Pietroforte S, Dey P, Ibáñez E, Luciano AM, Lodde V, Franciosi F, Popovic M, Vassena R, Zambelli F. Meiotic maturation failure in primary ovarian insufficiency: insights from a bovine model.
J Assist Reprod Genet 2024;
41:2011-2020. [PMID:
38951359 PMCID:
PMC11339010 DOI:
10.1007/s10815-024-03160-3]
[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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
Oocytes from women presenting primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) generate viable embryos at a lower rate than non-POI women, but the mechanisms responsible for the lower oocyte quality remain elusive. Due to the scarcity of human oocytes for research, animal models provide a promising way forward. We aimed at investigating the molecular events characterizing final maturation in POI oocytes in a well-defined POI-like bovine model.
METHODS
Single-cell RNA-sequencing of bovine control and POI-like, GV, and MII oocytes (n = 5 per group) was performed. DEseq2 was used to identify differentially expressed genes. Further, a Gene set enrichment analysis and a transcriptomic meta-analysis between bovine and human oocytes were performed.
RESULTS
In control cows, we found 2223 differentially expressed genes between the GV and MII stages. Specifically, the affected genes were related to RNA processing and transport, protein synthesis, organelle remodeling and reorganization, and metabolism. The meta-analysis with a set of young human oocytes at different maturation stages revealed 315 conserved genes through the GV-MII transition in cows and humans, mostly related to meiotic progression and cell cycle. Gene expression analysis between GV and MII of POI-like oocytes showed no differences in terms of differentially expressed genes, pointing towards a substantial failure to properly remodel the transcriptome in the POI model, and with the clustering analysis indicating that the cow's genetic background had a higher impact than the oocyte's maturation stage.
CONCLUSION
Overall, we have identified and characterized a valuable animal model of POI, paving the way to identifying new molecular mechanisms involved in POI.
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