1
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Ali N, Amelkina O, Santymire RM, Koepfli KP, Comizzoli P, Vazquez JM. Semen proteome and transcriptome of the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) show association with the environment and fertility outcome. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7063. [PMID: 38528039 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57096-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The ex situ population of the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) has been experiencing declines in reproductive success over the past 30 years of human-managed care. A potential cause may be environmental-dependent inbreeding depression with diet being one of the contributing factors since ferrets are not fed their natural diet of prairie dogs. Here, we generated and analyzed semen proteome and transcriptome data from both wild and ex situ ferrets maintained on various diets. We identified 1757 proteins across all samples, with 149 proteins unique to the semen of wild ferrets and forming a ribosomal predicted protein-protein interaction cluster. Wild ferrets also differed from ex situ ferrets in their transcriptomic profile, showing enrichment in ribosomal RNA processing and potassium ion transport. Successful fertility outcomes documented for ex situ ferrets showed the strongest association with the semen transcriptome, with enrichment in genes involved in translation initiation and focal adhesion. Fertility also synergized with the effect of diet on differentially expressed transcriptomes, mainly affecting genes enriched in mitochondrial function. Our data and functional networks are important for understanding the causes and mechanisms of declining fertility in the ex situ ferret population and can be used as a resource for future conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadya Ali
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Olga Amelkina
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington D.C., USA.
| | | | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington D.C., USA.
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA.
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington D.C., USA
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
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2
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Capel SLR, Hamilton NM, Fraser D, Escalona M, Nguyen O, Sacco S, Sahasrabudhe R, Seligmann W, Vazquez JM, Sudmant PH, Morrison ML, Wayne RK, Buchalski MR. Reference genome of Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii. J Hered 2024; 115:203-211. [PMID: 38092381 PMCID: PMC10936552 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, is a cave- and mine-roosting species found largely in western North America. Considered a species of conservation concern throughout much of its range, protection efforts would greatly benefit from understanding patterns of population structure, genetic diversity, and local adaptation. To facilitate such research, we present the first de novo genome assembly of C. townsendii as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Omni-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technologies were used to produce a de novo genome assembly, consistent with the standard CCGP reference genome protocol. This assembly comprises 391 scaffolds spanning 2.1 Gb, represented by a scaffold N50 of 174.6 Mb, a contig N50 of 23.4 Mb, and a benchmarking universal single-copy ortholog (BUSCO) completeness score of 96.6%. This high-quality genome will be a key tool for informed conservation and management of this vulnerable species in California and across its range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L R Capel
- Wildlife Genetics Research Unit, Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Natalie M Hamilton
- Department of Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Devaughn Fraser
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Merly Escalona
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Oanh Nguyen
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Samuel Sacco
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Ruta Sahasrabudhe
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - William Seligmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Peter H Sudmant
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Michael L Morrison
- Department of Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Robert K Wayne
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael R Buchalski
- Wildlife Genetics Research Unit, Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, United States
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3
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Gonzalez-Ramiro H, Gil MA, Cuello C, Cambra JM, Gonzalez-Plaza A, Vazquez JM, Vazquez JL, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Lucas-Sanchez A, Parrilla I, Martinez CA, Martinez EA. The Use of a Brief Synchronization Treatment after Weaning, Combined with Superovulation, Has Moderate Effects on the Gene Expression of Surviving Pig Blastocysts. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091568. [PMID: 37174605 PMCID: PMC10177444 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of estrus synchronization and superovulation (SS) treatments causes alterations in ovarian and endometrial gene expression patterns, resulting in abnormal follicle and oocyte growth, fertilization, and embryo development. However, the impact of combined SS treatments on the transcriptome of the surviving embryos remains unidentified. In this study, we examined gene expression changes in day 6 blastocysts that survived a brief regimen of synchronization treatment combined with superovulation. The sows were included in one of three groups: SS7 group (n = 6), sows were administered Altrenogest (ALT) 7 days from the day of weaning and superovulated with eCG 24 h after the end of ALT treatment and hCG at the onset of estrus; SO group (n = 6), ALT nontreated sows were superovulated with eCG 24 h postweaning and hCG at the onset of estrus; control group (n = 6), weaned sows displaying natural estrus. Six days after insemination, the sows underwent a surgical intervention for embryo collection. Transcriptome analysis was performed on blastocyst-stage embryos with good morphology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups were detected using one-way ANOVA with an un-adjusted p-value < 0.05 and a fold change </> 1.5. The effect of SO treatment on the number of altered pathways and DEGs within each pathway was minimal. Only four pathways were disrupted comprising only a total of four altered transcripts, which were not related to reproductive functions or embryonic development. On the other hand, the surviving blastocysts subjected to SS7 treatments exhibited moderate gene expression changes in terms of DEGs and fold changes, with seven pathways disrupted containing a total of 10 transcripts affected. In this case, the up-regulation of certain pathways, such as the metabolic pathway, with two up-regulated genes associated with reproductive functions, namely RDH10 and SPTLC2, may suggest suboptimal embryo quality, while the down-regulation of others, such as the glutathione metabolism pathway, with down-regulated genes related to cellular detoxification of reactive oxygen species, namely GSTK1 and GSTO1, could depress the embryos' response to oxidative stress, thereby impairing subsequent embryo development. The gene expression changes observed in the present study in SS7 embryos, along with previous reports indicating SS7 can negatively affect fertilization, embryo production, and reproductive tract gene expression, make its use in embryo transfer programs unrecommendable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henar Gonzalez-Ramiro
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Department of Research and Development, Grupo Agropor I+D+I, AIE, 30565 Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria A Gil
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Josep M Cambra
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Gonzalez-Plaza
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina A Martinez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120 Murcia, Spain
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4
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Parrilla I, Gil MA, Cuello C, Cambra JM, Gonzalez‐Plaza A, Lucas X, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Rodriguez‐Martinez H, Martinez EA. Immunological uterine response to pig embryos before and during implantation. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57 Suppl 5:4-13. [PMID: 35500162 PMCID: PMC9790529 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The establishment of a successful pregnancy can only occur through a concerted functioning of the entire female reproductive system, allowing for fertilization, subsequent embryo development and implantation of the conceptus. In this context, the uterine immunological responses responsible for rejection or tolerance of the conceptus are of critical importance. The aim of the present review is to summarize our current knowledge about those cellular and molecular immunological events occurring at the uterine level during pre-implantation and implantation stages of pregnancy in the pig. Advancing our understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in the success or failure of pregnancy will provide cues to develop novel strategies augmenting endometrial receptivity, finally increasing the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Maria Antonia Gil
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Josep M. Cambra
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Alejandro Gonzalez‐Plaza
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Xiomara Lucas
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Jose L. Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | - Juan M. Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
| | | | - Emilio A. Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal SurgeryFaculty of Veterinary MedicineInternational Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”University of MurciaMurciaSpain,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB‐Arrixaca)El Palmar, MurciaSpain
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5
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Ramos Hernandez L, Cancemi A, Esteban-Martinez L, Camafeita E, Vazquez JM, Torres-Sanchez M, Priori SG, Lara-Pezzi E. Identification of molecular mechanisms underlying couplon protein degradation in a mouse model of CPVT2. Cardiovasc Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac066.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): - Grant from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad - FPI Severo Ochoa Predoctoral grant
Introduction
Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia-2 (CPVT2) is an arrhythmogenic inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2). The homozygous mouse model CASQ2R33Q/R33Q closely mimics the clinical phenotype of patients that carried this mutation, which causes a substantial imbalance in the homeostasis of intracellular calcium, resulting in polymorphic ventricular tachycardia through triggered activity. CASQ2-R33Q and triadin (TRDN) levels are markedly reduced with no changes in the mRNA expression levels. So far, the mechanisms underlying the decrease of these proteins are not completely understood. Deciphering these mechanisms will help us to develop new or personalized therapeutic options for CPVT patients.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify the molecular mechanisms regulating the decrease of the couplon proteins in the CASQ2R33Q/R33Q mice to find new therapeutic options.
Methods
Mass spectrometry proteomics and Western blot analysis were performed to explore the role of the main cell proteolytic systems – the proteasome, autophagy and calpain. Experiments were performed in adult mice and in isolated neonatal cardiomyocytes treated with inhibitors of these systems. To explore the role of calcium homeostasis in the degradation of these proteins, mice were treated with a RYR2 inhibitor.
Results
CASQ2-R33Q and TRDN proteins showed a shorter half-life in CASQ2R33Q/R33Q mice. Mass spectrometry proteomics revealed an increase in proteins that participate in Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and changes in calcium release and uptake regulators. Western blot analysis of myocardial tissue from adult mice demonstrated an alteration in the activity of the proteasome, the autophagy flux and the calpain enzyme.
Experiments in isolated neonatal cardiomyocytes showed that CASQ2-R33Q, but not TRDN, degradation can be blocked with proteasome, ERAD (ER associated degradation) or autophagy inhibitors. In contrast, both CASQ2-R33Q and TRDN degradation were prevented when the calpain enzyme is inhibited. Inhibition of RYR2 in vivo induced an increase in CASQ2-R33Q and TRDN protein levels.
Conclusions
We propose that changes in calcium homeostasis lead to the activation of some of the main cell proteolytic systems – proteasome and calpain. CASQ2-R33Q is degraded by the proteasome through the ERAD pathway that is activated as a consequence of ER stress. Calpain inhibition is the only mechanism that recovers both CASQ2-R33Q and TRDN protein levels. In the near future, in vivo ECGs and in vitro calcium transient experiments will determine their therapeutic potential for the treatment of recessive CPVT.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ramos Hernandez
- Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research , Madrid , Spain
| | - A Cancemi
- Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research , Madrid , Spain
| | | | - E Camafeita
- Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research , Madrid , Spain
| | - JM Vazquez
- Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research , Madrid , Spain
| | - M Torres-Sanchez
- Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research , Madrid , Spain
| | - SG Priori
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS , Pavia , Italy
| | - E Lara-Pezzi
- Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research , Madrid , Spain
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6
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Gonzalez-Ramiro H, Cuello C, Cambra JM, Gonzalez-Plaza A, Vazquez JM, Vazquez JL, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Gil MA, Lucas-Sanchez A, Parrilla I, Martinez EA. A Short-Term Altrenogest Treatment Post-weaning Followed by Superovulation Reduces Pregnancy Rates and Embryo Production Efficiency in Multiparous Sows. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:771573. [PMID: 34869743 PMCID: PMC8637542 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.771573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although embryo transfer (ET) is a biotechnology ready for the swine industry, there are factors to be solved, the availability of embryo donors as one. Multiparous sows as donors ought to be considered since weaning is a natural and efficient method for estrus synchronization. In addition, superovulation treatments at weaning are effective in increasing the efficiency of donor embryo production. However, ET programs typically require more donors than those available from a single weaning, imposing grouping several weanings to establish a batch for ET. Since short-term administration of Altrenogest is effective in delaying estrus after weaning without effects on ovulation and embryo development, we investigated how Altrenogest combined with superovulation would affect reproductive parameters and embryo quality and quantity of weaned multiparous donor sows. The sows were administered Altrenogest from the day of weaning for 14 (SS-14 group; N = 26), 7 (SS-7 group; N = 31) and 4 (SS-4 group; N = 32) days. The sows were superovulated with eCG 24 h after the last administration of Altrenogest and with hCG at the onset of estrus. Sows not treated with Altrenogest that were superovulated with eCG 24 h post-weaning and hCG at the onset of estrus (SC group; N = 37) and sows with natural estrus after weaning (C group; N = 34) were used as control groups. The percentage of sows showing estrus within 10 days was not affected by the treatment, but the interval from Altrenogest withdrawal to estrus was longer (P < 0.05) in the SS groups than the interval from weaning to estrus in the controls. SS treatments increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of sows with ovarian cysts and the development of polycystic ovaries. The pregnancy and the fertilization rates, and the overall embryo production efficiency were also negatively affected by the SS treatments (P < 0.05). Interestingly, almost 70% of the structures classified as unfertilized oocytes or degenerated embryos in sows from the SS groups were immature oocytes. In conclusion, although superovulation of weaned sows was highly efficient, short-term administration of Altrenogest in combination with superovulation had negative effects on most of the reproductive parameters assessed, particularly affecting the overall efficiency of pregnancy and embryo production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henar Gonzalez-Ramiro
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Department of Research and Development, Grupo Agropor I+D+I, AIE, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Josep M Cambra
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Gonzalez-Plaza
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria A Gil
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research, Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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7
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Vazquez JM, Lynch VJ. Pervasive duplication of tumor suppressors in Afrotherians during the evolution of large bodies and reduced cancer risk. eLife 2021; 10:e65041. [PMID: 33513090 PMCID: PMC7952090 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of developing cancer is correlated with body size and lifespan within species. Between species, however, there is no correlation between cancer and either body size or lifespan, indicating that large, long-lived species have evolved enhanced cancer protection mechanisms. Elephants and their relatives (Proboscideans) are a particularly interesting lineage for the exploration of mechanisms underlying the evolution of augmented cancer resistance because they evolved large bodies recently within a clade of smaller-bodied species (Afrotherians). Here, we explore the contribution of gene duplication to body size and cancer risk in Afrotherians. Unexpectedly, we found that tumor suppressor duplication was pervasive in Afrotherian genomes, rather than restricted to Proboscideans. Proboscideans, however, have duplicates in unique pathways that may underlie some aspects of their remarkable anti-cancer cell biology. These data suggest that duplication of tumor suppressor genes facilitated the evolution of increased body size by compensating for decreasing intrinsic cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Vincent J Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at BuffaloBuffaloUnited States
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8
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Martinez CA, Cambra JM, Parrilla I, Roca J, Ferreira-Dias G, Pallares FJ, Lucas X, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Gil MA, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Cuello C, Álvarez-Rodriguez M. Seminal Plasma Modifies the Transcriptional Pattern of the Endometrium and Advances Embryo Development in Pigs. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:465. [PMID: 31921921 PMCID: PMC6930161 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Seminal plasma (SP) promotes sperm survival and fertilizing capacity, and potentially affects embryo development, presumably via specific signaling pathways to the internal female genital tract. Objectives: This study evaluated how heterologous SP, infused immediately before postcervical artificial insemination (AI) affected embryo development and the transcriptional pattern of the pig endometria containing embryos. Materials and Methods: Postweaning estrus sows (n = 34) received 40-mL intrauterine infusions of either heterologous pooled SP or Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS; control) 30 min before AI of semen extended to 10% of homologous SP. Embryos (all sows) and endometrium samples (3 sows/group) were removed during laparotomy 6 days after the infusion of SP or BTS to morphologically evaluate the embryos to determine their developmental stage and to analyze the endometrial transcriptome using microarrays (PORGENE 1.0 ST GeneChip array, Affymetrix) followed by qPCR for further validation. Results: Embryo viability was equal between the groups (~93%), but embryo development was significantly (P < 0.05) more advanced in the SP-treated group compared to control. A total of 1,604 endometrium transcripts were differentially expressed in the SP group compared to the control group. An enrichment analysis showed an overrepresentation of genes and pathways associated with the immune response, cytokine signaling, cell cycle, cell adhesion, and hormone response, among others. Conclusions: SP infusions prior to AI positively impacted the preimplantation embryo development and altered the expression of the endometrial genes and pathways potentially involved in embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina A Martinez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Josep M Cambra
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Graça Ferreira-Dias
- Department of Morphology and Function, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco J Pallares
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Xiomara Lucas
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martinez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria A Gil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Cuello
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, Spain
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9
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Barranco I, Padilla L, Pérez-Patiño C, Vazquez JM, Martínez EA, Rodríguez-Martínez H, Roca J, Parrilla I. Seminal Plasma Cytokines Are Predictive of the Outcome of Boar Sperm Preservation. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:436. [PMID: 31867346 PMCID: PMC6904304 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Boar seminal plasma is rich in cytokines, which could influence the capability of spermatozoa to tolerate preservation. Objectives: To evaluate the involvement of boar seminal plasma cytokines in the changes experienced by boar spermatozoa during their storage, either in liquid or frozen state. Materials and Methods: In two separated experiments, semen samples from healthy and fertile boars were split in two aliquots, one centrifuged twice (1,500 ×g for 10 min) to harvest seminal plasma, whereas the other was either commercially extended (3 × 107 sperm/mL) and liquid-stored at 17°C during 144 h (n = 28, Experiment 1) or frozen-thawed using a standard 0.5 mL protocol (n = 27, Experiment 2). Sixteen cytokines were quantified using Luminex xMAP®. Sperm attributes (CASA-evaluated total and progressive motility; flow cytometry-evaluated sperm viability, production of intracellular H2O2 and O 2 • - and levels of lipid peroxidation in viable spermatozoa) were evaluated either at 0, 72, or 144 h of liquid storage (Experiment 1) or before freezing and at 30- and 150-min post-thawing (Experiment 2). Results: Multiple linear regression models, with Bayesian approach for variable selection, revealed that the anti-inflammatory TGF-β2, TGF-β3, IL-1Ra, and IL-4 and the pro-inflammatory IL-8 and IL-18, predicted changes in sperm motility for liquid-stored semen while the anti-inflammatory IFN-γ was included in the models predicting changes in all sperm attributes for cryopreserved semen. Conclusion: Specific boar seminal plasma cytokines would contribute to modulate the structural and metabolic changes shown by spermatozoa during preservation, either in liquid or frozen state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Barranco
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Lorena Padilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Pérez-Patiño
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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10
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Patrick A, Seluanov M, Hwang C, Tam J, Khan T, Morgenstern A, Wiener L, Vazquez JM, Zafar H, Wen R, Muratkalyeva M, Doerig K, Zagorulya M, Cole L, Catalano S, Lobo Ladd AA, Coppi AA, Coşkun Y, Tian X, Ablaeva J, Nevo E, Gladyshev VN, Zhang ZD, Vijg J, Seluanov A, Gorbunova V. Sensitivity of primary fibroblasts in culture to atmospheric oxygen does not correlate with species lifespan. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 8:841-7. [PMID: 27163160 PMCID: PMC4931838 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Differences in the way human and mouse fibroblasts experience senescence in culture had long puzzled researchers. While senescence of human cells is mediated by telomere shortening, Parrinello et al. demonstrated that senescence of mouse cells is caused by extreme oxygen sensitivity. It was hypothesized that the striking difference in oxygen sensitivity between mouse and human cells explains their different rates of aging. To test if this hypothesis is broadly applicable, we cultured cells from 16 rodent species with diverse lifespans in 3% and 21% oxygen and compared their growth rates. Unexpectedly, fibroblasts derived from laboratory mouse strains were the only cells demonstrating extreme sensitivity to oxygen. Cells from hamster, muskrat, woodchuck, capybara, blind mole rat, paca, squirrel, beaver, naked mole rat and wild-caught mice were mildly sensitive to oxygen, while cells from rat, gerbil, deer mouse, chipmunk, guinea pig and chinchilla showed no difference in the growth rate between 3% and 21% oxygen. We conclude that, although the growth of primary fibroblasts is generally improved by maintaining cells in 3% oxygen, the extreme oxygen sensitivity is a peculiarity of laboratory mouse strains, possibly related to their very long telomeres, and fibroblast oxygen sensitivity does not directly correlate with species' lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Patrick
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Michael Seluanov
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Chaewon Hwang
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Jonathan Tam
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Tanya Khan
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Ari Morgenstern
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Lauren Wiener
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Hiba Zafar
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Robert Wen
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | | | - Katherine Doerig
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Maria Zagorulya
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Lauren Cole
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Sophia Catalano
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Aliny Ab Lobo Ladd
- Laboratory of Stochastic Stereology and Chemical Anatomy (LSSCA), Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A Augusto Coppi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
| | - Yüksel Coşkun
- Science Faculty, Biology Department, Dicle University, 21280 Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Xiao Tian
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Julia Ablaeva
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhengdong D Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jan Vijg
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Andrei Seluanov
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Vera Gorbunova
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
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11
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Alkmin DV, Parrilla I, Tarantini T, Del Olmo D, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Roca J. Seminal plasma affects sperm sex sorting in boars. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 28:556-64. [PMID: 25163401 DOI: 10.1071/rd14088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted in boar semen samples to evaluate how both holding time (24h) and the presence of seminal plasma (SP) before sorting affect sperm sortability and the ability of sex-sorted spermatozoa to tolerate liquid storage. Whole ejaculate samples were divided into three aliquots immediately after collection: one was diluted (1:1, v/v) in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS; 50% SP); the SP of the other two aliquots was removed and the sperm pellets were diluted with BTS + 10% of their own SP (10% SP) or BTS alone (0% SP). The three aliquots of each ejaculate were divided into two portions, one that was processed immediately for sorting and a second that was sorted after 24h storage at 15-17°C. In the first experiment, the ability to exhibit well-defined X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm peaks (split) in the cytometry histogram and the subsequent sorting efficiency were assessed (20 ejaculates). In contrast with holding time, the SP proportion influenced the parameters examined, as evidenced by the higher number of ejaculates exhibiting split and better sorting efficiency (P<0.05) in semen samples with 0-10% SP compared with those with 50% SP. In a second experiment, the quality (viability, total and progressive motility) and functionality (plasma membrane fluidity and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species) of sex-sorted spermatozoa were evaluated after 0, 72 and 120h storage at 15-17°C (10 ejaculates). Holding time and SP proportion did not influence the quality or functionality of stored sex-sorted spermatozoa. In conclusion, a holding time as long as 24h before sorting did not negatively affect sex sorting efficiency or the ability of sorted boar spermatozoa to tolerate long-term liquid storage. A high proportion of SP (50%) in the semen samples before sorting reduced the number of ejaculates to be sorted and negatively influenced the sorting efficiency, but did not affect the ability of sex-sorted spermatozoa to tolerate liquid storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego V Alkmin
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Tatiana Tarantini
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - David Del Olmo
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Veterinary Medicine, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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12
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Anel-López L, García-Álvarez O, Parrilla I, Del Olmo D, Maroto-Morales A, Fernandez-Santos MR, Ortiz JA, Soler AJ, Martínez EM, Vazquez JM, Garde JJ. Effect of sex-sorting and cryopreservation on the post-thaw sperm quality of Iberian red deer spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2016; 89:206-213. [PMID: 28043354 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of sex-sorting and cryopreservation on post-thaw characteristics and fertility of red deer (Cervus elaphus) sperm for the first time. Semen was collected by electroejaculation from 10 mature stags during the breeding season, and each ejaculate split into four experimental groups: Bulk sorted spermatozoa, sorted but not sexed (BSS); sorted high purity X-spermatozoa (XSS); sorted high purity Y-spermatozoa (YSS); and, control non-sorted spermatozoa (NS). Following, all samples were frozen over liquid nitrogen. Two straws per stag and sample type were analyzed immediately post-thaw and following a 2-h incubation period at 37 °C. Post-thaw total motility (TM) as assessed by CASA was not different (P < 0.05) among NS, BSS and YSS sperm. For XSS, post-thaw TM was lower (39%, P < 0.05) than that for NS (54%) or BSS (50%), but similar (P > 0.05) to that of YSS (47%) sperm. The percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa as assessed by PI/YO-PRO-1 and flow cytometry analysis, was higher (17%, P ≤ 0.05) for XSS sperm than NS (12%), BSS (13%) and YSS (14%) sperm. Following incubation there were no differences (P > 0.05) in TM or percent apoptosis among treatments. Post-thaw chromatin stability calculated as the DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) was similar among treatments; following incubation %DFI increased in all except YSS, which displayed the lowest value (P < 0.05). Artificial insemination of synchronized hinds yielded 44, 52 and 62% delivery rates for YSS, NS and standard frozen-thawed sperm, respectively (P < 0.05). Notably, 93 and 55% of fawns born were males for the YSS and NS spermatozoa, respectively (P < 0.05). In summary, Y-sorted sperm displayed acceptable post-thaw sperm evaluation parameters and the expected offspring sex ratio. More studies are needed to understand the source of sperm damage that may compromise the fertility of Y-sorted red deer sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Anel-López
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario s. n., 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - O García-Álvarez
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario s. n., 02071 Albacete, Spain; Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czechia
| | - I Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - D Del Olmo
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - A Maroto-Morales
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario s. n., 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | | | - J A Ortiz
- Medianilla S.L. Finca Las Lomas, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain
| | - A J Soler
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario s. n., 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - E M Martínez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J J Garde
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario s. n., 02071 Albacete, Spain.
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13
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Anel-López L, García-Álvarez O, Parrilla I, Del Olmo D, Fernández-Santos MR, Soler AJ, Maroto-Morales A, Ortiz JA, Alkmin DV, Tarantini T, Roca J, Martínez EA, Vazquez JM, Garde JJ. The Effect of Oxidative Stress on Thawed Bulk-Sorted Red Deer Sperm. Reprod Domest Anim 2016; 51:407-14. [PMID: 27103320 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to assess the effects of the sex-sorting process on post-thaw sperm quality as well as on induced oxidative stress damage (H2 O2 0 mm = H000; H2 O2 50 mm = H050; H2 O2 100 mm = H100) and the protective action of reduced glutathione (GSH) and Trolox, when comparing sorted (BSS) and non-sorted (NS) red deer spermatozoa incubated at 37°C. Sperm samples from three stags were collected by electroejaculation and frozen. Immediately after thawing, sperm motility was higher (p < 0.05) for NS (59% ± 3.3) than BSS (36.9% ± 5.8) sperm. Furthermore, the percentage of apoptotic sperm was higher (p < 0.05) for BSS (21.6% ± 5.0) than NS sperm (14.6% ± 1.2). The presence of H2 O2 increased DNA damage in NS (H000 = 4.1% ± 0.9; H050 = 9.3% ± 0.7; and H100 = 10.9% ± 2.3), but not in BSS sperm. However, in the presence of oxidant, GSH addition improved (p < 0.05) sperm motility in both groups of sperm samples as compared to their controls (NS: 44.5 ± 4.8 vs 21.1 ± 3.9 and BSS: 33.3 ± 8.1 vs 8.9 ± 1.8). These results demonstrate that the sperm-sorting process induces sublethal effects, albeit selecting a sperm population with a chromatin more resistant to oxidative stress than that in non-sorted sperm. Moreover, addition of GSH at 1 mm may be a good choice for maintaining the quality of stressed sperm samples, unlike Trolox, which inhibited sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - I Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - D Del Olmo
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M R Fernández-Santos
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Albacete, Spain.,Faculty of Pharmacy, UCLM, Albacete, Spain
| | - A J Soler
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Albacete, Spain
| | | | - J A Ortiz
- Medianilla S.L. Finca Las Lomas, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain
| | - D V Alkmin
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - T Tarantini
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - E A Martínez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J J Garde
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Albacete, Spain
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14
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Martinez EA, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Martinez CA, Nohalez A, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Gil MA. Recent advances toward the practical application of embryo transfer in pigs. Theriogenology 2015; 85:152-61. [PMID: 26164803 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Porcine embryo transfer (ET) technology has been in demand for decades because of its potential to provide considerable improvements in pig production with important sanitary, economic, and animal welfare benefits. Despite these advantages, the commercial use of ET is practically nonexistent. However, the two main obstacles hindering the commercial use of ET in pigs in the past several decades (i.e., surgical transfer and embryo preservation) have recently been overcome. A technique for nonsurgical deep-uterine (NsDU) ET of nonsedated gilts and sows, which was seemingly an impossible challenge just a few years ago, is a reality today. The improvements in embryo preservation that have been achieved in recent years and the excellent reproductive performance of the recipients after the NsDU-ET technique coupled with short-term and long-term-stored embryos represent essential progress for the international trade of porcine embryos and the practical use of ET by the pig industry. This review focuses, with an emphasis on our own findings, on the recent advances in embryo preservation and NsDU-ET technologies, which are starting to show potential for application under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alicia Nohalez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria A Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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15
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Martinez CA, Nohalez A, Cuello C, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA, Gil MA. The use of mineral oil during in vitro maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture does not impair the developmental competence of pig oocytes. Theriogenology 2015; 83:693-702. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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16
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Alkmin DV, Parrilla I, Tarantini T, Parlapan L, del Olmo D, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Roca J. Intra- and interboar variability in flow cytometric sperm sex sorting. Theriogenology 2014; 82:501-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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17
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Alkmin DV, Perez-Patiño C, Barranco I, Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Roca J. Boar sperm cryosurvival is better after exposure to seminal plasma from selected fractions than to those from entire ejaculate. Cryobiology 2014; 69:203-10. [PMID: 25037026 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Boar bulk ejaculates are now being collected instead of usual sperm-rich fractions (SRF) for artificial insemination purpose. The present study evaluated the influence of holding boar sperm samples before freezing surrounded in their own seminal plasma (SP), from either fractions/portions or the entire ejaculate, on post-thawing sperm quality and functionality. Ejaculates collected as bulk (BE) or as separate (first 10 mL of SRF [P1] and rest of SRF [P2]) from 10 boars were held 24h at 15-17°C and then frozen. Some bulk ejaculate samples were frozen immediately after collections as Control. In addition, epididymal sperm samples from the same 10 boars were collected post-mortem and extended in SP from P1 (EP1), P2 (EP2) and post SRF (EP3), and also held 24h before freezing for a better understanding of the influence of SP on boar sperm cryopreservation. The sperm quality (motility, evaluated by CASA, and viability, evaluated by flow cytometry) and functionality (flow cytometry assessment of plasma membrane fluidity, mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species [ROS] in viable sperm) were evaluated at 30, 150 and 300 min post-thaw. Post-thawing sperm quality and functionality of P1 and P2 were similar but higher (p < 0.01) than BE samples. Control samples showed higher (p < 0.01) post-thaw sperm quality and functionality than BE samples. Post-thawing sperm quality and functionality of EP1 and EP2 were similar but higher (p < 0.05) than EP3. These results showed that boar sperm from BE are more cryosensitive than those from the SRF, particularly when held 24h before freezing, which would be attributable to the cryonegative effects exerted by the SP from post SRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego V Alkmin
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Barranco
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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18
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Angel MA, Gil MA, Cuello C, Sanchez-Osorio J, Gomis J, Parrilla I, Vila J, Colina I, Diaz M, Reixach J, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA. The effects of superovulation of donor sows on ovarian response and embryo development after nonsurgical deep-uterine embryo transfer. Theriogenology 2013; 81:832-9. [PMID: 24462299 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of superovulation protocols in improving the efficiency of embryo donors for porcine nonsurgical deep-uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET) programs. After weaning (24 hours), purebred Duroc sows (2-6 parity) were treated with 1000 IU (n = 27) or 1500 IU (n = 27) of eCG. Only sows with clear signs of estrus 4 to 72 hours after eCG administration were treated with 750 IU hCG at the onset of estrus. Nonhormonally treated postweaning estrus sows (n = 36) were used as a control. Sows were inseminated and subjected to laparotomy on Days 5 to 6 (Day 0 = onset of estrus). Three sows (11.1%) treated with the highest dosage of eCG presented with polycystic ovaries without signs of ovulation. The remaining sows from nonsuperovulated and superovulated groups were all pregnant, with no differences in fertilization rates among groups. The number of CLs and viable embryos was higher (P < 0.05) in the superovulated groups compared with the controls and increased (P < 0.05) with increasing doses of eCG. There were no differences among groups in the number of oocytes and/or degenerated embryos. The number of transferable embryos (morulae and unhatched blastocysts) obtained in pregnant sows was higher (P < 0.05) in the superovulated groups than in the control group. In all groups, there was a significant correlation between the number of CLs and the number of viable and transferable embryos, but the number of CLs and the number of oocytes and/or degenerated embryos were not correlated. A total of 46 NsDU ETs were performed in nonhormonally treated recipient sows, with embryos (30 embryos per transfer) recovered from the 1000-IU eCG, 1500-IU eCG, and control groups. In total, pregnancy and farrowing rates were 75.1% and 73.2%, respectively, with a litter size of 9.4 ± 0.6 piglets born, of which 8.8 ± 0.5 were born alive. There were no differences for any of the reproductive parameters evaluated among groups. In conclusion, our results demonstrated the efficiency of eCG superovulation treatments in decreasing the donor-to-recipient ratio. Compared with nonsuperovulated sows, the number of transferable embryos was increased in superovulated sows without affecting their quality and in vivo capacity to develop to term after transfer. The results from this study also demonstrate the effectiveness of the NsDU ET procedure used, making possible the commercial use of ET technology by the pig industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Angel
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M A Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - C Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Sanchez-Osorio
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Gomis
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - I Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Vila
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - I Colina
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - M Diaz
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - J Reixach
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - J L Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - E A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Martinez EA, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Roca J, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Gil MA. Design, development, and application of a non-surgical deep uterine embryo transfer technique in pigs. Anim Front 2013. [DOI: 10.2527/af.2013-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio A. Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L. Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria A. Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Murcia University, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Rodenas C, Lucas X, Tarantini T, Del Olmo D, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Parrilla I. The Effects of Hoechst 33342 Staining and the Male Sample Donor on the Sorting Efficiency of Canine Spermatozoa. Reprod Domest Anim 2013; 49:115-21. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Rodenas
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - X Lucas
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - T Tarantini
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - D Del Olmo
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - J Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - JM Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - EA Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - I Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery University of Murcia Murcia Spain
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Alkmin DV, Martinez-Alborcia MJ, Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Roca J. The nuclear DNA longevity in cryopreserved boar spermatozoa assessed using the Sperm-Sus-Halomax. Theriogenology 2013; 79:1294-300. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Roca J, Gil MA, Hernandez M, Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA. Survival and Fertility of Boar Spermatozoa After Freeze-Thawing in Extender Supplemented With Butylated Hydroxytoluene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 25:397-405. [PMID: 15064318 DOI: 10.1002/j.1939-4640.2004.tb02806.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the protective effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a lipid-soluble antioxidant, against cryopreservation injuries to boar spermatozoa. In experiment 1, the lowest BHT concentrations able to reduce lipid peroxidation in boar spermatozoa were determined. Nine BHT concentrations (ranging from 0.025 to 3.2 mM) were evaluated, and the lowest (P <.05) production of malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was obtained when BHT ranged from 0.2 to 1.6 mM. In experiment 2, sperm survivability was evaluated when BHT was added to a postthaw freezing extender by measuring the degree of sperm lipid peroxidation (using MDA production) and by measuring parameter such as motility, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, and cell apoptosis. The ability of thawed spermatozoa to fertilize in vitro-matured oocytes and of embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage in vitro was also assessed. Pooled sperm-rich fractions collected from 3 mature Pietrain boars were frozen in 0.5-mL straws after dilution with lactose-egg yolk-glycerol-Orvus ES Paste extender supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mM BHT. Postthaw sperm survival, evaluated 30 and 150 minutes after thawing, was higher in BHT-treated spermatozoa, being significant (P <.05) when the freezing extender was supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mM BHT. The addition of BHT to the freezing extender resulted in a significant (P <.05) decrease in the MDA concentration in thawed spermatozoa, irrespective of the level of BHT used. BHT had no effect on oocyte cleavage rates, but the development to blastocyst was improved for embryos derived from spermatozoa frozen in extender supplemented with 0.4 mM BHT (16% vs 29% of blastocysts per total oocytes; P <.05). In conclusion, under the conditions tested in the present study, the addition of BHT to the freezing extender improved the overall efficiency of thawed boar spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Caballero I, Vazquez JM, Gil MA, Calvete JJ, Roca J, Sanz L, Parrilla I, Garcia EM, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martinez EA. Does Seminal Plasma PSP-I/PSP-II Spermadhesin Modulate the Ability of Boar Spermatozoa to Penetrate Homologous Oocytes In Vitro? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 25:1004-12. [PMID: 15477376 DOI: 10.1002/j.1939-4640.2004.tb03174.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Low concentration (0.15 mg per million of spermatozoa) of seminal plasma-derived PSP-I/PSP-II spermadhesin heterodimer is able to preserve the viability of highly extended boar spermatozoa. Whether spermatozoa also keep their fertilizing capacity is not yet known. The present study evaluated the effect of exposing freshly extended and frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa (10 million/mL) to PSP-I/PSP-II (1.5 mg/mL) for 30 or 120 minutes on sperm characteristics and the outcome of in vitro penetration of immature (IM) and in vitro matured (IVM) homologous oocytes, aiming to identify this spermadhesin as a suitable modulator for sperm-handling protocols. Although exposure to the heterodimer improved sperm viability and motility without increasing the levels of sperm acrosome exocytosis in both freshly extended and frozen-thawed spermatozoa, this pretreatment did not affect sperm penetration rates or sperm numbers per oocyte when pretreated fresh spermatozoa were coincubated with IM or IVM oocytes compared with controls. When cryopreserved spermatozoa were tested, however, on IVM oocytes, already a 30-minute preincubation exposure to PSP-I/PSP-II showed a significant blocking effect on penetration rate (from 90% to 32%, P < .05) and on mean sperm numbers per oocyte (2.9 to 1.6, P < .05). To disclose the nature of this paradox, frozen-thawed spermatozoa were cleansed (by centrifugation in saline bovine serum albumin or through Percoll density gradient separation) and the procedure repeated. Oocyte penetration (but not number of spermatozoa per oocyte) increased (P < .05) when spermatozoa were cleansed with Percoll compared with either washed or unwashed controls (53% vs 13% vs 31%, respectively). In addition, the percentages of polyspermic oocytes remained lower than control (38.5% vs 68.7%, respectively; P < .05). In conclusion, the results confirm that exposure of fresh or frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa to a low dose of seminal PSP-I/PSP-II spermadhesin preserves sperm viability and motility in vitro. Although there was no obvious influence of the heterodimer on the capability of freshly extended boar spermatozoa to penetrate homologous oocytes (either IM or IVM), PSP-I/PSP-II exerted a deleterious effect when frozen-thawed spermatozoa were used to penetrate IVM oocytes. Such an effect of cryopreservation seems to a certain extent reversible, since cleansing of the sperm surface decreased, at least partially, this blocking effect, increasing both penetration and the monospermic rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Caballero
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Gomis J, Cuello C, Sanchez-Osorio J, Gil MA, Parrilla I, Angel MA, Maside C, del Olmo D, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA. Non-surgical deep intrauterine transfer of superfine open pulled straw (SOPS)-vitrified porcine embryos: evaluation of critical steps of the procedure. Theriogenology 2012; 78:1339-49. [PMID: 22898027 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Revised: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Previous trials achieved extremely poor results when using the one-step warming method in a syringe in combination with non-surgical deep intrauterine transfer (NET) of superfine open pulled straw (SOPS)-vitrified embryos. This study aimed to assess the effect of the warming procedure on the in vitro and in vivo development of SOPS-vitrified embryos. The effect of the passage of the vitrified-warmed (VW) embryos through the NET catheter was also evaluated. Groups of 4 to 6 morulae and blastocysts, collected from weaned sows, were SOPS-vitrified in 1 μL of vitrification medium, warmed by the one-step warming method in a dish or in a 1-mL syringe and cultured in vitro for 48 h to evaluate the embryo survival (ES) and hatching rates (HR). Warming in syringe had a deleterious effect (P < 0.05) on the in vitro ES (60.5 ± 10.4%) and HR (39.6 ± 9.5%) of VW embryos in comparison with embryos warmed in a dish (85.4 ± 10.6% and 69.0 ± 8.4%, respectively). This decreased embryonic development was due to the increased time required between the removal of the straws from the liquid nitrogen and the contact of the embryos with the warming medium when the warming was performed in a syringe in comparison with that for the warming in a dish. After verifying that the passage of VW embryos through the NET catheter does not have a damaging effect on their further in vitro development, the negative effect of warming in a syringe was also confirmed after NET. Fifteen fresh and SOPS-vitrified embryos warmed in a syringe or in a dish were transferred to each recipient (n = 28) and recovered 24 h later to assess their developmental progression. All embryos from the syringe group were found to have degenerated at recovery. The in vivo ES and HR from the dish group (80.4 ± 3.4% and 14.2 ± 7.2%, respectively) were lower (P < 0.05) than those from the fresh group (94.0 ± 4.1% and 36.8 ± 7.8%, respectively). Combining the warming in a dish and the NET procedure, 35 VW embryos were transferred to each of 10 gilts. Five recipients farrowed an average of 10.4 ± 0.9 piglets. In conclusion, the method of one-step warming in a syringe has a negative effect on the in vitro and in vivo viability of SOPS-vitrified porcine embryos. In addition, NET of SOPS-vitrified embryos warmed by the one-step method in a dish showed promising reproductive performance of recipients. However, despite the great potential of this technology, further developments are required for large-scale commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gomis
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence, University of Murcia, E-30071 Murcia, Spain
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Martinez-Alborcia MJ, Valverde A, Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Roca J. Detrimental effects of non-functional spermatozoa on the freezability of functional spermatozoa from boar ejaculate. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36550. [PMID: 22567165 PMCID: PMC3342209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the impact of non-functional spermatozoa on the cryopreservation success of functional boar spermatozoa was evaluated. Fifteen sperm-rich ejaculate fractions collected from five fertile boars were frozen with different proportions of induced non-functional sperm (0--native semen sample-, 25, 50 and 75% non-functional spermatozoa). After thawing, the recovery of motile and viable spermatozoa was assessed, and the functional of the spermatozoa was evaluated from plasma membrane fluidity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation upon exposure to capacitation conditions. In addition, the lipid peroxidation of the plasma membrane was assessed by the indirect measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) generation. The normalized (with respect to a native semen sample) sperm motility (assessed by CASA) and viability (cytometrically assessed after staining with Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide and fluorescein-conjugated peanut agglutinin) decreased (p<0.01) as the proportion of functional spermatozoa in the semen samples before freezing decreased, irrespective of the semen donor. However, the magnitude of the effect differed (p<0.01) among boars. Moreover, semen samples with the largest non-functional sperm subpopulation before freezing showed the highest (p<0.01) levels of MDA after thawing. The thawed viable spermatozoa of semen samples with a high proportion of non-functional spermatozoa before freezing were also functionally different from those of samples with a low proportion of non-functional spermatozoa. These differences consisted of higher (p<0.01) levels of intracellular ROS generation (assessed with 5-(and-6) chloromethyl-20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester; CM-H(2)DCFDA) and increased (p<0.01) membrane fluidity (assessed with Merocyanine 540). These findings indicate that non-functional spermatozoa in the semen samples before freezing negatively influence the freezability of functional spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Martinez-Alborcia
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science. University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Anthony Valverde
- Agronomy School, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science. University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science. University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A. Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science. University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science. University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Parrilla I, del Olmo D, Sijses L, Martinez-Alborcia MJ, Cuello C, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Roca J. Differences in the ability of spermatozoa from individual boar ejaculates to withstand different semen-processing techniques. Anim Reprod Sci 2012; 132:66-73. [PMID: 22554791 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2012] [Revised: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of spermatozoa from individual boar ejaculates to withstand different semen-processing techniques. Eighteen sperm-rich ejaculate samples from six boars (three per boar) were diluted in Beltsville Thawing Solution and split into three aliquots. The aliquots were (1) further diluted to 3×10(7) sperm/mL and stored as a liquid at 17°C for 72 h, (2) frozen-thawed (FT) at 1×10(9) sperm/mL using standard 0.5-mL straw protocols, or (3) sex-sorted with subsequent liquid storage (at 17°C for 6 h) or FT (2×10(7) sperm/mL using a standard 0.25-mL straw protocol). The sperm quality was evaluated based on total sperm motility (the CASA system), viability (plasma membrane integrity assessed using flow cytometry and the LIVE/DEAD Sperm Viability Kit), lipid peroxidation (assessed via indirect measurement of the generation of malondialdehyde (MDA) using the BIOXYTECH MDA-586 Assay Kit) and DNA fragmentation (sperm chromatin dispersion assessed using the Sperm-Sus-Halomax(®) test). Data were normalized to the values assessed for the fresh (for liquid-stored and FT samples) or the sorted semen samples (for liquid stored and the FT sorted spermatozoa). All of the four sperm-processing techniques affected sperm quality (P<0.01), regardless of the semen donor, with reduced percentages of motile and viable sperm and increased MDA generation and percentages of sperm with fragmented DNA. Significant (P<0.05) inter-boar (effect of boars within each semen-processing technique) and intra-boar (effect of semen-processing techniques within each boar) differences were evident for all of the sperm quality parameters assessed, indicating differences in the ability of spermatozoa from individual boars to withstand the semen-processing techniques. These results are the first evidence that ejaculate spermatozoa from individual boars can respond in a boar-dependent manner to different semen-processing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inma Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Spain
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Parrilla I, del Olmo D, Caballero I, Tarantini T, Cuello C, Gil MA, Roca J, Martinez EA, Vazquez JM. The Effect of Glycerol Concentrations on the Post-thawIn VitroCharacteristics of Cryopreserved Sex-sorted Boar Spermatozoa. Reprod Domest Anim 2012; 47:965-74. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02000.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Roca J, Parrilla I, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Gil MA, Cuello C, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA. Approaches Towards Efficient Use of Boar Semen in the Pig Industry. Reprod Domest Anim 2011; 46 Suppl 2:79-83. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2011.01828.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Georgiou AS, Gil MA, Almiñana C, Cuello C, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA, Fazeli A. Effects of Complement Component 3 Derivatives on Pig Oocyte Maturation, Fertilization and Early Embryo Development In Vitro. Reprod Domest Anim 2011; 46:1017-21. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2011.01777.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Juarez JD, Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA, Roca J. Boar semen can tolerate rapid cooling rates prior to freezing. Reprod Fertil Dev 2011; 23:681-90. [DOI: 10.1071/rd10216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Two experiments were performed in the present study that demonstrated that boar spermatozoa are capable of surviving rapid cooling rates within a range of 15–5°C before freezing. Boar ejaculates diluted in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) (1 : 1, v/v) were held at 17–20°C and shipped over a 24-h time period from two AI centres to a cryobiology laboratory, where they were pooled (Experiment 1) or cryopreserved individually (Experiment 2) using a standard 0.5-mL straw freezing protocol. The effects of cooling before freezing were assessed after thawing through the objective evaluation of sperm motility and flow cytometric analysis of membrane integrity, acrosomal status, changes in membrane lipid architecture monitored by merocyanine and annexin V binding and intracellular production of reactive oxygen species. In Experiment 1 (six replicates), two semen pools (five ejaculates per pool) were cooled from 15 to 5°C at rates of 0.08, 0.13, 0.40 and 1.50°C min–1. These cooling rates did not result in any significant differences (P > 0.05) in any of the post-thaw sperm assessments, even in thawed samples incubated under capacitation conditions. In Experiment 2, three individual ejaculates from 16 boars were slowly (0.08°C min–1) or rapidly (1.5°C min–1) cooled before freezing. A consistent interboar variability (P < 0.01) was detected, which was independent of the cooling rate used. Cooling rate only significantly influenced (P < 0.05) sperm assessments in four of 16 boars, which exhibited slightly higher percentages of motile cells and intact plasma and acrosomal membranes in the samples that had been cooled slowly. These findings demonstrate that boar spermatozoa undergoing cryopreservation can withstand rapid cooling rates before freezing.
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Gil MA, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA. Advances in Swine In Vitro Embryo Production Technologies. Reprod Domest Anim 2010; 45 Suppl 2:40-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01623.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Gil MA, Hernandez M, Roca J, Almiñana C, Lucas X, Cuello C, Vazquez JM, Martínez EA. Pentoxifylline added to freezing or post-thaw extenders does not improve the survival or in vitro fertilising capacity of boar spermatozoa. Reproduction 2010; 139:557-64. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-09-0274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated whether pentoxifylline added to freezing and thawing extenders influenced the function of boar spermatozoa. In Experiment 1, pooled ejaculated sperm-rich fractions were frozen in 0.5 ml straws after dilution in extender supplemented with pentoxifylline to a final concentration of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 mM. The addition of 4, 8, 16 and 32 mM pentoxifylline to the freezing extender significantly decreased the progressive and total motility of spermatozoa. The percentage of viable spermatozoa with intact acrosomes as well as the penetration rate and the efficiency of fertilisation were significantly lower in pentoxifylline-treated groups compared with the untreated control. In Experiment 2, a pool of three straws with ‘good’ post-thaw sperm quality parameters and another three straws with ‘poor’ sperm quality were diluted in extender with 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 mM pentoxifylline. Post-thaw samples with both ‘good’ and ‘poor’ sperm quality with 0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mM were used to assess IVF parameters. The addition of pentoxifylline to post-thaw extender did not improve the post-thaw motility or viability of spermatozoa compared with the control. The in vitro penetration was higher (P<0.05) than the control for oocytes fertilised with spermatozoa that were thawed and incubated in extender with 4, 8 and 16 mM pentoxifylline. However, no differences were observed in the efficiency of fertilisation. We conclude that pentoxifylline, as a supplement added to the freezing extender, has a deleterious effect and that it does not improve the survival or in vitro fertilising efficiency of frozen–thawed boar spermatozoa when added after thawing.
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Rodriguez-Martinez H, Saravia F, Wallgren M, Martinez EA, Sanz L, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Calvete JJ. Spermadhesin PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer induces migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the uterine cavity of the sow. J Reprod Immunol 2009; 84:57-65. [PMID: 19948361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2009.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Revised: 10/14/2009] [Accepted: 10/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Seminal plasma (SP) is a complex fluid which exerts biological actions in the female reproductive tract. In pigs, SP elicits endometrial inflammation and consequent immune changes after mating. This study tested whether heparin-binding spermadhesins (HBPs) and the heterodimer of porcine sperm adhesions I and II (PSP-I/PSP-II) in SP recruit different lymphocyte subsets (CD2(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells) or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the superficial endometrium or luminal epithelium and lumen, respectively, of oestrous sows. In Experiment 1, endometrial biopsies were taken between 2 and 120 min after infusion of uterine horns with HBPs, PSP-I/PSP-II or saline and evaluated by immunohistochemistry or histology. In Experiment 2, the uterus of oestrous sows was infused with PSP-I/PSP-II or saline to assess PMN numbers in the uterine lumen 3h later. PSP-I/PSP-II elicited CD2+ T cell recruitment from 10 min, and CD8(+) T cells from 60 min after infusion, while HBPs increased CD4(+) T cell recruitment by 120 min. PSP-I/PSP-II but not HBPs induced PMN migration to the surface epithelium by 10 min. PMN numbers were elevated 5-fold by 30 min and 7-fold from 60 min, with PMNs detectable in the lumen from 30 min after infusion. Six-fold more PMNs were collected from the uterine lumen of PSP-I/PSP-II-infused sows compared to controls at 3h after infusion. These data show that PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer in seminal plasma has a predominant role in triggering the recruitment of uterine PMNs and T cells after mating, initiating a cascade of transient and long-lasting immunological events.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Rodriguez-Martinez
- Division of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FVMAS), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.
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Sanchez-Osorio J, Cuello C, Gil MA, Parrilla I, Maside C, Almiñana C, Lucas X, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA. Vitrification and warming of in vivo-derived porcine embryos in a chemically defined medium. Theriogenology 2009; 73:300-8. [PMID: 19913897 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2009] [Revised: 07/29/2009] [Accepted: 07/31/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to design a protocol for vitrification and warming of porcine embryos in a chemically defined medium. A total of 663 morulae and blastocysts were collected from weaned crossbred sows (Large White-Landrace) 5 to 6 d after estrus and vitrified with the Superfine Open Pulled Straw method. In Experiment 1, embryos were vitrified using as a basic medium TCM-199-HEPES supplemented with 20% newborn calf serum (NBCS) or with 0, 0.1%, 0.5%, or 1% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Nonvitrified embryos were used as a fresh control group. Survival and hatching rates were evaluated after 72 h of in vitro culture to assess embryo viability. In addition, some hatched blastocysts derived from morulae and blastocysts were processed to determine the total cell number and the cell proliferating index as measures of their quality. Within each stage of embryo development, the different vitrification groups and the fresh control group showed similar high embryo survival (range, 70.5+/-7.1% to 84.9+/-8.1% and 85.3+/-8.1% to 98.4+/-8.2% for morulae and blastocysts, respectively) and hatching rate (range, 46.3+/-10.1% to 66.7+/-11.2% and 73.7+/-11.3% to 89.4+/-11.2% for morulae and blastocysts, respectively) and quality after in vitro culture. In Experiment 2, embryos were vitrified using 0.1% PVA and warmed with TCM-199-HEPES-0.13 M sucrose supplemented with 20% NBCS or either 0 or 0.1% PVA. Nonvitrified embryos were used as a fresh control group. As in Experiment 1, no significant differences were detected in embryo survival (range, 67.9+/-6.6% to 74.5+/-6.6% and 91.9+/-7.0% to 99.5+/-6.3% for morulae and blastocysts, respectively) and hatching rate (range, 47.0+/-7.2% to 64.8+/-9.9% and 89.4+/-7.4% to 98.2+/-6.9% for morulae and blastocysts, respectively) and quality among the warming groups or among vitrified and fresh control embryos. In both experiments, the developmental embryo stage influenced the survival and hatching rates, as well as the number of cells (P<0.01), with the blastocyst stage yielding the best results. In conclusion, PVA can be used as a substitute for serum in vitrification and warming solutions without detrimental effects on the in vitro development of in vivo-derived porcine morulae and blastocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sanchez-Osorio
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Bolarin A, Vazquez JM, Parrilla I, Vazquez JL, Martinez EA, Roca J. Validation of trans-rectal ultrasonography for counting preovulatory follicles in weaned sows. Anim Reprod Sci 2009; 113:137-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2007] [Revised: 06/09/2008] [Accepted: 07/01/2008] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Vazquez JM, Parrilla I, Gil MA, Cuello C, Caballero I, Vazquez JL, Roca J, Martínez EA. Improving the efficiency of insemination with sex-sorted spermatozoa. Reprod Domest Anim 2009; 43 Suppl 4:1-8. [PMID: 18803751 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01251.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The sorting of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa by flow cytometry is nowadays one of the most apt assisted-reproduction technologies in livestock production. Potential economic and biological benefits, as well as those related to easier management of herds, have been reported arising out of the application of this technique, especially in cattle. Yet, the sex-sorting procedure induces damage to spermatozoa, affecting their function and fertilizing ability. Different species present varying degrees of susceptibility to damage from the sorting process and each has its own requirements for sex-sorted insemination procedures. Thus, several new protocols and strategies have been designed for the handling of sorted spermatozoa, with the main objective of optimizing their fertilizing ability and the consequent application of flow-cytometric sex-sorting technology. This article reviews current advances in this technology, pointing out the components to be improved before this technology may be widely applied in different domestic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Parrilla I, Vazquez JM, Caballero I, Gil MA, Hernandez M, Roca J, Lucas X, Martinez EA. Optimal characteristics of spermatozoa for semen technologies in pigs. Soc Reprod Fertil Suppl 2009; 66:37-50. [PMID: 19848265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the great potential of sperm technologies such as sperm cryopreservation and sperm sex sorting for the improvement of different aspects of swine production, artificial insemination with fresh or stored semen is currently the only sperm technology used at a commercial scale in the pig industry. The lower reproductive performance associated with the use of these sperm technologies is the reason for such limited use. Since optimal characteristics are required for successful application of frozen-thawed and sex-sorted boar spermatozoa, the present paper summarises the value of the current available methods for their functional assessment as well as the effects of these technologies on boar sperm functionality. In addition, strategies developed to reduce sperm damage and improve the yields of both sperm technologies in swine production are also reviewed with particular attention to the contributions of the authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, E-30071, Murcia, Spain.
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Almiñana C, Gil MA, Cuello C, Caballero I, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA. In VitroFertilization (IVF) in Straws and a Short Gamete Coincubation Time Improves the Efficiency of Porcine IVF. Reprod Domest Anim 2008; 43:747-52. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2007.00995.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Almiñana C, Gil MA, Cuello C, Caballero I, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Gomez E, Martinez EA. In vitro maturation of porcine oocytes with retinoids improves embryonic development. Reprod Fertil Dev 2008; 20:483-9. [PMID: 18462610 DOI: 10.1071/rd07175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2007] [Accepted: 01/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of retinoid metabolite administration during in vitro maturation (IVM) on oocyte maturation, parameters of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo development were examined. Varying concentrations of 9-cis retinoic acid (RA; 0, 5, 50 and 500 nm; Experiment 1) and all-trans retinol (ROH; 0, 125, 1250 and 12 500 nm; Experiment 2) were included in the maturation medium. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in vitro and inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Presumptive zygotes were cultured for 16 h to assess IVF parameters or for 7 days to assess embryo development and quality. In Experiment 1, the oocyte maturation rate to metaphase II was significantly decreased (P < 0.001), with values below 5%, in the presence of the highest concentration of RA (500 nm). However, 5 and 50 nm RA had no effect compared with control. Treatment with 5 nm RA improved the blastocyst development rate (P < 0.001). In Experiment 2, the oocyte maturation rate did not differ between 125 and 1250 nm ROH treatment groups and control. However, treatment with 12 500 nm ROH was deleterious because no matured oocytes were observed following the treatment. The penetration rate was lower in the group treated with 1250 nm ROH compared with the 125 nm ROH-treated and control groups, but the blastocyst formation rate did not differ among the three groups. In conclusion, 5 nm RA in the IVM medium significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate, suggesting that RA may play an important role during IVM.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Almiñana
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Vazquez JM, Roca J, Gil MA, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Caballero I, Vazquez JL, Martnez EA. Low-Dose Insemination in Pigs: Problems and Possibilities. Reprod Domest Anim 2008; 43 Suppl 2:347-54. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01183.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Almiñana C, Gil MA, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA. Effects of ultrashort gamete co-incubation time on porcine in vitro fertilization. Anim Reprod Sci 2008; 106:393-401. [PMID: 17692478 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2007] [Revised: 05/14/2007] [Accepted: 05/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A reduction in co-incubation time has been suggested as an alternative method to reduce polyspermic fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short periods of gamete co-incubation during pig in vitro fertilization. A total of 2,833 in vitro matured oocytes were inseminated with thawed spermatozoa and coincubated for 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 7, 10 min and 6h. The oocytes from the 0.25-10 min groups were washed three times in modified Tris-buffered medium (mTBM) medium to remove spermatozoa not bound to the zona and transferred to the same medium (containing no spermatozoa) until 6h of co-incubation time were completed. After 6h, presumptive zygotes from each group were cultured in NCSU-23 medium for 12-15 h to assess fertilization parameters. After each period of co-incubation, 45-50 oocytes from each group were stained with Hoechst-33342 and the number of spermatozoa bound to the zona was counted. Although the number of zona bound spermatozoa increased (p<0.05) with the co-incubation time, no increase was observed in penetration rates among groups from 2 min to 6h of co-incubation time (ranging from 53.5+/-2.8 to 61.3+/-2.6%). Similarly, the efficiency of fertilization reached a maximum for the 2 min of co-incubation group with values ranging between 32.3+/-2.4 and 41.9+/-2.5%. The reduction of co-incubation time did not affect the monospermy rate (range: 71.3+/-3.4-80.2+/-3.8%) and the mean number of spermatozoa/oocyte (range: 1.2+/-0.4-1.4+/-0.5). These results show that, under our in vitro conditions, high penetration rate can be obtained with co-incubation times as short as 2 min, although monospermy could not be improved using this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Almiñana
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Caballero I, Vazquez JM, Mayor GM, Almiñana C, Calvete JJ, Sanz L, Roca J, Martinez EA. PSP-I/PSP-II spermadhesin exert a decapacitation effect on highly extended boar spermatozoa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 32:505-13. [PMID: 18399981 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2008.00887.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer is a major protein of boar seminal plasma that is able to preserve, in vitro, the viability, motility and mitochondrial activity of highly-extended boar spermatozoa. However, a relationship between the protective effects of the heterodimer and sperm capacitation is still unclear. The present study investigated the effect of the PSP-I/PSP-II (1.5 mg/mL) on membrane stability, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](I)) and plasma membrane and acrosome integrity of highly extended boar spermatozoa. Boar spermatozoa were diluted to 1 x 10(6) spermatozoa/mL and incubated at 38 degrees C in Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 10, 30, 60, 120 and 300 min or in modified Tris-buffered medium (mTBM) for 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min. After each incubation time, the membrane stability (using Merocyanine-540/Yo-Pro-1), elevation of [Ca(2+)](I) (using Fluo-3-AM/PI) and the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (using SYBR-14/PI/PE-PNA) were evaluated by flow cytometry. As expected, exposure of the spermatozoa to the PSP-I/PSP-II preserved the plasma membrane and acrosome integrity compared to non-exposed spermatozoa in both media PBS and mTBM (p < .01). The evaluation of membrane stability showed no differences in the percentages of viable sperm with instable plasma membrane in the presence of the PSP-I/PSP-II compared to controls irrespective of the dilution media. The evaluation of the [Ca(2+)](I) levels showed that while spermatozoa incubated in mTBM and exposed to PSP-I/PSP-II had lower [Ca(2+)](I) than controls (39.08% vs. 47.97%, respectively; p < .05), no differences were observed in those samples incubated in PBS. However, a temporal evaluation of the samples showed that a similar proportion of live spermatozoa were able to achieve high levels of [Ca(2+)](I) and membrane instability independent of the presence of PSP-I/PSP-II. In conclusion, PSP-I/PSP-II exert a non-permanent decapacitation effect on highly extended boar spermatozoa that is related with a delay in the increase of [Ca(2+)](I) levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Caballero
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Georgiou AS, Snijders APL, Sostaric E, Aflatoonian R, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA, Wright PC, Fazeli A. Modulation of The Oviductal Environment by Gametes. J Proteome Res 2007; 6:4656-66. [DOI: 10.1021/pr070349m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Stephen Georgiou
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Ambrosius P. L. Snijders
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Edita Sostaric
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Reza Aflatoonian
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L. Vazquez
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Vazquez
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Emilio A. Martinez
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Phillip C. Wright
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Alireza Fazeli
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom, Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30.071 Murcia, Spain
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Sanchez-Osorio J, Cuello C, Gil MA, Almiñana C, Parrilla I, Caballero I, Garcia EM, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA. Factors affecting the success rate of porcine embryo vitrification by the Open Pulled Straw method. Anim Reprod Sci 2007; 108:334-44. [PMID: 17942250 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2007] [Revised: 09/03/2007] [Accepted: 09/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the influence of porcine embryo developmental stage on in vitro embryo development after vitrification, (2) to study the efficiency of the one-step dilution procedure, compared with conventional warming, for vitrified embryos at different stages of development, and (3) to determine the influence of the embryo donor on the in vitro survival of vitrified embryos at morulae and blastocyst stages. Two to four cell embryos, morulae and blastocysts were collected by laparotomy from weaned crossbred sows (n=55). Vitrification and conventional warming were performed using the OPS procedure with Superfine Open Pulled Straws (SOPS). For one-step dilution, embryos were placed in 800 microl TCM199-HEPES containing 20% of new born calf serum and 0.13 M sucrose for 5 min. To evaluate development, two to four cell embryos, morulae and blastocysts were cultured in vitro for 120, 48 and 24h, respectively. Some fresh embryos from each developmental stage were not vitrified and cultured as controls. Embryos were morphologically evaluated for their developmental capacity during the in vitro culture by stereomicroscopy. The total cell number of embryos was assessed by Hoechst-33342 staining and fluorescence microscope observation. There was a significant effect of the stage of development on the in vitro survival, perihatching rate and the number of cells of embryos after vitrification and warming (Experiment 1; p<0.001). The survival and perihatching rates of two to four cell embryos were lower than those obtained for morulae and blastocysts (p<0.001). No differences (p>0.05) in survival rates were found between vitrified and fresh blastocysts. The warming procedure did not affect the development and total cell number of vitrified two to four cell embryos, morulae or blastocysts (Experiment 2). However, donor had a significant effect (p<0.001) on the in vitro development and the number of cells of morulae and blastocysts after vitrification and warming (Experiment 3). In conclusion, the embryo developmental stage and the embryo donor were important factors that affected the development of porcine embryos after OPS-vitrification and warming. OPS-vitrification and the one-step dilution are efficient procedures to be used with intact porcine morulae and blastocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sanchez-Osorio
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, E-30071 Murcia, Spain
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Cuello C, Gil MA, Almiñana C, Sanchez-Osorio J, Parrilla I, Caballero I, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martinez EA. Vitrification of in vitro cultured porcine two-to-four cell embryos. Theriogenology 2007; 68:258-64. [PMID: 17544494 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2007] [Revised: 04/04/2007] [Accepted: 05/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a 5-day period of in vitro culture of two-to-four cell porcine embryos up to the blastocyst stage on their ability to survive vitrification and warming. In order to increase the cooling rate, superfine open pulled straws and Vit-Master((R)) technology were used for vitrification. Two-to-four cell embryos were collected from weaned sows (n=11) on day 2 (D0=onset of estrus). Some embryos (N=63) were vitrified within 3h after collection, warmed and cultured for 120h (Group V2). Additionally, 81 two-to-four cell embryos were cultured for 96h in order to obtain blastocysts; these were then vitrified, warmed and cultured for 24h (Group VB; N=65). The remaining two-to-four cell embryos were used as controls and thus not vitrified (control embryos; N=70) but were cultured in vitro for 120h. The V2, VB and control embryos were evaluated for their developmental progression and morphology during culture. All embryos (V2, VB and controls) were fixed on the same day of development in order to assess the total number of blastomeres. The survival and blastocyst formation rates obtained from V2 embryos were very poor (9.6+/-0.7% and 3.2+/-0.5%, respectively). The survival and hatching rates of VB embryos (75.0+/-0.69% and 33.6+/-0.13%) were lower (p<0.001) than those obtained with control embryos (89.1+/-0.8% and 47.5+/-0.12%). Hatched VB embryos had a lower (p<0.01) total cell number than hatched control embryos (70.3+/-4.5 versus 90.6+/-3.2, respectively). There was no difference between expanded VB and control blastocysts. In conclusion, blastocysts derived from in vitro culture of two-to-four cell pig embryos could be successfully vitrified using SOPS straws and Vit-Master.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, E-30071 Murica, Spain.
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Maxwell WMC, Parrilla I, Caballero I, Garcia E, Roca J, Martinez EA, Vazquez JM, Rath D. Retained Functional Integrity of Bull Spermatozoa after Double Freezing and Thawing Using PureSperm® Density Gradient Centrifugation. Reprod Domest Anim 2007; 42:489-94. [PMID: 17845604 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2006.00811.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The main aim of this study was to compare the motility and functional integrity of bull spermatozoa after single and double freezing and thawing. The viability and morphological integrity of spermatozoa selected by PureSperm density gradient centrifugation after cryopreservation of bovine semen in two commercial extenders (Experiment 1) and the function of bull spermatozoa before and after a second freezing and thawing assisted by PureSperm selection (Experiment 2) were examined. On average, 35.8 +/- 12.1% of sperm loaded onto the PureSperm density gradient were recovered after centrifugation. In Experiment 1, post-thaw motility and acrosome integrity were higher for spermatozoa frozen in Tris-egg yolk extender than in AndroMed, whether the assessments were made immediately after thawing [80.4 +/- 12.7 vs 47.6 +/- 19.0% motile and 78.8 +/- 8.3 vs 50.1 +/- 19.5% normal apical ridge (NAR), p < 0.05] or after preparation on the gradient (83.3 +/- 8.6 vs 69.4 +/- 15.9% motile and 89.5 +/- 7.2 vs 69.1 +/- 11.4% NAR, p < 0.05). For semen frozen in Tris-egg yolk extender, selection on the PureSperm gradient did not influence total motility but significantly improved the proportion of acrosome-intact spermatozoa. After the gradient, both the total motility and percentage of normal acrosomes increased for spermatozoa frozen in AndroMed (Minitüb Tiefenbach, Germany). In Experiment 2, there was no difference in sperm motility after the first and second freeze-thawing (82.9 +/- 12.7 vs 68.8 +/- 18.7%). However, the proportion of acrosome-intact spermatozoa was significantly improved by selection through the PureSperm gradient, whether measured by phase contrast microscopy (78.9 +/- 9.7 vs 90.4 +/- 4.0% NAR, p < 0.05) or flow cytometry (53.4 +/- 11.7 vs 76.3 +/- 6.0% viable acrosome-intact spermatozoa, p < 0.001). The improvement in the percentage of spermatozoa with normal acrosomes was maintained after resuspension in the cooling extender and cooling to 4 degrees C (88.2 +/- 6.2) and after re-freezing and thawing (83.6 +/- 6.56% NAR). However, flow cytometric assessment of the sperm membranes revealed a decline in the percentage of viable spermatozoa with intact membranes after the second freezing and thawing compared with after gradient centrifugation (76.3 +/- 6.0% vs 46.6 +/- 6.6%, p < 0.001) to levels equivalent to those obtained after the first round of freeze-thawing (53.4 +/- 11.7% viable acrosome-intact spermatozoa). Sperm movement characteristics assessed by computer-assisted analysis were unaffected in the population selected on the PureSperm gradients but declined after cooling of the selected and extended spermatozoa to 4 degrees C. There was no further change in these kinematic measurements after the cooled spermatozoa had undergone the second round of freeze-thawing. These results demonstrate that bull semen can be frozen and thawed, followed by a second freeze-thawing cycle of a population of spermatozoa selected by PureSperm, with retained motility and functional integrity. This points to the possibility of using double frozen spermatozoa in bovine artificial insemination programmes and to the potential benefits of PureSperm density gradient centrifugation for the application of cryopreserved bull spermatozoa to other biotechnological procedures such as flow cytometric sex sorting followed by re-freezing and thawing.
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Affiliation(s)
- W M C Maxwell
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Gil MA, Almiñana C, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Roca J, Vazquez JM, Martinez EA. Brief coincubation of gametes in porcine in vitro fertilization: Role of sperm:oocyte ratio and post-coincubation medium. Theriogenology 2007; 67:620-6. [PMID: 17055043 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2006] [Revised: 09/05/2006] [Accepted: 09/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study, a short coincubation time of 10 min was used to determine the effect of different sperm:oocyte ratios during in vitro fertilization (IVF), and different periods of post-coincubation in a medium that is not appropriate for IVF, on fertilization parameters. In the first experiment, a total of 1624 in vitro matured oocytes, from 4 replicates, were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa at different sperm:oocyte ratios (2000, 1500, 1000 and 500 sperm:oocyte) and coincubated for 10 min or 6 h. The oocytes from 10 min of coincubation were washed in IVF medium to remove spermatozoa not bound to the zona pellucida and transferred to another droplet of the same medium (containing no spermatozoa) for 6h. The oocytes from the other group remained with the spermatozoa for 6h. Oocytes from both groups were then cultured in embryo culture medium (IVC) for 12h to assess fertilization parameters. In the second experiment, 1872 in vitro matured oocytes, in 3 replicates were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa using the same sperm:oocyte ratios as in the first experiment. The oocytes were coincubated for 10 min and transferred directly to IVC medium for 18 h (group A), to IVF medium (containing no sperm) only for 2h and then to IVC medium for 16 h (group B), or to IVF medium (containing no sperm) for 6h and then to IVC medium for 12 h (group C or control). There was an effect of sperm:oocyte ratio on all fertilization parameters in experiment 1. The efficiency of IVF (number of monospermic oocytes/total number inseminated) was higher (P<0.05) for oocytes coincubated with spermatozoa for 10 min and inseminated with 1500 and 1000 sperm:oocyte (35.8+/-3 and 37.6+/-2.7%, respectively) and for those coincubated for 6h with 500 spermatozoa per oocyte (37.2+/-3.1%). In experiment 2, the penetration and efficiency rates obtained in group A were poor (between 3 and 15%) irrespective of the sperm:oocyte ratio. However, in group B the fertilization parameters were similar to the controls and were also affected by the sperm:oocyte ratio. These results demonstrate that coincubation time may be reduced to 10 min to increase the efficiency of fertilization depending on the sperm:oocyte ratio, and that the spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida require a maximum of 2h in an appropriate medium to penetrate the oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Gil
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, E-30071 Murcia, Spain.
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Cuello C, Berthelot F, Delaleu B, Venturi E, Pastor LM, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinat-Botté F, Martinez EA. The effectiveness of the stereomicroscopic evaluation of embryo quality in vitrified-warmed porcine blastocysts: an ultrastructural and cell death study. Theriogenology 2007; 67:970-82. [PMID: 17208290 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2006] [Revised: 11/21/2006] [Accepted: 11/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze the validity of the stereomicroscopic evaluation of vitrified-warmed (V-W) porcine blastocysts. Unhatched blastocysts were obtained from Large-white gilts (n=10). Blastocysts (n=156) were vitrified using the Open Pulled Straw technology. After warming, V-W blastocysts were cultured for 24h (V24). Then, their developmental progression was morphologically assessed by stereomicroscopy and classified as: V24 viable re-expanded blastocysts; V24 viable hatched blastocysts or V24 degenerated. Blastocysts which re-expanded or hatched after warming were considered viable. Some fresh blastocysts were not vitrified and were evaluated after 24h in culture (F24). By stereomicroscopic analysis all the fresh blastocysts were considered viable. Some F24, V24 re-expanded viable, V24 hatched viable and V24 degenerated blastocysts were processed for transmission electron microscopy (n=13, 19, 9 and 9, respectively) or assessed by TUNEL for cell-death evaluation (n=16, 21, 11 and 21, respectively). All V24 hatched blastocysts showed similar ultrastructure to fresh blastocysts. However, some V24 re-expanded blastocysts considered viable (6/19) revealed ultrastructural alterations. Degenerated V24 blastocysts showed ultrastructural disintegration. Hatched V24 blastocysts did not differ (p>0.05) from F24 hatched blastocysts with regard to the ratio of dead cells (2.8+/-0.5% versus 1.9+/-0.3%, respectively). However, V24 expanded blastocysts had higher (p<0.01) cell death levels (4.3+/-3.4%) than those observed in the F24 expanded blastocysts (1.1+/-0.3%). The degenerated blastocysts showed the highest cell-death index (19.4+/-6.3%). In summary, V-W blastocyst hatching during in vitro culture appears to coincide with good ultrastructure and low cell-death index, suggesting that the hatching rate assessed by stereomicroscopy is more appropriate than embryo re-expansion for an evaluation of V-W blastocyst quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia E-30071, Spain.
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Sinha MK, Vazquez JM, Calvino R, Gaze DC, Collinson PO, Kaski JC. Effects of balloon occlusion during percutaneous coronary intervention on circulating Ischemia Modified Albumin and transmyocardial lactate extraction. Heart 2006; 92:1852-3. [PMID: 17105887 PMCID: PMC1861307 DOI: 10.1136/hrt.2005.078089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Peteiro J, Monserrat L, Perez R, Vazquez E, Vazquez JM, Castro-Beiras A. WITHDRAWN: Accuracy of Peak Treadmill Exercise Echocardiography to Detect Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: Comparison with Post-exercise Echocardiography. Eur J Echocardiogr 2006:S1525-2167(02)90638-4. [PMID: 17045544 DOI: 10.1053/euje.2002.0638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The publisher regrets that this was an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Eur. J. Echocardiogr., 4 (2003) 182-190, . The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Peteiro
- Unit of Echocardiography and Department of Cardiology, Juan Canalejo Hospital, A. Coruña, Spain
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