo development through TET proteins in mice. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20181730. [PMID: 30567727 PMCID: PMC6328890 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20181730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The TET (Ten-Eleven Translocation) proteins catalyze the oxidation of 5mC (5-methylcytosine) to 5hmC (5-hydroxymethylcytosine) and play crucial roles in embryonic development. Ascorbic acid (Vc, Vitamin C) stimulates the expression of TET proteins, whereas DMOG (dimethyloxallyl glycine) inhibits TET expression. To investigate the role of TET1, TET2, and TET3 in PA (parthenogenetic) embryonic development, Vc and DMOG treatments were administered during early embryonic development. The results showed that Vc treatment increased the blastocyst rate (20.73 ± 0.46 compared with 26.57 ± 0.53%). By contrast, DMOG reduced the blastocyst rate (20.73 ± 0.46 compared with 11.18 ± 0.13%) in PA embryos. qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR) and IF (immunofluorescence) staining results revealed that TET1, TET2, and TET3 expressions were significantly lower in PA embryos compared with normal fertilized (Con) embryos. Our results revealed that Vc stimulated the expression of TET proteins in PA embryos. However, treatment with DMOG significantly inhibited the expression of TET proteins. In addition, 5hmC was increased following treatment with Vc and suppressed by DMOG in PA embryos. Taken together, these results indicate that the expression of TET proteins plays crucial roles mediated by 5hmC in PA embryonic development.
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Zhang J, Zhang S, Wang Y, Cheng H, Hao L, Zhai Y, Zhang Z, An X, Ma X, Zhang X, Li Z, Tang B. Effect of TET inhibitor on bovine parthenogenetic embryo development. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189542. [PMID: 29267337 PMCID: PMC5739418 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA demethylation catalysed by the ten-eleven translocation (TET) protein is an important step during extensive global epigenetic reprogramming in mammals. However, whether TET proteins play a key role in DNA demethylation during the development of bovine pre-implanted embryos is still unclear. In this study, we utilized dimethyloxallyl glycine (DMOG), a small-molecule inhibitor of the TET protein, to impede the enzymatic activity of TET and explore subsequent effects on bovine parthenogenetic embryo development. We first detected the expression of the TET family, consisting of TET1, TET2 and TET3, in bovine MII stage oocytes and found that TET3 is more highly expressed than TET1 and TET2. Treatment with 1 mM DMOG increased 5mC levels (30.4% vs 79.8% at the 8-cell stage for satellite I, 25.3% vs 40.6% at the 8-cell stage for α-satellite, 20.5% vs 73.5% at the blastocyst stage for satellite I and 16.6% vs 30.0% at the blastocyst stage for α-satellite) at every bovine parthenogenetic embryo developmental stage. At the same time, DNA methylation level of satellite DNA and pluripotency gene promoters increased significantly. Real-time PCR analysis results indicated that the transcription levels of NANOG and OCT-4 decreased in the DMOG-treated group. Furthermore, TET inhibition negatively affected blastocyst formation, resulting in a decline in the blastocyst rate (17.1 ± 1.3% vs 24.1 ± 0.6%); however, the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly increased according to the results of a TUNEL assay. Additionally, expression levels of the apoptosis-related gene BAX were up-regulated, while the expression of BCL-2 was down-regulated. In conclusion, these results support that TET plays important roles in bovine parthenogenetic embryo development by influencing DNA methylation reprogramming, gene expression and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Academy of Translational Medicine, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Academy of Translational Medicine, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yutian Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Hui Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Linlin Hao
- Oncology Department, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yanhui Zhai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhiren Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xinglan An
- Academy of Translational Medicine, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Academy of Translational Medicine, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xueming Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- Academy of Translational Medicine, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Bo Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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4
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Naturil-Alfonso C, Jiménez-Trigos E, Vicente JS, Marco-Jiménez F. Effect of in vitro and in vivo conditions on development of parthenogenetic rabbit embryos after vitrification. Cryobiology 2015; 71:91-6. [PMID: 25999044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2015.05.003] [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: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Parthenote embryos offer multiple opportunities in biotechnological research, so it is important to analyse the possibilities for their cryopreservation in order to establish a biobank. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of culture conditions and vitrification on rabbit parthenogenetic embryos. Parthenotes were cultured under in vivo and in vitro conditions until day 3 (late morula/early blastocyst), when they were vitrified. Immediately after warming, they were newly cultured under in vivo and in vitro conditions till day 6 (blastocyst stage). Both culture conditions showed similar late morula/early blastocyst (0.39±0.056 vs. 0.46±0.043, for in vivo and in vitro, respectively) and blastocyst rates (0.12±0.068 vs. 0.13±0.070, for in vivo and in vitro, respectively). However, no parthenote was recovered when a combination of culture conditions was performed. To our best knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the ability of rabbit parthenogenetic embryos to develop after vitrification, with similar embryo development after in vivo or in vitro culture. Nevertheless, our results highlight the importance of culture conditions on the morphology of parthenote embryos. Therefore, we have described that special attention should be paid on culture conditions to generate parthenote embryos, with a view to their subsequent use, for example in embryonic stem cell production.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Naturil-Alfonso
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - E Jiménez-Trigos
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - J S Vicente
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - F Marco-Jiménez
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
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5
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Kwon D, Saadeldin IM, Kim SJ, Park SJ, Kang JT, Park HJ, Moon JH, Koo OJ, Jang G, Lee BC. Optimizing electrical activation of porcine oocytes by adjusting pre- and post-activation mannitol exposure times. Reprod Domest Anim 2014; 49:995-9. [PMID: 25256295 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Modifying electrical activation conditions have been used to improve in vitro embryo production and development in pigs. However, there is insufficient information about correlations of porcine embryo development with oocyte pre- and post-activation conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental rates of porcine oocytes subjected to different mannitol exposure times, either pre- or post-electrical activation, and to elucidate the reason for the optimal mannitol exposure time. Mannitol exposure times around activation were adjusted as 0, 1, 2 or 3 min. Blastocyst development were checked on day 7. Exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 or 2 min before electrical activation produced significantly higher blastocyst rates than exposure for 0 or 3 min. There was no significant difference in blastocyst rates when activated oocytes were exposed to mannitol for 0, 1, 2 or 3 min after electrical activation. While exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 min pre- and 3 min post-activation showed significantly higher blastocyst development than 0 min pre- and 0 min post-activation. It also showed higher maintenance of normal oocyte morphology than exposure for 0 min pre- and 0 min post-activation. In conclusion, exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 min pre- and 3 min post-activation seems to be optimal for producing higher in vitro blastocyst development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. The higher blastocyst development is correlated with higher maintenance of normal morphology in oocytes exposed to mannitol for 1 min pre- and 3 min post-activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kwon
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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6
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Kharche SD, Birade HS. Parthenogenesis and activation of mammalian oocytes for <i>in vitro</i> embryo production: A review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/abb.2013.42025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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7
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Effects of chemical activation and season on birth efficiency of cloned pigs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 52:657-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-009-0087-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2008] [Accepted: 02/19/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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8
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Zijlstra C, Kidson A, Schoevers EJ, Daemen AJJM, Tharasanit T, Kuijk EW, Hazeleger W, Ducro-Steverink DWB, Colenbrander B, Roelen BAJ. Blastocyst morphology, actin cytoskeleton quality and chromosome content are correlated with embryo quality in the pig. Theriogenology 2008; 70:923-35. [PMID: 18614224 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.05.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2008] [Revised: 05/09/2008] [Accepted: 05/14/2008] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Embryo survival rates obtained after transfer of in vitro produced porcine blastocysts are very poor. This is probably related to poor quality of the embryos. The aim of the present study was to determine markers for good quality blastocysts. Therefore, we tried to link blastocyst morphology to several morphological and cell biological properties, and evaluated the survival of in vitro produced, morphologically classified, blastocysts following non-surgical transfer. In vitro and in vivo produced blastocysts were allocated to two groups (classes A and B) on the basis of morphological characteristics. The quality of their actin cytoskeleton, their total cell number, their ability to re-expand after cytochalasin-B treatment and the occurrence of numerical chromosome aberrations were studied and compared. In vivo produced blastocysts were used as a control. Our results indicate that the ability of blastocysts to re-expand after cytochalasin-B-induced actin depolymerization was positively correlated with the morphology of the blastocyst, and associated with the quality of the actin cytoskeleton. Chromosome analysis revealed that mosaicism is inherent to the in vitro production of porcine embryos, but also that in vivo produced blastocysts contained some non-diploid cells. In non-surgical embryo transfer experiments more recipients receiving class A blastocysts were pregnant on Day 20 than those receiving class B blastocysts. One recipient gave birth to six piglets from class A in vitro produced blastocysts, providing a verification of the enhanced viability of blastocysts that were scored as 'good' on the basis of their morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Zijlstra
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, Utrecht 3584 CM, The Netherlands
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9
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Li Z, Jiang Q, Rezaei Sabet M, Zhang Y, Ritchie TC, Engelhardt JF. Conditions for in vitro maturation and artificial activation of ferret oocytes. Biol Reprod 2002; 66:1380-6. [PMID: 11967201 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod66.5.1380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The ferret represents an attractive species for animal modeling of lung diseases because of the similarity between ferret and human lung biology and its relatively small size and short gestation time. In an effort to establish experimental protocols necessary for cloning ferrets, optimized conditions for in vitro maturation and artificial activation of ferret oocytes were examined. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were harvested from ovaries of superovulated ferrets, and in vitro maturation was evaluated in three different culture media: medium 1 (TCM-199 + 10% FBS), medium 2 (TCM-199 + 10% FBS with eCG [10 IU/ml] and hCG [5 IU/ml]), or medium 3 (TCM-199 + 10% FBS with eCG, hCG, and 17beta-estradiol [2 microg/ml]). After 24 h of maturation in vitro, the maturation rate of oocytes cultured in medium 2 (70%, n = 79) was significantly greater (P < 0.01) than those of oocytes cultured in the other two media (27%-36%, n = 67-73). At 48 h, similar maturation rates (56%-69%, n = 76-87) were observed for all three types of media. For activation experiments, oocytes cultured in medium 2 were stimulated with electrical and chemical stimuli either individually or in combination. Treatment with cycloheximide and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) following electrical stimulation resulted in 43% (n = 58) of the oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage. Such an activation rate represented a significant improvement over those obtainable under other tested conditions, including individual treatment with electrical pulses (10%, n = 41), cycloheximide (3%, n = 58), or 6-DMAP (5%, n = 59). Blastocysts derived from in vitro activation appeared to be normal morphologically and were composed of an appropriate number of both inner cell mass (mean +/- SEM, 10.3 +/- 1.1; n = 11) and trophectoderm (60.8 +/- 2.9, n = 11) cells. These results have begun to elucidate parameters important for animal modeling and cloning with ferrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Li
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Zhu J, Telfer EE, Fletcher J, Springbett A, Dobrinsky JR, De Sousa PA, Wilmut I. Improvement of an electrical activation protocol for porcine oocytes. Biol Reprod 2002; 66:635-41. [PMID: 11870069 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod66.3.635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Factors influencing pig oocyte activation by electrical stimulation were evaluated by their effect on the development of parthenogenetic embryos to the blastocyst stage to establish an effective activation protocol for pig nuclear transfer. This evaluation included 1) a comparison of the effect of epidermal growth factor and amino acids in maturation medium, 2) an investigation of interactions among oocyte age, applied voltage field strength, electrical pulse number, and pulse duration, and 3) a karyotype analysis of the parthenogenetic blastocysts yielded by an optimized protocol based on an in vitro system of oocyte maturation and embryo culture. In the first study, addition of amino acids in maturation medium was beneficial for the developmental competence of activated oocytes. In the second study, the developmental response of activated oocytes was dependent on interactions between oocyte age at activation and applied voltage field strength, voltage field strength and pulse number, and pulse number and duration. The formation of parthenogenetic blastocysts was optimal when activation was at 44 h of maturation using three 80-microsec consecutive pulses of 1.0 kV/cm DC. Approximately 84% of parthenogenetic blastocysts yielded by this protocol were diploid, implying a potential for further in vivo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhu
- Department of Gene Expression and Development, Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, United Kingdom
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KURIHARA T, KUROME M, WAKO N, OCHIAI T, MIZUNO K, FUJIMURA T, TAKAHAGI Y, MURAKAMI H, KANO K, MIYAGAWA S, SHIRAKURA R, NAGASHIMA H. Developmental Competence of In Vitro Matured Porcine Oocytes after Electrical Activation. J Reprod Dev 2002. [DOI: 10.1262/jrd.48.271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi KURIHARA
- Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Mayuko KUROME
- Laboratory of Reproduction Engineering, Department of Life Science, Meiji University
| | - Naohiro WAKO
- Laboratory of Reproduction Engineering, Department of Life Science, Meiji University
| | - Takashi OCHIAI
- Laboratory of Reproduction Engineering, Department of Life Science, Meiji University
| | - Kenichi MIZUNO
- Laboratory of Reproduction Engineering, Department of Life Science, Meiji University
| | | | | | | | - Koichiro KANO
- Department of Animal Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University
| | - Shuji MIYAGAWA
- Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Ryota SHIRAKURA
- Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Hiroshi NAGASHIMA
- Laboratory of Reproduction Engineering, Department of Life Science, Meiji University
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Liu H, Zhang J, Krey LC, Grifo JA. In-vitro development of mouse zygotes following reconstruction by sequential transfer of germinal vesicles and haploid pronuclei. Hum Reprod 2000; 15:1997-2002. [PMID: 10967003 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/15.9.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated whether mouse oocytes reconstructed by germinal vesicle (GV) transfer can develop to blastocyst stage. The oocytes were artificially activated with sequential treatment of A23187 and anisomycin; fertilization was then established by transfer or exchange of pronuclei with those of zygotes fertilized in vivo. Type 1 zygotes were constructed by placing the male haploid pronucleus from a zygote into the cytoplasm of an oocyte that underwent GV transfer, in-vitro maturation and activation; for type 2 zygotes, the female pronucleus was removed from a zygote and replaced with the female pronucleus of an oocyte subjected to GV transfer, in-vitro maturation and activation. Karyotypes of activated oocytes and type 2 zygotes were also subjected to analysis. When cultured in human tubal fluid (HTF) medium, reconstructed oocytes matured and, following artificial activation, consistently developed a pronucleus with a haploid karyotype; the activation rate for this medium was two- to three-fold higher than that of oocytes cultured in M199 (87% versus 30% respectively). Following transfer of a male pronucleus, only 47% of the type 1 zygotes developed to morula or blastocyst stage and embryo morphology was poor. In contrast, 73% of the type 2 zygotes developed to morula or blastocyst stage, many even hatching, with few morphological anomalies. Normal karyotypes were observed in 88% of the type 2 zygotes analysed. These observations demonstrate that the nucleus of a mouse oocyte subjected to sequential nuclear transfer at GV and pronucleus stages is, nonetheless, capable of maturing meiotically, activating normally and supporting embryonic development to hatching blastocyst stage. In contrast, the developmental potential of the cytoplasm of such oocytes appears to be compromised by these procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA
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13
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Kure-bayashi S, Miyake M, Okada K, Kato S. Successful implantation of in vitro-matured, electro-activated oocytes in the pig. Theriogenology 2000; 53:1105-19. [PMID: 10798488 DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(00)00256-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we derived parthenogenetic porcine fetuses from in vitro-matured oocytes following a simple activation process in order to evaluate their developmental limitations in-vivo. Follicular oocytes collected from gilts at local slaughterhouses were matured for 48 h. They were subjected to a single square pulse of direct current for 100 microsec at 1,500 V/cm and then treated with 5 microg/mL cytochalasin B for 4 h to obtain activated diploid oocytes. The diploids were cultured in modified Whitten's medium until transfer. Diploids which had cleaved to the 2- and 3- to 4-cell stages were transferred to oviducts of recipients. Live and/or dead parthenogenetic fetuses were recovered in 6 of 8 trials at 17, 18, 19, 24 and 29 d post activation. The total proportion of fetuses to transferred diploids was 31.3% (62/198). When fetuses were recovered at 19 d post activation, the proportion of development into fetuses was 71% (15/21). Our results, however, suggest that periods of gestation longer than 19 d resulted in a decrease of these proportions to 45% (18/40) at 24 d and to 18% (7/40) at 29 d. The hearts were beating in nearly all of the fetuses recovered at 19, 24 and 29 d post activation. Thus, parthenogenetic porcine diploids developed to at least the stage of limb-bud formation beyond the early heart-beating stage. Abnormalities were also externally visible on some fetuses. Formation of cyst-like structures in the heart and liver, and insufficient development of the head region and acephali were observed in some cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kure-bayashi
- The Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
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14
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Dinnyés A, Hirao Y, Nagai T. Parthenogenetic Activation of Porcine Oocytes by Electric Pulse and/or Butyrolactone I Treatment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1999; 1:209-16. [PMID: 16218821 DOI: 10.1089/15204559950019843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The goal of the present research was to study the parthenogenetic activation of porcine oocytes following treatment with the specific cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor butyrolactone I (BL I). In Experiment I, the effective dose of BL I was determined by the rates of the subsequent pronuclear formation in oocytes after the activation. In Experiment II, BL I was further tested alone or in combination with an electric pulse. The efficiency of the various treatments to induce activation and parthenogenetic development was examined. In Experiment III parthenogenetic development of activated oocytes in two different media was compared. Cleavage and blastocyst developmental rates were examined, and number of cells in the blastocysts was determined. Our results indicate that, in pig, the optimal activation dose for BL I was 150 microM; a combined electrical and BL I treatment resulted in superior cleavage rates compared to an electric pulse, 150 microM of BL I, or 200 microM of BL I alone (74%, 60%, 41%, and 42%, respectively; P < 0.05); and the rate of parthenogenetic development of activated oocytes to the blastocyst stage in mNCSU37 medium was significantly higher than that in Whitten's medium (59% vs. 5%, P < 0.05) and the resulting day-6 blastocysts had higher cell numbers (35.5 +/- 14.1 vs. 19.5 +/- 2.5). This activation protocol might be useful in porcine nuclear transfer experiments and for the generation of parthenogenetic fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dinnyés
- Department of Animal Production, Tohoku National Agricultural Experiment Station, Shimo-kuriyagawa, Morioka, Iwate, 020-0198, Japan.
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15
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Leal CL, Liu L. Differential effects of kinase inhibitor and electrical stimulus on activation and histone H1 kinase activity in pig oocytes. Anim Reprod Sci 1998; 52:51-61. [PMID: 9728814 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4320(98)00084-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The 6-DMAP (6-dimethylaminopurine) has been reported to accelerate and enhance the formation of pronuclei (activation) in non-aged MII mouse and bovine eggs. In this study, effects of chemical activation (CA) were evaluated using ethanol + 6-DMAP and electrical activation (EA) on pig oocytes matured for 36 h (newly matured) and 48 h. After CA, the first pronuclei developed within 2 h, with maximal pronuclear formation at 8 h (> 90%) for oocytes matured for either 36 or 48 h. In addition, chemically activated oocytes did not extrude the second polar body. After EA treatment, pronuclear formation began at 4-6 h and was significantly lower at 8 h in newly matured than aged oocytes (34% vs. 85%). Cleavage rate at 24 h after treatment was lower for oocytes treated by CA (< 50%) than for EA (> 70%) and after 3 days of in vitro culture, fewer oocytes reached the four-cell stage in CA than in EA groups. No chemically activated oocytes developed beyond the four-cell stage; in contrast, EA resulted in development beyond this stage. Both CA and EA resulted in a drop of H1 kinase activity, but EA induced a more rapid reduction. With EA, H1 kinase activity rapidly declined but tended to increase again at 8 h in oocytes matured for 36 h, which was different from all other groups in which the kinase activity remained low at 8 h post-activation. We conclude that different mechanisms are involved in pronuclear formation with CA and EA and that 6-DMAP-activated oocytes may not be suitable for the induction of normal parthenogenetic development in pigs. It is also suggested that the ability of pig oocytes to become fully activated may be related to the modification of H1 kinase activity during the aging process. These modifications to H1 kinase may be necessary for parthenogenetic activation of in vitro matured oocytes and also for the completion of meiosis and cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Leal
- Department of Development and Signaling, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
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