P–178 Mural granulosa cells of the human follicles indirectly show death molecular signals not depending on different ovarian stimulation protocols

Study question

Could the expression of the anti-apoptotic molecules AKT, p-Akt and ERK1/2 in Mural Granulosa Cells (MGC) be considered as marker of oocyte quality?

Summary answer

MGCs activate cell death pathways in analyzed follicles and it is not influenced by different stimulation protocols and it is not correlated to oocyte competence.

What is known already

It has been previously demonstrated that apoptosis rate of mural granulosa or cumulus cells (CC) were correlated with follicular oocyte number, age, embryo numbers in IVF/ICSI and also clinical pregnancy. Moreover, our previous data demonstrated that in selected patients, who received recombinant LH associated with recombinant FSH (rFSH), the DNA fragmentation in cumulus cells was significantly lower and pregnancy rate was higher, compared to patients treated with rFSH alone. However, to date little is known about the differences between MGC and CC regarding death/survival pathways and whether the two cell types respond in the same way.

Study design, size, duration

Molecular study on MGCs to investigate the role of the surviving/apoptotic molecules AKT, p-Akt and ERK1/2 and their relationship with the administration of exogenous r-LH combined with r-FSH administration in ovarian stimulation comparing with r-FSH alone. We analyzed also the oocyte competence, for each follicle, according to the embryo development during in vitro culture and the pregnancy outcome. We included fifty-three normo-responder women undergoing ICSI in two years.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Patients were divided into two groups: 1) 34 women were stimulated with r-FSH and used as control group, 2) 19 women were stimulated with r-FSH combined with r-LH. Mural granulosa cells isolated singularly from 255 MII oocytes of the 53 patients were used for the study. The study was conducted in public university laboratory. MGCs obtained from each single follicle were suspended in medium, without serum. For immunoreaction anti-AKT, p-AKT, ERK1/2 antibodies were used.

Main results and the role of chance

Out of 255 MII oocytes collected, 197 were fertilized and the derived embryos had the following evolution: 117 transferred, 57 vitrified and 23 arrested during in vitro culture. 58 oocytes were not analyzed because of failed fertilization or because of their immature condition (GV or MI).

In the MGCs isolated from the follicle of each oocyte generating an embryo, the expression AKT, pAKT and ERK1/2 was analyzed and associated with embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes.

Immunoblot analysis on granulose cells showed no statistically significant differences in protein level in MGCs isolated from oocytes that have generated transferred embryos (blastocyst at day 5 or 6) comparing with embryos who arrested during in vitro culture. No differences were found also in MGCs collected from the follicles derived from r-FSH ovarian stimulation compared to r-FSH+r-LH. Moreover, no difference was highlighted even between protein level and pregnancy outcomes. The results seem to demonstrate that the MGCs primarily have an endocrine function and support the growth of the follicle, and finally follow a specific death pathway. This condition is not influenced by different ovarian stimulation protocol, in contrast with CC, and is not correlated to oocyte competence, embryo quality and clinical outcomes.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Only a limited number of patients have been observed.

Wider implications of the findings: Our current and past results suggest that the evaluation of cumulus cells and mural granulosa cells in the same follicle show different expression of molecules involved in the apoptotic pathway and therefore they cannot be used, as molecular markers, in the same way, to assess the competence of oocytes.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

The ecology of the parasite population in micro-mammals in the Italian peninsula and islands

The importance of micro mammals from many points of view, mainly with an ecological approach was stressed. The study of the spatial-temporal distribution of parasites in their hosts may be carried out in several ways. Tests done in collaboration with the Parasitology Laboratory in the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Barcelona, the NRCS and the Department of Ecological Studies in Cosenza, have contributed to an understanding of the Helminth communities as relating to several intrinsic variables of microteriofauna as well as extrinsic ones, particularly those concerning environment, climate and season. These comparisons were made using statistical means which compared the categorical and dichotomic variables which would highlight risk differences and their effects on the system. Quantitative dependent variables were also considered in relation to the aforementioned qualitative variables. One of the models studied is that of logistic regression, which estimates the function of regression, connecting the probability of the presence of Helminth as a dependent variable, with biological and ecological parameters (independent variables) such as: gender, age, season of capture, bioclimate, biotope and trapping section.

Stress response in mesoangioblast stem cells

Stem cells are presumed to survive various stresses, since they are recruited to areas of tissue damage and regeneration, where inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic cells may result in severe cell injury. We explored the ability of mesoangioblasts to respond to different cell stresses such as heat, heavy metals and osmotic stress, by analyzing heat shock protein (HSP)70 synthesis as a stress indicator. We found that the A6 mesoangioblast stem cells constitutively synthesize HSP70 in a heat shock transcription factor (HSF)-independent way. However, A6 respond to heat shock and cadmium treatment by synthesizing HSP70 over the constitutive expression and this synthesis is HSF1 dependent. The exposure of A6 to copper or to a hypertonic medium does neither induce HSP70 synthesis nor activation of HSF1, while a constitutive binding of constitutive heat shock element binding factor was found. Together, these data suggest that mesoangioblasts constitutively express HSP70 as an 'a priori' activation mechanism, while they maintain the ability to respond to stress stimuli.

Factors which influence sperm ability to fertilize

Different factors influence animal sperm ability to fertilize. Some of them are reviewed here, sperm motility, block to polyspermy, chemioattraction, sperm competition for fertilization. Old and new data are reported, as for example the new notions on sperm motility derived from site directed mutagenesis in rodents, the new notions on the odour receptors in mammalian sperm attraction and new notions on sperm competition, which is variable in different species.

Epidemiological surveillance of bluetongue in Sicily

The authors describe the status of bluetongue (BT) since 13 October 2000, when the first outbreak was reported in Sicily. The results of the epidemiological surveillance programme, based on sentinel animals distributed over the entire region, are also given. In Sicily, the incidence of the disease is relatively low compared to some other areas in the Mediterranean Basin. Seventy-five outbreaks of the disease were recorded in the first three epidemics (October 2000 to May 2003). Overall morbidity was 13.25%, mortality 5.36% and the case fatality rate 41.49%. The Province of Catania seems to have been the worst affected; the incidence rate in August 2002 was 0.8%. The monthly incidence rate was calculated for sentinel animals of which the estimated total was 3 654, distributed in 63 areas. It is important to underline that in the period under consideration, a total of 2 382 animals was examined. During the surveillance period, which extended from September 2001 to May 2003, the incidence of BT peaked in September 2002, at 5.91% -/+ 0.979. The cumulative incidence rate from September 2001 to August 2002 and September 2002 to March 2003 was 4.53% -/+ 0.76 and 20.03% -/+ 1.85, respectively. The circulation of BT virus serotypes 2, 4, 9 and 16 is described, as revealed by seroconversion in sentinel animals.

A constitutive 70 kDa heat-shock protein is localized on the fibres of spindles and asters at metaphase in an ATP-dependent manner: a new chaperone role is proposed

In the present study, double immunofluorescence and immunoblot analysis have been used to show that centrosomes, isolated from Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryos at the first mitotic metaphase, contain the constitutive chaperone, heat-shock protein (HSP) 70. More specifically, we demonstrate that centrosomes contain only the HSP70-d isoform, which is one of the four isoforms identified in P. lividus. We also provide evidence that p34(cell division control kinase-2) and t complex polypeptide-1 (TCP-1) alpha, a subunit of the TCP-1 complex, are localized on the centrosomes. Furthermore, inhibition of TCP-1 in vivo, via microinjecting an anti-(TCP-1 alpha) antibody into P. lividus eggs before fertilization, either impaired mitosis or induced severe malformations in more than 50% of embryos. In addition, we have isolated the whole mitotic apparatus and shown that HSP70 localizes on the fibres of spindles and asters, and binds them in an ATP-dependent manner. These observations suggest that HSP70 has a chaperone role in assisting the TCP-1 complex in tubulin folding, when localized on centrosomes, and during the assembling and disassembling of the mitotic apparatus, when localized on the fibres of spindles and asters.

Constitutive hsp70 is essential to mitosis during early cleavage of Paracentrotus lividus embryos: the blockage of constitutive hsp70 impairs mitosis

Localization of constitutive hsp70 in eggs and early embryos of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus is shown by means of in situ immunostaining. An accumulation of this protein is shown in the mitotic structures (asters, spindles and centrosomes). Microinjection of anti-hsp70 antibodies into eggs causes impairment of formation of mitotic structures and of cell division. This impairment goes from a complete mitotic block, to irregular mitotic apparatus formation with irregular cleavage, depending upon the antibody concentration. The localization of hsp70 after antibody microinjection is also described. Blockage of mitotic apparatus formation by nocodazole also blocks the concentration of hsp70 molecules observed in nontreated eggs. That the constitutive hsp70 plays a role in sea urchin mitosis is indicated.

[Video laparoscopy in abdominal emergencies]

BACKGROUND

Personal experience about the use of video laparoscopy (VL) in abdominal emergencies is reported.

METHODS

DESIGN

retrospective evaluation of patients observed in the last years.

SETTING

General Surgery I. Policlinico, University of Palermo.

SUBJECTS

61 VL have been performed: 30 acute appendicitis, 21 acute cholecystitis, 4 perforated peptic ulcer, 1 haemoperitoneum by haemorrhaged luteal corpus, 2 pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), 1 terminal ileitis, 1 choledochal perforation after ERCP and 1 bleeding after CVL.

INTERVENTIONS

the following interventions have been performed: 22 VL appendectomy, 8 VL-assisted appendectomy, 21 VL cholecystectomy, 1 VL duodenal suture, 3 minilaparotomic duodenal suture, 2 prophylactic VL-assisted appendectomy, in 1 patient with terminal ileitis and in 1 PID, 1 VL partial ovarian resection. In the case with choledochal perforation during ERCP a traditional cholecystectomy was performed with an outer biliary drainage. In the patient with bleeding after CVL the spontaneous haemostasis seen during VL was confirmed by laparotomy performed to exclude baro-haemostasis and to prevent from legal motivation. The procedure was only diagnostic in 1 patient with PID.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

the diagnostic and therapeutic value, versus traditional surgery have been valued.

RESULTS

VL is useful both for a correct diagnosis and to lead a laparotomy if necessary, allowing an adequate peritoneal exploration and toilet without large incisions; the operation is therefore, in any case, less invasive.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience the usefulness of VL is clear in the suspect of acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, perforated peptic ulcer, haemoperitoneum and when diagnosis is not sure and in all other situations in which correct preoperative diagnosis is impossible. So this procedure is useful to make easy a correct diagnosis and to surgical treatment.

Effect of the IMPase inhibitor L690,330 on sea urchin development

A variety of concentrations of the IMPase inhibitor L690,330 were added to sea urchin embryos. Immediate arrest of development was obtained for concentrations from 7.5 mm on. Concentrations lower than 3.5 mm permitted gastrulation but inhibited skeletogenesis and disturbed elongation along the animal-vegetal axis. The latter results are similar to those obtained by counteracting lithium effect with myoinositol, which are suggested to be due to partial relief of IMPase inhibition.

Sea urchin HSF activity in vitro and in transgenic embryos

Evidence is provided for the presence at the physiological temperature of 20 degrees C of a heat shock transcriptor factor, HSF, in the nuclei of P.lividus embryos. This HSF is able to specifically bind in vitro the heat shock element, HSE, of the promoter of the hsp70 gene i.v., as suggested by DNA-protein binding reactions and DNAse I protection assays. Upon heat-shock, at the temperature of 31 degrees C, its ability to bind the HSE units becomes much higher. The HSF activated by heat-shock drives in vivo the transcription of the beta-galactosidase reporter gene in transgenic sea urchin gastrulae. An ATF-like transcription factor, widely described in other organisms but not at all in sea urchins, is also present in the nuclear extracts and is able to bind the consensus individuated in the hsp70 i.v. gene promoter.