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Aguila L, Nociti RP, Sampaio RV, Therrien J, Meirelles FV, Felmer RN, Smith LC. Haploid androgenetic development of bovine embryos reveals imbalanced WNT signaling and impaired cell fate differentiation†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:821-838. [PMID: 37788061 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad124] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Haploid embryos have contributed significantly to our understanding of the role of parental genomes in development and can be applied to important biotechnology for human and animal species. However, development to the blastocyst stage is severely hindered in bovine haploid androgenetic embryos (hAE). To further our understanding of such developmental arrest, we performed a comprehensive comparison of the transcriptomic profile of morula-stage embryos, which were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) of transcripts associated with differentiation in haploid and biparental embryos. Among numerous disturbances, results showed that pluripotency pathways, especially the wingless-related integration site (WNT) signaling, were particularly unbalanced in hAE. Moreover, transcript levels of KLF4, NANOG, POU5F1, SOX2, CDX2, CTNNBL1, AXIN2, and GSK3B were noticeably altered in hAE, suggesting disturbance of pluripotency and canonical WNT pathways. To evaluate the role of WNT on hAE competence, we exposed early Day-5 morula stage embryos to the GSK3B inhibitor CHIR99021. Although no alterations were observed in pluripotency and WNT-related transcripts, exposure to CHIR99021 improved their ability to reach the blastocysts stage, confirming the importance of the WNT pathway in the developmental outcome of bovine hAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Aguila
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fértilité (CRRF), Département de biomédecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ricardo P Nociti
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fértilité (CRRF), Département de biomédecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael V Sampaio
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fértilité (CRRF), Département de biomédecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Jacinthe Therrien
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fértilité (CRRF), Département de biomédecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Flavio V Meirelles
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo N Felmer
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Lawrence C Smith
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fértilité (CRRF), Département de biomédecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
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Traut M, Kowalczyk-Zieba I, Boruszewska D, Jaworska J, Lukaszuk K, Woclawek-Potocka I. Mitochondrial DNA content and developmental competence of blastocysts derived from pre-pubertal heifer oocytes. Theriogenology 2022; 191:207-220. [PMID: 35998404 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.07.017] [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: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In the cattle-breeding industry, there is an increasing demand for in vitro embryo production from pre-pubertal heifers. In this study, we evaluated the differences in mitochondrial DNA content, oxidative stress, and developmental competence in blastocysts derived from pre-pubertal and pubertal heifers. We found higher mitochondrial DNA copy numbers in blastocysts produced from pre-pubertal heifers than from pubertal heifers. In the group of pre-pubertal animals, there was a significantly lower number of blastocysts produced in vitro from the same number of collected oocytes, and these blastocysts did not differ from those obtained from pubertal oocytes in terms of their morphological quality. The morphologically appropriate blastocysts derived from pre-pubertal heifers had higher concentrations of reactive oxygen species and glutathione. In blastocysts derived from pre-pubertal heifers, we found alterations in the expression of gene markers for developmental competence, which correlated with higher mitochondrial DNA content, suggesting a lower quality of blastocysts derived from pre-pubertal animals than from pubertal animals. The inadequate redox balance in blastocysts obtained from pre-pubertal females, along with higher mitochondrial DNA copy number, as well as differential gene expression of markers of developmental competence, elucidate the low quality of blastocysts derived from pre-pubertal animals, despite their unaltered morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Traut
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Ilona Kowalczyk-Zieba
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Dorota Boruszewska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Joanna Jaworska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Lukaszuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210, Gdansk, Poland; Invicta Research and Development Center, 81-740, Sopot, Poland
| | - Izabela Woclawek-Potocka
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland.
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Carryover effects of feeding bulls with an omega-3-enriched-diet-From spermatozoa to developed embryos. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265650. [PMID: 35324945 PMCID: PMC8947395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of omega-3 nutritional manipulation on semen cryosurvival and quality post thawing is controversial. Our aim was to examine how feeding bulls with omega-3 supplementation from different sources affects the spermatozoa quality parameters. Fifteen Israeli Holstein bulls were fed for 13 weeks with a standard ration top-dressed with encapsulated-fat supplementation: fish or flaxseed oil or saturated fatty acids (control). Ejaculates were collected before, during, and after the feeding trial. Frozen–thawed samples were evaluated by a flow cytometer for spermatozoa viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), acrosome membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine translocation, and membrane fluidity. Both fish and flaxseed oil treatment resulted in lower ROS levels vs. control groups, during and after the feeding trial. Fewer spermatozoa with damaged acrosomes were observed in the fish oil group after the feeding trial. The spermatozoa membrane fluidity was altered in both the fish and flaxseed oil groups throughout the feeding trial, but only in the flaxseed oil group after the feeding trial. The proportion of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA was lower in the flaxseed oil group after the feeding trial. The spermatozoa fertilization competence did not differ between groups however, blastocyst formation rate was higher in the fish and flaxseed oil groups relative to the control. This was associated with differential gene expression in the blastocysts. Overall, the omega-3-enriched food improved the spermatozoa characteristics; this was further expressed in the developing blastocysts, suggesting a carryover effect from the spermatozoa to the embryos.
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Simmet K, Kurome M, Zakhartchenko V, Reichenbach HD, Springer C, Bähr A, Blum H, Philippou-Massier J, Wolf E. OCT4/POU5F1 is indispensable for the lineage differentiation of the inner cell mass in bovine embryos. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22337. [PMID: 35486003 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101713rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian blastocyst undergoes two lineage segregations, that is, formation of the trophectoderm and subsequently differentiation of the hypoblast (HB) from the inner cell mass, leaving the epiblast (EPI) as the remaining pluripotent lineage. To clarify the expression patterns of markers specific for these lineages in bovine embryos, we analyzed day 7, 9, and 12 blastocysts completely produced in vivo by staining for OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 (EPI), and GATA6, SOX17 (HB) and identified genes specific for these developmental stages in a global transcriptomics approach. To study the role of OCT4, we generated OCT4-deficient (OCT4 KO) embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer or in vitro fertilization. OCT4 KO embryos reached the expanded blastocyst stage by day 8 but lost NANOG and SOX17 expression, while SOX2 and GATA6 were unaffected. Blastocysts transferred to recipient cows from day 6 to 9 expanded, but the OCT4 KO phenotype was not rescued by the uterine environment. Exposure of OCT4 KO embryos to exogenous FGF4 or chimeric complementation with OCT4 intact embryos did not restore NANOG or SOX17 in OCT4-deficient cells. Our data show that OCT4 is required cell autonomously for the maintenance of pluripotency of the EPI and differentiation of the HB in bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Simmet
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Springer
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Andrea Bähr
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Philippou-Massier
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany.,Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Institute of Animal Breeding, Poing, Germany
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Pluripotent Core in Bovine Embryos: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081010. [PMID: 35454256 PMCID: PMC9032358 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081010] [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: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early development in mammals is characterized by the ability of each cell to produce a complete organism plus the extraembryonic, or placental, cells, defined as pluripotency. During subsequent development, pluripotency is lost, and cells begin to differentiate to a particular cell fate. This review summarizes the current knowledge of pluripotency features of bovine embryos cultured in vitro, focusing on the core of pluripotency genes (OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, and CDX2), and main chemical strategies for controlling pluripotent networks during early development. Finally, we discuss the applicability of manipulating pluripotency during the morula to blastocyst transition in cattle species.
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Effect of DHA on the quality of In vitro produced bovine embryos. Theriogenology 2022; 187:102-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Gutiérrez-Reinoso MA, Aguilera CJ, Navarrete F, Cabezas J, Castro FO, Cabezas I, Sánchez O, García-Herreros M, Rodríguez-Alvarez L. Effects of Extra-Long-Acting Recombinant Bovine FSH (bscrFSH) on Cattle Superovulation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12020153. [PMID: 35049777 PMCID: PMC8772581 DOI: 10.3390/ani12020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last few years, several commercial FSH products have been developed for cattle superovulation (SOV) purposes in Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) programs. The SOV response is highly variable among individuals and remains one of the main limiting factors in obtaining a profitable number of transferable embryos. In this study, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from different origins was included in two SOV protocols, (a) FSH from purified pig pituitary extract (NIH-FSH-p; two doses/day, 12 h apart, four consecutive days); and (b) extra-long-acting bovine recombinant FSH (bscrFSH; a single dose/day, four consecutive days), to test the effects of bscrFSH on the ovarian response, hormone profile levels, in vivo embryo production and the pluripotency gene expression of the obtained embryos. A total of 68 healthy primiparous red Angus cows (Bos taurus) were randomly distributed into two experimental groups (n = 34 each). Blood sample collection for progesterone (P4) and cortisol (C) level determination was performed together with ultrasonographic assessment for ovarian size, follicles (FL) and corpora lutea (CL) quantification in each SOV protocol (Day 0, 4, 8, and 15). Moreover, FSH profiles were monitorised throughout both protocols (Day 0, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 15). In vivo embryo quantity and quality (total structures, morulae, blastocysts, viable, degenerated and blocked embryos) were recorded in each SOV protocol. Finally, embryo quality in both protocols was assessed by the analysis of the expression level of crucial genes for early embryo development (OCT4, IFNt, CDX2, BCL2, and BAX). P4 and cortisol concentration peaks in both SOV protocols were obtained on Day 15 and Day 8, respectively, which were statistically different compared to the other time-points (p < 0.05). Ovarian dimensions increased from Day 0 to Day 15 irrespective of the SOV protocol considered (p < 0.05). Significant changes in CL number were observed over time till Day 15 irrespective of the SOV protocol applied (p < 0.05), being non- significantly different between SOV protocols within each time-point (p > 0.05). The number of CL was higher on Day 15 in the bscrFSH group compared to the NIH-FSH-p group (p < 0.05). The number of embryonic structures recovered was higher in the bscrFSH group (p = 0.025), probably as a result of a tendency towards a greater number of follicles developed compared to the NIH-FSH-p group. IFNt and BAX were overexpressed in embryos from the bscrFSH group (p < 0.05), with a fold change of 16 and 1.3, respectively. However, no statistical differences were detected regarding the OCT4, CDX2, BCL2, and BCL2/BAX expression ratio (p > 0.05). In conclusion, including bscrFSH in SOV protocols could be an important alternative by reducing the number of applications and offering an improved ovarian response together with better embryo quality and superior performance in embryo production compared to NIH-FSH-p SOV protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Gutiérrez-Reinoso
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile; (M.A.G.-R.); (C.J.A.); (F.N.); (J.C.); (F.O.C.)
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC), Latacunga 050150, Ecuador
| | - Constanza J. Aguilera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile; (M.A.G.-R.); (C.J.A.); (F.N.); (J.C.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Felipe Navarrete
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile; (M.A.G.-R.); (C.J.A.); (F.N.); (J.C.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Joel Cabezas
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile; (M.A.G.-R.); (C.J.A.); (F.N.); (J.C.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Fidel O. Castro
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile; (M.A.G.-R.); (C.J.A.); (F.N.); (J.C.); (F.O.C.)
| | - Ignacio Cabezas
- Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile;
| | - Oliberto Sánchez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Victor Lamas 1290, Concepcion 4070386, Chile;
| | - Manuel García-Herreros
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), 2005-048 Santarém, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.G.-H.); (L.R.-A.); Tel.: +56-42-220-8835 (L.R.-A.); Fax: +351-24-3767 (M.G.-H.) (ext. 330)
| | - Lleretny Rodríguez-Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile; (M.A.G.-R.); (C.J.A.); (F.N.); (J.C.); (F.O.C.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.-H.); (L.R.-A.); Tel.: +56-42-220-8835 (L.R.-A.); Fax: +351-24-3767 (M.G.-H.) (ext. 330)
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Rahbaran M, Razeghian E, Maashi MS, Jalil AT, Widjaja G, Thangavelu L, Kuznetsova MY, Nasirmoghadas P, Heidari F, Marofi F, Jarahian M. Cloning and Embryo Splitting in Mammalians: Brief History, Methods, and Achievements. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:2347506. [PMID: 34887927 PMCID: PMC8651392 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2347506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryo splitting is one of the newest developed methods in reproductive biotechnology. In this method, after splitting embryos in 2-, 4-, and even 8-cell stages, every single blastomere can be developed separately, but the embryos are genetically identical. Embryo splitting, as an approach in reproductive cloning, is extensively employed in reproductive medicine studies, such as investigating human diseases, treating sterility, embryo donation, and gene therapy. In the present study, cloning in mammalians and cloning approaches are briefly reviewed. In addition, embryo splitting and the methods commonly used in embryo splitting and recent achievements in this field, as well as the applications of embryo splitting into livestock species, primate animals, and humans, are outlined. Finally, a perspective of embryo splitting is provided as the conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohaddeseh Rahbaran
- Animal Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Razeghian
- Human Genetics Division, Medical Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Marwah Suliman Maashi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Unit at King Fahad Medical Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Lakshmi Thangavelu
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | | | - Pourya Nasirmoghadas
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farid Heidari
- Animal Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Faroogh Marofi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Jarahian
- German Cancer Research Center, Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit (G401), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Melo-Báez B, Mellisho EA, Cabezas J, Velásquez AE, Veraguas D, Escobar DAC, Castro FO, Rodríguez-Álvarez L. Nanoparticles from culture media are internalized by in vitro-produced bovine embryos and its depletion affect expression of pluripotency genes. Anim Reprod 2021; 18:e20200028. [PMID: 34122648 PMCID: PMC8189351 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2020-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles are nanoparticles secreted by cell and have been proposed as suitable markers to identify competent embryos produced in vitro. Characterizing EVs secreted by individual embryos is challenging because culture medium itself contributes to the pool of nanoparticles that are co-isolated. To avoid this, culture medium must be depleted of nanoparticles that are present in natural protein source. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the culture medium subjected to nanoparticle depletion can support the proper in vitro development of bovine embryos. Zygotes were cultured in groups on depleted or control medium for 8 days. Nanoparticles from the medium were characterized by their morphology, size and expression of EVs surface markers. Isolated nanoparticles were labelled and added to depleted medium containing embryos at different developmental stages and evaluated after 24 hours at 2, 8-16 cells, morula and blastocyst stages. There were no statistical differences on blastocyst rate at day 7 and 8, total cell count neither blastocyst diameter between groups. However, morphological quality was better in blastocysts cultured in non-depleted medium and the expression of SOX2 was significantly lower whereas NANOG expression was significantly higher. Few nanoparticles from medium had a typical morphology of EVs but were positive to specific surface markers. Punctuated green fluorescence near the nuclei of embryonic cells was observed in embryos from all developmental stages. In summary, nanoparticles from culture medium are internalized by in vitro cultured bovine embryos and their depletion affects the capacity of medium to support the proper embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Melo-Báez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Edwin A Mellisho
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.,Centro de investigación en Tecnología de Embriones, Facultad de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Perú
| | - Joel Cabezas
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Alejandra E Velásquez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Daniel Veraguas
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Diego Andrés Caamaño Escobar
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Fidel O Castro
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Lleretny Rodríguez-Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
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Relative abundance of pluripotency-associated candidate genes in immature oocytes and in vitro-produced buffalo embryos ( Bubalus bubalis). ZYGOTE 2021; 29:459-467. [PMID: 33818346 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199421000101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to analyze the relative abundance (RA) of pluripotency-associated genes (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC, and FOXD3) in different grades of immature oocytes and various stages of in vitro-produced buffalo embryos using RT-qPCR. Results showed that the RA of NANOG, OCT4, and FOXD3 transcripts was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in A grade oocytes compared with the other grades of oocytes. The RA of the c-MYC transcript was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in A grade compared with the C and D grades of oocytes, but the values did not differ significantly from the B grade of oocytes. The RA of the SOX2 transcript was almost similar in all grades of the oocytes. The expression levels of NANOG (P > 0.05), OCT4 (P > 0.05), c-MYC (P > 0.05) and SOX2 (P < 0.05) were higher in the blastocysts compared with the other stages of the embryos. Markedly, FOXD3 expression was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in 8-16-cell embryos compared with the 2-cell and 4-cell embryos and blastocyst, but did not differ significantly from the morula stage of the embryos. In the study, the majority of pluripotency-associated genes showed higher expression in A grade immature oocytes. Therefore, it is concluded that the A grade oocytes appeared to be more developmental competent and are suitable candidates for nuclear cloning research in buffalo. In buffalo, NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, and c-MYC are highly expressed in blastocysts compared with the other stages of embryos.
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Suwik K, Boruszewska D, Sinderewicz E, Kowalczyk-Zieba I, Staszkiewicz-Chodor J, Woclawek-Potocka I. Expression profile of developmental competence gene markers in comparison with prostaglandin F 2α synthesis and action in the early- and late-cleaved pre-implantation bovine embryos. Reprod Domest Anim 2021; 56:437-447. [PMID: 33320992 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13880] [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: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The kinetics of early cleavage stages can affect embryo quality. The bovine model of early- and late-cleaved embryos has been described in the literature and is deemed a useful tool in the field of oocyte developmental competence studies. The expression of genes demonstrating developmental potential differs between early- and late-cleaved embryos. Previously, we demonstrated that prostaglandin F2α synthase (PGFS) and prostaglandin F2α receptor (PTGFR) expression depend on the developmental stage and embryo quality. In the present study, we used the same model to determine the mRNA expression profile of developmentally important genes (IGF1R, IGF2R, PLAC8, OCT4, SOX2) in early, expanded and hatched blastocysts obtained from the early- and late-cleaved group of embryos, as well as to correlate the transcription levels of these embryonic gene markers with the transcription levels of PGFS and PTGFR. The mRNA expression of PGFS, PTGFR and factors described as gene markers of embryonic implantation ability and developmental competence genes was determined by real-time PCR. The obtained results were analysed using statistical software GraphPad prism 6.05. During the course of our analyses, we observed that the transcript abundance of most analysed genes tends to be higher in the late-rather than in the early cleaved group of embryos, as well as in B and/or C grade embryos rather than in A grade embryos. On the other hand, for the early cleaved group of blastocysts with cavity, we detected higher PLAC8 mRNA expression for grade A embryos compared with grade C embryos. It suggests that the mRNA expression level of genes depends on the quality of embryos but differs according to various factors including the method of production or culture method. Moreover, numerous correlations between analysed gene markers and PGF2α synthase and PGF2α receptor suggest that PGF2α plays a role in the crucial steps of bovine embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Suwik
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Dorota Boruszewska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Emilia Sinderewicz
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Ilona Kowalczyk-Zieba
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Joanna Staszkiewicz-Chodor
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Izabela Woclawek-Potocka
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
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Isaac E, Pfeffer PL. Growing cattle embryos beyond Day 8 - An investigation of media components. Theriogenology 2020; 161:273-284. [PMID: 33360161 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The growth of viable cattle embryos in culture to stages beyond the hatching blastocyst is of interest to developmental biologists wishing to understand developmental events beyond the first lineage decision, as well as for commercial applications, because a lengthening of the culturing time allows more time for diagnostic tests on biopsies, whereas extended survival can be used as a better assay system for monitoring developmental potential. We here report on a novel extended culture medium for embryo growth until embryonic day (Day) 12. We used a non-invasive morphological characterisation system that scored viability, inner cell mass (ICM) grade, hatching and embryo and ICM diameter. The basal medium was based on published uterine fluid concentrations of amino acids, carbohydrates and electrolytes. Addition of fetal bovine serum was necessary and the additive ITSX greatly improved culture success. We tested the inclusion of a seven-growth factor cocktail consisting of Activin A, Artemin, BMP4, EGF, FGF4, GM-CSF/CSF2 and LIF, as well as omission of individual components of the cocktail. In the context of the growth factor cocktail, Artemin and BMP4 provided the greatest benefit, while FGF omission had more positive than negative effects on embryo characteristics. Lastly, replacement of ITSX by B27-additive led to the most successful culture of embryos, in all media permutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Isaac
- Victoria University of Wellington, School of Biological Sciences, Kelburn Campus, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
| | - Peter L Pfeffer
- Victoria University of Wellington, School of Biological Sciences, Kelburn Campus, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
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