1
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Speckhart SL, Oliver MA, Keane JA, Dias NW, Mercadante VRG, Biase FH, Ealy AD. Interleukin-6 supplementation improves bovine conceptus elongation and transcriptomic indicators of developmental competence†. Biol Reprod 2024; 111:43-53. [PMID: 38519105 PMCID: PMC11247277 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae045] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
A high incidence of pregnancy failures occurs in cattle during the second week of pregnancy as blastocysts transition into an elongated conceptus. This work explored whether interleukin-6 supplementation during in vitro embryo production would improve subsequent conceptus development. Bovine embryos were treated with 0 or 100 ng/mL recombinant bovine interleukin-6 beginning on day 5 post-fertilization. At day 7.5 post-fertilization, blastocysts were transferred into estrus synchronized beef cows (n = 5 recipients/treatment, 10 embryos/recipient). Seven days after transfer (day 14.5), cows were euthanized to harvest reproductive tracts and collect conceptuses. Individual conceptus lengths and stages were recorded before processing for RNA sequencing. Increases in conceptus recovery, length, and the proportion of tubular and filamentous conceptuses were detected in conceptuses derived from interleukin-6-treated embryos. The interleukin-6 treatment generated 591 differentially expressed genes in conceptuses (n = 9-10/treatment). Gene ontology enrichment analyses revealed changes in transcriptional regulation, DNA-binding, and antiviral actions. Only a few differentially expressed genes were associated with extraembryonic development, but several differentially expressed genes were associated with embryonic regulation of transcription, mesoderm and ectoderm development, organogenesis, limb formation, and somatogenesis. To conclude, this work provides evidence that interleukin-6 treatment before embryo transfer promotes pre-implantation conceptus development and gene expression in ways that resemble the generation of a robust conceptus containing favorable abilities to survive this critical period of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah L Speckhart
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Mary A Oliver
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jessica A Keane
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Nicholas W Dias
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Vitor R G Mercadante
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Fernando H Biase
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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2
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Speckhart SL, Oliver MA, Ealy AD. Developmental Hurdles That Can Compromise Pregnancy during the First Month of Gestation in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1760. [PMID: 37889637 PMCID: PMC10251927 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111760] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Several key developmental events are associated with early embryonic pregnancy losses in beef and dairy cows. These developmental problems are observed at a greater frequency in pregnancies generated from in-vitro-produced bovine embryos. This review describes critical problems that arise during oocyte maturation, fertilization, early embryonic development, compaction and blastulation, embryonic cell lineage specification, elongation, gastrulation, and placentation. Additionally, discussed are potential remediation strategies, but unfortunately, corrective actions are not available for several of the problems being discussed. Further research is needed to produce bovine embryos that have a greater likelihood of surviving to term.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan D. Ealy
- School of Animal Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (S.L.S.); (M.A.O.)
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3
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Ramos-Ibeas P, Pérez-Gómez A, González-Brusi L, Quiroga AC, Bermejo-Álvarez P. Pre-hatching exposure to N2B27 medium improves post-hatching development of bovine embryos in vitro. Theriogenology 2023; 205:73-78. [PMID: 37087966 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.018] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Ungulate embryos undergo critical cell differentiation and proliferation events around and after blastocyst hatching. Failures in these processes lead to early pregnancy losses, which generate an important economic impact on farming. Conventional embryo culture media, such as SOF, are unable to support embryo development beyond hatching. In contrast, N2B27 medium supports early post-hatching development, evidencing a swift in embryonic nutritional requirements during this developmental window. Here, we investigate if earlier exposure to N2B27 could improve embryo development after hatching. Embryo culture in N2B27 from day (D) 5, 6 or 7 significantly enhanced complete hypoblast migration (>45 vs. ∼24%) and epiblast development into an embryonic disc (ED)-like structure at D12 (>40 vs. 23%), compared to embryos cultured in SOF up to D9. Culture in N2B27 from D5 significantly increased epiblast and hypoblast cell number in D8 blastocysts, but post-hatching embryos cultured in N2B27 from D5 or 6 frequently showed a disorganized distribution of epiblast cells. In conclusion, bovine embryo culture in N2B27 from D7 onwards improves subsequent post-hatching development. This improved fully in vitro system will be very useful to functionally explore cell differentiation mechanisms and the bases of early pregnancy failures without requiring animal experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ramos-Ibeas
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - A Pérez-Gómez
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - L González-Brusi
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - A C Quiroga
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
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4
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Jeensuk S, Ortega MS, Saleem M, Hawryluk B, Scheffler TL, Hansen PJ. Actions of WNT family member 5A to regulate characteristics of development of the bovine preimplantation embryo†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:928-944. [PMID: 35765196 PMCID: PMC9562107 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT signaling is important for regulation of embryonic development. The most abundant WNT gene expressed in the bovine endometrium during the preimplantation period is WNT5A. One objective was to determine whether WNT5A regulates competence of the bovine preimplantation embryo to become a blastocyst and alters the number of cells in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. A second objective was to delineate features of the cell-signaling mechanisms involved in WNT5A actions. WNT5A caused a concentration-dependent increase in the proportion of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage and in the number of inner cell mass cells in the resultant blastocysts. A concentration of 200 ng/mL was most effective, and a higher concentration of 400 ng/mL was not stimulatory. Bovine serum albumin in culture reduced the magnitude of effects of WNT5A on development to the blastocyst stage. WNT5A affected expression of 173 genes at the morula stage; all were upregulated by WNT5A. Many of the upregulated genes were associated with cell signaling. Actions of WNT5A on development to the blastocyst stage were suppressed by a Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) signaling inhibitor, suggesting that WNT5A acts through Ras homology gene family member A (RhoA)/ROCK signaling. Other experiments indicated that actions of WNT5A are independent of the canonical β-catenin signaling pathway and RAC1/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. This is the first report outlining the actions of WNT5A to alter the development of the mammalian embryo. These findings provide insights into how embryokines regulate maternal-embryonic communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surawich Jeensuk
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Livestock Development, Bureau of Biotechnology in Livestock Production, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - M Sofia Ortega
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Muhammad Saleem
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Briana Hawryluk
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tracy L Scheffler
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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5
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Wooldridge LK, Keane JA, Rhoads ML, Ealy AD. Bioactive supplements influencing bovine in vitro embryo development. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6620796. [PMID: 35772761 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovum pickup and in vitro production (IVP) of bovine embryos are replacing traditional multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) as the primary means for generating transferable embryos from genetically elite sires and dams. However, inefficiencies in the IVP process limit the opportunities to produce large numbers of transferable embryos. Also, the post-transfer competency of IVP embryos is inferior to embryos produced by artificial insemination or MOET. Numerous maternal, paternal, embryonic, and culture-related factors can have adverse effects on IVP success. This review will explore the various efforts made on describing how IVP embryo development and post-transfer competency may be improved by supplementing hormones, growth factors, cytokines, steroids and other bioactive factors found in the oviduct and uterus during early pregnancy. More than 40 of these factors, collectively termed as embryokines, are reviewed here. Several embryokines contain abilities to promote embryo development, including improving embryo survivability, improving blastomere cell numbers, and altering the distribution of blastomere cell types in blastocysts. A select few embryokines also can benefit pregnancy retention after IVP embryo transfer and improve neonatal calf health and performance, although very few embryokine-supplemented embryo transfer studies have been completed. Also, supplementing several embryokines at the same time holds promise for improving IVP embryo development and competency. However, more work is needed to explore the post-transfer consequences of adding these putative embryokines for any adverse outcomes, such as large offspring syndrome and poor postnatal health, and to specify the specific embryokine combinations that will best represent the ideal conditions found in the oviduct and uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jessica A Keane
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Michelle L Rhoads
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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6
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Ealy AD, Speckhart SL, Wooldridge LK. Cytokines That Serve as Embryokines in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082313. [PMID: 34438770 PMCID: PMC8388520 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review will explore how some cytokines also influence early embryonic development. We term these types of molecules as embryokines. Understanding how cytokines serve as embryokines could offer new opportunities to improve embryo development and the overall health of the embryo so that pregnancies will be retained after embryo transfer and so that viable offspring are produced. At least two cytokines may offer these benefits to bovine embryos produced in vitro. Additional cytokines also are identified in this review that may contain beneficial activities on bovine embryos. Abstract The term “embryokine” has been used to denote molecules produced by the endometrium, oviduct, or by embryo itself that will influence embryo development. Several cytokines have been identified as embryokines in cattle and other mammals. This review will describe how these cytokines function as embryokines, with special emphasis being placed on their actions on in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos. Embryokines are being explored for their ability to overcome the poor development rates of IVP embryos and to limit post-transfer pregnancy retention efficiencies that exist in IVP embryos. This review will focus on describing two of the best-characterized cytokines, colony-stimulating factor 2 and interleukin 6, for their ability to modify bovine embryo quality and confirmation, promote normal fetal development, and generate healthy calves. Additional cytokines will also be discussed for their potential to serve as embryokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan D. Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Savannah L. Speckhart
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
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7
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Zolini AM, Block J, Rabaglino MB, Tríbulo P, Hoelker M, Rincon G, Bromfield JJ, Hansen PJ. Molecular fingerprint of female bovine embryos produced in vitro with high competence to establish and maintain pregnancy†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:292-305. [PMID: 31616926 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective was to identify the transcriptomic profile of in vitro-derived embryos with high competence to establish and maintain gestation. Embryos produced with X-sorted sperm were cultured from day 5 to day 7 in serum-free medium containing 10 ng/ml recombinant bovine colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) or vehicle. The CSF2 was administered because this molecule can increase blastocyst competence for survival after embryo transfer. Blastocysts were harvested on day 7 of culture and manually bisected. One demi-embryo from a single blastocyst was transferred into a synchronized recipient and the other half was used for RNA-seq analysis. Using P < 0.01 and a fold change >2-fold or <0.5 fold as cutoffs, there were 617 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between embryos that survived to day 30 of gestation vs those that did not, 470 DEG between embryos that survived to day 60 and those that did not, 432 DEG between embryos that maintained pregnancy from day 30 to day 60 vs those where pregnancy failed after day 30, and 635 DEG regulated by CSF2. Pathways and ontologies in which DEG were overrepresented included many related to cellular responses to stress and cell survival. It was concluded that gene expression in the blastocyst is different between embryos that are competent to establish and maintain pregnancy vs those that are not. The relationship between expression of genes related to cell stress and subsequent embryonic survival probably reflects cellular perturbations caused by embryonic development taking place in the artificial environment associated with cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Zolini
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - J Block
- Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
| | - M B Rabaglino
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Quantitative Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Group, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - P Tríbulo
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - M Hoelker
- Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Teaching and Research Station Frankenforst, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Königswinter, Germany.,Center of Integrated Dairy Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - G Rincon
- Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
| | - J J Bromfield
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - P J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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8
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Pérez-Gómez A, González-Brusi L, Bermejo-Álvarez P, Ramos-Ibeas P. Lineage Differentiation Markers as a Proxy for Embryo Viability in Farm Ungulates. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:680539. [PMID: 34212020 PMCID: PMC8239129 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.680539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic losses constitute a major burden for reproductive efficiency of farm animals. Pregnancy losses in ungulate species, which include cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, majorly occur during the second week of gestation, when the embryo experiences a series of cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration processes encompassed under the term conceptus elongation. Conceptus elongation takes place following blastocyst hatching and involves a massive proliferation of the extraembryonic membranes trophoblast and hypoblast, and the formation of flat embryonic disc derived from the epiblast, which ultimately gastrulates generating the three germ layers. This process occurs prior to implantation and it is exclusive from ungulates, as embryos from other mammalian species such as rodents or humans implant right after hatching. The critical differences in embryo development between ungulates and mice, the most studied mammalian model, have precluded the identification of the genes governing lineage differentiation in livestock species. Furthermore, conceptus elongation has not been recapitulated in vitro, hindering the study of these cellular events. Luckily, recent advances on transcriptomics, genome modification and post-hatching in vitro culture are shedding light into this largely unknown developmental window, uncovering possible molecular markers to determine embryo quality. In this review, we summarize the events occurring during ungulate pre-implantation development, highlighting recent findings which reveal that several dogmas in Developmental Biology established by knock-out murine models do not hold true for other mammals, including humans and farm animals. The developmental failures associated to in vitro produced embryos in farm animals are also discussed together with Developmental Biology tools to assess embryo quality, including molecular markers to assess proper lineage commitment and a post-hatching in vitro culture system able to directly determine developmental potential circumventing the need of experimental animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Pérez-Gómez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Leopoldo González-Brusi
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Bermejo-Álvarez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Priscila Ramos-Ibeas
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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9
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Seekford ZK, Wooldridge LK, Dias NW, Timlin CL, Sales ÁF, Speckhart SL, Pohler KG, Cockrum RR, Mercadante VRG, Ealy AD. Interleukin-6 supplementation improves post-transfer embryonic and fetal development of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. Theriogenology 2021; 170:15-22. [PMID: 33957485 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The use of in vitro produced embryos in dairy and beef cattle has increased in recent years, but compromised post-transfer pregnancy success prevents producers from capturing all the benefits this technology can provide. This study explored whether supplementing interleukin-6 (IL6) during in vitro embryo development influences post-transfer development of the embryo-proper, fetus and placenta during early gestation in cattle. Slaughterhouse-derived cumulus oocyte complexes underwent IVM (day -1) and IVF (day 0). On day 5 post-fertilization, embryos were treated with either 0 (CONT) or 100 ng/mL recombinant bovine IL6. No difference in blastocyst formation was detected on day 7.5 post-fertilization, but an increase (P < 0.05) in inner cell mass cell numbers and tendency for increased (P = 0.08) trophectoderm cell numbers were detected in IL6-treated blastocysts. A subset of the blastocysts was loaded individually into transfer straws, and embryo transfer (ET) was completed using estrous cycle stage-matched, nonlactating commercial beef and dairy cows. A subset of cows from each group underwent timed artificial insemination (TAI). Pregnancy rates were similar among all three treatment groups at day 28 and 70. No differences in crown-rump length (CRL), crown nose length (CNL), abdominal diameter (AD), or placental fluid volume (PFV) were detected between TAI and ET-IL6 groups. Reductions (P < 0.05) in CRL and AD were detected at day 56 and a tendency for a reduction (P = 0.08) in PFV was detected on day 35 when comparing the ET-CONT group with the TAI group. Reductions (P < 0.05) in CRL and PFV on day 28 and CNL and AD on day 56 as well as a tendency for a reduction (P = 0.08) in PFV on day 35 were detected when contrasting ET-CONT with ET-IL6. Circulating plasma pregnancy-associated glycoprotein concentrations were similar among all treatment groups. In summary, IL6 treatment to IVP embryos before ET produced pregnancies that more closely resembled TAI-generated pregnancies than pregnancies generated using conventionally cultured embryos. These findings failed to find any adverse effects of IL6 supplementation on early development of the embryo-proper and fetus or on placental activity. Rather, these observations suggest that IL6 treatment may normalize the developmental trajectory of the embryo-proper and fetus for in vitro produced embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Seekford
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Nicholas W Dias
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Claire L Timlin
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Álvaro F Sales
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | | | - Ky G Pohler
- Department of Animal Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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10
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Samardžija M, Lojkić M, Maćešić N, Valpotić H, Butković I, Šavorić J, Žura Žaja I, Leiner D, Đuričić D, Marković F, Kočila P, Vidas Z, Gerenčer M, Kaštelan A, Milovanović A, Lazarević M, Rukavina D, Valpotić I. Reproductive immunology in viviparous mammals: evolutionary paradox of interactions among immune mechanisms and autologous or allogeneic gametes and semiallogeneic foetuses. Vet Q 2020; 40:353-383. [PMID: 33198593 PMCID: PMC7755402 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2020.1852336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Literally, reproductive immunology was born in bovine on-farm reproduction where seminal experiments intended for developing methods for embryo transfer in cattle were performed. Actually, these experiments led to two of major concepts and fundamental principles of reproductive immunology using the bovine species as a model for biomedical research, namely the concept of acquired immunological tolerance and the paradox of the semiallogeneic bovine foetus whereby such organism can develop within an immunologically competent host. Peter Medawar, a scientist who together with Frank Macfarlande Burnet shared the 1960 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance, while studying dizygotic cattle twins, thereby giving birth to reproductive immunology. Also, these findings significantly influenced development of organ transplants and showed that using farm animals as models for studying transplantation immunology had general relevance for mammalian biology and health including those of humans. However, the interest for further research of the fascinating maternal immune influences on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes and of the prevention and treatment of immunologically mediated reproductive disorders in viviparous mammals of veterinary relevance by veterinary immunologists and reproductive clinicians have been very scarce regarding the application of nonspecific immunomodulatory agents for prevention and treatment of subfertility and infertility in pigs and cattle, but still broadening knowledge in this area and hold great potential for improving such therapy in the future. The aim of the current overview is to provide up-to-date information and explaining/translating relevant immunology phenomena into veterinary practice for specialists and scientists/clinicians in reproduction of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Samardžija
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction of Animals, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M. Lojkić
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction of Animals, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - N. Maćešić
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction of Animals, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - H. Valpotić
- Department for Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - I. Butković
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction of Animals, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - J. Šavorić
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction of Animals, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - I. Žura Žaja
- Department for Physiology and Radiobiology, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - D. Leiner
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | - P. Kočila
- Animal Feed Factory, Čakovec, Croatia
| | - Z. Vidas
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - M. Gerenčer
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - A. Kaštelan
- Department of Reproduction, Veterinary Scientific Institute, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - A. Milovanović
- Department for Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M. Lazarević
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Baxter Hyland Immuno, Vienna, Austria
| | - D. Rukavina
- Department of Reproduction, Veterinary Scientific Institute, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - I. Valpotić
- Department of Biology, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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11
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In vitro maturation in the presence of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor modulates gene and miRNA expression in bovine oocytes and embryos. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17777. [PMID: 33082423 PMCID: PMC7575586 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74961-6] [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: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines are important for reproductive function that are mediated through changes in gene and miRNA expression. Herein, we characterized the expression of miR-21, miR-155, miR-34c and miR-146a in bovine oocytes and cumulus cells during in vitro maturation (IVM) with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-6 and IL-11 or unsupplemented controls. LIF-exposed COCs showed higher expression of miR-21 and miR-155 in oocytes, whereas miR-146a expression was increased in oocytes matured with IL-6 and IL-11. In cumulus cells, miR-155 expression was elevated by all treatments while only LIF increased miR-21 expression. Based on these results, we next examined how LIF exposure during IVM affected oocyte competence, through IVF and the expression of specific genes in GV- and MII-oocytes, in 2- and 8-cell embryos, and in Day 8-blastocysts. LIF supplementation did not affect cleavage rate, blastocyst yield or several other developmental parameters, but did increase hatching rate. LIF suppressed DPPA3, ZAR1 and NPM2 expression in 2 cell- and/or 8-cell embryos. LIF increased the expression of KAT2A and HSPA1A in MII-oocytes, and that of HDAC1, KAT2A and HSP90AA1 and the BAX:BCL2L1 ratio in 2-cell embryos. In contrast, HDAC1, KAT2A and HSP90AA1 expression and BAX:BCL2L1 ratio was lower in 8-cell embryos derived from LIF oocytes. IVM with LIF also increased the expression of DNMT3A, HSPA1A and HSP90AA1 in blastocysts. In conclusion, supplementation with LIF during IVM was consistently associated with changes in the relative abundance of transcripts in mature bovine oocytes and in specific embryo developmental stages.
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Sang L, Ortiz W, Xiao Y, Estrada-Cortes E, Jannaman EA, Hansen PJ. Actions of putative embryokines on development of the preimplantation bovine embryo to the blastocyst stage. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:11930-11944. [PMID: 33041033 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Once it enters the uterus at d 4 to 5 after ovulation, the preimplantation bovine embryo is controlled in its development by regulatory signaling molecules from the mother called embryokines. Here, several cell-signaling molecules whose genes are expressed in the endometrium during d 5 to 7 after estrus were tested for the ability to affect the competence of the embryo for further development and the characteristics of the resultant blastocysts. Molecules tested were C-natriuretic peptide (CNP), IL-8, bovine morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4), IL-6, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). None of the cell-signaling molecules tested improved the competence of the embryo to become a blastocyst; in fact, BMP-4 decreased development. All molecules modified attributes of the blastocyst formed in culture. In particular, CNP increased the number of cells in the ICM, whereas IL-8 decreased inner cell mass cell numbers and tended to increase the proportion of blastocysts that were hatching or hatched. In addition, BMP-4 decreased the proportion of blastocysts that were hatching. Interleukin-6 and, to a lesser extent, LIF activated the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in the inner cell mass, and LIF increased the percent of cells in the blastocyst that were positive for both NANOG and phosphorylated (activated) STAT3. In conclusion, our results indicate that CNP, IL-8, IL-6, LIF, and BMP-4 can modify embryonic development of the cow in a manner that affects characteristics of the resultant blastocyst. Further research is required to understand how these changes in characteristics of the blastocyst would affect competence of the embryo to establish and maintain pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Sang
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910; Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China
| | - W Ortiz
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | - Y Xiao
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | - E Estrada-Cortes
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910; Campo Experimental Centro Altos de Jalisco, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, México 47600
| | - E A Jannaman
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | - P J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910.
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Wooldridge LK, Nardi ME, Ealy AD. Zinc supplementation during in vitro embryo culture increases inner cell mass and total cell numbers in bovine blastocysts1. J Anim Sci 2020; 97:4946-4950. [PMID: 31712807 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Deficiencies in current embryo culture media likely contribute to the poor blastocyst development rates and pregnancy retention rates for in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos. Of special concern is the lack of micronutrients in these media formulations. One micronutrient of interest is zinc, an essential trace element involved with various enzyme and transcription factor activities. The objective of this work was to describe whether zinc sulfate supplementation during in vitro embryo culture affects bovine embryo development and blastomere numbers. Either 0, 2, 20, or 40 µM zinc sulfate was supplemented to presumptive zygotes cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid containing AAs and bovine serum albumin for 8 d. None of the treatments affected cleavage rates. Percentage of blastocysts on days 7 and 8 postfertilization was not affected by supplementing 2 or 20 µM zinc but were reduced (P < 0.05) with 40 µM zinc. In blastocysts harvested on day 8, inner cell mass (ICM) and total cell number were increased (P < 0.05) with 2 µM zinc supplementation but not with the other zinc concentrations. Numbers of trophectoderm cells were not affected by zinc treatment. In conclusion, supplementing zinc during bovine embryo culture did not impact blastocyst development but improved ICM cell numbers. This improvement in ICM cell number may have implications for improved pregnancy retention rates after IVP embryo transfer as smaller ICM sizes are associated with poor pregnancy success in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Madison E Nardi
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
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Willmore A, Davis TL. Effect of chronic administration of a gonadotropin-releasing agonist on luteal function and pregnancy rates in dairy cattle. Anim Sci J 2019; 90:1432-1443. [PMID: 31502373 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Increased embryonic losses may be associated with inadequate progesterone (P4) concentrations in high-producing lactating dairy cattle. The objectives of the present studies were to determine if chronic administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, Deslorelin, would increase circulating P4 concentrations and subsequently increase pregnancy rates in dairy cattle. Administration of Deslorelin for 12 days increased (p < .05) luteal volume and circulating P4 concentrations in primiparous lactating dairy cows, but increased only luteal volumes in multiparous cows. Treatment with Deslorelin increased Day 45 pregnancy rates in cows as compared to untreated controls. Chronic treatment with Deslorelin in dairy cattle; (a) increased luteal volume of the primary CL, (b) induced accessory CL, (c) increased circulating P4 concentration in primiparous cows only, (d) did not lengthen the estrous cycle upon removal of treatment, and (e) increased pregnancy rates. Although luteal volume was increased in multiparous cows and circulating P4 concentrations were not with Deslorelin treatment, there was an apparent effect on pregnancy rates. This hormonal strategy may represent a suitable model to address local effects of P4 and GnRH/luteinizing hormone on uterine environment and subsequent embryonic survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Willmore
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Tracy L Davis
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.,Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
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15
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Hansen PJ, Tríbulo P. Regulation of present and future development by maternal regulatory signals acting on the embryo during the morula to blastocyst transition - insights from the cow. Biol Reprod 2019; 101:526-537. [PMID: 31220231 PMCID: PMC8127039 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The preimplantation embryo has a remarkable ability to execute its developmental program using regulatory information inherent within itself. Nonetheless, the uterine environment is rich in cell signaling molecules termed embryokines that act on the embryo during the morula-to-blastocyst transition, promoting blastocyst formation and programming the embryo for subsequent developmental events. Programming can not only affect developmental processes important for continuance of development in utero but also affect characteristics of the offspring during postnatal life. Given the importance of embryokines for regulation of embryonic development, it is likely that some causes of infertility involve aberrant secretion of embryokines by the uterus. Embryokines found to regulate development of the bovine embryo include insulin-like growth factor 1, colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), and dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1. Embryo responses to CSF2 exhibit sexual dimorphism, suggesting that sex-specific programming of postnatal function is caused by maternal signals acting on the embryo during the preimplantation period that regulate male embryos differently than female embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Paula Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Zona Rural General Paz, Córdoba, Argentina
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16
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Ealy AD, Wooldridge LK, McCoski SR. BOARD INVITED REVIEW: Post-transfer consequences of in vitro-produced embryos in cattle. J Anim Sci 2019; 97:2555-2568. [PMID: 30968113 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro embryo production (IVP) in cattle has gained worldwide interest in recent years, but the efficiency of using IVP embryos for calf production is far from optimal. This review will examine the pregnancy retention rates of IVP embryos and explore causes for pregnancy failures. Based on work completed over the past 25 yr, only 27% of cattle receiving IVP embryos will produce a live calf. Approximately 60% of these pregnancies fail during the first 6 wk of gestation. When compared with embryos generated by superovulation, pregnancy rates are 10% to 40% lower for cattle carrying IVP embryos, exemplifying that IVP embryos are consistently less competent than in vivo-generated embryos. Several abnormalities have been observed in the morphology of IVP conceptuses. After transfer, IVP embryos are less likely to undergo conceptus elongation, have reduced embryonic disk diameter, and have compromised yolk sac development. Marginal binucleate cell development, cotyledon development, and placental vascularization have also been documented, and these abnormalities are associated with altered fetal growth trajectories. Additionally, in vitro culture conditions increase the risk of large offspring syndrome. Further work is needed to decipher how the embryo culture environment alters post-transfer embryo development and survival. The risk of these neonatal disorders has been reduced by the use of serum-free synthetic oviductal fluid media formations and culture in low oxygen tension. However, alterations are still evident in IVP oocyte and embryo transcript abundances, timing of embryonic cleavage events and blastulation, incidence of aneuploidy, and embryonic methylation status. The inclusion of oviductal and uterine-derived embryokines in culture media is being examined as one way to improve the competency of IVP embryos. To conclude, the evidence presented herein clearly shows that bovine IVP systems still must be refined to make it an economical technology in cattle production systems. However, the current shortcomings do not negate its current value for certain embryo production needs and for investigating early embryonic development in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Sarah R McCoski
- Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
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17
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Zolini AM, Negrón-Pérez VM, Hansen PJ. Importance of prostate androgen-regulated mucin-like protein 1 in development of the bovine blastocyst. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 19:15. [PMID: 31277570 PMCID: PMC6612098 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Prostate androgen-regulated mucin-like protein 1 (PARM1) is a pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic glycoprotein involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the coding region of PARM1 has been associated with competence of bovine embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage. Here we tested the importance of PARM1 for development by evaluating consequences of reducing PARM1 mRNA abundance on embryonic development and differentiation, gene expression and resistance to ER stress. Results Knockdown of PARM1 using an anti-PARM1 GapmeR did not affect competence of embryos to develop into blastocysts but decreased the number of trophectoderm (TE) cells in the blastocyst and tended to increase the number of cells in the blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM). Treatment of embryos with anti-PARM1 GapmeR affected expression of 4 and 3 of 90 genes evaluated at the compact-morula and blastocyst stage of development at days 5.5 and 7.5 after fertilization, respectively. In morulae, treatment increased expression of DAB2, INADL, and STAT3 and decreased expression of CCR2. At the blastocyst stage, knockdown of PARM1 increased expression of PECAM and TEAD4 and decreased expression of CCR7. The potential role of PARM1 in ER stress response was determined by evaluating effects of knockdown of PARM1 on development of embryos after exposure to heat shock or tunicamycin and on expression of ATF6, DDIT3 and EIF2AK3 at the compact morula and blastocyst stages. Both heat shock and tunicamycin reduced the percent of embryos becoming a blastocyst but response was unaffected by PARM1 knockdown. Similarly, there was no effect of knockdown on steady-state amounts of ATF6, DDIT3 or EIF2AK3. Conclusion PARM1 participates in formation of TE and ICM cells in early embryonic development but there is no evidence for the role of PARM1 in the ER stress response. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12861-019-0195-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana M Zolini
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0910, USA.,Present address: Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Verónica M Negrón-Pérez
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0910, USA.,Present address: Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0910, USA.
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Wooldridge LK, Ealy AD. Interleukin-6 increases inner cell mass numbers in bovine embryos. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 19:2. [PMID: 30709330 PMCID: PMC6359871 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0182-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Work in other species suggests that interleukin-6 (IL6) promotes early embryo development. It was unclear whether IL6 serves as an embryokine in cultured bovine embryos. This work was undertaken to elucidate the role of IL6 during in vitro bovine embryo production. Results Transcripts for IL6 and its two cognate receptor subunits (IL6R, IL6ST) were confirmed in bovine embryos from the 1-cell to blastocyst stages. Supplementing 100 ng/ml recombinant bovine IL6 to in vitro-produced bovine embryos at day 1, 3 or 5 increased (P < 0.05) inner cell mass (ICM) cell number and the ICM:trophectoderm (TE) ratio but not TE cell number. No increase in ICM or TE cell number was observed after supplementation of 1 or 10 ng/ml IL6 beginning at either day 1 or 5. Sequential supplementation with 100 ng/ml IL6 at both day 1 and 5 (for a total of 200 ng/ml IL6) increased (P < 0.05) ICM cell number to a greater extent than supplementing IL6 at a single time period in one study but not a second study. Additionally, providing 200 ng/ml IL6 beginning at day 1 or 5 yielded no further increase on ICM cell numbers when compared to supplementing with 100 ng/ml IL6. IL6 treatment had no effect on cleavage or blastocyst formation in group culture. However, IL6 supplementation increased cleavage and day 8 blastocyst formation when bovine embryos were cultured individually. Conclusions These results implicate IL6 as an embryokine that specifically increases ICM cell numbers in bovine embryos and facilitates bovine blastocyst development in embryos cultured individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Wooldridge
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 3430 Litton-Reaves Hall (0306), Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 3430 Litton-Reaves Hall (0306), Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA.
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Yurchenko AA, Daetwyler HD, Yudin N, Schnabel RD, Vander Jagt CJ, Soloshenko V, Lhasaranov B, Popov R, Taylor JF, Larkin DM. Scans for signatures of selection in Russian cattle breed genomes reveal new candidate genes for environmental adaptation and acclimation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12984. [PMID: 30154520 PMCID: PMC6113280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31304-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestication and selective breeding has resulted in over 1000 extant cattle breeds. Many of these breeds do not excel in important traits but are adapted to local environments. These adaptations are a valuable source of genetic material for efforts to improve commercial breeds. As a step toward this goal we identified candidate regions to be under selection in genomes of nine Russian native cattle breeds adapted to survive in harsh climates. After comparing our data to other breeds of European and Asian origins we found known and novel candidate genes that could potentially be related to domestication, economically important traits and environmental adaptations in cattle. The Russian cattle breed genomes contained regions under putative selection with genes that may be related to adaptations to harsh environments (e.g., AQP5, RAD50, and RETREG1). We found genomic signatures of selective sweeps near key genes related to economically important traits, such as the milk production (e.g., DGAT1, ABCG2), growth (e.g., XKR4), and reproduction (e.g., CSF2). Our data point to candidate genes which should be included in future studies attempting to identify genes to improve the extant breeds and facilitate generation of commercial breeds that fit better into the environments of Russia and other countries with similar climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A Yurchenko
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Hans D Daetwyler
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, 3083, Victoria, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3083, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nikolay Yudin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Robert D Schnabel
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-5300, USA
| | - Christy J Vander Jagt
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, 3083, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Ruslan Popov
- Yakutian Research Institute of Agriculture, 677001, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Jeremy F Taylor
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-5300, USA
| | - Denis M Larkin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia.
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, NW01 0TU, London, UK.
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20
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Simões R, Rodrigues Santos A. Factors and molecules that could impact cell differentiation in the embryo generated by nuclear transfer. Organogenesis 2018; 13:156-178. [PMID: 29020571 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2017.1389367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic cell nuclear transfer is a technique to create an embryo using an enucleated oocyte and a donor nucleus. Nucleus of somatic cells must be reprogrammed in order to participate in normal development within an enucleated egg. Reprogramming refers to the erasing and remodeling of cellular epigenetic marks to a lower differentiation state. Somatic nuclei must be reprogrammed by factors in the oocyte cytoplasm to a rather totipotent state since the reconstructed embryo must initiate embryo development from the one cell stage to term. In embryos reconstructed by nuclear transfer, the donor genetic material must respond to the cytoplasmic environment of the cytoplast and recapitulate this normal developmental process. Enucleation is critically important for cloning efficiency because may affect the ultrastructure of the remaining cytoplast, thus resulting in a decline or destruction of its cellular compartments. Nonetheless, the effects of in vitro culturing are yet to be fully understood. In vitro oocyte maturation can affect the abundance of specific transcripts and are likely to deplete the developmental competence. The epigenetic modifications established during cellular differentiation are a major factor determining this low efficiency as they act as epigenetic barriers restricting reprogramming of somatic nuclei. In this review we discuss some factors that could impact cell differentiation in embryo generated by nuclear transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Simões
- a Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC , SP , Brazil
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Tribulo P, Leão BCDS, Lehloenya KC, Mingoti GZ, Hansen PJ. Consequences of endogenous and exogenous WNT signaling for development of the preimplantation bovine embryo. Biol Reprod 2018; 96:1129-1141. [PMID: 28575156 PMCID: PMC5803770 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The specific role of WNT signaling during preimplantation development remains unclear. Here, we evaluated consequences of activation and inhibition of β-catenin (CTNNB1)-dependent and -independent WNT signaling in the bovine preimplantation embryo. Activation of CTNNB1-mediated WNT signaling by the agonist 2-amino-4-(3,4-(methylenedioxy)benzylamino)-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)pyrimidine (AMBMP) and a glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor reduced development to the blastocyst stage. Moreover, the antagonist of WNT signaling, dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1), alleviated the negative effect of AMBMP on development via reduction of CTNNB1. Based on labeling for phospho c-Jun N-terminal kinase, there was no evidence that DKK1 activated the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Inhibition of secretion of endogenous WNTs did not affect development but increased number of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM). In contrast, DKK1 did not affect number of ICM or trophectoderm (TE) cells, suggesting that embryo-derived WNTs regulate ICM proliferation through a mechanism independent of CTNNB1. In addition, DKK1 did not affect the number of cells positive for the transcription factor yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) involved in TE formation. In fact, DKK1 decreased YAP1. In contrast, exposure of embryos to WNT family member 7A (WNT7A) improved blastocyst development, inhibited the PCP pathway, and did not affect amounts of CTNNB1. Results indicate that embryo-derived WNTs are dispensable for blastocyst formation but participate in regulation of ICM proliferation, likely through a mechanism independent of CTNNB1. The response to AMBMP and WNT7A leads to the hypothesis that maternally derived WNTs can play a positive or negative role in regulation of preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Tribulo
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Beatriz Caetano da Silva Leão
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil and Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, School of Agrarian and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Reproduction, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Khoboso C Lehloenya
- Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gisele Zoccal Mingoti
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil and Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, School of Agrarian and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Reproduction, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Siqueira LG, Tribulo P, Chen Z, Denicol AC, Ortega MS, Negrón-Pérez VM, Kannampuzha-Francis J, Pohler KG, Rivera RM, Hansen PJ. Colony-stimulating factor 2 acts from days 5 to 7 of development to modify programming of the bovine conceptus at day 86 of gestation†. Biol Reprod 2018; 96:743-757. [PMID: 28379294 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) is an embryokine that improves competence of the embryo to establish pregnancy and which may participate in developmental programming. We tested whether culture of bovine embryos with CSF2 alters fetal development and alleviates abnormalities associated with in vitro production (IVP) of embryos. Pregnancies were established by artificial insemination (AI), transfer of an IVP embryo (IVP), or transfer of an IVP embryo treated with 10 ng/ml CSF2 from day 5 to 7 of development (CSF2). Pregnancies were produced using X-sorted semen. Female singleton conceptuses were collected on day 86 of gestation. There were few morphological differences between groups, although IVP and CSF2 fetuses were heavier than AI fetuses. Bicarbonate concentration in allantoic fluid was lower for IVP than for AI or CSF2. Expression of 92 genes in liver, placenta, and muscle was determined. The general pattern for liver and placenta was for IVP to alter expression and for CSF2 to sometimes reverse this effect. For muscle, CSF2 affected gene expression but did not generally reverse effects of IVP. Levels of methylation for each of the three tissues at 12 loci in the promoter of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and five in the promoter of growth factor receptor bound protein 10 were unaffected by treatment except for CSF2 effects on two CpG for IGF2 in placenta and muscle. In conclusion, CSF2 can act as a developmental programming agent but alone is not able to abolish the adverse effects of IVP on fetal characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz G Siqueira
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Embrapa Gado de Leite, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula Tribulo
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Anna C Denicol
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - M Sofia Ortega
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Veronica M Negrón-Pérez
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jasmine Kannampuzha-Francis
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ky G Pohler
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rocio M Rivera
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Tríbulo P, Bernal Ballesteros BH, Ruiz A, Tríbulo A, Tríbulo RJ, Tríbulo HE, Bo GA, Hansen PJ. Consequences of exposure of embryos produced in vitro in a serum-containing medium to dickkopf-related protein 1 and colony stimulating factor 2 on blastocyst yield, pregnancy rate, and birth weight1. J Anim Sci 2017; 95:4407-4412. [DOI: 10.2527/jas2017.1927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P. Tríbulo
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
| | | | - A. Ruiz
- SERBESA S.A., San Pedro Sula 21102, Honduras
| | - A. Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Córdoba 5145, Argentina
| | - R. J. Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Córdoba 5145, Argentina
| | - H. E. Tríbulo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Córdoba 5145, Argentina
| | - G. A. Bo
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Córdoba 5145, Argentina
| | - P. J. Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910
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24
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Kannampuzha-Francis J, Tribulo P, Hansen PJ. Actions of activin A, connective tissue growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor 1 on the development of the bovine preimplantation embryo. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 29:1329-1339. [DOI: 10.1071/rd16033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive tract secretes bioactive molecules collectively known as embryokines that can regulate embryonic growth and development. In the present study we tested four growth factors expressed in the endometrium for their ability to modify the development of the bovine embryo to the blastocyst stage and alter the expression of genes found to be upregulated (bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and keratin 8, type II (KRT8)) or downregulated (NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) and S100 calcium binding protein A10 (S100A10)) in embryos competent to develop to term. Zygotes were treated at Day 5 with 0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 nM growth factor. The highest concentration of activin A increased the percentage of putative zygotes that developed to the blastocyst stage. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) increased the number of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM), decreased the trophectoderm : ICM ratio and increased blastocyst expression of KRT8 and ND1. The lowest concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) reduced the percentage of putative zygotes becoming blastocysts. Teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor 1 increased total cell number at 0.01 nM and expression of S100A10 at 1.0 nM, but otherwise had no effects. Results confirm the prodevelopmental actions of activin A and indicate that CTGF may also function as an embryokine by regulating the number of ICM cells in the blastocyst and altering gene expression. Low concentrations of HGF were inhibitory to development.
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25
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Sandra O, Charpigny G, Galio L, Hue I. Preattachment Embryos of Domestic Animals: Insights into Development and Paracrine Secretions. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2016; 5:205-228. [PMID: 27959670 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian species, endometrial receptivity is driven by maternal factors independently of embryo signals. When pregnancy initiates, paracrine secretions of the preattachment embryo are essential both for maternal recognition and endometrium preparation for implantation and for coordinating development of embryonic and extraembryonic tissues of the conceptus. This review mainly focuses on domestic large animal species. We first illustrate the major steps of preattachment embryo development, including elongation in bovine, ovine, porcine, and equine species. We next highlight conceptus secretions that are involved in the communication between extraembryonic and embryonic tissues, as well as between the conceptus and the endometrium. Finally, we introduce experimental data demonstrating the intimate connection between conceptus secretions and endometrial activity and how adverse events perturbing this interplay may affect the progression of implantation that will subsequently impact pregnancy outcome, postnatal health, and expression of production traits in livestock offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Sandra
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France; , , ,
| | - Gilles Charpigny
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France; , , ,
| | - Laurent Galio
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France; , , ,
| | - Isabelle Hue
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France; , , ,
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26
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Denicol AC, Leão BCS, Dobbs KB, Mingoti GZ, Hansen PJ. Influence of Sex on Basal and Dickkopf-1 Regulated Gene Expression in the Bovine Morula. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26196299 PMCID: PMC4510475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex affects function of the developing mammalian embryo as early as the preimplantation period. There were two goals of the current objective. The first was to determine the degree and nature of differences in gene expression between female and male embryos in the cow at the morula stage of development. The second objective was to determine whether DKK1, a molecule known to alter differentiation of the blastocyst, would affect gene expression differently for female and male morulae. In Experiment 1, female and male embryos were treated with DKK1 at Day 5 after insemination. Morulae were harvested 24 h after treatment, pooled in groups of 20 for microarray analysis and RNA subjected to analysis of gene expression by microarray hybridization. There were 662 differentially expressed genes between females and males and 128 of these genes had a fold change ≥ 1.5 between the two sexes. Of the genes upregulated in females, 49.5% were located in the X chromosome. Functional analysis predicted that cell survival was greater in female embryos. Experiment 2 involved a similar design except that transcripts for 12 genes previously reported to be affected by sex, DKK1 or the interaction were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Expression of all genes tested that were affected by sex in experiment 1 was affected in a similar manner in Experiment 2. In contrast, effects of DKK1 on gene expression were largely not repeatable in Experiment 2. The exception was for the Hippo signaling gene AMOT, which was inhibited by DKK1. In Experiment 3, embryos produced by fertilization with unsorted sperm were treated with DKK1 at Day 5 and abundance of transcripts for CDX2, GATA6, and NANOG determined at Days 5, 6 and 7 after insemination. There was no effect of DKK1 on expression of any of the three genes. In conclusion, female and male bovine embryos have a different pattern of gene expression as early as the morula stage, and this is due to a large extent to expression of genes in the X chromosomes in females. Differential gene expression between female and male embryos is likely the basis for increased resistance to cell death signals in female embryos and disparity in responses of female and male embryos to changes in the maternal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Denicol
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Beatriz C S Leão
- Laboratory of Physiology of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - Kyle B Dobbs
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Gisele Z Mingoti
- Laboratory of Physiology of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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27
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Gómez E, Correia-Álvarez E, Caamaño JN, Díez C, Carrocera S, Peynot N, Martín D, Giraud-Delville C, Duranthon V, Sandra O, Muñoz M. Hepatoma-derived growth factor: from the bovine uterus to the in vitro embryo culture. Reproduction 2014; 148:353-65. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Early in cow embryo development, hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is detectable in uterine fluid. The origin of HDGF in maternal tissues is unknown, as is the effect of the induction on developing embryos. Herein, we analyze HDGF expression in day 8 endometrium exposed to embryos, as well as the effects of recombinant HDGF (rHDGF) on embryo growth. Exposure to embryos did not alter endometrial levels of HDGF mRNA or protein. HDGF protein localized to cell nuclei in the luminal epithelium and superficial glands and to the apical cytoplasm in deep glands. After uterine passage, levels of embryonic HDGF mRNA decreased and HDGF protein was detected only in the trophectoderm. In fetal fibroblast cultures, addition of rHDGF promoted cell proliferation. In experiments with group cultures of morulae in protein-free medium containing polyvinyl alcohol, adding rHDGF inhibited blastocyst development and did not affect cell counts when the morulae were early (day 5), whereas it enhanced blastocyst development and increased cell counts when the morulae were compact (day 6). In cultures of individual day 6 morulae, adding rHDGF promoted blastocyst development and increased cell counts. Our experiments with rHDGF indicate that the growth factor stimulates embryonic development and cell proliferation. HDGF is synthesized similarly by the endometrium and embryo, and it may exert embryotropic effects by autocrine and/or paracrine mechanisms.
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28
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Dobbs KB, Gagné D, Fournier E, Dufort I, Robert C, Block J, Sirard MA, Bonilla L, Ealy AD, Loureiro B, Hansen PJ. Sexual dimorphism in developmental programming of the bovine preimplantation embryo caused by colony-stimulating factor 2. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:80. [PMID: 25078682 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.121087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiology of the adult can be modified by alterations in prenatal development driven by the maternal environment. Developmental programming, which can be established before the embryo implants in the uterus, can affect females differently than males. The mechanism by which sex-specific developmental programming is established is not known. Here we present evidence that maternal regulatory signals change female embryos differently than male embryos. In particular, actions of the maternally derived cytokine CSF2 from Day 5 to Day 7 of development affected characteristics of the embryo at Day 15 differently for females than males. CSF2 decreased length and IFNT secretion of female embryos but increased length and IFNT secretion of male embryos. Analysis of a limited number of samples indicated that changes in the transcriptome and methylome caused by CSF2 also differed between female and males. Thus, sex-specific programming by the maternal environment could occur when changes in secretion of maternally derived regulatory molecules alter development of female embryos differently than male embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle B Dobbs
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Dominic Gagné
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Eric Fournier
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Dufort
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Claude Robert
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Jeremy Block
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Ovatech LLC, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Luciano Bonilla
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Barbara Loureiro
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | - Peter J Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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29
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Bazer FW, Song G, Thatcher WW. Roles of conceptus secretory proteins in establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in ruminants. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2014; 25:1-16. [PMID: 25049471 PMCID: PMC4092924 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2011.r.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Reproduction in ruminant species is a highly complex biological process requiring a dialogue between the developing conceptus (embryo-fetus and associated placental membranes) and maternal uterus which must be established during the peri-implantation period for pregnancy recognition signaling and regulation of gene expression by uterine epithelial and stromal cells. The uterus provide a microenvironment in which molecules secreted by uterine epithelia and transported into the uterine lumen represent histotroph, also known as the secretome, that are required for growth and development of the conceptus and receptivity of the uterus to implantation by the elongating conceptus. Pregnancy recognition signaling as related to sustaining the functional lifespan of the corpora lutea, is required to sustain the functional life-span of corpora lutea for production of progesterone which is essential for uterine functions supportive of implantation and placentation required for successful outcomes of pregnancy. It is within the peri-implantation period that most embryonic deaths occur in ruminants due to deficiencies attributed to uterine functions or failure of the conceptus to develop appropriately, signal pregnancy recognition and/or undergo implantation and placentation. The endocrine status of the pregnant ruminant and her nutritional status are critical for successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The challenge is to understand the complexity of key mechanisms that are characteristic of successful reproduction in humans and animals and to use that knowledge to enhance fertility and reproductive health of ruminant species in livestock enterprises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science and Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA ; WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Korea
| | - Gwonhwa Song
- WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Korea
| | - William W Thatcher
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0691, USA
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30
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Forde N, McGettigan PA, Mehta JP, O'Hara L, Mamo S, Bazer FW, Spencer TE, Lonergan P. Proteomic analysis of uterine fluid during the pre-implantation period of pregnancy in cattle. Reproduction 2014; 147:575-87. [PMID: 24478148 DOI: 10.1530/rep-13-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study were (i) to characterize the global changes in the composition of the uterine luminal fluid (ULF) from pregnant heifers during pregnancy recognition (day 16) using nano-LC MS/MS; (ii) to describe quantitative changes in selected proteins in the ULF from days 10, 13, 16 and 19 by Isobaric tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification (iTRAQ) analysis; and (iii) to determine whether these proteins are of endometrial or conceptus origin, by examining the expression profiles of the associated transcripts by RNA sequencing. On day 16, 1652 peptides were identified in the ULF by nano-LC MS/MS. Of the most abundant proteins present, iTRAQ analysis revealed that RPB4, TIMP2 and GC had the same expression pattern as IFNT, while the abundance of IDH1, CST6 and GDI2 decreased on either day 16 or 19. ALDOA, CO3, GSN, HSP90A1, SERPINA31 and VCN proteins decreased on day 13 compared with day 10 but subsequently increased on day 16 (P<0.05). Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and HSPA8 decreased on day 13, increased on day 16 and decreased and increased on day 19 (P<0.05). The abundance of CATD, CO3, CST6, GDA, GELS, IDHC, PNPH and TIMP2 mRNAs was greater (P<0.001) in the endometrium than in the conceptus. By contrast, the abundance of ACTB, ALDOA, ALDR, CAP1, CATB, CATG, GD1B, HSP7C, HSP90A, RET4 and TERA was greater (P<0.05) in the conceptus than in the endometrium. In conclusion, significant changes in the protein content of the ULF occur during the pre-implantation period of pregnancy reflecting the morphological changes that occur in the conceptus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niamh Forde
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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31
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Absalón-Medina VA, Butler WR, Gilbert RO. Preimplantation embryo metabolism and culture systems: experience from domestic animals and clinical implications. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:393-409. [PMID: 24682781 PMCID: PMC3969471 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0179-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advantages of in vitro embryo production in many species, widespread use of this technology is limited by generally lower developmental competence of in vitro derived embryos compared to in vivo counterparts. Regardless, in vivo or in vitro gametes and embryos face and must adjust to multiple microenvironments especially at preimplantation stages. Moreover, the embryo has to be able to further adapt to environmental cues in utero to result in the birth of live and healthy offspring. Enormous strides have been made in understanding and meeting stage-specific requirements of preimplantation embryos, but interpretation of the data is made difficult due to the complexity of the wide array of culture systems and the remarkable plasticity of developing embryos that seem able to develop under a variety of conditions. Nevertheless, a primary objective remains meeting, as closely as possible, the preimplantation embryo requirements as provided in vivo. In general, oocytes and embryos develop more satisfactorily when cultured in groups. However, optimization of individual culture of oocytes and embryos is an important goal and area of intensive current research for both animal and human clinical application. Successful culture of individual embryos is of primary importance in order to avoid ovarian superstimulation and the associated physiological and psychological disadvantages for patients. This review emphasizes stage specific shifts in embryo metabolism and requirements and research to optimize in vitro embryo culture conditions and supplementation, with a view to optimizing embryo culture in general, and culture of single embryos in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Absalón-Medina
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - W. R. Butler
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - R. O. Gilbert
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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Dobbs KB, Khan FA, Sakatani M, Moss JI, Ozawa M, Ealy AD, Hansen PJ. Regulation of pluripotency of inner cell mass and growth and differentiation of trophectoderm of the bovine embryo by colony stimulating factor 2. Biol Reprod 2013; 89:141. [PMID: 24198123 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.113183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) enhances competence of the bovine embryo to establish and maintain pregnancy after the embryo is transferred into a recipient. Mechanisms involved could include regulation of lineage commitment, growth, or differentiation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE). Experiments were conducted to evaluate regulation by CSF2 of pluripotency of the ICM and differentiation and growth of the TE. Embryos were cultured with 10 ng/ml recombinant bovine CSF2 or a vehicle control from Days 5 to 7 or 6 to 8 postinsemination. CSF2 increased the number of putative zygotes that developed to blastocysts when the percent of embryos becoming blastocysts in the control group was low but decreased blastocyst yield when blastocyst development in controls was high. ICM isolated from blastocysts by lysing the trophectoderm using antibody and complement via immunosurgery were more likely to survive passage when cultured on mitomycin C-treated fetal fibroblasts if derived from blastocysts treated with CSF2 than if from control blastocysts. There was little effect of CSF2 on characteristics of TE outgrowths from blastocysts. The exception was a decrease in outgrowth size for embryos treated with CSF2 from Days 5 to 7 and an increase in expression of CDX2 when treatment was from Days 6 to 8. Expression of the receptor subunit gene CSF2RA increased from the zygote stage to the 9-16 cell stage before decreasing to the blastocyst stage. In contrast, CSF2RB was undetectable at all stages. In conclusion, CSF2 improves competence of the ICM to survive in a pluripotent state and alters TE outgrowths. Actions of CSF2 occur through a signaling pathway that is likely to be independent of CSF2RB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle B Dobbs
- Department of Animal Sciences, D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Peralta OA, Bucher D, Fernandez A, Berland M, Strobel P, Ramirez A, Ratto MH, Concha I. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) enhances cumulus cell expansion in bovine oocytes. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2013; 11:55. [PMID: 23799974 PMCID: PMC3738149 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-11-55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2012] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objectives of the study were to characterize the expression of the α- and β-subunits of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor in bovine cumulus cells and oocytes and to determine the effect of exogenous GM-CSF on cumulus cells expansion, oocyte maturation, IGF-2 transcript expression and subsequent competence for embryonic development. METHODS Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were obtained by aspirating follicles 3- to 8-mm in diameter with an 18 G needle connected to a vacuum pump at -50 mmHg. Samples of cumulus cells and oocytes were used to detect GM- CSF receptor by immunofluorescence. A dose-response experiment was performed to estimate the effect of GM-CSF on cumulus cell expansion and nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation. Also, the effect of GM-CSF on IGF-2 expression was evaluated in oocytes and cumulus cells after in vitro maturation by Q-PCR. Finally, a batch of COC was randomly assigned to in vitro maturation media consisting of: 1) synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF, n = 212); 2) synthetic oviductal fluid supplemented with 100 ng/ml of GM-CSF (SOF + GM-CSF, n = 224) or 3) tissue culture medium (TCM 199, n = 216) and then subsequently in vitro fertilized and cultured for 9 days. RESULTS Immunoreactivity for both α and β GM-CSF receptors was localized in the cytoplasm of both cumulus cells and oocytes. Oocytes in vitro matured either with 10 or 100 ng/ml of GM-CSF presented a higher (P < 0.05) cumulus cells expansion than that of the control group (0 ng/ml of GM-CSF). GM-CSF did not affect the proportion of oocytes in metaphase II, cortical granules dispersion and IGF-2 expression. COC exposed to 100 ng/ml of GM-CSF during maturation did not display significant differences in terms of embryo cleavage rate (50.4% vs. 57.5%), blastocyst development at day 7 (31.9% vs. 28.7%) and at day 9 (17.4% vs. 17.9%) compared to untreated control (SOF alone, P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS GM-CSF enhanced cumulus cell expansion of in vitro matured bovine COC. However, GM-CSF did not increase oocyte nuclear or cytoplasmic maturation rates, IGF-2 expression or subsequent embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A Peralta
- Departamento de Fomento de la Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Danai Bucher
- Institutos de Ciencia Animal y Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Ana Fernandez
- Institutos de Ciencia Animal y Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Marco Berland
- Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Pablo Strobel
- Institutos de Ciencia Animal y Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Alfredo Ramirez
- Institutos de Ciencia Animal y Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Marcelo H Ratto
- Institutos de Ciencia Animal y Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Ilona Concha
- Institutos de Ciencia Animal y Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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Hickman CF, Clinton M, Ainslie A, Ashworth CJ, Rooke JA. Heat shock induces interferon-TAU gene expression by in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts. Am J Reprod Immunol 2013; 70:177-81. [PMID: 23638875 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The type I interferon (IFN), IFN-tau (τ), is the primary embryonic signal for pregnancy maintenance in ruminants. This study determined the effects of heat shock upon IFN-τ (IFNT) gene expression by bovine blastocysts in vitro. METHOD OF STUDY In vitro-produced blastocyst-stage embryos were exposed to 42°C for 4 hr, and mRNA for heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) and IFNT quantified. RESULTS Heat shock increased both HSP70 and IFNT expression. There was a significant correlation between HSP70 and IFNT transcript levels irrespective of whether a blastocyst had been exposed to heat shock or not. CONCLUSION The increase in IFNT as a result of heat shock suggests that a proportion of the variation in IFNT expression observed in blastocyst-stage embryos is a response to stress.
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Lee K, Redel BK, Spate L, Teson J, Brown AN, Park KW, Walters E, Samuel M, Murphy CN, Prather RS. Piglets produced from cloned blastocysts cultured in vitro with GM-CSF. Mol Reprod Dev 2013; 80:145-54. [PMID: 23239239 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In general, pig embryos established by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) are transferred at the one-cell stage because of suboptimal embryo culture conditions. Improvements in embryo culture can increase the practical application of late embryo transfer. The goal of this study was to evaluate embryos cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in vitro, and to track the in vivo developmental competency of SCNT-derived blastocysts from these GM-CSF embryos. The receptor for GM-CSF was up-regulated in in vitro-produced embryos when compared to in vivo-produced cohorts, but the level decreased when GM-CSF was present. In vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos, supplemented with GM-CSF (2 or 10 ng/ml), showed a higher frequency of development to the blastocyst stage compared to controls. The total cell numbers of the blastocysts also increased with supplementation of GM-CSF. Molecular analysis demonstrates that IVF-derived blastocysts cultured with GM-CSF exhibit less apoptotic activity. Similarly, an increase in development to the blastocyst stage and an increase in the average total-cell number in the blastocysts were observed when SCNT-derived embryos were cultured with either concentration of GM-CSF (2 or 10 ng/ml). When SCNT-derived embryos, cultured with 10 ng/ml GM-CSF, were transferred into six surrogates at Day 6, five of the surrogates became pregnant and delivered healthy piglets. Our findings suggest that supplementation of GM-CSF can provide better culture conditions for IVF- and SCNT-derived embryos, and pig SCNT-derived embryos cultured with GM-CSF in vitro can successfully produce piglets when transferred into surrogates at the blastocyst stage. Thus, it may be practical to begin performing SCNT-derived embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
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Oliveira LJ, Barreto RSN, Perecin F, Mansouri-Attia N, Pereira FTV, Meirelles FV. Modulation of maternal immune system during pregnancy in the cow. Reprod Domest Anim 2013; 47 Suppl 4:384-93. [PMID: 22827396 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02102.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is a molecular crosstalk between the trophoblast and maternal immune cells of bovine endometrium. The uterine cells are able to secrete cytokine/chemokines to either induce a suppressive environment for establishment of the pregnancy or to recruit immune cells to the endometrium to fight infections. Despite morphological differences between women and cows, mechanisms for immune tolerance during pregnancy seem to be conserved. Mechanisms for uterine immunesuppression in the cow include: reduced expression of major histocompatability proteins by the trophoblast; recruitment of macrophages to the pregnant endometrium; and modulation of immune-related genes in response to the presence of the conceptus. Recently, an eGFP transgenic cloned embryo model developed by our group showed that there is modulation of foetal proteins expressed at the site of syncytium formation, suggesting that foetal cell can regulate not only by the secretion of specific factors such as interferon-tau, but also by regulating their own protein expression to avoid excessive maternal recognition by the local immune system. Furthermore, foetal DNA can be detected in the maternal circulation; this may reflect the occurrence of an invasion of trophoblast cells and/or their fragment beyond the uterine basement membrane in the cow. In fact, the newly description of exosome release by the trophoblast cell suggests that could be a new fashion of maternal-foetal communication at the placental barrier. Additionally, recent global transcriptome studies on bovine endometrium suggested that the immune system is aware, from an immunological point of view, of the presence of the foetus in the cow during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Oliveira
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.
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Pennington KA, Ealy AD. The expression and potential function of bone morphogenetic proteins 2 and 4 in bovine trophectoderm. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2012; 10:12. [PMID: 22330732 PMCID: PMC3309928 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-10-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were first described for their roles in bone formation, but they now also are known to possess additional activities, including those relating to embryogenesis. The objectives of this work were to 1) determine if peri-attachment bovine conceptuses and bovine trophoblast cells (CT1) contain transcripts for BMP2 and 4, an innate inhibitor noggin (NOG), and BMP2/4 receptors (BMPRII, ACVR1, BMPR1A, BMPR1B), and 2) determine if BMP2 or 4 supplementation to CT1 cells affects cell proliferation, differentiation or trophoblast-specific gene expression. METHODS RNA was isolated from day 17 bovine conceptuses and CT1 cells. After RT-PCR, amplified products were cloned and sequenced. In other studies CT1 cells were treated with BMP2 or 4 at various concentrations and effects on cell viability, cell differentiation and abundance of IFNT and CSH1 mRNA were evaluated. RESULTS Transcripts for BMP2 and 4 were detected in bovine conceptuses and CT1 cells. Also, transcripts for each BMP receptor were detected in conceptuses and CT1 cells. Transcripts for NOG were detected in conceptuses but not CT1 cells. Cell proliferation was reduced by BMP4 but not BMP2 supplementation. Both factors reduced IFNT mRNA abundance but had no effect on CSH1 mRNA abundance in CT1 cells. CONCLUSIONS The BMP2/4 ligand and receptor system presides within bovine trophectoderm prior to uterine attachment. BMP4 negatively impacts CT1 cell growth and both BMPs affect IFNT mRNA abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen A Pennington
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alan D Ealy
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Bauersachs S, Ulbrich SE, Reichenbach HD, Reichenbach M, Büttner M, Meyer HH, Spencer TE, Minten M, Sax G, Winter G, Wolf E. Comparison of the Effects of Early Pregnancy with Human Interferon, Alpha 2 (IFNA2), on Gene Expression in Bovine Endometrium1. Biol Reprod 2012; 86:46. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.094771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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Block J, Hansen PJ, Loureiro B, Bonilla L. Improving post-transfer survival of bovine embryos produced in vitro: actions of insulin-like growth factor-1, colony stimulating factor-2 and hyaluronan. Theriogenology 2011; 76:1602-9. [PMID: 21890189 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Technologies for in vitro embryo production have the potential to enhance the efficiency of cattle production systems. However, utilization of in vitro-produced embryos for transfer remains limited throughout much of the world. Despite improvements over the past two decades, problems associated with the production of bovine embryos in vitro still exist which limit the widespread commercial application of this technology. In particular, bovine embryos produced in vitro have a reduced capacity to establish and maintain pregnancy as compared with their in vivo-derived counterparts. Embryo competence for survival following transfer is improved by in vivo culture in the sheep oviduct, thus indicating that standard embryo culture conditions are sub-optimal. Therefore, one strategy to improve post-transfer survival is to modify embryo culture media to more closely mimic the in vivo microenvironment. The maternal environment in which the bovine embryo develops in vivo contains various growth factors, cytokines, hormones, and other regulatory molecules. In addition to affecting bovine embryo development in vitro, recent research indicates that embryo competence for survival following transfer can also be improved when such molecules are added to embryo culture medium. Among the specific molecules that can increase post-transfer embryo survival are insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), colony stimulating factor-2 (CSF-2) and hyaluronan. This paper will review the effects IGF-1, CSF-2 and hyaluronan on post-culture embryo viability and discuss the potential mechanisms through which each of these molecules improves post-transfer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Block
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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