1
|
Mihalas BP, Marston AL, Wu LE, Gilchrist RB. Reproductive Ageing: Metabolic contribution to age-related chromosome missegregation in mammalian oocytes. Reproduction 2024; 168:e230510. [PMID: 38718822 PMCID: PMC11301428 DOI: 10.1530/rep-23-0510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
In brief Chromosome missegregation and declining energy metabolism are considered to be unrelated features of oocyte ageing that contribute to poor reproductive outcomes. Given the bioenergetic cost of chromosome segregation, we propose here that altered energy metabolism during ageing may be an underlying cause of age-related chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy. Abstract Advanced reproductive age in women is a major cause of infertility, miscarriage and congenital abnormalities. This is principally caused by a decrease in oocyte quality and developmental competence with age. Oocyte ageing is characterised by an increase in chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy. However, the underlying mechanisms of age-related aneuploidy have not been fully elucidated and are still under active investigation. In addition to chromosome missegregation, oocyte ageing is also accompanied by metabolic dysfunction. In this review, we integrate old and new perspectives on oocyte ageing, chromosome segregation and metabolism in mammalian oocytes and make direct links between these processes. We consider age-related alterations to chromosome segregation machinery, including the loss of cohesion, microtubule stability and the integrity of the spindle assembly checkpoint. We focus on how metabolic dysfunction in the ageing oocyte disrupts chromosome segregation machinery to contribute to and exacerbate age-related aneuploidy. More specifically, we discuss how mitochondrial function, ATP production and the generation of free radicals are altered during ageing. We also explore recent developments in oocyte metabolic ageing, including altered redox reactions (NAD+ metabolism) and the interactions between oocytes and their somatic nurse cells. Throughout the review, we integrate the mechanisms by which changes in oocyte metabolism influence age-related chromosome missegregation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bettina P Mihalas
- Oocyte Biology Research Unit, Discipline of Women’s Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia
| | - Adele L Marston
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsay E Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia
| | - Robert B Gilchrist
- Oocyte Biology Research Unit, Discipline of Women’s Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huang W, Li X, Yang H, Huang H. The impact of maternal age on aneuploidy in oocytes: Reproductive consequences, molecular mechanisms, and future directions. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102292. [PMID: 38582380 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102292] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Age-related aneuploidy in human oocytes is a major factor contributing to decreased fertility and adverse reproductive outcomes. As females age, their oocytes are more prone to meiotic chromosome segregation errors, leading primarily to aneuploidy. Elevated aneuploidy rates have also been observed in oocytes from very young, prepubertal conceptions. A key barrier to developing effective treatments for age-related oocyte aneuploidy is our incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. The challenge is becoming increasingly critical as more people choose to delay childbearing, a trend that has significant societal implications. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding the process of oocyte meiosis and folliculogenesis, highlighting the relationship between age and chromosomal aberrations in oocytes and embryos, and integrate proposed mechanisms of age-related meiotic disturbances across structural, protein, and genomic levels. Our goal is to spur new research directions and therapeutic avenues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Huang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Shanghai, China; Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU056), Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyuan Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Shanghai, China; Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU056), Shanghai, China
| | - Hongbo Yang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Shanghai, China; Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU056), Shanghai, China.
| | - Hefeng Huang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Development, Shanghai, China; Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU056), Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Institutes of Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dipali SS, Suebthawinkul C, Burdette JE, Pavone ME, Duncan FE. Human follicular fluid elicits select dose- and age-dependent effects on mouse oocytes and cumulus-oocyte complexes in a heterologous in vitro maturation assay. Mol Hum Reprod 2023; 29:gaad039. [PMID: 37950499 PMCID: PMC10674105 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaad039] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Follicular fluid (FF) is a primary microenvironment of the oocyte within an antral follicle. Although several studies have defined the composition of human FF in normal physiology and determined how it is altered in disease states, the direct impacts of human FF on the oocyte are not well understood. The difficulty of obtaining suitable numbers of human oocytes for research makes addressing such a question challenging. Therefore, we used a heterologous model in which we cultured mouse oocytes in human FF. To determine whether FF has dose-dependent effects on gamete quality, we performed in vitro maturation of denuded oocytes from reproductively young mice (6-12 weeks) in 10%, 50%, or 100% FF from participants of mid-reproductive age (32-36 years). FF impacted meiotic competence in a dose-dependent manner, with concentrations >10% inhibiting meiotic progression and resulting in spindle and chromosome alignment defects. We previously demonstrated that human FF acquires a fibro-inflammatory cytokine signature with age. Thus, to determine whether exposure to an aging FF microenvironment contributes to the age-dependent decrease in gamete quality, we matured denuded oocytes and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in FF from reproductively young (28-30 years) and old (40-42 years) participants. FF decreased meiotic progression of COCs, but not oocytes, from reproductively young and old (9-12 months) mice in an age-dependent manner. Moreover, FF had modest age-dependent impacts on mitochondrial aggregation in denuded oocytes and cumulus layer expansion dynamics in COCs, which may influence fertilization or early embryo development. Overall, these findings demonstrate that acute human FF exposure can impact select markers of mouse oocyte quality in both dose- and age-dependent manners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shweta S Dipali
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chanakarn Suebthawinkul
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Joanna E Burdette
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mary Ellen Pavone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Francesca E Duncan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu YN, Han GB, Li YH, Piao CH, Li GH, Kim NH. Protective effect of onion peel extract on ageing mouse oocytes. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:451-456. [PMID: 37337719 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199423000199] [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] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian oocytes not fertilized immediately after ovulation can undergo ageing and a rapid decline in quality. The addition of antioxidants can be an efficient approach to delaying the oocyte ageing process. Onion peel extract (OPE) contains quercetin and other flavonoids with natural antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of OPE on mouse oocyte ageing and its mechanism of action. The oocytes were aged in vitro in M16 medium for 16 h after adding OPE at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 500 μg/ml). The addition of 100 μg/ml OPE reduced the oocyte fragmentation rate, decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, increased the glutathione (GSH) level, and improved the mitochondrial membrane potential compared with the control group. The addition of OPE also increased the expression of SOD1, CAT, and GPX3 genes, and the caspase-3 activity in OPE-treated aged oocytes was significantly lower than that in untreated aged oocytes and similar to that in fresh oocytes. These results indicated that OPE delayed mouse oocyte ageing by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis and enhancing mitochondrial function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Nan Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529000, China
| | - Guo-Bo Han
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529000, China
| | - Ying-Hua Li
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529000, China
| | - Chun-Hao Piao
- Jilin Wangqing Animal Quarantine Station, Wangqing, 133200, China
| | - Guan-Hao Li
- College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133000, China
| | - Nam-Hyung Kim
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529000, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cimini D. Twenty years of merotelic kinetochore attachments: a historical perspective. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:18. [PMID: 37466740 PMCID: PMC10411636 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09727-7] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Micronuclei, small DNA-containing structures separate from the main nucleus, were used for decades as an indicator of genotoxic damage. Micronuclei containing whole chromosomes were considered a biomarker of aneuploidy and were believed to form, upon mitotic exit, from chromosomes that lagged behind in anaphase as all other chromosomes segregated to the poles of the mitotic spindle. However, the mechanism responsible for inducing anaphase lagging chromosomes remained unknown until just over twenty years ago. Here, I summarize what preceded and what followed this discovery, highlighting some of the open questions and opportunities for future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cimini
- Department of Biological Sciences and Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gu Y, Xu J, Sun F, Cheng J. Elevated intracellular pH of zygotes during mouse aging causes mitochondrial dysfunction associated with poor embryo development. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2023:111991. [PMID: 37336488 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.111991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The mortality of preimplantation embryos is positively correlated with maternal age. However, the underlying mechanism for the poor quality of embryos remains unclear. Here, we found that aging caused elevated intracellular pH (pHi) in zygotes, which could trigger aberrant mitochondrial membrane potential, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and poor embryo development. Moreover, single-cell transcriptome sequencing of mouse zygotes identified 120 genes that were significantly differentially expressed (DE) between young and older zygotes. These include genes such as Slc14a1, Fxyd5, CD74, and Bst, which are related to cell division, ion transporter, and cell differentiation. Further analysis indicated that these DE genes were enriched in apoptosis, the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and the chemokine signaling pathway, which might be the key regulatory pathway affecting the quality of zygotes and subsequent embryo development. Taken together, our study helps elucidate the poor quality and development of older preimplantation embryos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Gu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Junjie Xu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, 7, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Jinmei Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Czajkowska K, Ajduk A. Mitochondrial activity and redox status in oocytes from old mice: The interplay between maternal and postovulatory aging. Theriogenology 2023; 204:18-30. [PMID: 37031516 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Maternal aging has been reported to reduce oocyte quality and, in turn, lower the developmental potential of the resulting embryos. Here, we show that maternally aged oocytes display two strikingly different phenotypes: some have normal morphology, whereas others have significantly shrunk cytoplasm. The latter phenotype usually prevails in aged females. Our objective was to characterize both types of maternally aged oocytes and investigate the origins of this diversity. Importantly, our experiments indicate that shrunk maternally aged oocytes are severely compromised in terms of mitochondrial functionality as compared to their young or morphologically normal maternally aged counterparts: they display significantly decreased mitochondrial activity and lower amounts of ROS. In contrast, morphologically normal maternally aged oocytes had the same mitochondrial activity as young ones, while their ROS levels were higher. Surprisingly, the shrunk phenotype was completely absent in maternally aged oocytes that matured in vitro, suggesting that it is not caused inherently by maternal aging, but may be related to other factors, like postovulatory aging. Indeed, an additional culture of in vitro matured young and old oocytes (i.e., in vitro postovulatory aging) significantly decreased their mitochondrial activity and led to cytoplasm shrinkage. In vivo postovulatory aging had a similar effect on oocytes from both young and old females. Finally, we examined the developmental potential of oocytes obtained from aged females. Shrunk (i.e., most likely postovulatory aged) oocytes failed to become fertilized, whereas morphologically normal ones (i.e., most likely not subjected to postovulatory aging) underwent fertilization and subsequent cleavage divisions, although they achieved the 2-cell stage less frequently than morphologically normal oocytes from young females. Importantly, the quality of blastocysts as well as the live birth rate for morphologically normal oocytes from old and young females were similar. In summary, our data clearly indicate that two pools of oocytes present in oviducts of aged females differ significantly in their quality and developmental potential and that the more severely affected phenotype results most likely from a synergistic action of maternal and postovulatory aging.
Collapse
|
8
|
Cheng J, Liu Y. Knockout of cyclin B1 in granulosa cells causes female subfertility. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:1867-1878. [PMID: 35536551 PMCID: PMC9359391 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2074740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian cells, cyclin B1 plays a pivotal role in mitotic and meiotic progression. It has been reported that infertility occurs after disruption of cyclin B1 (Ccnb1) in male germ cells and oocytes. However, it remains to be elucidated whether the specific disruption of Ccnb1 in granulosa cells influences the reproductive activity of female mice. Amhr2 is expressed in granulosa cells (GCs) of the ovary. Here, we mated Ccnb1Flox/Flox mice with a transgenic mouse strain expressing Amhr2-Cre to generate GC-specific Ccnb1 knockout mice. The results showed that Ccnb1 Flox/Flox, Amhr2-Cre (Ccnb1 cKO) mice were subfertile but had normal oocyte meiotic progress, spindle shape and protein levels of cohesin subunits REC8 and SMC3 on arm chromosomes during meiosis I. A further study found that 32.4% of oocytes from Ccnb1 cKO mice exhibited chromosome condensation and spindle disassembly after the first polar body extrusion and failed to undergo second meiosis, which was never found in oocytes from Ccnb1Flox/Flox mice. In addition, the percentages of 2-cell embryos, morulas, and blastocysts in the Ccnb1 mutant group were all dramatically decreased compared to those in the Ccnb1Flox/Flox group (39.2% vs. 86.8%, 26.0% vs. 85.0%, 19.1% vs. 85.8%, respectively). Therefore, GC-specific Ccnb1 deletion in mice could cause fewer and poor-quality blastocysts and subsequent subfertility, which plays an important role in understanding the function of cyclin B1 in reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinmei Cheng
- School of Medicine, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Xicheng, China
| | - Yixun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Xicheng, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chromosome Segregation in the Oocyte: What Goes Wrong during Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052880. [PMID: 35270022 PMCID: PMC8911062 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human female fertility and reproductive lifespan decrease significantly with age, resulting in an extended post-reproductive period. The central dogma in human female reproduction contains two important aspects. One is the pool of oocytes in the human ovary (the ovarian reserve; approximately 106 at birth), which diminishes throughout life until menopause around the age of 50 (approximately 103 oocytes) in women. The second is the quality of oocytes, including the correctness of meiotic divisions, among other factors. Notably, the increased rate of sub- and infertility, aneuploidy, miscarriages, and birth defects are associated with advanced maternal age, especially in women above 35 years of age. This postponement is also relevant for human evolution; decades ago, the female aging-related fertility drop was not as important as it is today because women were having their children at a younger age. Spindle assembly is crucial for chromosome segregation during each cell division and oocyte maturation, making it an important event for euploidy. Consequently, aberrations in this segregation process, especially during the first meiotic division in human eggs, can lead to implantation failure or spontaneous abortion. Today, human reproductive medicine is also facing a high prevalence of aneuploidy, even in young females. However, the shift in the reproductive phase of humans and the strong increase in errors make the problem much more dramatic at later stages of the female reproductive phase. Aneuploidy in human eggs could be the result of the non-disjunction of entire chromosomes or sister chromatids during oocyte meiosis, but partial or segmental aneuploidies are also relevant. In this review, we intend to describe the relevance of the spindle apparatus during oocyte maturation for proper chromosome segregation in the context of maternal aging and the female reproductive lifespan.
Collapse
|
10
|
Cheng J, Mi P, Li Y, Lu Y, Sun F. Melatonin prevents oocyte deterioration due to cotinine exposure in mice. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:635-649. [PMID: 35191979 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Levels of cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, have been positively correlated with risks of cigarette smoking-related diseases. Melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland and has been demonstrated to be beneficial to oocyte maturation due to its antioxidative activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of cotinine on mouse oocyte meiosis and the protective roles of melatonin in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that cotinine exposure caused defects in the first polar body extrusion and reduced parthenogenetic activation in in vitro-matured oocytes. Additionally, cotinine exposure increased the level of oxidative stress, which resulted in aberrant actin distribution, abnormal spindle morphology, chromosome misalignment, and even oocyte aneuploidy. Simultaneously, cotinine exposure decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and antioxidant gene expression and increased apoptosis-related gene expression. However, all these toxic effects of cotinine could be reversed after the addition of melatonin, and the mechanism may be a decrease in reactive oxygen species production. In conclusion, cotinine causes poor oocyte quality, which could be rescued by melatonin supplementation during meiotic maturation in mouse oocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinmei Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Panpan Mi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Yinchuan Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Yajuan Lu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Molecular basis of reproductive senescence: insights from model organisms. J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 38:17-32. [PMID: 33006069 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-01959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Reproductive decline due to parental age has become a major barrier to fertility as couples have delayed having offspring into their thirties and forties. Advanced parental age is also associated with increased incidence of neurological and cardiovascular disease in offspring. Thus, elucidating the etiology of reproductive decline is of clinical importance. METHODS Deciphering the underlying processes that drive reproductive decline is particularly challenging in women in whom a discrete oocyte pool is established during embryogenesis and may remain dormant for tens of years. Instead, our understanding of the processes that drive reproductive senescence has emerged from studies in model organisms, both vertebrate and invertebrate, that are the focus of this literature review. CONCLUSIONS Studies of reproductive aging in model organisms not only have revealed the detrimental cellular changes that occur with age but also are helping identify major regulator proteins controlling them. Here, we discuss what we have learned from model organisms with respect to the molecular mechanisms that maintain both genome integrity and oocyte quality.
Collapse
|
12
|
Soares M, Sousa AP, Fernandes R, Ferreira AF, Almeida-Santos T, Ramalho-Santos J. Aging-related mitochondrial alterations in bovine oocytes. Theriogenology 2020; 157:218-225. [PMID: 32814249 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Advanced maternal age is an emerging health problem which involves many functional and structural alterations in oocytes, and its study is relevant to design better approaches to improve the reproductive function in women of advanced age. A constraint to this type of studies is the limited amount of samples and the ethical problems of working with human gametes. This study aims to characterize the in vitro-induced age-related modifications in a bovine model, as well as to determine if this model is a reliable approach to study human aging. For this purpose, we have focused on aging-related alterations related to oocyte mitochondrial dysfunction, a key hallmark in aging. Morphological and bioenergetic in vitro-induced alterations in bovine oocytes were compared to an in vivo aged group and to the already reported information regarding humans and other animal models. Parameters monitored included ooplasmic volume; mitochondrial mass, distribution and aggregation, assessed by MitoTracker Green; mitochondrial activity, monitored by JC-1; and the mitochondrial levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), quantified using MitoPY. Results show a significant decrease in oocyte cytoplasmic volume after both in vitro and in vivo aging (p < 0.001). Additionally, the levels of H2O2 increased significantly after in vitro and in vivo aging (p < 0.001) and mitochondrial aggregation patterns were significantly different after 30 h of in vitro maturation, with MII oocytes presenting small aggregates inside the cytoplasm, whereas aged oocytes had a lack of granularity (p < 0.001). In contrast, there were no differences between the different aging groups in terms of mitochondrial mass, distribution and activity. In conclusion, this in vitro approach of inducing aging-related alterations may be considered as a reliable approach to study the aging process in human female gametes, since it causes the same types of alterations in both species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Soares
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3004-504, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Sousa
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3004-504, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Reproductive Medicine Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta, R. Prof. Mota Pinto, 3004-561, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Raquel Fernandes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3004-504, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Filipa Ferreira
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta, R. Prof. Mota Pinto, 3004-561, Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Almeida-Santos
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3004-504, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Reproductive Medicine Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Praceta, R. Prof. Mota Pinto, 3004-561, Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Ramalho-Santos
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3004-504, University of Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Carnevale EM, Catandi GD, Fresa K. Equine Aging and the Oocyte: A Potential Model for Reproductive Aging in Women. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 89:103022. [PMID: 32563447 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Numerous similarities in reproductive aging have been documented between the mare and woman. Aging is associated with a decline in fertility. In mares and women, oocyte transfer procedures were initially used to establish that oocyte donor age is associated with oocyte quality. Age-associated differences in oocytes include altered morphology, gene expression, and developmental potential. Reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction are thought to be important contributors to loss of oocyte quality. In the woman, aneuploidy is a primary consideration with maternal aging. Although misalignment of chromosomes during meiosis has been observed in the mare, less is known in this area. Reproductive aging will be reviewed in the mare and compared with the woman with emphasis on factors that affect oocyte quality and developmental potential. Areas in which the mare could be used as a research model to study reproductive aging in women will be highlighted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine M Carnevale
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
| | - Giovana D Catandi
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Kyle Fresa
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zielinska AP, Bellou E, Sharma N, Frombach AS, Seres KB, Gruhn JR, Blayney M, Eckel H, Moltrecht R, Elder K, Hoffmann ER, Schuh M. Meiotic Kinetochores Fragment into Multiple Lobes upon Cohesin Loss in Aging Eggs. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3749-3765.e7. [PMID: 31679939 PMCID: PMC6868511 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Chromosome segregation errors during female meiosis are a leading cause of pregnancy loss and human infertility. The segregation of chromosomes is driven by interactions between spindle microtubules and kinetochores. Kinetochores in mammalian oocytes are subjected to special challenges: they need to withstand microtubule pulling forces over multiple hours and are built on centromeric chromatin that in humans is decades old. In meiosis I, sister kinetochores are paired and oriented toward the same spindle pole. It is well established that they progressively separate from each other with advancing female age. However, whether aging also affects the internal architecture of centromeres and kinetochores is currently unclear. Here, we used super-resolution microscopy to study meiotic centromere and kinetochore organization in metaphase-II-arrested eggs from three mammalian species, including humans. We found that centromeric chromatin decompacts with advancing maternal age. Kinetochores built on decompacted centromeres frequently lost their integrity and fragmented into multiple lobes. Fragmentation extended across inner and outer kinetochore regions and affected over 30% of metaphase-II-arrested (MII) kinetochores in aged women and mice, making the lobular architecture a prominent feature of the female meiotic kinetochore. We demonstrate that a partial cohesin loss, as is known to occur in oocytes with advancing maternal age, is sufficient to trigger centromere decompaction and kinetochore fragmentation. Microtubule pulling forces further enhanced the fragmentation and shaped the arrangement of kinetochore lobes. Fragmented kinetochores were frequently abnormally attached to spindle microtubules, suggesting that kinetochore fragmentation could contribute to the maternal age effect in mammalian eggs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agata P Zielinska
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Eirini Bellou
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Ninadini Sharma
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Ann-Sophie Frombach
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - K Bianka Seres
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany; Bourn Hall Clinic, High Street, Cambridge CB23 2TN, UK
| | - Jennifer R Gruhn
- DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
| | | | - Heike Eckel
- Kinderwunschzentrum, Kasseler Landstraße 25A, Göttingen 37081, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Moltrecht
- Kinderwunschzentrum, Kasseler Landstraße 25A, Göttingen 37081, Germany
| | - Kay Elder
- Bourn Hall Clinic, High Street, Cambridge CB23 2TN, UK
| | - Eva R Hoffmann
- DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Melina Schuh
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yun Y, Wei Z, Hunter N. Maternal obesity enhances oocyte chromosome abnormalities associated with aging. Chromosoma 2019; 128:413-421. [PMID: 31286204 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-019-00716-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is increasing globally, and maternal obesity has adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes and the long-term health of offspring. Maternal obesity has been associated with pregnancy failure through impaired oogenesis and embryogenesis. However, whether maternal obesity causes chromosome abnormalities in oocytes has remained unclear. Here we show that chromosome abnormalities are increased in the oocytes of obese mice fed a high-fat diet and identify weakened sister-chromatid cohesion as the likely cause. Numbers of full-grown follicles retrieved from obese mice were the same as controls and the efficiency of in vitro oocyte maturation remained high. However, chromosome abnormalities presenting in both metaphase-I and metaphase-II were elevated, most prominently the premature separation of sister chromatids. Weakened sister-chromatid cohesion in oocytes from obese mice was manifested both as the terminalization of chiasmata in metaphase-I and as increased separation of sister centromeres in metaphase II. Obesity-associated abnormalities were elevated in older mice implying that maternal obesity exacerbates the deterioration of cohesion seen with advancing age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yun
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Zijie Wei
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Neil Hunter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lane S, Kauppi L. Meiotic spindle assembly checkpoint and aneuploidy in males versus females. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:1135-1150. [PMID: 30564841 PMCID: PMC6513798 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2986-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The production of gametes (sperm and eggs in mammals) involves two sequential cell divisions, meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes segregate to different daughter cells, and meiosis II resembles mitotic divisions in that sister chromatids separate. While in principle the process is identical in males and females, the time frame and susceptibility to chromosomal defects, including achiasmy and cohesion weakening, and the response to mis-segregating chromosomes are not. In this review, we compare and contrast meiotic spindle assembly checkpoint function and aneuploidy in the two sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Lane
- Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Building 85, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO171BJ, UK
| | - Liisa Kauppi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Krisher RL. Maternal age affects oocyte developmental potential at both ends of the age spectrum. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:1-9. [PMID: 32188537 DOI: 10.1071/rd18340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal age has a significant effect on oocyte developmental competence. Overall, evidence suggests that oocytes from both prepubertal females and reproductively aged females are inherently less competent. Reduced oocyte quality in both age groups is problematic for human medicine and agriculture. Some of the cellular mechanisms implicated in poor oocyte quality associated with maternal age are mitochondrial function and location, reduction of oxygen radicals, balance of metabolic pathways, regulation of maternal mRNAs and appropriate communication between the oocyte and cumulus cells. However, additional knowledge must be gained about the deficiencies present in prepubertal and reproductively aged oocytes that result in poor developmental potential before significant improvement can be achieved. This review discusses the evidence currently available regarding oocyte quality at both ends of the maternal age spectrum, what we know, or hypothesise, about the mechanisms involved and current thoughts regarding potential treatment for improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Krisher
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, 10290 RidgeGate Circle, Lone Tree, CO 80124, USA. Email
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Pasquariello R, Ermisch AF, Silva E, McCormick S, Logsdon D, Barfield JP, Schoolcraft WB, Krisher RL. Alterations in oocyte mitochondrial number and function are related to spindle defects and occur with maternal aging in mice and humans†. Biol Reprod 2018; 100:971-981. [DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rolando Pasquariello
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, Colorado, USA
- Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Alison F Ermisch
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, Colorado, USA
| | - Elena Silva
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, Colorado, USA
| | - Sue McCormick
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, Colorado, USA
| | - Deirdre Logsdon
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, Colorado, USA
| | - Jennifer P Barfield
- Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Martin JH, Bromfield EG, Aitken RJ, Lord T, Nixon B. Double Strand Break DNA Repair occurs via Non-Homologous End-Joining in Mouse MII Oocytes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9685. [PMID: 29946146 PMCID: PMC6018751 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27892-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique biology of the oocyte means that accepted paradigms for DNA repair and protection are not of direct relevance to the female gamete. Instead, preservation of the integrity of the maternal genome depends on endogenous protein stores and/or mRNA transcripts accumulated during oogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether mature (MII) oocytes have the capacity to detect DNA damage and subsequently mount effective repair. For this purpose, DNA double strand breaks (DSB) were elicited using the topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide (ETP). ETP challenge led to a rapid and significant increase in DSB (P = 0.0002) and the consequential incidence of metaphase plate abnormalities (P = 0.0031). Despite this, ETP-treated MII oocytes retained their ability to participate in in vitro fertilisation, though displayed reduced developmental competence beyond the 2-cell stage (P = 0.02). To account for these findings, we analysed the efficacy of DSB resolution, revealing a significant reduction in DSB lesions 4 h post-ETP treatment. Notably, this response was completely abrogated by pharmacological inhibition of key elements (DNA-PKcs and DNA ligase IV) of the canonical non-homologous end joining DNA repair pathway, thus providing the first evidence implicating this reparative cascade in the protection of the maternal genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta H Martin
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. .,Preganancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth G Bromfield
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Preganancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - R John Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Preganancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Tessa Lord
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Centre for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Brett Nixon
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Preganancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Godek KM, Compton DA. Quantitative methods to measure aneuploidy and chromosomal instability. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 144:15-32. [PMID: 29804667 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Cell viability requires accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis and mitosis so that the daughter cells produced have the correct chromosome complement. In contrast, chromosome segregation errors lead to aneuploidy, a state of abnormal chromosome numbers. Furthermore, a persistently high rate of chromosome segregation errors causes the related phenomenon of whole chromosomal instability (w-CIN). Aneuploidy and w-CIN are common characteristics of several human conditions and diseases including birth defects and cancers. Thus, methods to measure aneuploidy and w-CIN have important research applications in many areas of cell biology. In this chapter, we describe methods to measure chromosome missegregation rates and aneuploid cell survival with a focus on cells grown in culture; however, we also highlight methods that are amenable to primary tissue samples. Together, these methods provide a comprehensive approach to determining the frequency of aneuploidy and w-CIN in cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Godek
- Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH, United States; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Duane A Compton
- Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH, United States; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Cheng JM, Liu YX. Age-Related Loss of Cohesion: Causes and Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E1578. [PMID: 28737671 PMCID: PMC5536066 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aneuploidy is a leading genetic cause of birth defects and lower implantation rates in humans. Most errors in chromosome number originate from oocytes. Aneuploidy in oocytes increases with advanced maternal age. Recent studies support the hypothesis that cohesion deterioration with advanced maternal age represents a leading cause of age-related aneuploidy. Cohesin generates cohesion, and is established only during the premeiotic S phase of fetal development without any replenishment throughout a female's period of fertility. Cohesion holds sister chromatids together until meiosis resumes at puberty, and then chromosome segregation requires the release of sister chromatid cohesion from chromosome arms and centromeres at anaphase I and anaphase II, respectively. The time of cohesion cleavage plays an important role in correct chromosome segregation. This review focuses specifically on the causes and effects of age-related cohesion deterioration in female meiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Mei Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
| | - Yi-Xun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| |
Collapse
|