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Hansen PJ, Estrada-Cortés E, Amaral TF, Ramírez-Hernández R. Meta-analysis to determine efficacy of colony-stimulating factor 2 for improving pregnancy success after embryo transfer in cattle. Theriogenology 2024; 219:126-131. [PMID: 38428334 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Results have been inconsistent as to whether addition of colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) to culture medium improves embryo competence for establishment of pregnancy in cattle and humans. The purpose of the current study was to use all available experiments in cattle concerning effects of CSF2 on pregnancy success after transfer into recipient cattle. The approach was to perform a meta-analysis of all published data sets as well as data from an unpublished experiment described for the first time here. Meta-analysis failed to support the hypothesis that addition of CSF2 to embryo culture medium improves competence of bovine blastocysts to increase pregnancy or calving rates after transfer into recipient females. Thus, its general use as a culture medium additive to increase pregnancy success after embryo transfer is not recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611-0910, FL, USA.
| | - Eliab Estrada-Cortés
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611-0910, FL, USA; Campo Experimental Centro Altos de Jalisco, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, 47600, Mexico
| | - Thiago F Amaral
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611-0910, FL, USA
| | - Rosabel Ramírez-Hernández
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611-0910, FL, USA
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2
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Rabel RAC, Marchioretto PV, Bangert EA, Wilson K, Milner DJ, Wheeler MB. Pre-Implantation Bovine Embryo Evaluation-From Optics to Omics and Beyond. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2102. [PMID: 37443900 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132102] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 80% of the ~1.5 million bovine embryos transferred in 2021 were in vitro produced. However, only ~27% of the transferred IVP embryos will result in live births. The ~73% pregnancy failures are partly due to transferring poor-quality embryos, a result of erroneous stereomicroscopy-based morphological evaluation, the current method of choice for pre-transfer embryo evaluation. Numerous microscopic (e.g., differential interference contrast, electron, fluorescent, time-lapse, and artificial-intelligence-based microscopy) and non-microscopic (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and nuclear magnetic resonance) methodologies have been tested to find an embryo evaluation technique that is superior to morphologic evaluation. Many of these research tools can accurately determine embryo quality/viability; however, most are invasive, expensive, laborious, technically sophisticated, and/or time-consuming, making them futile in the context of in-field embryo evaluation. However accurate they may be, using complex methods, such as RNA sequencing, SNP chips, mass spectrometry, and multiphoton microscopy, at thousands of embryo production/collection facilities is impractical. Therefore, future research is warranted to innovate field-friendly, simple benchtop tests using findings already available, particularly from omics-based research methodologies. Time-lapse monitoring and artificial-intelligence-based automated image analysis also have the potential for accurate embryo evaluation; however, further research is warranted to innovate economically feasible options for in-field applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Chanaka Rabel
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Paula V Marchioretto
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Bangert
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Kenneth Wilson
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Derek J Milner
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Matthew B Wheeler
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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3
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Rabaglino MB. Review: Overview of the transcriptomic landscape in bovine blastocysts and elongated conceptuses driving developmental competence. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100733. [PMID: 37567651 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100733] [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: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In cattle, pregnancy loss due to early embryonic mortality is a major concern that significantly impacts reproductive efficiency. Given the economic importance of cattle in livestock productivity, much research has been carried out to comprehend the regulatory mechanisms underlying this early embryo loss. Thus, understanding the molecular principles behind the reciprocal communication between the maternal uterus and the developing conceptus is paramount. Measurement of mRNA expression through a variety of techniques is widely used to unravel the complex and dynamic interaction between these two players. Development of high-throughput technologies, such as microarrays and RNA sequencing, have allowed global quantification of the full range of expressed mRNA, or transcriptome, of a biological sample. Therefore, numerous investigators have applied one or the other method to study the bovine embryo transcriptome at different developmental checkpoints and under different conditions. The goal of this article was to review studies involving the use of high-throughput techniques to study the transcriptome of the bovine embryo from the blastocyst (∼day 7) to the elongating conceptus stage (∼days 13-16) in terms of developmental capacity and the impact of procedures for in vitro embryo production. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes reported by each study and enriched pathways were compared to determine common terms. The studies described here highlight differences in the transcriptome (i) between blastocysts with divergent ability to sustain a pregnancy, (ii) between age-matched elongated conceptuses with divergent developmental fates, and (iii) between blastocysts and elongated conceptuses produced in vitro or in vivo. Comparison between these works, supported by other studies involving transcriptomic data integration presented at the end of this review, highlights the involvement of pathways related to energy metabolism in embryonic competence, which may be altered because of the procedures involved in the in vitro production of embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Rabaglino
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, Ireland.
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4
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Sosa F, Uh K, Drum JN, Stoecklein KS, Davenport KM, Sofia Ortega M, Lee K, Hansen PJ. Disruption of CSF2RA in the bovine preimplantation embryo reduces development and affects embryonic gene expression in utero. REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY 2023; 4:RAF-23-0001. [PMID: 37000631 PMCID: PMC10160533 DOI: 10.1530/raf-23-0001] [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: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that CSF2 plays a role in the preimplantation development of the bovine embryo was tested by evaluating consequences of inactivation of CSF2RA (the functional receptor in the embryo) for development of embryos in utero. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to alter sequences on exon 5 and intron 5 of CSF2RA, Control embryos were injected with Cas9 mRNA only. Embryos > 16 cells at day 5 after insemination were transferred to synchronized recipient females in groups of 7 to 24. Embryos were flushed from the uterus two days later. The proportion of recovered embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage was lower for knockout embryos (39%) than for control embryos (63%). RNA sequencing of individual morulae and blastocysts indicated a total of 27 (morula) or 15 (blastocyst) differentially-expressed genes (false discovery rate <0.05). Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the knockout affected genes playing roles in several functions including cell signaling and glycosylation. It was concluded that signaling through CSF2RA is not obligatory for development of the bovine preimplantation embryo to the blastocyst stage but that CSF2 signaling does enhance the likelihood that the embryo can become a blastocyst and result in specific changes in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Froylan Sosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kyungjun Uh
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Jéssica N Drum
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Katy S Stoecklein
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | | | - M Sofia Ortega
- Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Rabaglino MB, Salilew-Wondim D, Zolini A, Tesfaye D, Hoelker M, Lonergan P, Hansen PJ. Machine-learning methods applied to integrated transcriptomic data from bovine blastocysts and elongating conceptuses to identify genes predictive of embryonic competence. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22809. [PMID: 36753406 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201977r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Early pregnancy loss markedly impacts reproductive efficiency in cattle. The objectives were to model a biologically relevant gene signature predicting embryonic competence for survival after integrating transcriptomic data from blastocysts and elongating conceptuses with different developmental capacities and to validate the potential biomarkers with independent embryonic data sets through the application of machine-learning algorithms. First, two data sets from in vivo-produced blastocysts competent or not to sustain a pregnancy were integrated with a data set from long and short day-15 conceptuses. A statistical contrast determined differentially expressed genes (DEG) increasing in expression from a competent blastocyst to a long conceptus and vice versa; these were enriched for KEGG pathways related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and RNA processing, respectively. Next, the most discriminative DEG between blastocysts that resulted or did not in pregnancy were selected by linear discriminant analysis. These eight putative biomarker genes were validated by modeling their expression in competent or noncompetent blastocysts through Bayesian logistic regression or neural networks and predicting embryo developmental fate in four external data sets consisting of in vitro-produced blastocysts (i) competent or not, or (ii) exposed or not to detrimental conditions during culture, and elongated conceptuses (iii) of different length, or (iv) developed in the uteri of high- or subfertile heifers. Predictions for each data set were more than 85% accurate, suggesting that these genes play a key role in embryo development and pregnancy establishment. In conclusion, this study integrated transcriptomic data from seven independent experiments to identify a small set of genes capable of predicting embryonic competence for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Belen Rabaglino
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Dessie Salilew-Wondim
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Animal Science, Biotechnology & Reproduction in Farm Animals, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Adriana Zolini
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Dawit Tesfaye
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael Hoelker
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnology & Reproduction in Farm Animals, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Pat Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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6
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Sosa F, Hansen PJ. Colony stimulating factor 2 protects the preimplantation bovine embryo from heat shock. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:51-54. [PMID: 36278319 PMCID: PMC10565675 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000508] [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: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Heat stress can have severe deleterious effects on embryo development and survival. The present study evaluated whether CSF2 can protect the developmental competence of the bovine embryo following exposure to a heat shock of 41°C at the zygote and morula stages. In the first experiment, putative zygotes and 2-cell embryos were assigned to receive either 10 ng/ml CSF2 or vehicle, and then cultured for 15 h at either 38.5°C or 41°C and then at 38.5°C until day 7.5. Heat shock reduced blastocyst development for embryos treated with vehicle but not for embryos cultured with CSF2. In the second experiment, day 5 embryos (morula) were treated with CSF2 or vehicle and then cultured for 15 h at either 38.5°C or 41°C and then at 38.5°C until day 7.5. Temperature treatment did not affect development to the blastocyst stage and there was no effect of CSF2 treatment or the interaction. Results indicate that CSF2 can reduce the deleterious effects of heat shock at the zygote or two-cell stage when the embryo is transcriptionally inactive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Froylan Sosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611-0910, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611-0910, USA
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7
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Wooldridge LK, Keane JA, Rhoads ML, Ealy AD. Bioactive supplements influencing bovine in vitro embryo development. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6620796. [PMID: 35772761 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovum pickup and in vitro production (IVP) of bovine embryos are replacing traditional multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) as the primary means for generating transferable embryos from genetically elite sires and dams. However, inefficiencies in the IVP process limit the opportunities to produce large numbers of transferable embryos. Also, the post-transfer competency of IVP embryos is inferior to embryos produced by artificial insemination or MOET. Numerous maternal, paternal, embryonic, and culture-related factors can have adverse effects on IVP success. This review will explore the various efforts made on describing how IVP embryo development and post-transfer competency may be improved by supplementing hormones, growth factors, cytokines, steroids and other bioactive factors found in the oviduct and uterus during early pregnancy. More than 40 of these factors, collectively termed as embryokines, are reviewed here. Several embryokines contain abilities to promote embryo development, including improving embryo survivability, improving blastomere cell numbers, and altering the distribution of blastomere cell types in blastocysts. A select few embryokines also can benefit pregnancy retention after IVP embryo transfer and improve neonatal calf health and performance, although very few embryokine-supplemented embryo transfer studies have been completed. Also, supplementing several embryokines at the same time holds promise for improving IVP embryo development and competency. However, more work is needed to explore the post-transfer consequences of adding these putative embryokines for any adverse outcomes, such as large offspring syndrome and poor postnatal health, and to specify the specific embryokine combinations that will best represent the ideal conditions found in the oviduct and uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jessica A Keane
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Michelle L Rhoads
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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8
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Amaral TF, de Grazia JGV, Martinhao LAG, De Col F, Siqueira LGB, Viana JHM, Hansen PJ. Actions of CSF2 and DKK1 on bovine embryo development and pregnancy outcomes are affected by composition of embryo culture medium. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7503. [PMID: 35525843 PMCID: PMC9079070 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11447-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Procedures for in vitro embryo production in cattle have not been optimized. In the current experiment, we utilized a 3 × 3 factorial design to test whether the proportion of embryos becoming blastocysts in culture and the pregnancy rate after embryo transfer are affected by type of serum in the medium [no serum; 3% (v/v) KnockOut Serum Replacement (SR); 3% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS)] and addition of specific embryokines [vehicle; 10 ng/mL colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2); 100 ng/mL dickkopf related protein 1 (DKK1)] at day 5 of culture. Embryos were produced using abattoir-derived ovaries and Y-sorted semen from two Angus sires. The percent of putative zygotes and cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts was improved by SR and FBS. Pregnancy rate at day 30 was determined for 1426 Nelore recipients and calving rate for 266 recipients. In the absence of CSF2 or DKK1, pregnancy rates were lower for embryos cultured with SR or FBS. CSF2 and DKK1 reduced pregnancy rate for embryos cultured without serum but had no detrimental effect in the SR or FBS groups. Indeed, CSF2 blocked the negative effect of FBS on pregnancy rate. Data on birth weights were available for 67 bull calves. There were no effects of treatment. The sire used to produce embryos had significant and large effects on development to the blastocyst stage, pregnancy rate at day 30, calving rate and pregnancy loss between day 30 and calving. Results indicate that (1) SR and FBS can improve embryonic development in vitro while also compromising competence of embryos to survive after transfer, (2) actions of CSF2 and DKK1 depend upon other characteristics of the embryo production system, and (3) sire can have a large effect on embryonic development before and after transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago F Amaral
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA
- Zoetis, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | | | - Luany Alves Galvao Martinhao
- FIVX Apoyar Biotech LTDA, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
- Biological Science Institute, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA.
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de Camargo J, Rodrigues R, Valente RS, Muller DB, Vireque AA, Belaz KRA, Bohrer RC, Basso AC, Eberlin MN, Fontes PK, Nogueira MFG, Sudano MJ. Evaluation of a serum-free culture medium for the enhanced vitrification cryosurvival of bovine in vitro-derived embryos. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.104922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Estrada-Cortés E, Jannaman EA, Block J, Amaral TF, Hansen PJ. Programming of postnatal phenotype caused by exposure of cultured embryos from Brahman cattle to colony-stimulating factor 2 and serum. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:6291391. [PMID: 34079989 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the environment of the preimplantation embryo can affect competence to establish pregnancy and phenotype of resultant calves. In this study, the bovine embryo produced in vitro was used to evaluate postnatal programming actions of the embryokine colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) and serum, which is a common additive of culture media. Oocytes were collected by ovum pick up from Brahman donors and fertilized with semen from Brahman bulls. Embryos were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments: vehicle, CSF2 10 ng/mL, or 1% (v/v) serum. Treatments were added to the culture medium from day 5 to 7 after fertilization. Blastocysts were harvested on day 7 and transferred into crossbred recipients. Postnatal body growth and Longissimus dorsi muscle characteristics of the resultant calves were measured. The percent of cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts was increased by serum and, to a lesser extent, CSF2. Treatment did not affect survival after embryo transfer but gestation length was shortest for pregnancies established with serum-treated embryos. Treatment did not significantly affect postnatal body weight or growth. At 3 mo of age, CSF2 calves had lower fat content in the Longissimus dorsi muscle and less subcutaneous fat over the muscle than vehicle calves. There was a tendency for cross-sectional area of the muscle to be smaller for serum calves than vehicle calves. Results confirm the importance of the preimplantation period as a window to modulate postnatal phenotype of resultant calves. In particular, CSF2 exerted actions during the preimplantation period to program characteristics of accumulation of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat of resultant calves. The use of a low serum concentration in culture medium from day 5 to 7 of development can increase the yield of transferrable embryos without causing serious negative consequences for the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliab Estrada-Cortés
- Department of Animal Sciences and D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA.,Campo Experimental Centro Altos de Jalisco, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, 47600, México
| | - Elizabeth A Jannaman
- Department of Animal Sciences and D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
| | - Jeremy Block
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Thiago F Amaral
- Department of Animal Sciences and D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences and D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
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11
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Ealy AD, Speckhart SL, Wooldridge LK. Cytokines That Serve as Embryokines in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082313. [PMID: 34438770 PMCID: PMC8388520 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review will explore how some cytokines also influence early embryonic development. We term these types of molecules as embryokines. Understanding how cytokines serve as embryokines could offer new opportunities to improve embryo development and the overall health of the embryo so that pregnancies will be retained after embryo transfer and so that viable offspring are produced. At least two cytokines may offer these benefits to bovine embryos produced in vitro. Additional cytokines also are identified in this review that may contain beneficial activities on bovine embryos. Abstract The term “embryokine” has been used to denote molecules produced by the endometrium, oviduct, or by embryo itself that will influence embryo development. Several cytokines have been identified as embryokines in cattle and other mammals. This review will describe how these cytokines function as embryokines, with special emphasis being placed on their actions on in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos. Embryokines are being explored for their ability to overcome the poor development rates of IVP embryos and to limit post-transfer pregnancy retention efficiencies that exist in IVP embryos. This review will focus on describing two of the best-characterized cytokines, colony-stimulating factor 2 and interleukin 6, for their ability to modify bovine embryo quality and confirmation, promote normal fetal development, and generate healthy calves. Additional cytokines will also be discussed for their potential to serve as embryokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan D. Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Savannah L. Speckhart
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
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12
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Gimeno I, García-Manrique P, Carrocera S, López-Hidalgo C, Valledor L, Martín-González D, Gómez E. The Metabolic Signature of In Vitro Produced Bovine Embryos Helps Predict Pregnancy and Birth after Embryo Transfer. Metabolites 2021; 11:484. [PMID: 34436426 PMCID: PMC8399324 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro produced (IVP) embryos show large metabolic variability induced by breed, culture conditions, embryonic stage and sex and gamete donors. We hypothesized that the birth potential could be accurately predicted by UHPLC-MS/MS in culture medium (CM) with the discrimination of factors inducing metabolic variation. Day-6 embryos were developed in single CM (modified synthetic oviduct fluid) for 24 h and transferred to recipients as fresh (28 ETs) or frozen/thawed (58 ETs) Day-7 blastocysts. Variability was induced with seven bulls, slaughterhouse oocyte donors, culture conditions (serum + Bovine Serum Albumin [BSA] or BSA alone) prior to single culture embryonic stage records (Day-6: morula, early blastocyst, blastocyst; Day-7: expanding blastocyst; fully expanded blastocysts) and cryopreservation. Retained metabolite signals (6111) were analyzed as a function of pregnancy at Day-40, Day-62 and birth in a combinatorial block study with all fixed factors. We identified 34 accumulated metabolites through 511 blocks, 198 for birth, 166 for Day-62 and 147 for Day-40. The relative abundance of metabolites was higher within blocks from non-pregnant (460) than from pregnant (51) embryos. Taxonomy classified lipids (12 fatty acids and derivatives; 224 blocks), amino acids (12) and derivatives (3) (186 blocks), benzenoids (4; 58 blocks), tri-carboxylic acids (2; 41 blocks) and 5-Hydroxy-l-tryptophan (2 blocks). Some metabolites were effective as single biomarkers in 95 blocks (Receiver Operating Characteristic - Area Under the Curve [ROC-AUC]: 0.700-1.000). In contrast, more accurate predictions within the largest data sets were obtained with combinations of 2, 3 and 4 single metabolites in 206 blocks (ROC-AUC = 0.800-1.000). Pregnancy-prone embryos consumed more amino acids and citric acid, and depleted less lipids and cis-aconitic acid. Big metabolic differences between embryos support efficient pregnancy and birth prediction when analyzed in discriminant conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gimeno
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain; (I.G.); (S.C.); (D.M.-G.)
| | - Pablo García-Manrique
- Molecular Mass Spectrometry Unit, Scientific and Technical Services, University of Oviedo, Catedrático Rodrigo Uria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Susana Carrocera
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain; (I.G.); (S.C.); (D.M.-G.)
| | - Cristina López-Hidalgo
- Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University Institute of Biotechnology of Asturias (IUBA), University of Oviedo, Catedrático Rodrigo Uria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (C.L.-H.); (L.V.)
| | - Luis Valledor
- Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University Institute of Biotechnology of Asturias (IUBA), University of Oviedo, Catedrático Rodrigo Uria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (C.L.-H.); (L.V.)
| | - David Martín-González
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain; (I.G.); (S.C.); (D.M.-G.)
| | - Enrique Gómez
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain; (I.G.); (S.C.); (D.M.-G.)
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13
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Charpigny G, Marquant-Le Guienne B, Richard C, Adenot P, Dubois O, Gélin V, Peynot N, Daniel N, Brochard V, Nuttinck F. PGE2 Supplementation of Oocyte Culture Media Improves the Developmental and Cryotolerance Performance of Bovine Blastocysts Derived From a Serum-Free in vitro Production System, Mirroring the Inner Cell Mass Transcriptome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:672948. [PMID: 34164396 PMCID: PMC8215579 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.672948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The culture media used throughout the in vitro production (IVP) of bovine embryos remain complex. The serum added to culture media in order to improve embryo development negatively impacts the cryotolerance of blastocysts. Periconceptional prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling is known to exert prosurvival effects on in vitro-generated blastocysts. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects on developmental and cryotolerance performance of a serum-free (SF) IVP system that included defined oocyte culture media supplemented or not with PGE2, versus serum-containing (SC) IVP. RNA-sequencing analysis was used to examine the gene expression of ICM derived under the different IVP conditions. We assessed the degree of cryotolerance of grade-I blastocysts during a three-day post-thaw culture by measuring survival and hatching rates, counting trophectoderm and inner cell mass (ICM) blastomere numbers. We also determined the proportion of ICM cells expressing octamer-binding transcription factor 4 protein (OCT4/POU5F1). We showed that grade-I blastocyst development rates under SF + PGE2 conditions were similar to those obtained under SC conditions, although the cleavage rate remained significantly lower. SC IVP conditions induced changes to ICM gene expression relative to several metabolic processes, catabolic activities, cell death and apoptosis. These alterations were associated with significantly higher levels of ICM cell death at day 7 post-fertilization, and lower survival and hatching rates after thawing. SF IVP conditions supplemented or not with PGE2 induced changes to ICM gene expression related to DNA replication, metabolism and double-strand break repair processes, and were associated with significantly larger ICM cell populations after thawing. SF + PGE2 IVP induced changes to ICM gene expression related to epigenetic regulation and were associated with a significantly higher proportion of ICM cells expressing OCT4. For the first time, our study thus offers a comprehensive analysis of the ICM transcriptome regulated by IVP culture conditions in terms of the cellular changes revealed during culture for three days after thawing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Charpigny
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Christophe Richard
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Pierre Adenot
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France.,INRAE, MIMA2, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Olivier Dubois
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Valérie Gélin
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nathalie Peynot
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nathalie Daniel
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Vincent Brochard
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Fabienne Nuttinck
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
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14
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Salilew-Wondim D, Tesfaye D, Rings F, Held-Hoelker E, Miskel D, Sirard MA, Tholen E, Schellander K, Hoelker M. The global gene expression outline of the bovine blastocyst: reflector of environmental conditions and predictor of developmental capacity. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:408. [PMID: 34082721 PMCID: PMC8176733 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Morphological evaluation of embryos has been used to screen embryos for transfer. However, the repeatability and accuracy of this method remains low. Thus, evaluation of an embryo’s gene expression signature with respect to its developmental capacity could provide new opportunities for embryo selection. Since the gene expression outline of an embryo is considered as an aggregate of its intrinsic characteristics and culture conditions, we have compared transcriptome profiles of in vivo and in vitro derived blastocysts in relation to pregnancy outcome to unravel the discrete effects of developmental competence and environmental conditions on bovine embryo gene expression outlines. To understand whether the gene expression patterns could be associated with blastocyst developmental competency, the global transcriptome profile of in vivo (CVO) and in vitro (CVT) derived competent blastocysts that resulted in pregnancy was investigated relative to that of in vivo (NVO) and in vitro (NVT) derived blastocysts which did not establish initial pregnancy, respectively while to unravel the effects of culture condition on the transcriptome profile of embryos, the transcriptional activity of the CVO group was compared to the CVT group and the NVO group was compared to the NVT ones. Results A total of 700 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between CVO and NVO blastocysts. These gene transcripts represent constitutive regions, indel variants, 3′-UTR sequence variants and novel transcript regions. The majority (82%) of these DEGs, including gene clusters like ATP synthases, eukaryotic translation initiation factors, ribosomal proteins, mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase subunits were enriched in the CVO group. These DEGs were involved in pathways associated with glycolysis/glycogenesis, citrate acid cycle, pyruvate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Similarly, a total of 218 genes were differentially expressed between CVT and NVT groups. Of these, 89%, including TPT1, PDIA6, HSP90AA1 and CALM, were downregulated in the CVT group and those DEGs were overrepresented in pathways related to protein processing, endoplasmic reticulum, spliceasome, ubiquitone mediated proteolysis and steroid biosynthesis. On the other hand, although both the CVT and CVO blastocyst groups resulted in pregnancy, a total of 937 genes were differential expressed between the two groups. Compared to CVO embryos, the CVT ones exhibited downregulation of gene clusters including ribosomal proteins, mitochondrial ribosomal protein, eukaryotic translation initiation factors, ATP synthases, NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidases. Nonetheless, downregulation of these genes could be associated with pre and postnatal abnormalities observed after transfer of in vitro embryos. Conclusion The present study provides a detailed inventory of differentially expressed gene signatures and pathways specifically reflective of the developmental environment and future developmental capacities of bovine embryos suggesting that transcriptome activity observed in blastocysts could be indicative of further pregnancy success but also adaptation to culture environment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07693-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dessie Salilew-Wondim
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dawit Tesfaye
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3105 Rampart Rd, CO, 80521, Fort Collins, USA
| | - Franca Rings
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eva Held-Hoelker
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dennis Miskel
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc-Andre Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, INAF, Pavillon des services, Université Laval (Québec), G1V 0A6, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Ernst Tholen
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Schellander
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Hoelker
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany. .,Department of Animal Science, Biotechnology & Reproduction in farm animals, University of Goettingen, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.
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15
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Rabaglino MB, O’Doherty A, Bojsen-Møller Secher J, Lonergan P, Hyttel P, Fair T, Kadarmideen HN. Application of multi-omics data integration and machine learning approaches to identify epigenetic and transcriptomic differences between in vitro and in vivo produced bovine embryos. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252096. [PMID: 34029343 PMCID: PMC8143403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy rates for in vitro produced (IVP) embryos are usually lower than for embryos produced in vivo after ovarian superovulation (MOET). This is potentially due to alterations in their trophectoderm (TE), the outermost layer in physical contact with the maternal endometrium. The main objective was to apply a multi-omics data integration approach to identify both temporally differentially expressed and differentially methylated genes (DEG and DMG), between IVP and MOET embryos, that could impact TE function. To start, four and five published transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets, respectively, were processed for data integration. Second, DEG from day 7 to days 13 and 16 and DMG from day 7 to day 17 were determined in the TE from IVP vs. MOET embryos. Third, genes that were both DE and DM were subjected to hierarchical clustering and functional enrichment analysis. Finally, findings were validated through a machine learning approach with two additional datasets from day 15 embryos. There were 1535 DEG and 6360 DMG, with 490 overlapped genes, whose expression profiles at days 13 and 16 resulted in three main clusters. Cluster 1 (188) and Cluster 2 (191) genes were down-regulated at day 13 or day 16, respectively, while Cluster 3 genes (111) were up-regulated at both days, in IVP embryos compared to MOET embryos. The top enriched terms were the KEGG pathway "focal adhesion" in Cluster 1 (FDR = 0.003), and the cellular component: "extracellular exosome" in Cluster 2 (FDR<0.0001), also enriched in Cluster 1 (FDR = 0.04). According to the machine learning approach, genes in Cluster 1 showed a similar expression pattern between IVP and less developed (short) MOET conceptuses; and between MOET and DKK1-treated (advanced) IVP conceptuses. In conclusion, these results suggest that early conceptuses derived from IVP embryos exhibit epigenomic and transcriptomic changes that later affect its elongation and focal adhesion, impairing post-transfer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria B. Rabaglino
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alan O’Doherty
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jan Bojsen-Møller Secher
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Patrick Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Poul Hyttel
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Trudee Fair
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Haja N. Kadarmideen
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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16
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Metabolites Secreted by Bovine Embryos In Vitro Predict Pregnancies That the Recipient Plasma Metabolome Cannot, and Vice Versa. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11030162. [PMID: 33799889 PMCID: PMC7999939 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11030162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This work describes the use of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics as a non-invasive approach to accurately predict birth prior to embryo transfer (ET) starting from embryo culture media and plasma recipient. Metabolomics was used here as a predictive platform. Day-6 in vitro produced embryos developed singly in modified synthetic oviduct fluid culture medium (CM) drops for 24 h were vitrified as Day-7 blastocysts and transferred to recipients. Day-0 and Day-7 recipient plasma (N = 36 × 2) and CM (N = 36) were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to the quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-qTOF). Metabolites quantified in CM and plasma were analyzed as a function to predict pregnancy at Day-40, Day-62, and birth (univariate and multivariate statistics). Subsequently, a Boolean matrix (F1 score) was constructed with metabolite pairs (one from the embryo, and one from the recipient) to combine the predictive power of embryos and recipients. Validation was performed in independent cohorts of ETs analyzed. Embryos that did not reach birth released more stearic acid, capric acid, palmitic acid, and glyceryl monostearate in CM (i.e., (p < 0.05, FDR < 0.05, Receiver Operator Characteristic—area under curve (ROC-AUC) > 0.669)). Within Holstein recipients, hydrocinnamic acid, alanine, and lysine predicted birth (ROC-AUC > 0.778). Asturiana de los Valles recipients that reached birth showed lower concentrations of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, stearic acid, palmitic acid, and hippuric acid (ROC-AUC > 0.832). Embryonal capric acid and glyceryl-monostearate formed F1 scores generally >0.900, with metabolites found both to differ (e.g., hippuric acid, hydrocinnamic acid) or not (e.g., heptadecanoic acid, citric acid) with pregnancy in plasmas, as hypothesized. Efficient lipid metabolism in the embryo and the recipient can allow pregnancy to proceed. Changes in phenolics from plasma suggest that microbiota and liver metabolism influence the pregnancy establishment in cattle.
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17
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Xiao Y, Sosa F, de Armas LR, Pan L, Hansen PJ. An improved method for specific-target preamplification PCR analysis of single blastocysts useful for embryo sexing and high-throughput gene expression analysis. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:3722-3735. [PMID: 33455782 PMCID: PMC8050830 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression analysis in preimplantation embryos has been used for answering fundamental questions related to development, prediction of pregnancy outcome, and other topics. Limited amounts of mRNA in preimplantation embryos hinders progress in studying the preimplantation embryo. Here, a method was developed involving direct synthesis and specific-target preamplification (STA) of cDNA for gene expression analysis in single blastocysts. Effective cell lysis and genomic DNA removal steps were incorporated into the method. In addition, conditions for real-time PCR of cDNA generated from these processes were improved. By using this system, reliable embryo sexing results based on expression of sex-chromosome linked genes was demonstrated. Calibration curve analysis of PCR results using the Fluidigm Biomark microfluidic platform (Fluidigm, South San Francisco, CA) was performed to evaluate 96 STA cDNA from single blastocysts. In total, 93.75% of the genes were validated. Robust amplification was detected even when STA cDNA from a single blastocyst was diluted 1,024-fold. Further analysis showed that within-assay variation increased when cycle threshold values exceeded 18. Overall, STA quantitative real-time PCR analysis was shown to be useful for analysis of gene expression of multiple specific targets in single blastocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xiao
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | - Froylan Sosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | - Lesley R de Armas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Li Pan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910.
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18
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Xiao Y, Uh K, Negrón-Pérez VM, Haines H, Lee K, Hansen PJ. Regulation of gene expression in the bovine blastocyst by colony-stimulating factor 2 is disrupted by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of CSF2RA. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:995-1007. [PMID: 33524138 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) functions in the reproductive tract to modulate the function of the preimplantation embryo. The β subunit of the CSF2 receptor (CSF2RB) is not expressed in the embryo, and signal transduction is therefore different than for myeloid cells where the receptor is composed of α (CSF2RA) and β subunits. Here, we produced embryos in which exons 5 and 6 of CSF2RA were disrupted using the CRISPR/Cas 9 system to test whether CSF2RA signaling was essential for actions of CSF2 in the bovine embryo. Wild-type and CSF2RA knockout embryos were treated with 10 ng/mL CSF2 or vehicle at day 5 of development. Blastocysts were harvested at day 8 to determine transcript abundance of 90 genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Responses in female blastocysts were examined separately from male blastocysts because actions of CSF2 are sex-dependent. For wild-type embryos, CSF2 altered expression of 10 genes in females and 20 in males. Only three genes were affected by CSF2 in a similar manner for both sexes. Disruption of CSF2RA prevented the effect of CSF2 on expression for 9 of 10 CSF2-regulated genes in females and 19 of 20 genes in males. The results confirm the importance of CSF2RA for regulation of gene expression by CSF2 in the blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xiao
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyungjun Uh
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Veronica M Negrón-Pérez
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Department of Animal Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA
| | - Hannah Haines
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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19
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Hansen PJ. The incompletely fulfilled promise of embryo transfer in cattle-why aren't pregnancy rates greater and what can we do about it? J Anim Sci 2020; 98:skaa288. [PMID: 33141879 PMCID: PMC7608916 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Typically, bovine embryos are transferred into recipient females about day 7 after estrus or anticipated ovulation, when the embryo has reached the blastocyst stage of development. All the biological and technical causes for failure of a female to produce a blastocyst 7 d after natural or artificial insemination (AI) are avoided when a blastocyst-stage embryo is transferred into the female. It is reasonable to expect, therefore, that pregnancy success would be higher for embryo transfer (ET) recipients than for inseminated females. This expectation is not usually met unless the recipient is exposed to heat stress or is classified as a repeat-breeder female. Rather, pregnancy success is generally similar for ET and AI. The implication is that either one or more of the technical aspects of ET have not yet been optimized or that underlying female fertility that causes an embryo to die before day 7 also causes it to die later in pregnancy. Improvements in pregnancy success after ET will depend upon making a better embryo, improving uterine receptivity, and forging new tools for production and transfer of embryos. Key to accelerating progress in improving pregnancy rates will be the identification of phenotypes or phenomes that allow the prediction of embryo competence for survival and maternal capacity to support embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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20
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Jannaman EA, Xiao Y, Hansen PJ. Actions of colony-stimulating factor 3 on the maturing oocyte and developing embryo in cattle. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5818973. [PMID: 32277240 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3), also known as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, is used to reduce the incidence of mastitis in cattle. Here, we tested whether recombinant bovine CSF3 at 1, 10, or 100 ng/mL acts on the bovine oocyte during maturation or on the developing embryo to modify competence for development and characteristics of the resultant blastocyst. For experiment 1, oocytes were matured with or without CSF3. The resultant embryos were cultured in a serum-free medium for 7.5 d. There was no effect of CSF3 on cleavage or on development to the blastocyst stage except that 100 ng/mL reduced the percent of putative zygotes and cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts. Expression of transcripts for 93 genes in blastocysts was evaluated by RT-PCR using the Fluidigm platform. Transcript abundance was affected by one or more concentrations of CSF3 for four genes only (CYP11A1, NOTCH2, RAC1, and YAP1). For experiment 2, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were fertilized with either X- or Y-sorted semen. Putative zygotes were cultured in medium containing CSF3 treatments added at the beginning of culture. There was no effect of CSF3, sex, or the interaction on the percent of putative zygotes that cleaved or on the percent of putative zygotes or cleaved embryos becoming a blastocyst. For experiment 3, CSF3 was added from day 4 to 7.5 of development. There was no effect of CSF3 on development to the blastocyst stage. Transcript abundance of 10 genes was increased by 100 ng/mL CSF3, including markers of epiblast (NANOG, SOX2), hypoblast (ALPL, FN1, KDM2B, and PDGFRA), epiblast and hypoblast (HNF4A) and trophectoderm (TJAP1). Results are indicative that concentrations of CSF3 higher than typical after therapeutic administration can reduce oocyte competence and act on the embryo to affect characteristics of the blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Jannaman
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Yao Xiao
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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21
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Zolini AM, Block J, Rabaglino MB, Rincon G, Hoelker M, Bromfield JJ, Salilew-Wondim D, Hansen PJ. Genes associated with survival of female bovine blastocysts produced in vivo. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 382:665-678. [PMID: 32710275 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The objective was to characterize the transcriptome profile of in vivo-derived female embryos competent to establish and maintain gestation. Blastocysts from superovulated heifers were bisected to generate two demi-embryos. One demi-embryo was transferred into a synchronized recipient and the other part was used for RNA-seq analysis. Data on transcript abundance was analyzed for 4 demi-embryos that established and maintained pregnancy to day 60 (designated as PP) and 3 that did not result in a pregnancy at day 30 (designated as NP). Using a false discovery rate of P < 0.10 as cutoff, a total of 155 genes were differentially expressed between PP and NP embryos, of which 73 genes were upregulated and 82 genes were downregulated in the PP group. The functional cluster with the greatest enrichment score for embryos that survived, representing 28 genes (48% of the annotated genes), was related to membrane proteins, particularly those related to olfaction and neural development and function. The functional cluster with the greatest enrichment score for downregulated genes in embryos that survived included terms related to oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial function, and transmembrane proteins. In conclusion, competence of in vivo-derived female bovine embryos to survive after transfer is associated with increased expression of genes encoding transmembrane proteins, perhaps indicative of differentiation of the inner cell mass to epiblast, and decreased expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, perhaps indicative of reduced metabolic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Zolini
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA
| | - J Block
- Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | - M B Rabaglino
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
- Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - G Rincon
- Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | - M Hoelker
- Institute of Animal Science, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Teaching and Research Station Frankenforst, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Königswinter, Germany
- Center of Integrated Dairy Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - J J Bromfield
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA
| | - D Salilew-Wondim
- Institute of Animal Science, Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Teaching and Research Station Frankenforst, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Königswinter, Germany
- Center of Integrated Dairy Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - P J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, USA.
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Sosa F, Block J, Xiao Y, Hansen PJ. Determinants of survival of the bovine blastocyst to cryopreservation stress: treatment with colony stimulating factor 2 during the morula-to-blastocyst transition and embryo sex. CABI AGRICULTURE AND BIOSCIENCE 2020; 1:12. [PMID: 33880450 PMCID: PMC8055050 DOI: 10.1186/s43170-020-00012-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) is an important maternal regulator of embryonic development. Earlier research indicates that CSF2 can regulate genes involved in cellular stress responses and block apoptosis. Here, we tested whether addition of 10 ng/mL CSF2 at day 5 of development would increase the survival of blastocysts harvested at day 7 and subjected to vitrification. Additional objectives were to determine whether embryo sex affected survival or whether effects of CSF2 interacted with sex. RESULTS Survival after vitrification was measured as the percent of warmed blastocysts that re-established a blastocoele after culture and that underwent hatching from the zona pellucida. In the first experiment, blastocysts were vitrified, warmed, cultured for 24 h, and DNA embryo sexing performed by PCR. There was no effect of CSF2, sex, or the interaction on the percent of blastocysts that re-expanded or that were hatching or hatched. In the second experiment, vitrified blastocysts were warmed and cultured for 24, 48, and 72 h. Treatment with CSF2 increased (P = 0.021) the percent of blastocysts that re-expanded as compared to the vehicle group (overall, 77.8 ± 4.7% vs 73.3 ± 4.7%). Percent re-expansion was highest at 24 h and declined slightly thereafter (P = 0.024). Although the interaction was not significant, the effect of CSF2 was greater at 48 and 72 h than at 24 h because CSF2 reduced the incidence of embryos collapsing after re-expansion. Furthermore, the proportion of re-expanded blastocysts at 24 h that experienced blastocoel collapse by 72 h was lower (P = 0.053) for CSF2 (3.6%; 7/195) than for vehicle (8.2%; 16/195). The percent of warmed blastocysts that were hatching or hatched increased with time (P < 0.0001) but there was no effect of CSF2 or the interaction with time on hatching. CONCLUSION Treatment with CSF2 from day 5 to 7 of development did not cause a significant effect on the percent of blastocysts that re-established the blastocoele after 24 h of culture but CSF2 reduced the collapse of the blastocoele that occurred for a portion of the embryos that had experienced re-expansion at 24 h. Thus, CSF2 can provide protection to a proportion of blastocysts from cryodamage caused by vitrification. Further work is needed to evaluate whether CSF2 increases survival of vitrified blastocysts after embryo transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Froylan Sosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
| | | | - Yao Xiao
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
| | - Peter J. Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA
- Correspondence:
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23
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Conditions of embryo culture from days 5 to 7 of development alter the DNA methylome of the bovine fetus at day 86 of gestation. J Assist Reprod Genet 2019; 37:417-426. [PMID: 31838628 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-019-01652-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We tested whether in vitro production (IVP) causes changes in DNA methylation in fetal liver and skeletal muscle and if exposure of cultured embryos to colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) alters DNA methylation. METHODS Female fetuses were produced by artificial insemination or transfer of an IVP embryo. Embryos were treated from days 5 to 7 after fertilization with CSF2 or vehicle. DNA methylation in fetal liver and skeletal muscle was determined by post-bisulfite adaptor tagging-based sequencing. The degree of DNA methylation for CpG sites in 50-bp windows of the promoter region 500 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site was compared between treatments. RESULTS For liver, there were 12 genes (6% of those analyzed) in which DNA methylation was affected by treatment, with one 50-bp window per gene affected by treatment. For muscle, the degree of DNA methylation was affected by treatment for 32 windows (19% of the total windows analyzed) representing 28 distinct genes (23% of analyzed genes). For 19 of the 28 genes in muscle, the greatest deviation in DNA methylation was for the CSF2 group. CONCLUSION Results are consistent with alterations in the methylome being one of the mechanisms by which IVP can result in altered fetal development and postnatal function in the resultant offspring. In addition, results indicate that maternally derived cell-signaling molecules can regulate the pattern of DNA methylation.
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