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Wu T, Yan J, Nie K, Chen Y, Wu Y, Wang S, Zhang J. Microfluidic chips in female reproduction: a systematic review of status, advances, and challenges. Theranostics 2024; 14:4352-4374. [PMID: 39113805 PMCID: PMC11303079 DOI: 10.7150/thno.97301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The female reproductive system is essential to women's health, human reproduction and societal well-being. However, the clinical translation of traditional research models is restricted due to the uncertain effects and low efficiency. Emerging evidence shows that microfluidic chips provide valuable platforms for studying the female reproductive system, while no paper has ever comprehensively discussed the topic. Here, a total of 161 studies out of 14,669 records are identified in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore databases. Among these, 61 studies focus on oocytes, which further involves culture, cell surgeries (oocyte separation, rotation, enucleation, and denudation), evaluation and cryopreservation. Forty studies investigate embryo manipulation via microfluidic chips, covering in vitro fertilization, cryopreservation and functional evaluation. Forty-six studies reconstitute both the physiological and pathological statuses of in vivo organs, mostly involved in placenta and fetal membrane research. Fourteen studies perform drug screening and toxicity testing. In this review, we summarize the current application of microfluidic chips in studying the female reproductive system, the advancements in materials and methods, and discuss the future challenges. The present evidence suggests that microfluidic chips-assisted reproductive system reconstruction is promising and more studies are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinfeng Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kebing Nie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangyang Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan, China
| | - Shixuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinjin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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2
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Li Y, Zhang J, Han W, Liu B, Zhai M, Li N, Wang Z, Zhao J. Multifunctional Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Microfluidic Chip for High-Performance Oocyte Cryopreservation with Low Concentration of Cryoprotectants. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2400981. [PMID: 38885030 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400981] [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: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Oocyte cryopreservation is essential in the field of assisted reproduction, but due to the large size and poor environmental tolerance of oocytes, cell freezing technology needs further improvement. Here, a Y-shaped microfluidic chip based on 3D graphene is ingeniously devised by combining laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology and fiber etching technology. The prepared LIG/PDMS microfluidic chip can effectively suppress ice crystal size and delay ice crystal freezing time by adjusting surface hydrophobicity. In addition, LIG endows the microfluidic chip with an outstanding photothermal effect, which allows to sharply increase its surface temperature from 25 to 71.8 °C with 10 s of low-power 808 nm laser irradiation (0.4 W cm-2). Notably, the LIG/PDMS microfluidic chip not only replaces the traditional cryopreservation carriers, but also effectively reduces the dosage of cryoprotectants (CPAs) needed in mouse oocyte cryopreservation. Even when the concentration of CPAs is cut in half (final concentration of 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG) and 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)), the survival rate of oocytes is still as high as 92.4%, significantly higher than the control group's 85.8%. Therefore, this work provides a novel design strategy to construct multifunctional microfluidic chips for high-performance oocytes cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Li
- School of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Jixiang Zhang
- School of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Wei Han
- School of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Bianhua Liu
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Mengjie Zhai
- School of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Nian Li
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Zhenyang Wang
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Institute of Solid-State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
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3
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Wang S, Chen L, Fang J, Sun H. A compact, high-throughput semi-automated embryo vitrification system based on hydrogel. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 48:103769. [PMID: 38492415 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103769] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What is the efficiency and efficacy of the novel Biorocks semi-automated vitrification system, which is based on a hydrogel? DESIGN This comparative experimental laboratory study used mouse model and human day 6 blastocysts. Mouse oocytes and embryos were quality assessed post-vitrification. RESULTS The Biorocks system successfully automated the solution exchanges during the vitrification process, achieving a significantly improved throughput of up to 36 embryos/oocytes per hour. Using hydrogel for cryoprotective agent delivery, 12 vessels could be processed simultaneously, fitting comfortably within an assisted reproductive technology (ART) workstation. In tests involving the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, the system yielded outcomes equivalent to the manual Cryotop method. For example, the survival rate for mouse oocytes was 98% with the Biorocks vitrification system (n = 46) and 95% for the manual Cryotop method (n = 39), of which 46% and 41%, respectively, progressed to blastocysts on day 5 after IVF. CC-grade day 6 human blastocysts processed with the Biorocks system (n = 39) were associated with a 92% 2 h re-expansion rate, equivalent to the 90% with Cryotop (n = 30). The cooling/warming rates achieved by the Biorocks system were 31,900°C/minute and 24,700°C/minute, respectively. Oocyte quality was comparable or better post-vitrification for Biorocks than Cryotop. CONCLUSIONS The Biorocks semi-automated vitrification system offers enhanced throughput without compromising the survival and developmental potential of oocytes and embryos. This innovative system may help to increase the efficiency and standardization of vitrification in ART clinics. Further investigations are needed to confirm its efficacy in a broader clinical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.; Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Lei Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.; Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Junshun Fang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.; Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Haixiang Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.; Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China..
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Sawado A, Ezoe K, Miki T, Ohata K, Amagai A, Shimazaki K, Okimura T, Kato K. Fatty acid supplementation during warming improves pregnancy outcomes after frozen blastocyst transfers: a propensity score-matched study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9343. [PMID: 38653766 PMCID: PMC11039611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60136-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the viability of human blastocysts after warming with fatty acids (FAs) using an in vitro outgrowth model and to assess pregnancy outcomes after a single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (SVBT). For the experimental study, we used 446 discarded vitrified human blastocysts donated for research purposes by consenting couples. The blastocysts were warmed using FA-supplemented (FA group) or non-FA-supplemented (control group) solutions. The outgrowth area was significantly larger in the FA group (P = 0.0428), despite comparable blastocyst adhesion rates between the groups. Furthermore, the incidence of outgrowth degeneration was significantly lower in the FA group than in the control group (P = 0.0158). For the clinical study, we retrospectively analyzed the treatment records of women who underwent SVBT in natural cycles between January and August 2022. Multiple covariates that affected the outcomes were used for propensity score matching as follows: 1342 patients in the FA group were matched to 2316 patients in the control group. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between the groups. The rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy significantly increased in the FA group after SVBTs (P = 0.0091-0.0266). These results indicate that warming solutions supplemented with FAs improve blastocyst outgrowth and pregnancy outcomes after SVBTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayano Sawado
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Kenji Ezoe
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
| | - Tetsuya Miki
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Kazuki Ohata
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Ayumi Amagai
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Kiyoe Shimazaki
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Tadashi Okimura
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Keiichi Kato
- Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
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Ferraz MDAMM, Ferronato GDA. Opportunities involving microfluidics and 3D culture systems to the in vitro embryo production. Anim Reprod 2023; 20:e20230058. [PMID: 37638255 PMCID: PMC10449241 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2023-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional methods of gamete handling, fertilization, and embryo culture often face limitations in efficiency, consistency, and the ability to closely mimic in vivo conditions. This review explores the opportunities presented by microfluidic and 3D culture systems in overcoming these challenges and enhancing in vitro embryo production. We discuss the basic principles of microfluidics, emphasizing their inherent advantages such as precise control of fluid flow, reduced reagent consumption, and high-throughput capabilities. Furthermore, we delve into microfluidic devices designed for gamete manipulation, in vitro fertilization, and embryo culture, highlighting innovations such as droplet-based microfluidics and on-chip monitoring. Next, we explore the integration of 3D culture systems, including the use of biomimetic scaffolds and organ-on-a-chip platforms, with a particular focus on the oviduct-on-a-chip. Finally, we discuss the potential of these advanced systems to improve embryo production outcomes and advance our understanding of early embryo development. By leveraging the unique capabilities of microfluidics and 3D culture systems, we foresee significant advancements in the efficiency, effectiveness, and clinical success of in vitro embryo production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia de Almeida Monteiro Melo Ferraz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Giuliana de Avila Ferronato
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Nguyen TV, Do LTK, Namula Z, Lin Q, Torigoe N, Nagahara M, Hirata M, Tanihara F, Otoi T. Development and Genome Mutation of Bovine Zygotes Vitrified Before and After Genome Editing via Electroporation. CRYOLETTERS 2023. [DOI: 10.54680/fr23210110612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of bovine zygotes allows for a flexible schedule of genome editing via electroporation. However, vitrification-induced cell membrane damage may not only affect embryonic development but also genome mutation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects
of vitrification of zygotes before and after electroporation treatments on the development and genome mutation of bovine presumptive zygotes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro-derived bovine zygotes were electroporated with the CRISPR/Cas9 system immediately (Vitrified-EP) or 2 h after
incubation (Vitrified-2h-EP) following vitrification and warming, or electroporated before vitrification (EP-vitrified). RESULTS: The development rates of vitrified-warmed zygotes were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of control zygotes that were not vitrified. Moreover,
no differences were observed in the mutation rates and mutation efficiency of the blastocysts resulting from electroporated zygotes, irrespective of the timing of electroporation treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that vitrification before and after electroporation treatments
does not affect the genome editing of zygotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh-Van Nguyen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Lanh Thi Kim Do
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Zhao Namula
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Qingyi Lin
- Bio-Innovation Research Center, Tokushima University, 7793233 Tokushima, Japan
| | - Nanaka Torigoe
- Bio-Innovation Research Center, Tokushima University, 7793233 Tokushima, Japan
| | - Megumi Nagahara
- Bio-Innovation Research Center, Tokushima University, 7793233 Tokushima, Japan
| | - Maki Hirata
- Bio-Innovation Research Center, Tokushima University, 7793233 Tokushima, Japan
| | - Fuminori Tanihara
- Bio-Innovation Research Center, Tokushima University, 7793233 Tokushima, Japan
| | - Takeshige Otoi
- Bio-Innovation Research Center, Tokushima University, 7793233 Tokushima, Japan
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7
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Fang Y, Wu R, Lee JM, Chan LHM, Chan KYJ. Microfluidic in-vitro fertilization technologies: Transforming the future of human reproduction. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.116959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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8
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Tu F, Bhat M, Benson JD. Real-time computer assisted measurement of oocyte and embryo volume for assessment of transport parameters. Cryobiology 2022; 108:19-26. [PMID: 36084734 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of gametes has revolutionized both animal agriculture and human reproductive medicine. Although many new technologies have tremendously improved the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, osmotic stress encountered during the equilibration process can cause their loss of function. Rational cryoprotective agent (CPA) equilibration strategies can be used to minimize this stress but require trained personnel to monitor the process in individual oocytes or embryos or require the use of suboptimal average transport parameter values in mathematically guided protocols. To enable individually optimized equilibration of CPAs in individual cells, here we establish experimental and computational techniques to track the osmotic behavior of individual bovine oocytes and embryos during CPA equilibration in real time. We designed a microfluidic device to provide a controlled flow of CPA and modified standard image analysis techniques to estimate real-time cell volume changes. In particular, we used a level-set method to define a boundary within a contour plot which could automate the image analysis process. A colour based level set algorithm coupled with contour smoothing not only provided the best fit but also reduced the segmentation time to well under a second per image. The accuracy of the automated method was comparable to human segmented images for both oocytes and embryos. This technology should enable both rapid evaluation of key biophysical parameters in oocytes and embryos undergoing CPA equilibration and the development of real-time feedback-control of CPA equilibration, enabling individual oocyte- and embryo-specific optimal protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frankie Tu
- Department of Computer Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Maajid Bhat
- Ro, Clinical Strategy, NY, NY, USA; Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - James D Benson
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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Miao S, Guo C, Jiang Z, Wei HX, Jiang X, Gu J, Hai Z, Wang T, Liu YH. Development of an Open Microfluidic Platform for Oocyte One-Stop Vitrification with Cryotop Method. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:766. [PMID: 36140151 PMCID: PMC9496857 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Oocyte vitrification technology is widely used for assisted reproduction and fertility preservation, which requires precise washing sequences and timings of cryoprotectant agents (CPAs) treatment to relieve the osmotic shock to cells. The gold standard Cryotop method is extensively used in oocyte vitrification and is currently the most commonly used method in reproductive centers. However, the Cryotop method requires precise and complex manual manipulation by an embryologist, whose proficiency directly determines the effect of vitrification. Therefore, in this study, an automatic microfluidic system consisting of a novel open microfluidic chip and a set of automatic devices was established as a standardized operating protocol to facilitate the conventional manual Cryotop method and minimize the osmotic shock applied to the oocyte. The proposed open microfluidic system could smoothly change the CPA concentration around the oocyte during vitrification pretreatment, and transferred the treated oocyte to the Cryotop with a tiny droplet. The system better conformed to the operating habits of embryologists, whereas the integration of commercialized Cryotop facilitates the subsequent freezing and thawing processes. With standardized operating procedures, our system provides consistent treatment effects for each operation, leading to comparable survival rate, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of oocytes to the manual Cryotop operations. The vitrification platform is the first reported microfluidic system integrating the function of cells transfer from the processing chip, which avoids the risk of cell loss or damage in a manual operation and ensures the sufficient cooling rate during liquid nitrogen (LN2) freezing. Our study demonstrates significant potential of the automatic microfluidic approach to serve as a facile and universal solution for the vitrification of various precious cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Miao
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chenxi Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518005, China
| | - Ze Jiang
- The T Stone Robotics Institute, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hao-Xiang Wei
- The T Stone Robotics Institute, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jingkai Gu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518005, China
| | - Zhuo Hai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518005, China
| | - Tianren Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518005, China
| | - Yun-Hui Liu
- The T Stone Robotics Institute, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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10
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Fayazi S, Damvar N, Molaeian S, Sarmadi F, Kazemi P, Tirgar P, Bagherzadeh M, Esfandiari S, Ziaei N, Dashtizad M. Thermally conductive graphene-based nanofluids, a novel class of cryosolutions for mouse blastocysts vitrification. Reprod Biol 2022; 22:100635. [PMID: 35305506 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2022.100635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Limited heating and cooling rates have long been recognized as bottlenecks in improving embryo cryopreservation. As a result, efforts to achieve higher heat transfer rates gave rise to milestones like open cryodevices and minimal media loading. A crucial but commonly ignored variable is heat conduction by cryosolutions. The low heat conductivity of the aqueous media surrounding embryos slows down cooling and heating rates of the embryo, imposing the risk of preventable damages. In this study, we introduce a novel thermally conductive cryosolution based on graphene oxide nanoparticles and test its performance against conventional sucrose-based solutions for vitrification of mouse blastocysts. Replacing sucrose with graphene oxide brought about similar re-expansion, hatching, and implantation rates of post-vitrification embryos while also preventing an array of cellular and molecular stresses. Our results showed significantly reduced oxidative stress, characterized by control-level expression of Sod1 and significant downregulation of Sod2 transcription when graphene oxide was used instead of sucrose. This molecular response was in agreement with the reduced level of reactive oxygen species produced in vitrified/warmed embryos using graphene-based solutions. The downstream impacts of this stress reduction manifested in significant downregulation of two major pro-apoptotic genes, Bax and Trp53, down to the same level as fresh embryos. Interestingly, embryos maintained their spherical shape during dehydration in graphene-based solutions and did not "collapse" when shrinking, like in sucrose-based solutions. These results provide new insights into the benefits of thermally conductive cryosolutions and showcase the potential of graphene oxide as a cryoprotectant in embryo vitrification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Fayazi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Damvar
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Shiva Molaeian
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sarmadi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran; Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Parinaz Kazemi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pouria Tirgar
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran; Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maryam Bagherzadeh
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadaf Esfandiari
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nikta Ziaei
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Dashtizad
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran.
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11
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Tseng HY, Chen CJ, Wu ZL, Ye YM, Huang GZ. The non-contact-based determination of the membrane permeability to water and dimethyl sulfoxide of cells virtually trapped in a self-induced micro-vortex. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:354-366. [PMID: 34908084 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00846c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The cell-membrane permeabilities of a cell type toward water (Lp) and cryoprotective agents (Ps) provide crucial cellular information for achieving optimal cryopreservation in the biobanking industry. In this work, cell membrane permeability was successfully determined via directly visualizing the transient profile of the cell volume change in response to a sudden osmotic gradient instantaneously applied between the intracellular and extracellular environments. A new micro-vortex system was developed to virtually trap the cells of interest in flow-driven hydrodynamic circulation passively formed at the expansion region in a microfluidic channel, where trapped cells remain in suspension and flow with the streamline of the localized vortex, involving no physical contact between cells and the device structure; furthermore, this supports a pragmatic assumption of 100% sphericity and allows for the calculation of the active surface area of the cell membrane for estimating the actual cell volume from two-dimensional images. For an acute T-cell lymphoma cell line (Jurkat), moderately higher values (Lp = 0.34 μm min-1 atm-1 for a binary system, and Lp = 0.16 μm min-1 atm-1 and Ps = 0.55 × 10-3 cm min-1 for a ternary system) were measured than those obtained from prior methods utilizing contact-based cell-trapping techniques, manifesting the influence of physical contact on accuracy during the determination of cell membrane permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Yang Tseng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Chiu-Jen Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Zong-Lin Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Yong-Ming Ye
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Guo-Zhen Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
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12
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Abstract
Increased demand for in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to socio-demographic trends, and supply facilitated by new technologies, converged to transform the way a substantial proportion of humans reproduce. The purpose of this article is to describe the societal and demographic trends driving increased worldwide demand for IVF, as well as to provide an overview of emerging technologies that promise to greatly expand IVF utilization and lower its cost.
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13
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Kuzmina ТI, Chistyakova IV. Evaluation of developmental competence of Sus scrofa domesticus (L.) oocyte-cumulus complexes after intra- and extraovarian vitrif ication. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2021; 25:613-619. [PMID: 34782880 PMCID: PMC8558915 DOI: 10.18699/vj21.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to identify the inf luence of extra- (EOV) and intraovarian vitrif ication (IOV) on mitochondrial activity (MA) and chromatin state in porcine oocytes during maturation in vitro. During EOV porcine oocytes were exposed in cryoprotective solutions (CPS): CPS-1 - 0.7 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + 0.9 M ethylene glycol (EG); CPS-2 - 1.4 M DMSO + 1.8 M EG; CPS-3 - 2.8 M DMSO + 3.6 M EG + 0.65 M trehalose. At IOV the ovarian fragments were exposed in CPS-1 - 7.5 % EG + 7.5 % DMSO, then in CPS-2 - 15 % EG, 15 % DMSO and 0.5 M sucrose. Straws with oocytes and ovarian fragments were plunged into LN2 and stored. For devitrif ication, the EOV oocytes were washed in solutions of 0.25, 0.19 and 0.125 M of trehalose, the IOV - in 0.5 and 0.25 М trehalose. Oocytes were cultured in NCSU-23 medium with 10 % f luid of follicles, follicular walls, hormones. 0.001 % of highly dispersed silica nanoparticles (ICP named after A.A. Chuyko of the NAS of Ukraine) were added to all media. The methods of fertilization and embryo culture are presented in the guidelines developed by us. MA and chromatin state were measured by MitoTracker Orange CMTMRos and the cytogenetic method. Signif icant differences in the level of oocytes with high-expanded cumulus between control and experimental vitrif ied groups (81 % versus 59 % and 52 %, respectively, p ≤ 0.001) were observed. The percentage of pyknotic cells in native oocytes was 19 %, EOV or IOV oocytes were 39 % and 49 %, respectively. After culture, the level of matured native oocytes was 86 %, 48 % EOV and 33 % IOV cells f inished the maturation ( p ≤ 0.001). Differences were also observed in the level of MA between groups treated by EOV and IOV (89.4 ± 7.5 μA and 149.2 ± 11.3 μA, respectively, p ≤ 0.05). For the f irst time, pre-implantation embryos were obtained from oocytes treated by IOV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Т I Kuzmina
- All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals - Branch of L.K. Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - I V Chistyakova
- All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals - Branch of L.K. Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia
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14
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Huang H, He X, Yarmush ML. Advanced technologies for the preservation of mammalian biospecimens. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:793-804. [PMID: 34426675 PMCID: PMC8765766 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00784-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The three classical core technologies for the preservation of live mammalian biospecimens-slow freezing, vitrification and hypothermic storage-limit the biomedical applications of biospecimens. In this Review, we summarize the principles and procedures of these three technologies, highlight how their limitations are being addressed via the combination of microfabrication and nanofabrication, materials science and thermal-fluid engineering and discuss the remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haishui Huang
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, USA.
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Xiaoming He
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Martin L Yarmush
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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15
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Yang T, Peng J, Fang C, Li S, Gao D. Numerical Modeling of Temperature-Dependent Cell Membrane Permeability to Water Based on a Microfluidic System with Dynamic Temperature Control. SLAS Technol 2021; 26:477-487. [PMID: 34041975 DOI: 10.1177/24726303211015199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In order to describe temperature-dependent cell osmotic behaviors in a more reliable method, a novel mathematical mass transfer model coupled with dynamic temperature change has been established based on the combination of a time domain to temperature domain transformation equation and a constant temperature mass transfer model. This novel model is numerically simulated under multiple temperature changing rates and extracellular osmolarities. A microfluidic system that can achieve single-cell osmotic behavior observation and provide dynamic and swift on-chip temperature control was built and tested in this paper. Utilizing the temperature control system, the on-chip heating processes are recorded and then described as polynomial time-temperature relationships. These dynamic temperature changing profiles were performed by obtaining cell membrane properties by parameter fitting only one set of testing experimental data to the mathematical model with a constant temperature changing rate. The numerical modeling results show that predicting the osmotic cell volume change using selected dynamic temperature profiles is more suitable for studies concerning cell membrane permeability determination and cryopreservation process than tests using constant temperature changing rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhang Yang
- Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji Peng
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Songjing Li
- Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Dayong Gao
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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16
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Cantatore C, George JS, Depalo R, D'Amato G, Moravek M, Smith GD. Mouse oocyte vitrification with and without dimethyl sulfoxide: influence on cryo-survival, development, and maternal imprinted gene expression. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:2129-2138. [PMID: 34021463 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02221-1] [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: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Oocytes and embryos can be vitrified with and without dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Objectives were to compare no vitrification (No-Vitr), vitrification with DMSO (Vitr + DMSO), and vitrification without DMSO (Vitr - DMSO) on fresh/warmed oocyte survival, induced parthenogenetic activation, parthenogenetic embryo development, and embryonic maternal imprinted gene expression. METHODS In this prospective controlled laboratory study, mature B6C3F1 female mouse metaphase II oocytes were treated as: i) No-Vitr, ii) Vitr + DMSO/warmed, and iii) Vitr - DMSO/warmed with subsequent parthenogenetic activation and culture to the blastocyst stage. Oocyte cryo-survival, parthenogenetic activation and embryo development, parthenogenetic embryo maternal imprinted gene expression were outcome measures. RESULTS Oocyte cryo-survival was significantly improved in Vitr + DMSO versus Vitr - DMSO at initial warming and 2 h after warming. Induced parthenogenetic activation was similar between all three intervention groups. While early preimplantation parthenogenetic embryo development was similar between control, Vitr + DMSO, Vitr - DMSO oocytes, the development to blastocysts was significantly inferior in the Vitr - DMSO oocytes group compared to the control and Vitr + DMSO oocyte groups. Finally, maternal imprinted gene expression was similar between intervention groups at both the 2-cell and blastocyst parthenogenetic embryo stage. CONCLUSION(S) Inclusion of DMSO in oocyte vitrification solutions improved cryo-survival and developmental potential of parthenogenetic embryos to the blastocyst stage without significantly altering maternal imprinted gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clementina Cantatore
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive and IVF Unit, Asl Bari, Conversano (BA), Italy
| | - Jenny S George
- Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Michigan, 6422A Medical Sciences I, 1301 E. Catherine Street, SPC5617, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-056171500, USA
| | - Raffaella Depalo
- Institutional BioBank, Experimental Oncology and Biobank Management Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe D'Amato
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive and IVF Unit, Asl Bari, Conversano (BA), Italy
| | - Molly Moravek
- Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Michigan, 6422A Medical Sciences I, 1301 E. Catherine Street, SPC5617, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-056171500, USA
| | - Gary D Smith
- Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Michigan, 6422A Medical Sciences I, 1301 E. Catherine Street, SPC5617, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-056171500, USA. .,Departments of Physiology and Urology and Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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17
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Curchoe CL, Malmsten J, Bormann C, Shafiee H, Flores-Saiffe Farias A, Mendizabal G, Chavez-Badiola A, Sigaras A, Alshubbar H, Chambost J, Jacques C, Pena CA, Drakeley A, Freour T, Hajirasouliha I, Hickman CFL, Elemento O, Zaninovic N, Rosenwaks Z. Predictive modeling in reproductive medicine: Where will the future of artificial intelligence research take us? Fertil Steril 2021; 114:934-940. [PMID: 33160516 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems have been proposed for reproductive medicine since 1997. Although AI is the main driver of emergent technologies in reproduction, such as robotics, Big Data, and internet of things, it will continue to be the engine for technological innovation for the foreseeable future. What does the future of AI research look like?
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonas Malmsten
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Hadi Shafiee
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massahusetts
| | | | - Gerardo Mendizabal
- IVF 2.0 LTD, Merseyside, United Kingdom; Departamento de Ciencias Computacionales, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara
| | | | - Alexandros Sigaras
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Hoor Alshubbar
- Apricity, Paris, France; Institute of Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Drakeley
- Hewitt Fertility Centre, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Freour
- Service de médecine et biologie de la reproduction, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France; Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, Inserm, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Iman Hajirasouliha
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Cristina Fontes Lindemann Hickman
- Apricity, Paris, France; Institute of Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; TMRW Life Sciences, New York, New York
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Nikica Zaninovic
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Zev Rosenwaks
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
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18
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Tirgar P, Sarmadi F, Najafi M, Kazemi P, AzizMohseni S, Fayazi S, Zandi G, Ziaie N, Shoushtari Zadeh Naseri A, Ehrlicher A, Dashtizad M. Toward embryo cryopreservation-on-a-chip: A standalone microfluidic platform for gradual loading of cryoprotectants to minimize cryoinjuries. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:034104. [PMID: 34025896 PMCID: PMC8133792 DOI: 10.1063/5.0047185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Embryo vitrification is a fundamental practice in assisted reproduction and fertility preservation. A key step of this process is replacing the internal water with cryoprotectants (CPAs) by transferring embryos from an isotonic to a hypertonic solution of CPAs. However, this applies an abrupt osmotic shock to embryos, resulting in molecular damages that have long been a source of concern. In this study, we introduce a standalone microfluidic system to automate the manual process and minimize the osmotic shock applied to embryos. This device provides the same final CPA concentrations as the manual method but with a gradual increase over time instead of sudden increases. Our system allows the introduction of the dehydrating non-permeating CPA, sucrose, from the onset of CPA-water exchange, which in turn reduced the required time of CPA loading for successful vitrification without compromising its outcomes. We compared the efficacy of our device and the conventional manual procedure by studying vitrified-warmed mouse blastocysts based on their re-expansion and hatching rates and transcription pattern of selected genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, heat shock, and apoptosis. While both groups of embryos showed comparable re-expansion and hatching rates, on-chip loading reduced the detrimental gene expression of cryopreservation. The device developed here allowed us to automate the CPA loading process and push the boundaries of cryopreservation by minimizing its osmotic stress, shortening the overall process, and reducing its molecular footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mojgan Najafi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | | | | | - Samaneh Fayazi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Zandi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Nikta Ziaie
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Aida Shoushtari Zadeh Naseri
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Allen Ehrlicher
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A0B9, Canada
| | - Mojtaba Dashtizad
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
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19
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Bojic S, Murray A, Bentley BL, Spindler R, Pawlik P, Cordeiro JL, Bauer R, de Magalhães JP. Winter is coming: the future of cryopreservation. BMC Biol 2021; 19:56. [PMID: 33761937 PMCID: PMC7989039 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-00976-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The preservative effects of low temperature on biological materials have been long recognised, and cryopreservation is now widely used in biomedicine, including in organ transplantation, regenerative medicine and drug discovery. The lack of organs for transplantation constitutes a major medical challenge, stemming largely from the inability to preserve donated organs until a suitable recipient is found. Here, we review the latest cryopreservation methods and applications. We describe the main challenges-scaling up to large volumes and complex tissues, preventing ice formation and mitigating cryoprotectant toxicity-discuss advantages and disadvantages of current methods and outline prospects for the future of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Bojic
- School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Alex Murray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Barry L Bentley
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.,Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Piotr Pawlik
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Roman Bauer
- Department of Computer Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
| | - João Pedro de Magalhães
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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20
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Zhang Z, Mu Y, Ding D, Zou W, Li X, Chen B, Leung PC, Chang HM, Zhu Q, Wang K, Xue R, Xu Y, Zou H, Zhou P, Wei Z, Cao Y. Melatonin improves the effect of cryopreservation on human oocytes by suppressing oxidative stress and maintaining the permeability of the oolemma. J Pineal Res 2021; 70:e12707. [PMID: 33274466 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation causes cryoinjury to oocytes and impairs their developmental competence. Melatonin (MLT) can improve the effect of cryopreservation in animal oocytes. However, no such studies on human oocytes have been reported. In this study, collected in vitro-matured human oocytes were randomly divided into the following groups: fresh group, MLT-treated cryopreservation (MC) group, and no-MLT-treated cryopreservation (NC) group. After vitrification and warming, viable oocytes from these three groups were assessed for their mitochondrial function, ultrastructure, permeability of oolemma, early apoptosis, developmental competence, and cryotolerance-related gene expression. First, fluorescence staining results revealed that oocytes from the 10-9 M subgroup showed the lowest intracellular reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ levels and highest mitochondrial membrane potential among the MC subgroups (10-11 , 10-9 , 10-7 , and 10-5 M). In subsequent experiments, oocytes from the 10-9 M-MC group were observed to maintain the normal ultrastructural features and the permeability of the oolemma. Compared with those of the oocytes in the NC group, the early apoptosis rate significantly decreased (P < .01), whereas both the high-quality cleavage embryo and blastocyst rates significantly increased (both P < .05) in the oocytes of the 10-9 M-MC group. Finally, single-cell RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence results revealed that aquaporin (AQP) 1/2/11 gene expression and AQP1 protein expression were upregulated in the MC group. Therefore, these results suggest that MLT can improve the effect of cryopreservation on human oocytes by suppressing oxidative stress and maintaining the permeability of the oolemma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguo Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yaoqin Mu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
| | - Ding Ding
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
| | - Weiwei Zou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
| | - Xinyuan Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Beili Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Peter Ck Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hsun-Ming Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kaijuan Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Rufeng Xue
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Yuping Xu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Huijuan Zou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
| | - Zhaolian Wei
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract (Anhui Medical University), Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui, China
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21
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Tscherner AK, Macaulay AD, Ortman CS, Baltz JM. Initiation of cell volume regulation and unique cell volume regulatory mechanisms in mammalian oocytes and embryos. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:7117-7133. [PMID: 33634482 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30352] [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: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The period beginning with the signal for ovulation, when a fully-grown oocyte progresses through meiosis to become a mature egg that is fertilized and develops as a preimplantation embryo, is crucial for healthy development. The early preimplantation embryo is unusually sensitive to cell volume perturbations, with even moderate decreases in volume or dysregulation of volume-regulatory mechanisms resulting in developmental arrest. To prevent this, early embryos possess mechanisms of cell volume control that are apparently unique to them. These rely on the accumulation of glycine and betaine (N, N, N-trimethylglycine) as organic osmolytes-compounds that can provide intracellular osmotic support without the deleterious effects of inorganic ions. Preimplantation embryos also have the same mechanisms as somatic cells that mediate rapid responses to deviations in cell volume, which rely on inorganic ion transport. Both the unique, embryo-specific mechanisms that use glycine and betaine and the inorganic ion-dependent mechanisms undergo major changes during meiotic maturation and preimplantation development. The most profound changes occur immediately after ovulation is triggered. Before this, oocytes cannot regulate their volume, since they are strongly attached to their rigid extracellular matrix shell, the zona pellucida. After ovulation is triggered, the oocyte detaches from the zona pellucida and first becomes capable of independent volume regulation. A complex set of developmental changes in each cell volume-regulatory mechanism continues through egg maturation and preimplantation development. The unique cell volume-regulatory mechanisms in eggs and preimplantation embryos and the developmental changes they undergo appear critical for normal healthy embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison K Tscherner
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angus D Macaulay
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chyna S Ortman
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jay M Baltz
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Talebjedi B, Tasnim N, Hoorfar M, Mastromonaco GF, De Almeida Monteiro Melo Ferraz M. Exploiting Microfluidics for Extracellular Vesicle Isolation and Characterization: Potential Use for Standardized Embryo Quality Assessment. Front Vet Sci 2021; 7:620809. [PMID: 33469556 PMCID: PMC7813816 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.620809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent decades have seen a growing interest in the study of extracellular vesicles (EVs), driven by their role in cellular communication, and potential as biomarkers of health and disease. Although it is known that embryos secrete EVs, studies on the importance of embryonic EVs are still very limited. This limitation is due mainly to small sample volumes, with low EV concentrations available for analysis, and to laborious, costly and time-consuming procedures for isolating and evaluating EVs. In this respect, microfluidics technologies represent a promising avenue for optimizing the isolation and characterization of embryonic EVs. Despite significant improvements in microfluidics for EV isolation and characterization, the use of EVs as markers of embryo quality has been held back by two key challenges: (1) the lack of specific biomarkers of embryo quality, and (2) the limited number of studies evaluating the content of embryonic EVs across embryos with varying developmental competence. Our core aim in this review is to identify the critical challenges of EV isolation and to provide seeds for future studies to implement the profiling of embryonic EVs as a diagnostic test for embryo selection. We first summarize the conventional methods for isolating EVs and contrast these with the most promising microfluidics methods. We then discuss current knowledge of embryonic EVs and their potential role as biomarkers of embryo quality. Finally, we identify key ways in which microfluidics technologies could allow researchers to overcome the challenges of embryonic EV isolation and be used as a fast, user-friendly tool for non-invasive embryo selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Talebjedi
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Nishat Tasnim
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Mina Hoorfar
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Amelkina O, Comizzoli P. Initial response of ovarian tissue transcriptome to vitrification or microwave-assisted dehydration in the domestic cat model. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:828. [PMID: 33238878 PMCID: PMC7690003 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07236-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Long term preservation of living ovarian tissues is a critical approach in human reproductive medicine as well as in the conservation of rare animal genotypes. Compared to single cell preservation, optimization of protocols for tissues is highly complex because of the diversity of cells responding differently to non-physiological conditions. Using the prepubertal domestic cat as a model, the objective was to study immediate effects of vitrification or microwave-assisted dehydration on the global transcriptome dynamics in the ovarian cortex. RNA sequencing was performed on ovarian tissues (n = 6 individuals) from different conditions: fresh tissue after dissection (F), vitrified/warmed tissue (V), tissue dehydrated for 5 min (D5) or 10 min (D10) followed by rehydration. Differential gene expression analysis was performed for comparison pairs V vs. F, D10 vs. F, D5 vs. F and D10 vs. D5, and networks were built based on results of functional enrichment and in silico protein-protein interactions. Results The impact of the vitrification protocol was already measurable within 20 min after warming and involved upregulation of the expression of seven mitochondrial DNA genes related to mitochondrial respiration. The analysis of D10 vs. F revealed, 30 min after rehydration, major downregulation of gene expression with enrichment of in silico interacting genes in Ras, Rap1, PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. However, comparison of D5 vs. F showed negligible effects of the shorter dehydration protocol with two genes enriched in Ras signaling. Comparison of D10 vs. D5 showed downregulation of only seven genes. Vitrification and dehydration protocols mainly changed the expression of different genes and functional terms, but some of the differentially expressed genes formed a major in silico protein-protein interaction cluster enriched for mitochondrial respiration and Ras/MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions Our results showed, for the first time, different effects of vitrification and microwave-assisted dehydration protocols on the global transcriptome of the ovarian cortex (using the domestic cat as a biomedical model). Acquired data and networks built on the basis of differentially expressed genes (1) can help to better understand stress responses to non-physiological stresses and (2) can be used as directions for future preservation protocol optimizations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-020-07236-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Amelkina
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA.
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Le Gac S, Ferraz M, Venzac B, Comizzoli P. Understanding and Assisting Reproduction in Wildlife Species Using Microfluidics. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:584-597. [PMID: 33039163 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Conservation breeding and assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are invaluable tools to save wild animal species that are on the brink of extinction. Microfluidic devices recently developed for human or domestic animal reproductive medicine could significantly help to increase knowledge about fertility and contribute to the success of ART in wildlife. Some of these microfluidic tools could be applied to wild species, but dedicated efforts will be necessary to meet specific needs in animal conservation; for example, they need to be cost-effective, applicable to multiple species, and field-friendly. Microfluidics represents only one powerful technology in a complex toolbox and must be integrated with other approaches to be impactful in managing wildlife reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, and TechMed Center, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Marcia Ferraz
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bastien Venzac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, and TechMed Center, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA.
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Nagy ZP, Shapiro D, Chang CC. Vitrification of the human embryo: a more efficient and safer in vitro fertilization treatment. Fertil Steril 2020; 113:241-247. [PMID: 32106970 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cryopreservation has become a central pillar in assisted reproduction, reflected in the exponential increase of "freeze all" cycles in the past few years. Vitrification makes it possible to cool and warm human eggs and embryos with far less cryo-damage than 'slow-freeze' and allows nearly intact survival of embryos with very high survival rates for eggs as well. This has resulted in a complete transformation how we manage treatment for in vitro fertilization patients. Fresh transfers can be avoided without compromising outcomes, and in fact, cumulative pregnancy/delivery rates may be improved by performing sequential elective "frozen" single embryo transfers. Some recent evidence suggests that previously vitrified embryos give better perinatal outcomes than fresh embryo transfers. Frozen embryo transfer, especially when coupled with preimplantation genetic testing allows for highly efficient single embryo transfers that translate to more singleton and therefore safer pregnancies, as well as healthier babies. Additionally, vitrification has also opened new options for patients, most notably fertility preservation (through oocyte cryopreservation), and donor egg banking.
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Pretreatment of ovaries with collagenase before vitrification keeps the ovarian reserve by maintaining cell-cell adhesion integrity in ovarian follicles. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6841. [PMID: 32321979 PMCID: PMC7176664 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63948-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian ovarian follicle is comprised of the germ cell or oocyte surrounded by the somatic cells, the granulosa and theca cells. The ovarian stroma, including the collagen-rich matrix that supports the three-dimensional disk-like follicular structure, impacts the integrity of the ovarian follicle and is essential for follicular development. Maintaining follicular integrity during cryopreservation has remained a limiting factor in preserving ovarian tissues for transplantation because a significant proportion of developed follicles in the frozen-thawed ovaries undergo atresia after transplantation. In this study, we show for the first time that during vitrification of the mouse ovary, the attachment of the oocyte to the granulosa cells was impaired by the loss of the cadherin adhesion molecules. Importantly, exposure to a high osmotic solution greatly decreased the ratio of oocyte diameter to the diameter of its follicle but did not alter the collagen-rich matrix surrounding the follicles. By treating ovaries briefly with collagenase before exposure to the hyper-osmotic solution the ratio of oocyte diameter to follicle diameter was maintained, and cadherin adhesion junctions were preserved. When frozen-thawed ovaries were transplanted to the bursa of recipient hosts, pretreatment with collagenase significantly increased serum levels of AMH, the number of intact follicles and the total number of viable offspring compared to frozen-thawed ovaries without collagenase pretreatment, even 6 months after transplantation. Thus, the collagenase pretreatment could provide a beneficial approach for maintaining the functions and viability of cryopreserved ovaries in other species and clinically relevant situations.
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Uchikura A, Matsunari H, Maehara M, Yonamine S, Wakayama S, Wakayama T, Nagashima H. Hollow fiber vitrification allows cryopreservation of embryos with compromised cryotolerance. Reprod Med Biol 2020; 19:142-150. [PMID: 32273819 PMCID: PMC7138943 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to demonstrate vitrification methods that provide reliable cryopreservation for embryos with compromised cryotolerance. METHODS Two-cell stage mouse embryos and in vitro produced porcine embryos were vitrified using the hollow fiber vitrification (HFV) and Cryotop (CT) methods. The performance of these two methods was compared by the viability of the vitrified-rewarmed embryos. RESULTS Regardless of the method used, 100% of the mouse 2-cell embryos developed successfully after vitrification-rewarming into the blastocyst stage, whereas vitrification tests using porcine morulae with the HFV method produced significantly better results. The developmental rates of vitrified porcine morula into the blastocyst stage, as well as blastocyst cell number, were 90.3% and 112.3 ± 6.9 in the HFV group compared with 63.4% and 89.5 ± 8.1 in the CT group (P < .05). Vitrification tests using 4- to 8-cell porcine embryos resulted in development into the blastocyst stage (45.5%) in the HFV group alone, demonstrating its better efficacy. The HFV method did not impair embryo viability, even after spontaneous rewarming at room temperature for vitrified embryos, which is generally considered a contraindication. CONCLUSION Vitrification test using embryos with compromised cryotolerance allows for more precise determining of effective cryopreservation methods and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayuko Uchikura
- Laboratory of Developmental EngineeringDepartment of Life SciencesSchool of AgricultureMeiji UniversityKawasakiJapan
| | - Hitomi Matsunari
- Laboratory of Developmental EngineeringDepartment of Life SciencesSchool of AgricultureMeiji UniversityKawasakiJapan
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio‐Resource Research (MUIIBR)KawasakiJapan
| | - Miki Maehara
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgerySurgical ScienceTokai University School of MedicineIseharaJapan
| | - Shiori Yonamine
- Laboratory of Developmental EngineeringDepartment of Life SciencesSchool of AgricultureMeiji UniversityKawasakiJapan
| | - Sayaka Wakayama
- Department of BiotechnologyFaculty of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of YamanashiKohuJapan
| | - Teruhiko Wakayama
- Department of BiotechnologyFaculty of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of YamanashiKohuJapan
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Laboratory of Developmental EngineeringDepartment of Life SciencesSchool of AgricultureMeiji UniversityKawasakiJapan
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio‐Resource Research (MUIIBR)KawasakiJapan
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28
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Chen Z, Memon K, Cao Y, Zhao G. A microfluidic approach for synchronous and nondestructive study of the permeability of multiple oocytes. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:55. [PMID: 34567666 PMCID: PMC8433209 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-0160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of oocyte membrane permeability plays a crucial role in fertility preservation, reproductive medicine, and reproductive pharmacology. However, the commonly used methods have disadvantages such as high time consumption, low efficiency, and cumbersome data processing. In addition, the developmental potential of oocytes after measurement has not been fully validated in previous studies. Moreover, oocytes can only maintain their best status in vitro within a very limited time. To address these limitations, we developed a novel multichannel microfluidic chip with newly designed micropillars that provide feasible and repeatable oocyte capture. The osmotic responses of three oocytes at different or the same cryoprotectant (CPA) concentrations were measured simultaneously, which greatly improved the measurement efficiency. Importantly, the CPA concentration dependence of mouse oocyte membrane permeability was found. Moreover, a neural network algorithm was employed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of data processing. Furthermore, analysis of fertilization and embryo transfer after perfusion indicated that the microfluidic approach does not damage the developmental potential of oocytes. In brief, we report a new method based on a multichannel microfluidic chip that enables synchronous and nondestructive measurement of the permeability of multiple oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongrong Chen
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027 China
| | - Kashan Memon
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027 China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027 China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022 China
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Chiumia D, Hankele AK, Drews B, Zehnder T, Berard J, Giesbertz P, Ulbrich SE, Giller K. Alpine and lowland grazing differentially alter the reproductive tract redox milieu and amino acid composition in cattle. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 213:106268. [PMID: 31987321 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
An alpine environment is unique due to pasture biodiversity, with an abundant content of natural antioxidant polyphenols. The present study investigated the effects of lowland and alpine grazing on the oviduct and uterine tissue redox status and amino acid concentrations in plasma and reproductive fluids. In the first experiment, heifers grazed on lowland (H-LOW: n = 13) and on alpine (H-ALP: n = 15) pastures. In the second experiment, heifers grazed on the same lowland (HS-LOW: n = 6) and on a different alpine (HS-ALP: n = 6) pasture. The abundance of mRNA transcripts for antioxidant enzymes in the oviduct (glutathione S-transferase alpha 2, glutathione synthetase (GSS)) and the endometrium (catalase, glutathione-disulfide reductase, GSS) was less (P < 0.05), and for glutathione peroxidase 4 in the endometrium greater (P = 0.006) in the H-LOW than in the H-ALP group. The abundance of mRNA transcript for catalase was less in the endometrium in the H-LOW than in the H-ALP (P = 0.001) group. Catalase and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 concentrations in the oviduct were greater in the HS-LOW than in the HS-ALP group (P < 0.05). Of 32 amino acids analysed, there were differences in concentrations in the H-LOW and H-ALP group of 13, seven and 15 in plasma, oviduct and uterine fluids, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparing the HS-LOW to the HS-ALP groups, there were 13, one and three amino acids in the plasma, oviduct and uterine fluids, respectively, that were differentially abundant (P < 0.05). The grazing systems had some effect on the redox status and amino acid patterns in reproductive tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Chiumia
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland.
| | | | - Barbara Drews
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland.
| | - Tobias Zehnder
- ETH Zurich, Animal Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland.
| | - Joel Berard
- ETH Zurich, Animal Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland.
| | - Pieter Giesbertz
- Nutritional Physiology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
| | - Susanne E Ulbrich
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland.
| | - Katrin Giller
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, Animal Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Switzerland.
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Lee PC, Adams DM, Amelkina O, White KK, Amoretti LA, Whitaker MG, Comizzoli P. Influence of microwave-assisted dehydration on morphological integrity and viability of cat ovarian tissues: First steps toward long-term preservation of complex biomaterials at supra-zero temperatures. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225440. [PMID: 31800613 PMCID: PMC6892495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian tissue contains large pools of immature oocytes enclosed in primordial follicles, making it an attractive target for fertility preservation in female cancer patients, livestock and wild species. Compared to cryopreservation, desiccation and long-term storage of samples at supra-zero temperatures (using strategies inspired from small organisms to resist extreme environments) would be more cost-effective and convenient. The objective of the study was to characterize the influence of microwave-assisted dehydration on structural and functional properties of living ovarian tissues. While this method allows preservation of single cells (cat oocytes and sperm cells so far) using trehalose as the xeroprotectant, it has not been developed for multicellular tissues yet. Ovarian cortex biopsies were reversibly permeabilized, exposed to various concentrations of trehalose, and dried for different times using a commercial microwave under thermal control. Effective dehydration of samples along with proper trehalose retention were reached within 30 min of microwave drying. Importantly, the process did not affect morphology and DNA integrity of follicles or stromal cells. Moreover, transcriptional activity and survival of follicles were partially maintained following 10 min of drying, which already was compatible with storage at non-cryogenic temperatures. Present data provide critical foundation to develop dry-preservation techniques for long-term storage of living multicellular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Chih Lee
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Daniella M. Adams
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Olga Amelkina
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Kylie K. White
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Luigi A. Amoretti
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Marinda G. Whitaker
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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31
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Numerical solution of inward solidification of a dilute ternary solution towards a semi-permeable spherical cell. Math Biosci 2019; 316:108240. [PMID: 31465730 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2019.108240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Modeling a cell's response to encroaching ice has informed the development of cryopreservation protocols for four decades. It has been well documented that knowledge of the cellular state as a function of media and cooling rate faciliate informed cryopreservation protocol design and explain mechanisms of damage. However, previous efforts have neglected the interaction between solutes and the encroaching ice front and their effects on the cell state. To address this, here we examine the cryobiologically relevant setting of a spherically-symmetric model of a biological cell separated by a ternary fluid mixture from an encroaching solid-liquid interface. The cell and liquid regions contain cell membrane impermeable intracellular and extracellular salts, respectively, a cell membrane permeable solute commonly used in cryopreservation protocols known as a cryoprotective agent (CPA), and water as a membrane permeable solvent. As cooling and solidification proceed the extracellular chemical environment evolves and leads to mass transport across the cell membrane. Consequently, both the solidification front and the cell membrane are free boundaries whose dynamics are coupled through transport processes in the solid, liquid and cell regions. We describe a numerical procedure to solve this coupled free-boundary problem based on a domain transformation and method of lines approach. We also investigate how the thermal and chemical states inside the cell are influenced by different cooling protocols at the external boundary. Finally, we observe that the previously unaccounted-for partial solute rejection at the advancing solid-liquid interface increases the CPA and salt concentrations in the extracellular liquid as a function of the interface speed and segregation coefficients, suggesting that previous model predictions of the cell state during cryopreservation were inaccurate.
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32
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Guo Y, Yang Y, Yi X, Zhou X. Microfluidic method reduces osmotic stress injury to oocytes during cryoprotectant addition and removal processes in porcine oocytes. Cryobiology 2019; 90:63-70. [PMID: 31449779 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Oocyte cryopreservation is an important technology in assisted reproduction and fertility preservation. However, the developmental potential of cryopreserved oocyte remains poor. Osmotic stress injury (OSI) during cryoprotectants (CPAs) loading and unloading steps has critical impact on successful cryopreservation. In order to minimize OSI to oocytes, a microfluidic device was designed and fabricated to achieve continuous CPA concentration change. MII porcine oocytes were loaded and unloaded CPAs with step-wise and microfluidic methods, oocyte volume changes were recorded and compared, loading and unloading duration of microfluidic methods were optimized. The survival and developmental rate of treated oocytes in step-wise and microfluidic linear methods were also evaluated. The results showed that oocyte volume changes with microfluidic method were obviously less than step-wise method, and the survival, cleavage and blastocyst rate of oocytes were 95.3%, 64.4%, and 19.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the traditional step-wise method (79.4%, 43.6%, and 9.7%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, microfluidic device can effectively reduce the osmotic damage to oocytes and improve the survival rate and developmental rate of oocytes, which may provide a new path for oocyte cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Guo
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingyue Yi
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinli Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
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Wu K, Laouar L, Dong R, Elliott JAW, Jomha NM. Evaluation of five additives to mitigate toxicity of cryoprotective agents on porcine chondrocytes. Cryobiology 2019; 88:98-105. [PMID: 30826335 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are used in cryopreservation protocols to achieve vitrification. However, the high CPA concentrations required to vitrify a tissue such as articular cartilage are a major drawback due to their cellular toxicity. Oxidation is one factor related to CPA toxicity to cells and tissues. Addition of antioxidants has proven to be beneficial to cell survival and cellular functions after cryopreservation. Investigation of additives for mitigating cellular CPA toxicity will aid in developing successful cryopreservation protocols. The current work shows that antioxidant additives can reduce the toxic effect of CPAs on porcine chondrocytes. Our findings showed that chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine and ascorbic acid improved chondrocyte cell survival after exposure to high concentrations of CPAs according to a live-dead cell viability assay. In addition, similar results were seen when additives were added during CPA removal and articular cartilage sample incubation post CPA exposure. Furthermore, we found that incubation of articular cartilage in the presence of additives for 2 days improved chondrocyte recovery compared with those incubated for 4 days. The current results indicated that the inclusion of antioxidant additives during exposure to high concentrations of CPAs is beneficial to chondrocyte survival and recovery in porcine articular cartilage and provided knowledge to improve vitrification protocols for tissue banking of articular cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kezhou Wu
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515300, China
| | - Leila Laouar
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Rachael Dong
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Janet A W Elliott
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R7, Canada
| | - Nadr M Jomha
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada.
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Weng L. IVF-on-a-Chip: Recent Advances in Microfluidics Technology for In Vitro Fertilization. SLAS Technol 2019; 24:373-385. [PMID: 31145861 DOI: 10.1177/2472630319851765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been one of the most exciting modern medical technologies. It has transformed the landscape of human infertility treatment. However, current IVF procedures still provide limited accessibility and affordability to most infertile couples because of the multiple cumbersome processes and heavy dependence on technically skilled personnel. Microfluidics technology offers unique opportunities to automate IVF procedures, reduce stress imposed upon gametes and embryos, and minimize the operator-to-operator variability. This article describes the rapidly evolving state of the application of microfluidics technology in the field of IVF, summarizes the diverse angles of how microfluidics has been complementing or transforming current IVF protocols, and discusses the challenges that motivate continued innovation in this field.
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Smith GD, Takayama S. Cryopreservation and microfluidics: a focus on the oocyte. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:93-104. [DOI: 10.1071/rd18326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation of gametes and embryos has played a critical role in successful assisted reproductive technologies in rodents, domestic farm species, endangered species and humans. With improved success, and changing needs, the utility of gamete or embryo cryopreservation has escalated. In this review we address some of the foundational history of mammalian cryobiology, species-specific utilities, fundamental understandings of cryoprotectant agents and their use in slow-rate freezing and vitrification, and expand on the recent success and uses of oocyte vitrification and warming. In the area of female gamete cryopreservation, emphasis will be placed on not just cell survival, but also perceived and measured affects of cryopreservation on intracellular structures and functions that affect subsequent completion of meiosis with chromatin segregation fidelity, normal fertilisation and embryonic developmental competence. We compare and contrast data from cow, mouse and humans with a focus on using species-comparative developmental biology to guide future studies for improving methodologies for all species. The application of the relatively new technology microfluidics is discussed in relation to moving gradually (i.e. changing the solution over cells in an automated fashion) compared with the stepwise manual movement of cells through changing solution currently used. This use of microfluidics to change the way cells are exposed to cryoprotectant agents can provide new insights into the effects of osmotic stress and cellular strain rates previously unappreciated, precise methods of computational and biological data acquisition and appreciation of morphometric changes to cellular structure in response to different osmotic stresses and strain rates achieved with varying cryoprotectant exposures. Collectively, these devices and methodologies provide a means of achieving incremental improvement of oocyte and zygote cryopreservation with normalised and improved developmental competence. Finally, we look to the past and the future to acknowledge the accomplishment of leaders in the field of mammalian gamete and embryo cryobiology, their inspirational works, their tireless dissemination of information and the potential of new technologies in bioengineering to improve the efficiency and safety of gamete and embryo cryopreservation.
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Weng L, Lee GY, Liu J, Kapur R, Toth TL, Toner M. On-chip oocyte denudation from cumulus-oocyte complexes for assisted reproductive therapy. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:3892-3902. [PMID: 30465050 PMCID: PMC6335650 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc01075g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human infertility can be treated using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). But current ART techniques suffer from multiple cumbersome processes requiring technically skilled personnel. Microfluidics technologies offer unique opportunities to streamline ART procedures, reduce stress imposed upon gametes and embryos, and minimize the operator-to-operator variability. However, there have been no automated and continuous processing systems that can reduce the dependence on well-trained embryologists to obtain ICSI-ready oocytes from patients. In this study, using mouse models, we developed a microfluidic device to denude oocytes from the surrounding cumulus-corona cell mass, facilitating the evaluation of oocyte quality and the injection of sperm. Enzyme-treated cumulus-oocyte complexes pass through a series of jagged-surface constriction microchannels of optimized geometries. The jagged inner wall of constriction channels facilitates stripping off of the cumulus-corona cell mass. Oocytes that were denuded by the device showed comparable fertilization and developmental competence compared with mechanical pipetting. The device developed in this study achieves the automation of a manual process for oocyte denudation in a continuous flow, as well as improving standardization and ease-of-use. Our denudation-on-a-chip approach requires inexpensive and simple equipment, which represents one step forward towards improving the accessibility and affordability of assisted reproductive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindong Weng
- BioMEMS Resource Center, The Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
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Marques C, Santos-Silva C, Rodrigues C, Matos J, Moura T, Baptista M, Horta A, Bessa R, Alves S, Soveral G, Pereira R. Bovine oocyte membrane permeability and cryosurvival: Effects of different cryoprotectants and calcium in the vitrification media. Cryobiology 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Kashaninejad N, Shiddiky MJA, Nguyen N. Advances in Microfluidics‐Based Assisted Reproductive Technology: From Sperm Sorter to Reproductive System‐on‐a‐Chip. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201700197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Navid Kashaninejad
- Queensland Micro‐ and Nanotechnology Centre Nathan Campus Griffith University 170 Kessels Road Brisbane QLD 4111 Australia
| | | | - Nam‐Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro‐ and Nanotechnology Centre Nathan Campus Griffith University 170 Kessels Road Brisbane QLD 4111 Australia
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Smith GD, Takayama S. Application of microfluidic technologies to human assisted reproduction. Mol Hum Reprod 2017; 23:257-268. [PMID: 28130394 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics can be considered both a science and a technology. It is defined as the study of fluid behavior at a sub-microliter level and the investigation into its application to cell biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and medicine. There are at least two characteristics of microfluidics, mechanical and biochemical, which can be influential in the field of mammalian gamete and preimplantation embryo biology. These microfluidic characteristics can assist in basic biological studies on sperm, oocyte and preimplantation embryo structure, function and environment. The mechanical and biochemical characteristics of microfluidics may also have practical and/or technical application(s) to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in rodents, domestic species, endangered species and humans. This review will consider data in mammals, and when available humans, addressing the potential application(s) of microfluidics to assisted reproduction. There are numerous sequential steps in the clinical assisted reproductive laboratory process that work, yet could be improved. Cause and effect relations of procedural inefficiencies can be difficult to identify and/or remedy. Data will be presented that consider microfluidic applications to sperm isolation, oocyte cumulus complex isolation, oocyte denuding, oocyte mechanical manipulation, conventional insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo culture, embryo analysis and oocyte and embryo cryopreservation. While these studies have progressed in animal models, data with human gametes and embryos are significantly lacking. These data from clinical trials are requisite for making future evidence-based decisions regarding the application of microfluidics in human ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary D Smith
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology and Urology, University of Michigan, 6428 Medical Sciences I, 1301 E Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48108-1649, USA
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of bovine embryo vitrification by applying three different vitrification solutions containing ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) at different concentrations (10, 20 or 25% each) combined with 1.0 M glucose or 1.0 M sucrose, on the in vitro hatching and expansion rates. Healthy oocytes were selected for in vitro maturation and fertilization from 200 bovine ovaries, and subsequently cultured up to the blastocyst stage (n = 800). Control (n = 200) and vitrified cells (n = 100 per treatment; 600 in total) were cultured for an extra 24 or 48 h to evaluate hatching and expansion, respectively. Vitrification significantly decreased embryonic re-expansion and hatching rates independently of the tested solution when compared with control embryos, but solutions with 25% EG + 25% DMSO resulted in the highest re-expansion (75%) and hatching (70%) rates, independently of the added sugar. The addition of sucrose resulted in higher rates of re-expanded and hatched embryos when compared with glucose addition. We concluded that the combination of 25% EG + 25% DMSO and 1.0 M sucrose allowed hatching and expansion of vitrified-warmed bovine embryos produced in vitro.
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Zhao G, Liu X, Zhu K, He X. Hydrogel Encapsulation Facilitates Rapid-Cooling Cryopreservation of Stem Cell-Laden Core-Shell Microcapsules as Cell-Biomaterial Constructs. Adv Healthc Mater 2017; 6:10.1002/adhm.201700988. [PMID: 29178480 PMCID: PMC5729581 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Core-shell structured stem cell microencapsulation in hydrogel has wide applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cell-based therapies because it offers an ideal immunoisolative microenvironment for cell delivery and 3D culture. Long-term storage of such microcapsules as cell-biomaterial constructs by cryopreservation is an enabling technology for their wide distribution and ready availability for clinical transplantation. However, most of the existing studies focus on cryopreservation of single cells or cells in microcapsules without a core-shell structure (i.e., hydrogel beads). The goal of this study is to achieve cryopreservation of stem cells encapsulated in core-shell microcapsules as cell-biomaterial constructs or biocomposites. To this end, a capillary microfluidics-based core-shell alginate hydrogel encapsulation technology is developed to produce porcine adipose-derived stem cell-laden microcapsules for vitreous cryopreservation with very low concentration (2 mol L-1 ) of cell membrane penetrating cryoprotective agents (CPAs) by suppressing ice formation. This may provide a low-CPA and cost-effective approach for vitreous cryopreservation of "ready-to-use" stem cell-biomaterial constructs, facilitating their off-the-shelf availability and widespread applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhao
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Kaixuan Zhu
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Xiaoming He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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Chen HH, Huang CC, Cheng EH, Lee TH, Chien LF, Lee MS. Optimal timing of blastocyst vitrification after trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic screening. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185747. [PMID: 28982142 PMCID: PMC5628850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Is the timing of vitrification after trophectoderm (TE) biopsy associated with successful implantation and pregnancy after the embryo transfer of blastocysts subjected to preimplantation genetic screening (PGS)? In this retrospective cohort study, 1329 blastocysts from 223 patients were subjected to TE biopsy for performing array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) tests. The PGS and frozen blastocyst transfer (FET) cycles were performed from December 2012 to May 2015. Only the good quality and expanded blastocysts on day 5 or 6 were selected for biopsy. After TE biopsy, the re-expansion grades relative to the original blastocoel were (1) collapsed blastocysts (CB), (2) 3/4 re-expansion but not full expansion (RE), and (3) full re-expansion or hatching (FE). All biopsied blastocysts were subjected to vitrification within 0.5-6 h after biopsy; the time intervals between TE biopsy and vitrification and the expansion grades at the time of vitrification were recorded. By combining two factors, namely the expansion grades and culture intervals between biopsy and vitrification, the patients were further divided into four groups, namely CB with a < 3 h culture interval (n = 34 cycles, Group I), RE and FE blastocysts with a < 3 h culture interval (n = 10 cycles, Group II); CB blastocysts with a ≥ 3 h culture interval (n = 6 cycles, Group III); and RE or FE blastocysts with a ≥ 3 h culture interval (n = 173 cycles, Group IV). The implantation (63.7%, 179/281) and clinical pregnancy (74.0%, 128/173) rates in Group IV were significantly higher than those in Group I (45.3%, 24/53; 50.0%, 17/34; P = 0.012 and 0.005, respectively). According to our findings, optimal vitrification timing > 3 hours to enable blastocysts to reach RE or FE provides improved implantation and pregnancy rates after FET. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03065114.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Hui Chen
- Division of Infertility, Lee Women’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chia Huang
- Division of Infertility, Lee Women’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - En-Hui Cheng
- Division of Infertility, Lee Women’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsien Lee
- Division of Infertility, Lee Women’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lee-Feng Chien
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (MSL); (LFC)
| | - Maw-Sheng Lee
- Division of Infertility, Lee Women’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (MSL); (LFC)
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Zhao G, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Niu D, Cao Y, He X. A microfluidic perfusion approach for on-chip characterization of the transport properties of human oocytes. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:1297-1305. [PMID: 28244515 PMCID: PMC5399771 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01532h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Accurate characterization of the cell membrane transport properties of human oocytes is of great significance to reproductive pharmacology, fertility preservation, and assisted reproduction. However, the commonly used manual method for quantifying the transport properties is associated with uncontrolled operator-to-operator and run-to-run variability. Here, we report a novel sandwich structured microfluidic device that can be readily fabricated for characterizing oocyte membrane transport properties. Owing to its capacity for excellent control of both solution replacement and temperature in the microchannel, the temperature-dependent permeability of the oocyte membrane can be precisely characterized. Furthermore, the fertilization and developmental competence analysis post perfusion indicate that our approach does not compromise the physiological function of in vitro matured human oocytes. Collectively, we present the development of a novel sandwich structured microfluidic device based approach that allows on-chip characterization of the transport properties of human oocytes under innocuous osmotic shock or injury to the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhao
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Yuntian Zhang
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Zhongrong Chen
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Dan Niu
- Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Xiaoming He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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Zhao G, Fu J. Microfluidics for cryopreservation. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 35:323-336. [PMID: 28153517 PMCID: PMC6236673 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation has utility in clinical and scientific research but implementation is highly complex and includes labor-intensive cell-specific protocols for the addition/removal of cryoprotective agents and freeze-thaw cycles. Microfluidic platforms can revolutionize cryopreservation by providing new tools to manipulate and screen cells at micro/nano scales, which are presently difficult or impossible with conventional bulk approaches. This review describes applications of microfluidic tools in cell manipulation, cryoprotective agent exposure, programmed freezing/thawing, vitrification, and in situ assessment in cryopreservation, and discusses achievements and challenges, providing perspectives for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhao
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, PR China.
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Wang S, Elliott GD. Synergistic Development of Biochips and Cell Preservation Methodologies: A Tale of Converging Technologies. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2017; 3:45-53. [PMID: 28966905 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-017-0074-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Over the past several decades, cryopreservation has been widely used to preserve cells during long term storage, but advances in stem cell therapies, regenerative medicine, and miniaturized cell-based diagnostics and sensors are providing new targets of opportunity for advancing preservation methodologies. The advent of microfluidics-based devices is an interesting case in which the technology has been used to improve preservation processing, but as the devices have evolved to also include cells, tissues, and simulated organs as part of the architecture, the biochip itself is a desirable target for preservation. In this review, we will focus on the synergistic co-development of preservation methods and biochip technologies, while identifying where the challenges and opportunities lie in developing methods to place on-chip biologics on the shelf, ready for use. RECENT FINDINGS Emerging studies are demonstrating that the cost of some biochips have been reduced to the extent that they will have high utility in point-of-care settings, especially in low resource environments where diagnostic capabilities are limited. Ice-free low temperature vitrification and anhydrous vitrification technologies will likely emerge as the preferred strategy for long-term preservation of bio-chips. SUMMARY The development of preservation methodologies for partially or fully assembled biochips would enable the widespread distribution of these technologies and enhance their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangping Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223
| | - Gloria D Elliott
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223
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Sifer C, Sellam-Chokron O, Sermondade N, Cedrin-Durnerin I, Sonigo C, Herbemont C, Grynberg M. Should metaphase 1 and 2 stages oocytes be vitrified in the same time for fertility preservation? Future Oncol 2016; 12:2297-305. [DOI: 10.2217/fon-2016-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims: Could metaphase 1 (M1) and 2 (M2) stages oocytes from in vitro maturation (IVM) cycles and controlled-ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles be frozen at the same time without any adverse effect of vitrification on further survival (SR) and maturation rates (MR)? Materials & methods: M1 from cancer patients were prospectively included in IVM/COH groups, and in study or control subgroups if they were vitrified or not. In each study subgroup, SR were compared with that of M2 oocytes vitrified/warmed from egg donors. MR were compared with those of fresh-M1 oocytes from control IVM/COH subgroups. Results: SR were not different between groups. MR compared respectively between survived- and fresh-M1 oocytes were similar when resulting from COH (85.2 vs 81.1%) but significantly lower after IVM (39.1 vs 73.3%). Conclusion: Simultaneous freezing of M1/M2 oocytes could be applied to COH but not to IVM during the course of fertility preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Sifer
- Service d'Histologie-Embryologie-Cytogénétique-CECOS, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
- UFR de Santé, Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, 93017 Bobigny Cedex, France
- Unité de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle, UMR U557 Inserm; U1125 Inra; Cnam; Université Paris 13, CRNH IdF, 93017 Bobigny, France
| | - Olivia Sellam-Chokron
- Service d'Histologie-Embryologie-Cytogénétique-CECOS, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
| | - Nathalie Sermondade
- Service d'Histologie-Embryologie-Cytogénétique-CECOS, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
| | - Isabelle Cedrin-Durnerin
- Service de Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
| | - Charlotte Sonigo
- UFR de Santé, Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, 93017 Bobigny Cedex, France
- Service de Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
| | - Charlène Herbemont
- Service d'Histologie-Embryologie-Cytogénétique-CECOS, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
- UFR de Santé, Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, 93017 Bobigny Cedex, France
| | - Michael Grynberg
- UFR de Santé, Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, 93017 Bobigny Cedex, France
- Service de Médecine de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Verdier, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, 93143 Bondy, France
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Le Gac S, Nordhoff V. Microfluidics for mammalian embryo culture and selection: where do we stand now? Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 23:213-226. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Levario TJ, Lim B, Shvartsman SY, Lu H. Microfluidics for High-Throughput Quantitative Studies of Early Development. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2016; 18:285-309. [PMID: 26928208 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-100515-013926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Developmental biology has traditionally relied on qualitative analyses; recently, however, as in other fields of biology, researchers have become increasingly interested in acquiring quantitative knowledge about embryogenesis. Advances in fluorescence microscopy are enabling high-content imaging in live specimens. At the same time, microfluidics and automation technologies are increasing experimental throughput for studies of multicellular models of development. Furthermore, computer vision methods for processing and analyzing bioimage data are now leading the way toward quantitative biology. Here, we review advances in the areas of fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, and data analysis that are instrumental to performing high-content, high-throughput studies in biology and specifically in development. We discuss a case study of how these techniques have allowed quantitative analysis and modeling of pattern formation in the Drosophila embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Levario
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332;
| | - Bomyi Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544;
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544;
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332;
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Yang L, Wei Q, Li W, Ge J, Zhao X, Ma B. C-type natriuretic peptide improved vitrified-warmed mouse cumulus oocyte complexes developmental competence. Cryobiology 2016; 72:161-4. [PMID: 26921772 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) is important for reproductive medicine. However, the vitrified-warmed COCs have lower maturation rate and subsequent developmental competence compared with fresh COCs. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation of the maturation medium with C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the developmental competence of vitrified-warmed mouse COCs. Addition of CNP to the maturation medium improved the maturation rate and enhanced the developmental competence of vitrified-warmed mouse COCs. The reason may be that vitrified COCs led to a decline in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels. Furthermore, addition of CNP to the maturation medium elevated cGMP levels of the vitrified-warmed COCs. In conclusion, cryopreservation-associated lower maturation rate and developmental competence of COCs may be ameliorated by CNP during maturation culture after warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Qiang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Junbang Ge
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Xiaoe Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Baohua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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Swain JE, Carrell D, Cobo A, Meseguer M, Rubio C, Smith GD. Optimizing the culture environment and embryo manipulation to help maintain embryo developmental potential. Fertil Steril 2016; 105:571-587. [PMID: 26851765 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
With increased use of comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS), the question remains as to why some practices do not experience the same high levels of clinical success after implementation of the approach. Indeed, the debate surrounding the efficacy and usefulness of blastocyst biopsy and CCS continues. Importantly, several variables impact the success of an assisted reproductive technology cycle. Transfer of a euploid embryo is but one factor in an intricate system that requires numerous steps to occur successfully. Certainly, the culture environment and the manipulations of the embryo during its time in the laboratory can impact its reproductive potential. Environmental stressors ranging from culture media to culture conditions and even culture platform can impact biochemical, metabolic, and epigenetic patterns that can affect the developing cell independent of chromosome number. Furthermore, accompanying procedures, such as biopsy and vitrification, are complex and, when performed improperly, can negatively impact embryo quality. These are areas that likely still carry room for improvement within the IVF laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Doug Carrell
- Department of Surgery (Urology) and Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Ana Cobo
- Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Gary D Smith
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Ob/Gyn, Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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