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Boylan CF, Sambo KM, Neal-Perry G, Brayboy LM. Ex ovo omnia-why don't we know more about egg quality via imaging? Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1201-1212. [PMID: 38767842 PMCID: PMC11180616 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae080] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Determining egg quality is the foremost challenge in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Although extensive advances have been made in multiple areas of ART over the last 40 years, oocyte quality assessment tools have not much evolved beyond standard morphological observation. The oocyte not only delivers half of the nuclear genetic material and all of the mitochondrial DNA to an embryo but also provides complete developmental support during embryonic growth. Oocyte mitochondrial numbers far exceed those of any somatic cell, yet little work has been done to evaluate the mitochondrial bioenergetics of an oocyte. Current standard oocyte assessment in in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers include the observation of oocytes and their surrounding cell complex (cumulus cells) via stereomicroscope or inverted microscope, which is largely primitive. Additional oocyte assessments include polar body grading and polarized light meiotic spindle imaging. However, the evidence regarding the aforementioned methods of oocyte quality assessment and IVF outcomes is contradictory and non-reproducible. High-resolution microscopy techniques have also been implemented in animal and human models with promising outcomes. The current era of oocyte imaging continues to evolve with discoveries in artificial intelligence models of oocyte morphology selection albeit at a slow rate. In this review, the past, current, and future oocyte imaging techniques will be examined with the goal of drawing attention to the gap which limits our ability to assess oocytes in real time. The implications of improved oocyte imaging techniques on patients undergoing IVF will be discussed as well as the need to develop point of care oocyte assessment testing in IVF labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin F Boylan
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Keshia M Sambo
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Lynae M Brayboy
- Department of Neuropediatrics Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Klinik für Pädiatrie m. S. Neurologie, Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Bedford Research Foundation, Bedford, MA, USA
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2
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Athar F, Templeman NM. C. elegans as a model organism to study female reproductive health. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 266:111152. [PMID: 35032657 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Female reproductive health has been historically understudied and underfunded. Here, we present the advantages of using a free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as an animal system to study fundamental aspects of female reproductive health. C. elegans is a powerful high-throughput model organism that shares key genetic and physiological similarities with humans. In this review, we highlight areas of pressing medical and biological importance in the 21st century within the context of female reproductive health. These include the decline in female reproductive capacity with increasing chronological age, reproductive dysfunction arising from toxic environmental insults, and cancers of the reproductive system. C. elegans has been instrumental in uncovering mechanistic insights underlying these processes, and has been valuable for developing and testing therapeutics to combat them. Adopting a convenient model organism such as C. elegans for studying reproductive health will encourage further research into this field, and broaden opportunities for making advancements into evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faria Athar
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Nicole M Templeman
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
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OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:457-479. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Sananmuang T, Puthier D, Nguyen C, Chokeshaiusaha K. Novel classifier orthologs of bovine and human oocytes matured in different melatonin environments. Theriogenology 2020; 156:82-89. [PMID: 32682179 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that melatonin influences the developmental competence of both in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes. It modulates oocyte-specific gene expression patterns among mammalian species. Due to differences among study systems, the identification of the classifier orthologs-the homologous genes related among mammals that could universally categorize oocytes matured in environments with varied melatonin levels is still limitedly studied. To gain insight into such orthologs, cross-species transcription profiling meta-analysis of in vitro matured bovine oocytes and in vivo matured human oocytes in low and high melatonin environments was demonstrated in the current study. RNA-Seq data of bovine and human oocytes were retrieved from the Sequence Read Archive database and pre-processed. The used datasets of bovine oocytes obtained from culturing in the absence of melatonin and human oocytes from old patients were regarded as oocytes in the low melatonin environment (Low). Datasets from bovine oocytes cultured in 10-9 M melatonin and human oocytes from young patients were considered as oocytes in the high melatonin environment (High). Candidate orthologs differentially expressed between Low and High melatonin environments were selected by a linear model, and were further verified by Zero-inflated regression analysis. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was applied to determine the potentials of the verified orthologs as classifiers of melatonin environments. According to the acquired results, linear model analysis identified 284 candidate orthologs differentially expressed between Low and High melatonin environments. Among them, only 15 candidate orthologs were verified by Zero-inflated regression analysis (FDR ≤ 0.05). Utilization of the verified orthologs as classifiers in SVM resulted in the precise classification of oocyte learning datasets according to their melatonin environments (Misclassification rates < 0.18, area under curves > 0.9). In conclusion, the cross-species RNA-Seq meta-analysis to identify novel classifier orthologs of matured oocytes under different melatonin environments was successfully demonstrated in this study-delivering candidate orthologs for future studies at biological levels. Such verified orthologs might provide valuable evidence about melatonin sufficiency in target oocytes-by which, the decision on melatonin supplementation could be implied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanida Sananmuang
- Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-OK, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chonburi, Thailand
| | - Denis Puthier
- Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM UMR 1090, TAGC, Marseille, France
| | - Catherine Nguyen
- Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM UMR 1090, TAGC, Marseille, France
| | - Kaj Chokeshaiusaha
- Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-OK, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chonburi, Thailand.
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Rubessa M, Wheeler MB. Label-free microscopy: A non-invasive new tool to assess gametes and embryo quality. Theriogenology 2020; 150:241-246. [PMID: 32088035 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In PubMed, it is possible to find more than 40,000 papers on embryo evaluation in various species. However, there is no consensus or gold standard method on how to assess their developmental potential. In assisted reproduction the evaluation "problem" is not only limited to embryos but involves the gametes as well. This manuscript provides an overview of some possible applications of label-free microscopy, in particular we describe the potential of the holographic microscopy in the IVF lab. We describe the positive aspects of several currently available microscopy label-free systems. In conclusion, we believe that a next generation of microscopy able to give objective markers for gamete and embryo quality is around the corner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew B Wheeler
- Dept. Animal Sciences, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, USA; Dept. Bioengineering, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
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Domingos Borges E, Aparecida Vireque A. Updating the Impact of Lipid Metabolism Modulation and Lipidomic Profiling on Oocyte Cryopreservation. EUROPEAN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2019. [DOI: 10.33590/emj/10310074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Oocyte cryopreservation has drastically improved in recent years and is receiving widespread clinical use with increasing demand for fertility preservation and assisted reproduction treatments. However, there are still several points to be reviewed in terms of suppressing sub-lethal damages and improving overall safety, especially when trying to preserve oocytes at the germinal vesicle stage or oocytes matured in vitro. The lipid content of oocytes is highly associated with both their competence and cryotolerance. Differences in lipid content are observed not just between different species but also at different developmental stages and when the oocytes are kept under different conditions, including cryopreservation. Many efforts have been made to understand how physiological or in vitro alterations in the lipid profile of oocytes impacts cryotolerance and vice-versa; however, the dynamics of cytosolic and membrane lipid involvement in the cryopreservation process remains poorly clarified in the human female gamete. This review presents an updated overview of the current state of cryopreservation techniques and oocyte lipidomics and highlights possible ways to improve cryotolerance, focussing on lipid content modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Domingos Borges
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Aparecida Vireque
- Invitra – Assisted Reproductive Technologies Ltd., Supera Innovation and Technology Park, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Brilliant cresyl blue staining allows the selection for developmentally competent immature feline oocytes. Theriogenology 2018; 126:320-325. [PMID: 30641366 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The outcome of in-vitro-maturation and in-vitro-fertilization of feline oocytes depends on the selection of high quality oocytes, and is often restricted to morphological criteria. The aim of this study was to test whether the Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining is suitable for pre-selection of feline oocytes before in-vitro-maturation. Cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COC) were released from domestic cat ovaries obtained after ovariectomy and were subjected to BCB staining. BCB+ stained oocytes were characterized by a violet/pale blue staining of the ooplasma, BCB- oocytes remained unstained. Transmission electron microscopy indicated for a slightly advanced stage of BCB- oocytes within the maturation process. After 24 h in-vitro-maturation, almost 75% of BCB+ and 21.5% of BCB- oocytes were able to reach metaphase II. Also, after in-vitro-fertilization, significantly more oocytes developed to morulae (19.2%) if oocytes were preselected for BCB staining, although 8% of unstained COC still reached advanced embryo stages. Prolonged storage of ovaries before COC retrieval for 16-20 h at 4 °C was accompanied by reduced number of BCB+ oocytes (96 of 210, 45.7%) in comparison to freshly isolated COC (151 of 225, 67.1%), and impaired cleavage rate (19.8%) and morula rate (9.4%) of BCB+ oocytes but the rate of embryos which developed to advanced stages remained unchanged (∼50%). To conclude, BCB staining is a very useful tool to preselect immature COC of feline species ensuring higher developmental rates.
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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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Wiseman E, Bates L, Dubé A, Carroll DJ. Starfish as a Model System for Analyzing Signal Transduction During Fertilization. Results Probl Cell Differ 2018; 65:49-67. [PMID: 30083915 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-92486-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The starfish oocyte and egg offer advantages for use as a model system for signal transduction research. Some of these have been recognized for over a century, including the ease of procuring gametes, in vitro fertilization, and culturing the embryos. New advances, particularly in genomics, have also opened up opportunities for the use of these animals. In this chapter, we give a few examples of the historical use of the starfish for research in cell biology and then describe some new areas in which we believe the starfish can contribute to our understanding of signal transduction-particularly in fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Wiseman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Lauren Bates
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Altair Dubé
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - David J Carroll
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA.
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Single Cell Genetics and Epigenetics in Early Embryo: From Oocyte to Blastocyst. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1068:103-117. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0502-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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