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Wakayama S, Kikuchi Y, Soejima M, Hayashi E, Ushigome N, Yamazaki C, Suzuki T, Shimazu T, Yamamori T, Osada I, Sano H, Umehara M, Hasegawa A, Mochida K, Yang LL, Emura R, Kazama K, Imase K, Kurokawa Y, Sato Y, Higashibata A, Matsunari H, Nagashima H, Ogura A, Kohda T, Wakayama T. Effect of microgravity on mammalian embryo development evaluated at the International Space Station. iScience 2023; 26:108177. [PMID: 38107876 PMCID: PMC10725056 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108177] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian embryos differentiate into the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm at the 8-16 cell stage. The ICM forms a single cluster that develops into a single fetus. However, the factors that determine differentiation and single cluster formation are unknown. Here we investigated whether embryos could develop normally without gravity. As the embryos cannot be handled by an untrained astronaut, a new device was developed for this purpose. Using this device, two-cell frozen mouse embryos launched to the International Space Station were thawed and cultured by the astronauts under microgravity for 4 days. The embryos cultured under microgravity conditions developed into blastocysts with normal cell numbers, ICM, trophectoderm, and gene expression profiles similar to those cultured under artificial-1 g control on the International Space Station and ground-1 g control, which clearly demonstrated that gravity had no significant effect on the blastocyst formation and initial differentiation of mammalian embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Kikuchi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Mariko Soejima
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Erika Hayashi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Natsuki Ushigome
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | | | - Tomomi Suzuki
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba 305-8505, Japan
| | - Toru Shimazu
- Space Utilization Promotion Department, Japan Space Forum, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Tohru Yamamori
- Space Utilization Promotion Department, Japan Space Forum, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Ikuko Osada
- Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Hiromi Sano
- Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Masumi Umehara
- Advanced Engineering Services Co., Ltd, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0032, Japan
| | - Ayumi Hasegawa
- RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Keiji Mochida
- RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Li Ly Yang
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Rina Emura
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Kousuke Kazama
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Kenta Imase
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Yuna Kurokawa
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Sato
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | | | - Hitomi Matsunari
- Laboratory of Developmental Engineering, Department of Life Sciences, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research (MUIIBR), Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Laboratory of Developmental Engineering, Department of Life Sciences, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research (MUIIBR), Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Atsuo Ogura
- RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takashi Kohda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
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Kikuchi Y, Ito D, Wakayama S, Ooga M, Wakayama T. Time-lapse observation of mouse preimplantation embryos using a simple closed glass capillary method. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19893. [PMID: 37963931 PMCID: PMC10646084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47017-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Time-lapse observation is a popular method for analyzing mammalian preimplantation embryos, but it often requires expensive equipment and skilled techniques. We previously developed a simply and costly embryo-culture system in a sealed tube that does not require a CO2 incubator. In the present study, we developed a new time-lapse observation system using our previous culture method and a glass capillary. Zygotes were placed in a glass capillary and sunk in oil for observation under a stereomicroscope. Warming the capillary using a thermoplate enabled most of the zygotes to develop into blastocysts and produce healthy offspring. This time-lapse observation system captured images every 30 min for up to 5 days, which confirmed that the developmental speed and quality of the embryos were not affected, even with fluorescence. Overall, this new system is a simple time-lapse observation method for preimplantation embryos that does not require dedicated machines and advanced techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Kikuchi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Daiyu Ito
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Sayaka Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Ooga
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan.
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