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Seneda MM, Costa CB, Zangirolamo AF, dos Anjos MM, de Paula GR, Morotti F. From the laboratory to the field: how to mitigate pregnancy losses in embryo transfer programs? Anim Reprod 2024; 21:e20240032. [PMID: 39175993 PMCID: PMC11340798 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2024-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy losses negatively affect the cattle industry, impacting economic indices and consequently the entire production chain. Early embryonic failure has been an important challenge in the embryo industry because proper identification of embryo death at the beginning of gestation is difficult. This review aimed to provide a better understanding on reproductive failure and the relationship between early embryonic loss and different reproductive biotechniques. This review also considers insights and possible strategies for reducing early embryonic loss. The strategies addressed are as follows: i) great impact of rigorous embryo evaluation on reducing embryo losses; ii) selection of recipients at the time of transfer, taking into account health and nutritional status, and classification of the corpus luteum using ultrasound, either in area or vascularization; and iii) paternal effect as one of the factors that contribute to pregnancy losses, with a focus on embryo transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Marcondes Seneda
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Laboratório de Reprodução Animal, Londrina, PR, Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Leite – INCT Leite, Londrina, PR, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Fábio Morotti
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Laboratório de Reprodução Animal, Londrina, PR, Brasil
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2
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Benedetti C, Pavani KC, Gansemans Y, Azari-Dolatabad N, Pascottini OB, Peelman L, Six R, Fan Y, Guan X, Deserranno K, Fernández-Montoro A, Hamacher J, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Fair T, Hendrix A, Smits K, Van Soom A. From follicle to blastocyst: microRNA-34c from follicular fluid-derived extracellular vesicles modulates blastocyst quality. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:104. [PMID: 39097731 PMCID: PMC11298084 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-024-01059-8] [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: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the follicular fluid, extracellular vesicles (EVs) guide oocyte growth through their cargo microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we investigated the role of EVs and their cargo miRNAs by linking the miRNAs found in EVs, derived from the fluid of an individual follicle, to the ability of its oocyte to become a blastocyst (competent) or not (non-competent). METHODS Bovine antral follicles were dissected, categorized as small (2-4 mm) or large (5-8 mm) and the corresponding oocytes were subjected to individual maturation, fertilization and embryo culture to the blastocyst stage. Follicular fluid was pooled in 4 groups (4 replicates) based on follicle size and competence of the corresponding oocyte to produce a blastocyst. Follicular fluid-derived EVs were isolated, characterized, and subjected to miRNA-sequencing (Illumina Miseq) to assess differential expression (DE) in the 4 groups. Functional validation of the effect of miR-34c on embryo development was performed by supplementation of mimics and inhibitors during in vitro maturation (IVM). RESULTS We identified 16 DE miRNAs linked to oocyte competence when follicular size was not considered. Within the large and small follicles, 46 DE miRNAs were driving blastocyst formation in each group. Comparison of EVs from competent small and large follicles revealed 90 DE miRNAs. Cell regulation, cell differentiation, cell cycle, and metabolic process regulation were the most enriched pathways targeted by the DE miRNAs from competent oocytes. We identified bta-miR-34c as the most abundant in follicular fluid containing competent oocytes. Supplementation of miR-34c mimic and inhibitor during IVM did not affect embryo development. However, blastocyst quality, as evidenced by higher cell numbers, was significantly improved following oocyte IVM in the presence of miR-34c mimics, while miR-34c inhibitors resulted in the opposite effect. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the regulatory effect of miRNAs from follicular fluid-derived EVs on oocyte competence acquisition, providing a further basis for understanding the significance of miRNAs in oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Up-regulation of miR-34c in EVs from follicular fluid containing competent oocytes and the positive impact of miR-34c mimics added during IVM on the resulting blastocysts indicate its pivotal role in oocyte competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Benedetti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Krishna Chaitanya Pavani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yannick Gansemans
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Luc Peelman
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rani Six
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yuan Fan
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xuefeng Guan
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Deserranno
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andrea Fernández-Montoro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Joachim Hamacher
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Plant Pathology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Trudee Fair
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - An Hendrix
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Pasquariello R, Pennarossa G, Arcuri S, Fernandez-Fuertes B, Lonergan P, Brevini TAL, Gandolfi F. Sperm fertilizing ability in vitro influences bovine blastocyst miRNA content. Theriogenology 2024; 222:1-9. [PMID: 38581760 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules that orchestrate a wide range of biological processes through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. During development, miRNAs play a key role in driving embryo patterning and morphogenesis in a specific and stage-dependent manner. Here, we investigated whether sperm from bulls with different fertilizing ability in vitro influence blastocyst quality and miRNA content. Results demonstrate that blastocysts obtained using sperm from high fertility sires (H group) display significantly greater cleavage and blastocyst development as well as greater transcript abundance in blastocysts for the developmental competence markers CDX2, KRT8, NANOG, OCT4, PLAC8, PTGS2, SOX17, and SOX2, compared to blastocysts generated using sperm from low fertility sires (L group). In parallel, high throughput deep sequencing and differential expression studies revealed that H blastocysts exhibit a greater miRNA content compared to L blastocysts, with hsa-miR-4755-5p and hsa-miR-548d-3p uniquely detected in the H group, and greater abundance of hsa-miR-1225-3p in the H group. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that the 3 differentially expressed miRNAs identified are involved in the regulation of many biological mechanisms with a key role in aspects of early embryo development, including transcriptional regulation, cellular biosynthesis, nucleic acid metabolism, cellular differentiation, apoptosis, cytoskeleton remodeling, cell-to-cell interactions, and endocytosis. Overall, our results indicate that sperm fertilizing ability influences blastocyst developmental ability and miRNA content. In addition, we demonstrate an association between blastocyst quality and miRNA content, thus suggesting the possibility to score miRNA expression as biomarkers for improved routine embryo selection technologies to support assisted reproductive efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolando Pasquariello
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Georgia Pennarossa
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sharon Arcuri
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Fuertes
- Animal Reproduction Department, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patrick Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Tiziana A L Brevini
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fulvio Gandolfi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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4
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Ynsaurralde-Rivolta AE, Gambini A, Alberio V, Savy V, Ratner L, Guberman A, Vázquez Echegaray C, Gismondi MI, Currá A, Bevacqua R, Salamone D. In vitro developmental competence of bovine demi-embryos generated by blastomere separation and blastocyst bisection. Reprod Domest Anim 2024; 59:e14627. [PMID: 38837827 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14627] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The efficiency of bovine in vitro embryo production can be significantly improved by splitting embryos at different stages. However, the blastocyst quality of in vitro-produced demi-embryos remains unexplored. The objective of this research was to compare embryo developmental rates and quality of bovine demi-embryos produced by two different strategies: (a) embryo bisection (BSEC) and (b) 2-cell blastomere separation (BSEP). To determine demi-embryos quality, we evaluated total blastocyst cell number and proportion of SOX2+ cells. Additionally, the expression of SOX2, NANOG, OCT4, CDX2, IFNT, BAX and BCL genes and let-7a and miRNA-30c Micro RNAs was analysed. BSEP resulted in improved blastocyst development, higher ICM cells and a significantly higher expression of IFNΤ than demi-embryos produced by BSEC. Let-7a, which is associated with low pregnancy establishment was detected in BSEC, while miRNA-30c expression was observed in all treatments. In conclusion, BSEP of 2-cell embryos is more efficient to improve in vitro bovine embryo development and to produce good quality demi-embryos based on ICM cell number and the expression pattern of the genes explored compared to BSEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Ynsaurralde-Rivolta
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Gambini
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - V Alberio
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (INPA), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V Savy
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - L Ratner
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Guberman
- IQUIBICEN-CONICET Department of Biological Chemistry, FCEN, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C Vázquez Echegaray
- IQUIBICEN-CONICET Department of Biological Chemistry, FCEN, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M I Gismondi
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Hurlingham, Argentina
| | - A Currá
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Hurlingham, Argentina
| | - R Bevacqua
- Mount Sinai, DOMI, New York, New York, USA
| | - D Salamone
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (INPA), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Hamdi M, Sánchez JM, Fernandez-Fuertes B, Câmara DR, Bollwein H, Rizos D, Bauersachs S, Almiñana C. Oviductal extracellular vesicles miRNA cargo varies in response to embryos and their quality. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:520. [PMID: 38802796 PMCID: PMC11129498 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10429-5] [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: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence points to an active role of oviductal extracellular vesicles (oEVs) in the early embryo-maternal dialogue. However, it remains unclear whether oEVs contribute to the recognition of the presence of embryos and their quality in the oviduct. Hence, we examined whether the molecular cargo of oEVs secreted by bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC) differs depending on the presence of good (≥ 8 cells, G) or poor (< 8 cells, P) quality embryos. In addition, differences in RNA profiles between G and P embryos were analyzed in attempt to distinguish oEVs and embryonic EVs cargos. METHODS For this purpose, primary BOEC were co-cultured with in vitro produced embryos (IVP) 53 h post fertilization as follows: BOEC with G embryos (BGE); BOEC with P embryos (BPE); G embryos alone (GE); P embryos alone (PE); BOEC alone (B) and medium control (M). After 24 h of co-culture, conditioned media were collected from all groups and EVs were isolated and characterized. MicroRNA profiling of EVs and embryos was performed by small RNA-sequencing. RESULTS In EVs, 84 miRNAs were identified, with 8 differentially abundant (DA) miRNAs for BGE vs. B and 4 for BPE vs. B (P-value < 0.01). In embryos, 187 miRNAs were identified, with 12 DA miRNAs for BGE vs. BPE, 3 for G vs. P, 8 for BGE vs. GE, and 11 for BPE vs. PE (P-value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that oEVs are involved in the oviductal-embryo recognition and pointed to specific miRNAs with signaling and supporting roles during early embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Hamdi
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, University of Zurich, Lindau, ZH, 8315, Switzerland
| | - José María Sánchez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Fuertes
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Diogo Ribeiro Câmara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, Viçosa, AL, Brazil
| | - Heinrich Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Lindau, ZH, 8315, Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefan Bauersachs
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, University of Zurich, Lindau, ZH, 8315, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Almiñana
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, University of Zurich, Lindau, ZH, 8315, Switzerland.
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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6
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Batra K, Sehrawat A, Kumar A, Singh M, Kaur R, Yadav DC, Singh N, Maan S. Identification of circulatory microRNA based biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1386241. [PMID: 38770151 PMCID: PMC11102991 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1386241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The most crucial factor in improving animal reproduction efficiency is early pregnancy diagnosis. Early diagnosis not only reduces the time interval between two calvings but also aids farmers in identifying open animals, thereby preventing significant milk production losses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discover circulatory miRNAs that would be useful for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo. Material and methods: Blood samples were taken on 0, 6th, 12th, and 18th day after artificial insemination from pregnant animals (n = 30) and non-pregnant animals (n = 20). During these stages of pregnancy, total RNA was extracted, and a small RNA library was subsequently generated and sequenced on the Illumina platform. Subsequently, Real-time PCR was used to validate the findings. Results and discussion: There were 4,022 miRNAs found during the pregnancy, with 15 of those lacking sequences and 4,007 having sequences already in the database. From the beginning of pregnancy until the 18th day, 25 of these miRNAs showed a substantial shift in expression levels in the maternal blood, with a change more than two logs. Furthermore, based on qPCR results, 19 miRNAs were found to be more abundant in pregnant animals than in non-pregnant animals. We used target prediction analysis to learn how maternally expressed miRNAs relate to fetal-maternal communication. In conclusion, miRNA based biomarkers that could be associated with the diagnosis of pregnancy were identified including miR-181a and miR-486 highly upregulated on the 18th day of pregnancy. This study also provides a comprehensive profile of the entire miRNA population in maternal buffalo blood during the early stages of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanisht Batra
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Anju Sehrawat
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Aman Kumar
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Man Singh
- Department of Livestock Production and Management, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Ramandeep Kaur
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Dipin Chander Yadav
- Department of Livestock Production and Management, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Neha Singh
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Sushila Maan
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India
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Mazzarella R, Cañón-Beltrán K, Cajas YN, Hamdi M, González EM, da Silveira JC, Leal CLV, Rizos D. Extracellular vesicles-coupled miRNAs from oviduct and uterus modulate signaling pathways related to lipid metabolism and bovine early embryo development. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:51. [PMID: 38570884 PMCID: PMC10993494 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-024-01008-5] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in oviductal (OF) and uterine fluid (UF) have been shown to enhance bovine embryo quality during in vitro culture by reducing lipid contents and modulating lipid metabolism-related genes (LMGs), while also influencing cell proliferation, suggesting their involvement on the regulation of different biological pathways. The regulation of signaling pathways related to cell differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism is crucial for early embryo development and can determine the success or failure of the pregnancy. Bioactive molecules within EVs in maternal reproductive fluids, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), may contribute to this regulatory process as they modulate gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms. RESULTS From the 20 differentially expressed miRNAs, 19 up-regulated in UF-EVs (bta-miR-134, bta-miR-151-3p, bta-miR-155, bta-miR-188, bta-miR-181b, bta-miR-181d, bta-miR-224, bta-miR-23b-3p, bta-miR-24-3p, bta-miR-27a-3p, bta-miR-29a, bta-miR-324, bta-miR-326, bta-miR-345-3p, bta-miR-410, bta-miR-652, bta-miR-677, bta-miR-873 and bta-miR-708) and one (bta-miR-148b) in OF-EVs. These miRNAs were predicted to modulate several pathways such as Wnt, Hippo, MAPK, and lipid metabolism and degradation. Differences in miRNAs found in OF-EVs from the early luteal phase and UF-EVs from mid-luteal phase may reflect different environments to meet the changing needs of the embryo. Additionally, miRNAs may be involved, particularly in the uterus, in the regulation of embryo lipid metabolism, immune system, and implantation. This study evaluated miRNA cargo in OF-EVs from the early luteal phase and UF-EVs from the mid-luteal phase, coinciding with embryo transit within oviduct and uterus in vivo, and its possible influence on LMGs and signaling pathways crucial for early embryo development. A total of 333 miRNAs were detected, with 11 exclusive to OF, 59 to UF, and 263 were common between both groups. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that miRNAs within OF- and UF-EVs could modulate bovine embryo development and quality, providing insights into the intricate maternal-embryonic communication that might be involved in modulating lipid metabolism, immune response, and implantation during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karina Cañón-Beltrán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yulia N Cajas
- Department Agrarian Production, Technical University of Madrid, UPM, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja,, UTPL, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Meriem Hamdi
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Claudia L V Leal
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, FZEA-USP, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - D Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
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Liu L, Guo J, Gao W, Gao M, Ma X. Research progress in the role of non-coding RNAs and embryo implantation. ZHONG NAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2023; 48:1377-1387. [PMID: 38044649 PMCID: PMC10929864 DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.220485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) refers to RNA that lack the ability to encode protein. Based on their distinct biological characteristics, ncRNA are mainly classified into microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA). NcRNA plays a crucial regulatory role in various biological processes. Pregnancy is a highly intricate physiological process that requires successful completion of multiple steps. Embryo implantation, as a key event of pregnancy, which is regulated by numerous factors, including embryo development, endometrial changes, and the maternal-embryo crosstalk. A diverse array of regulatory mechanisms ensures the accomplishment of embryo localization, adhesion, invasion, and ultimately successful implantation. MiRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA are extensively studied ncRNA molecules at present, which play an important role in the physiological and pathological processes associated with embryo implantation through targeting and regulating the expression of multiple cytokine and genes. With advancements in molecular biology technology, it is anticipated that ncRNA will contribute to the prediction and enhancement of clinical pregnancy outcomes from a molecular perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Reproductive Center, First Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000.
| | - Jiayi Guo
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Tongji Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280
| | - Wenxin Gao
- Reproductive Center, First Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000
| | - Mengmeng Gao
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Reproductive Center, First Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000.
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9
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Biondic S, Petropoulos S. Evidence for Functional Roles of MicroRNAs in Lineage Specification During Mouse and Human Preimplantation Development. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2023; 96:481-494. [PMID: 38161584 PMCID: PMC10751869 DOI: 10.59249/fosi4358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Proper formation of the blastocyst, including the specification of the first embryonic cellular lineages, is required to ensure healthy embryo development and can significantly impact the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). However, the regulatory role of microRNAs in early development, particularly in the context of preimplantation lineage specification, remains largely unknown. Taking a cross-species approach, this review aims to summarize the expression dynamics and functional significance of microRNAs in the differentiation and maintenance of lineage identity in both the mouse and the human. Findings are consolidated from studies conducted using in vitro embryonic stem cell models representing the epiblast, trophectoderm, and primitive endoderm lineages (modeled by naïve embryonic stem cells, trophoblast stem cells, and extraembryonic endoderm stem cells, respectively) to provide insight on what may be occurring in the embryo. Additionally, studies directly conducted in both mouse and human embryos are discussed, emphasizing similarities to the stem cell models and the gaps in our understanding, which will hopefully lead to further investigation of these areas. By unraveling the intricate mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate the specification and maintenance of cellular lineages in the blastocyst, we can leverage this knowledge to further optimize stem cell-based models such as the blastoids, enhance embryo competence, and develop methods of non-invasive embryo selection, which can potentially increase the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies and improve the experiences of those receiving fertility treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savana Biondic
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de
l’Université de Montréal, Axe Immunopathologie, Montréal, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Molecular Biology Program,
Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de
l’Université de Montréal, Axe Immunopathologie, Montréal, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Molecular Biology Program,
Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of
Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm,
Sweden
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10
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Jiang Z. Molecular and cellular programs underlying the development of bovine pre-implantation embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2023; 36:34-42. [PMID: 38064195 PMCID: PMC10962643 DOI: 10.1071/rd23146] [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] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Early embryonic mortality is a major cause of infertility in cattle, yet the underlying molecular causes remain a mystery. Over the past half century, assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation and somatic cell nuclear transfer have been used to improve cattle reproductive efficiency; however, reduced embryo developmental potential is seen compared to their in vivo counterparts. Recent years have seen exciting progress across bovine embryo research, including genomic profiling of embryogenesis, new methods for improving embryo competence, and experimenting on building bovine embryos from stem cell cultures. These advances are beginning to define bovine embryo molecular and cellular programs and could potentially lead to improved embryo health. Here, I highlight the current status of molecular determinants and cellular programs of bovine embryo development and new opportunities to improve the bovine embryo health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongliang Jiang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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11
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Angel-Velez D, De Coster T, Azari-Dolatabad N, Fernández-Montoro A, Benedetti C, Pavani K, Van Soom A, Bogado Pascottini O, Smits K. Embryo morphokinetics derived from fresh and vitrified bovine oocytes predict blastocyst development and nuclear abnormalities. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4765. [PMID: 36959320 PMCID: PMC10036495 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31268-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryo development is a dynamic process and critical stages may go unnoticed with the use of traditional morphologic assessments, especially the timing of embryonic divisions and aberrant zygotic cleavage patterns. Bovine embryo development is impaired after oocyte vitrification, but little is known about the underlying morphokinetic behavior. Here, bovine zygotes from fresh (n = 708) and vitrified oocytes (n = 182) were monitored by time-lapse imaging and the timing and nature of early blastomere divisions were modeled to find associations with blastocyst development at day 8. The predictive potential of morphokinetic parameters was analyzed by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine optimal cut-off values. Lag-phase was highly correlated with embryo development. Remarkably, 100% of zygotes that reached the blastocyst stage showed a lag-phase. Fast first cleavage increased the chance of blastocyst development to 30% with a cut-off of 32 h and 22 min. Aberrant zygotic cleavage events, including multipolar division, unequal blastomere sizes, and membrane ruffling resulted in decreased blastocyst development. Multipolar division leads to uneven blastomeres, which was associated with anuclear and multinuclear blastomeres, indicating genome segregation errors. Moreover, we described for the first time morphokinetics of embryos derived from vitrified bovine oocytes. Vitrification severely affected blastocyst development, although lower cryoprotectant concentration in equilibration solutions seems to be less detrimental for embryo yield. Impaired development was linked to slow cleavages, lower lag-phase incidence, and increased early embryonic arrest. Typically, less than 15% of the embryos produced from vitrified oocytes reached more than eight cells. Interestingly, the rate of abnormal first cleavage events was not affected by oocyte vitrification. In conclusion, time to first cleavage, the presence of a lag-phase, and the absence of aberrant zygotic cleavage were the best predictors of bovine blastocyst development for both fresh and vitrified oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Angel-Velez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Research Group in Animal Sciences - INCA-CES, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia.
| | - Tine De Coster
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Nima Azari-Dolatabad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Andrea Fernández-Montoro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Camilla Benedetti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Krishna Pavani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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