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Calanni-Pileri M, Weitzel JM, Langhammer M, Michaelis M. Higher quality rather than superior quantity of oocytes determine the amount of fertilizable oocytes in two outbred Dummerstorf high-fertility mouse lines. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57:1198-1207. [PMID: 35765745 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Dummerstorf fertility lines FL1 and FL2 represent two models of enhanced fertility characterized by the doubling of the litter size compared with an unselected control population (ctrl line, Dummerstorf FztDU). Both biodiverse FLs managed to reach this goal by increasing the ovulation rate per cycle, even showing decreased pregnancy rate and irregular oestrous cycle and metabolic hormone levels, compared with ctrl. The aim of the present study was to analyse oocytes in terms of quality and quantity by comparing the entire pool of oocytes per ovary, with those from the antral follicles within the same animal. We performed Brilliant Cresyl Blue staining as a non-invasive marker of oocyte quality in combination with an analysis of additional morphological indicators, e.g. cytoplasm clarity, cumulus cell layers, nuclear anatomy, size and shape. We compared our fertility lines with the unselected control population and with another independent line selected from the same founder population, showing lower litter size (DU6P). Our results suggest that fertility lines show decreased number of oocytes per ovary compared with DU6P but increased number of high-quality oocytes before ovulation. Hence, the raise in the ovulation rate and litter size of those super fertile mouse lines are not associated with an increased number of oocytes per ovary but rather with an increased number of higher quality fertilizable oocytes per cycle. In addition, the most conspicuous method to acquire oocytes with the highest quality in our lines is to assess their morphology, rather than their status after staining. All these discoveries together may be of fundamental importance for further studies in livestock farm animals showing some similar characteristics, e.g. irregular cycle or hormonal misbalances, to improve production while lowering costs, and in humans to increase the possibilities of successful pregnancies for couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Calanni-Pileri
- Institute of Reproductive Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Joachim M Weitzel
- Institute of Reproductive Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Martina Langhammer
- Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Service Group Lab Animal Facility, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Marten Michaelis
- Institute of Reproductive Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
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Bahrami M, Cottee PA. Culture conditions for in vitro maturation of oocytes – A review. Reproduction and Breeding 2022; 2:31-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repbre.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Maside C, Sánchez-Ajofrín I, Medina-Chávez D, Alves B, Garde JJ, Soler AJ. Oocyte Morphometric Assessment and Gene Expression Profiling of Oocytes and Cumulus Cells as Biomarkers of Oocyte Competence in Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102818. [PMID: 34679840 PMCID: PMC8532595 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Oocyte quality is crucial for subsequent embryo development and so it is a major challenge in assisted reproductive technologies. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the morphometric parameters of oocytes (experiment 1) and the relative gene expression of oocytes and cumulus cells (CCs) (experiment 2) as biomarkers of oocyte quality after individually culturing them (one oocyte or embryo/drop). In experiment 1, individually matured oocytes were measured and classified into small, intermediate, and large oocytes after a cluster analysis, based on total diameter (with zona pellucida, ZP), oocyte diameter (without ZP), and ZP thickness. These oocytes were individually fertilized in vitro and cultured. The embryo development was evaluated up to the blastocyst stage. According to the total diameter, oocyte diameter, and ZP thickness, the blastocyst rate decreased in the small oocytes group (3.1 ± 3.1, 14.1 ± 9.4, and 26.7 ± 3.9, respectively) compared to the intermediate (29.4 ± 5.2, 30.5 ± 10.1, and 28.6 ± 9.6, respectively) and large oocytes groups (54.2 ± 13.5, 44.4 ± 3.9, and 67.6 ± 12.4, respectively). In addition, the probability of reaching the blastocyst stage was positively related to the total diameter (p < 0.001), oocyte diameter (p < 0.05), and ZP thickness (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the relative gene expression of BAX, BCL2, GDF9, and GJA1 was lower in oocytes classified as large. In experiment 2, the mRNA transcript relative abundance pattern of genes in CCs was evaluated according to oocyte total diameter and developmental stage reached. CCs from oocytes classified as large and oocytes capable of developing to the blastocyst stage had a lower relative expression of BAX, STAR, and PTGS2, while a higher expression of HAS2 and SDC2 transcript was observed for those oocytes. In conclusion, oocyte morphometric parameters and gene expression analysis in oocytes and CCs provide methods for the identification of the most competent oocytes for assisted reproductive technologies in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Maside
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), ETSIAM, Campus Universitario, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (I.S.-A.); (D.M.-C.); (J.J.G.); (A.J.S.)
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Irene Sánchez-Ajofrín
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), ETSIAM, Campus Universitario, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (I.S.-A.); (D.M.-C.); (J.J.G.); (A.J.S.)
| | - Daniela Medina-Chávez
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), ETSIAM, Campus Universitario, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (I.S.-A.); (D.M.-C.); (J.J.G.); (A.J.S.)
| | | | - José Julián Garde
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), ETSIAM, Campus Universitario, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (I.S.-A.); (D.M.-C.); (J.J.G.); (A.J.S.)
| | - Ana Josefa Soler
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), ETSIAM, Campus Universitario, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (I.S.-A.); (D.M.-C.); (J.J.G.); (A.J.S.)
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Turathum B, Gao EM, Chian RC. The Function of Cumulus Cells in Oocyte Growth and Maturation and in Subsequent Ovulation and Fertilization. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092292. [PMID: 34571941 PMCID: PMC8470117 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cumulus cells (CCs) originating from undifferentiated granulosa cells (GCs) differentiate in mural granulosa cells (MGCs) and CCs during antrum formation in the follicle by the distribution of location. CCs are supporting cells of the oocyte that protect the oocyte from the microenvironment, which helps oocyte growth and maturation in the follicles. Bi-directional communications between an oocyte and CCs are necessary for the oocyte for the acquisition of maturation and early embryonic developmental competence following fertilization. Follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) surges lead to the synthesis of an extracellular matrix in CCs, and CCs undergo expansion to assist meiotic resumption of the oocyte. The function of CCs is involved in the completion of oocyte meiotic maturation and ovulation, fertilization, and subsequent early embryo development. Therefore, understanding the function of CCs during follicular development may be helpful for predicting oocyte quality and subsequent embryonic development competence, as well as pregnancy outcomes in the field of reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology (ART) for infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bongkoch Turathum
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai 10th People Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China;
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
| | - Er-Meng Gao
- Shanghai Clinical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China;
| | - Ri-Cheng Chian
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai 10th People Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China;
- Shanghai Clinical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-18917687092
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Souza-Fabjan JMG, Batista RITP, Correia LFL, Paramio MT, Fonseca JF, Freitas VJF, Mermillod P. In vitro production of small ruminant embryos: latest improvements and further research. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 33:31-54. [PMID: 38769678 DOI: 10.1071/rd20206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
This review presents the latest advances in and main obstacles to the application of invitro embryo production (IVEP) systems in small ruminants. This biotechnology is an extremely important tool for genetic improvement for livestock and is essential for the establishment of other biotechnologies, such as cloning and transgenesis. At present, the IVEP market is almost non-existent for small ruminants, in contrast with the trends observed in cattle. This is probably related to the lower added value of small ruminants, lower commercial demand and fewer qualified professionals interested in this area. Moreover, there are fewer research groups working on small ruminant IVEP than those working with cattle and pigs. The heterogeneity of oocytes collected from growing follicles in live females or from ovaries collected from abattoirs remains a challenge for IVEP dissemination in goats and sheep. Of note, although the logistics of oocyte collection from live small ruminant females are more complex than in the bovine, in general the IVEP outcomes, in terms of blastocyst production, are similar. We anticipate that after appropriate training and repeatable results, the commercial demand for small ruminant invitro -produced embryos may increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna M G Souza-Fabjan
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Niterói-RJ, CEP 24230-340, Brazil; and Corresponding author
| | - Ribrio I T P Batista
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Niterói-RJ, CEP 24230-340, Brazil
| | - Lucas F L Correia
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Niterói-RJ, CEP 24230-340, Brazil
| | - Maria Teresa Paramio
- Departament de Ciencia Animal i dels Aliments, Facultat de Veterinaria, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jeferson F Fonseca
- Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos, Rodovia MG 133, km 42, Campo Experimental Coronel Pacheco, Coronel Pacheco-MG, CEP 36155-000, Brazil
| | - Vicente J F Freitas
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle da Reprodução, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, CEP 60714-903, Brazil
| | - Pascal Mermillod
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), UMR7247, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
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Bragança GM, Batista RITP, Souza-Fabjan JMG, Alfradique VAP, Arashiro EKN, Pinto PHN, Santos JDR, Camargo LSA, Menchaca A, da Fonseca JF, Brandão FZ. Exogenous progestogens differentially alter gene expression of immature cumulus-oocyte complexes in sheep. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2021; 74:106518. [PMID: 32711283 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the role of progesterone (P4) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) on the molecular status of immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and the implications for oocyte quality in sheep. The number of viable COCs per ewe and the rate of COCs screened for developmental competence by brilliant cresyl blue positive (BCB+) were similar (P > 0.05), respectively, across treatments (P4: 7.7 ± 0.7 and 4.7 ± 1.2; MAP: 5.7 ± 1.0 and 3.5 ± 2.3; and control: 5.7 ± 1.1 and 3.6 ± 2.4). The COCs' gene expression was altered by exogenous progestogens compared with the control group: markers of steroidogenic pathway (FSH receptor [FSHr], LH receptor [LHr], and estradiol receptor α) and of quality (zygote arrest 1, growth differentiation factor 9, and B-cell lymphoma 2) were in abundance in P4 (P < 0.05). In addition, reelin protein (RELN) was downregulated, and Bcl-2 was upregulated in MAP (P < 0.05). In the P4 vs MAP comparison, FSHr, LHr, and RELN genes were upregulated (P < 0.05) in the P4 group. In conclusion, P4 and MAP promoted dissimilar effects on transcriptome profiling of immature BCB-selected COCs, possibly due to the differences in the chemical structure of progestogens and concentrations of serum P4. Exogenous P4 impacted positively on the profile of genes related to oocyte quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Bragança
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil.
| | - R I T P Batista
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
| | - J M G Souza-Fabjan
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
| | - V A P Alfradique
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
| | - E K N Arashiro
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
| | - P H N Pinto
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
| | - J D R Santos
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
| | - L S A Camargo
- Embrapa Gado de Leite, Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, 610, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36038-330, Brazil
| | - A Menchaca
- Fundacion IRAUy, Cno. Cruz del Sur 2250, Montevideo 12200, Uruguay
| | - J F da Fonseca
- Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos, Estrada Sobral/Groaíras, km 04, CP 145, Sobral, Ceará 62010-970, Brazil
| | - F Z Brandão
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil, 64, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24320-340, Brazil
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Dutta R, Mandal S, Lin HCA, Raz T, Kind A, Schnieke A, Razansky D. Brilliant cresyl blue enhanced optoacoustic imaging enables non-destructive imaging of mammalian ovarian follicles for artificial reproduction. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200776. [PMID: 33143591 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In the field of reproductive biology, there is a strong need for a suitable tool capable of non-destructive evaluation of oocyte viability and function. We studied the application of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) as an intra-vital exogenous contrast agent using multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) for visualization of porcine ovarian follicles. The technique provided excellent molecular sensitivity, enabling the selection of competent oocytes without disrupting the follicles. We further conducted in vitro embryo culture, molecular analysis (real-time and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) and DNA fragmentation analysis to comprehensively establish the safety of BCB-enhanced MSOT imaging in monitoring oocyte viability. Overall, the experimental results suggest that the method offers a significant advance in the use of contrast agents and molecular imaging for reproductive studies. Our technique improves the accurate prediction of ovarian reserve significantly and, once standardized for in vivo imaging, could provide an effective tool for clinical infertility management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Dutta
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Subhamoy Mandal
- Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Hsiao-Chun Amy Lin
- Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,iThera Medical GmbH, Munich, Germany
| | - Tal Raz
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alexander Kind
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Schnieke
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland
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Barakat IAH, Kaabi AM, Alajmi RA. The role of honeybee pollen as a natural source of antioxidants in the in vitro maturation medium of sheep oocytes and its effect on gene expression. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020; 27:31350-31356. [PMID: 32488717 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09386-9] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of honeybee pollen as an antioxidant source in a maturation medium of sheep oocytes on the in vitro maturation rate, glutathione concentration, and gene expression. To our knowledge, this study might be the first of its kind in this field. Sheep oocytes were cultured in vitro with honeybee pollen at four different concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 10.0, and 50.0 μg/ml). The results indicated that the ratio of oocytes that reached metaphase II stage was higher in the honeybee pollen-treated groups than in the control group (p ≤ 0.05). The reduced glutathione (GSH) mean content of matured oocytes was 9.85 nmol/25 oocytes, when honeybee pollen was added to the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium at a concentration of 1.0 μg/ml, compared with 5.84 and 4.44 nmol when using 10.0 and 50.0 μg/ml honeybee pollen, respectively. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in glutathione concentration between the control and 1.0 μg/ml honeybee pollen groups. Expression of candidate genes (GDF-9, BAX, Cyclin B, C-MOS, and IGF1) was upregulated in oocytes cultured with honeybee pollen when compared with oocytes cultured without honeybee pollen. In conclusion, the addition of honeybee pollen at a concentration of 1.0 μg/ml to IVM medium improved the in vitro maturation rate of sheep oocytes, increased the glutathione concentration, and improved gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Abdalla Hassan Barakat
- Faculty of Science, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 114511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Cell Biology Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Aaishah M Kaabi
- Faculty of Science, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 114511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem A Alajmi
- Faculty of Science, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 114511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Piras AR, Ariu F, Zedda MT, Paramio MT, Bogliolo L. Selection of Immature Cat Oocytes with Brilliant Cresyl Blue Stain Improves In Vitro Embryo Production during Non-Breeding Season. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091496. [PMID: 32847086 PMCID: PMC7552244 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091496] [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: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The domestic cat is commonly used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in felid species. Seasonal reproduction is a feature of domestic cats as well as of several species of wild feline. Likewise, the number and the quality of blastocysts produced in in vitro systems is linked to season. Maintaining stable in vitro embryo production throughout the year is crucial not only for research purposes but also for programs aimed at protecting endangered felines. We assess whether using Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) selection in addition to the classical morphological selection could improve the IVEP outcomes during non-breeding season. Blastocyst yield and quality of the embryos (hatching rate and blastocyst cell numbers) were higher after IVM/IVF in oocytes defined as BCB+ (colored cytoplasm) based on the BCB test than in oocytes only morphologically selected. Furthermore, no adverse effects on bioenergetic/oxidative status were observed in oocytes subjected to BCB staining. In conclusion, BCB test implementation in IVEP programs might ensure a steady output of domestic cat blastocysts throughout the year. Abstract In domestic cats, the maturation, fertilization, and development potential in vitro decreases during the non-breeding season. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) staining in selecting developmentally competent oocytes to be used in in vitro embryo production (IVEP) programs in order to overcome the season variability in blastocyst yield. Cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) collected from antral follicles of domestic cat ovaries during the anestrus phase (July to November) were selected by BCB staining and classified as BCB+ (colored cytoplasm) and BCB− (colorless cytoplasm). COCs not exposed to BCB staining were used as control. Before and after in vitro maturation mitochondrial activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Following in vitro fertilization, blastocyst rate, hatching rate, and blastocyst cell numbers were recorded. The results show that BCB staining did not alter the mitochondrial function and ROS production in cat oocytes. BCB+ oocytes presented a higher (p < 0.05) blastocyst rate, hatching rate, and blastocyst cell number than BCB− and control oocytes. In conclusion, BCB staining does not affect the bioenergetic/oxidative status of the oocyte while being a useful tool for selecting good quality oocytes to increase IVEP in domestic cats during non-breeding season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rita Piras
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 070100 Sassari, Italy; (F.A.); (M.-T.Z.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Federica Ariu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 070100 Sassari, Italy; (F.A.); (M.-T.Z.); (L.B.)
| | - Maria-Teresa Zedda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 070100 Sassari, Italy; (F.A.); (M.-T.Z.); (L.B.)
| | - Maria-Teresa Paramio
- Departament de ciencia Animal i Dels Aliments, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Luisa Bogliolo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 070100 Sassari, Italy; (F.A.); (M.-T.Z.); (L.B.)
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Tantitham C, Panunumpa S, Satirapod C. The Effect of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin on the In vitro Development of Immature to Mature Human Oocytes: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Hum Reprod Sci 2020; 13:133-137. [PMID: 32792762 PMCID: PMC7394101 DOI: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_1_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Context In controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles, 15% of oocytes have been proven to be immature. Key factors include failure in signal transmission from the cumulus cell to the oocyte, insufficient level of luteinizing hormone, and internal conditions of the oocyte itself. Aims The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the in vitro maturity of partially cumulus-denuded immature oocytes collected after controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Settings and Design This was a prospective, randomized controlled design at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, university hospital. Subjects and Methods Infertile women underwent gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist stimulated protocol for IVF with final maturation triggered by hCG, partially cumulus-denuded immature human oocytes were allocated to two groups: the first was treated with fertilization medium and the second was treated with fertilization medium and hCG. They were cultured for 24 h. Outcomes measured were the oocyte maturation rates to metaphase II (MII) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity of in vitro maturation (IVM) mature oocytes which represent the oocyte quality. Statistical Analysis Used The Mann-Whitney U-test and One-way ANOVA were used to compare continuous variables, and Chi-square was used for categorical data. Results In all, 250 immature stimulated oocytes were allocated (125 per group). The maturation rate was higher in the hCG supplement group (48% vs. 39.2%) without significance. The positive brilliant cresyl blue results among the MII oocytes developed from the metaphase I (MI) were significantly higher in the hCG group (P = 0.001). Conclusions Rescue IVM in fertilization culture medium plus hCG was slightly better than that in the only fertilization culture. MII oocytes developed from MI in hCG supplemented medium had a higher quality based on the measured G6PD activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chananya Tantitham
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sitanan Panunumpa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chonthicha Satirapod
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Heydari S, Eidi A, Kouhkan F, Tvrda E, Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A. Effects of increasing lipopolysaccharide concentrations on in vitro developmental competence of ovine oocytes. Anim Reprod 2020; 17:e20190125. [PMID: 32714454 PMCID: PMC7375860 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2019-0125] [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] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a considerable number of studies have investigated the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the reproductive performance of dairy cows, the response of ovine oocytes to LPS during their in vitro maturation and development is not well defined yet. Ewe’s ovaries were obtained from a slaughterhouse, the oocytes were collected and matured in the presence of increasing concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/mL) of LPS in order to evaluate the meiotic maturation by measuring the proportion of oocytes reaching the MII stage. The concentration of intracellular glutathione (GSH) was measured in oocytes following maturation in vitro. In addition, concentrations of selected metabolites including glucose, pyruvate, lactate and glutamine were quantified in the medium following maturation. A number of treated matured oocytes along with the control group were subsequently fertilized using frozen semen and assessed for the rate of cleavage and for the proportion reaching the blastocyst stage. The number of oocytes in MII stage was significantly reduced in response to the increasing concentrations of LPS (77.83%, 70.64%, 68.86%, 66.32%, respectively, in case of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/mL LPS when compared to the control group, 76.34%; P<0.05). There were no differences neither in the intracellular concentration of GSH in the oocytes nor in case of the metabolites in the maturation medium. Although the rate of cleaved oocytes was not affected by increasing levels of LPS, the blastocyst rate was reduced in a dose dependent manner (36.69%, 34.21%, 30.35%, 17.27% and 14.03% for the control, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/mL LPS, respectively (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that the developmental competence of ovine oocytes may be affected detrimentally by LPS and such deleterious effects could be related to the maturation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Heydari
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Eidi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Kouhkan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Eva Tvrda
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
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Srirattana K, St John JC. Transmission of Dysfunctional Mitochondrial DNA and Its Implications for Mammalian Reproduction. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 2019; 231:75-103. [PMID: 30617719 DOI: 10.1007/102_2018_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes proteins for the electron transport chain which produces the vast majority of cellular energy. MtDNA has its own replication and transcription machinery that relies on nuclear-encoded transcription and replication factors. MtDNA is inherited in a non-Mendelian fashion as maternal-only mtDNA is passed onto the next generation. Mutation to mtDNA can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which affects energy production and tissue and organ function. In somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), there is an issue with the mixing of two populations of mtDNA, namely from the donor cell and recipient oocyte. This review focuses on the transmission of mtDNA in SCNT embryos and offspring. The transmission of donor cell mtDNA can be prevented by depleting the donor cell of its mtDNA using mtDNA depletion agents prior to SCNT. As a result, SCNT embryos harbour oocyte-only mtDNA. Moreover, culturing SCNT embryos derived from mtDNA depleted cells in media supplemented with a nuclear reprograming agent can increase the levels of expression of genes related to embryo development when compared with non-depleted cell-derived embryos. Furthermore, we have reviewed how mitochondrial supplementation in oocytes can have beneficial effects for SCNT embryos by increasing mtDNA copy number and the levels of expression of genes involved in energy production and decreasing the levels of expression of genes involved in embryonic cell death. Notably, there are beneficial effects of mtDNA supplementation over the use of nuclear reprograming agents in terms of regulating gene expression in embryos. Taken together, manipulating mtDNA in donor cells and/or oocytes prior to SCNT could enhance embryo production efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanokwan Srirattana
- Mitochondrial Genetics Group, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Justin C St John
- Mitochondrial Genetics Group, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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Veshkini A, Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A, Ghanem N, Abazari-Kia AH, Mottaghi E, Kamaledini R, Deldar H, Ozturk I, Gastal EL. Oocyte maturation with royal jelly increases embryo development and reduces apoptosis in goats. Anim Reprod 2018; 15:124-134. [PMID: 34122643 PMCID: PMC8186877 DOI: 10.21451/1984-3143-2017-ar986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Royal jelly (RJ) was supplemented to goat oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM)
medium at three different concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/ml). Maturation rate, embryo
cleavage, and blastocyst rate were recorded. Gene expression of apoptosis-related transcripts
was investigated in matured oocytes. Percentage of oocytes that reached MII-stage was increased
in RJ-treated groups compared to the control group. Glutathione (GSH) content of mature oocytes
was enhanced when RJ was added to IVM medium at any supplementation compared with control.
Percentage of cleaved embryos and blastocysts was higher in the RJ-treated groups at a concentration
of 5 than in the 2.5 mg/ml and control group. Total number of cells per blastocyst was not different
in the control and RJ-treated group at 5 mg/ml. However, number of apoptotic cells per blastocyst
was higher in the control group than in the RJ-treated group at 5 mg/ml. Expression profile
of Bax, and p53 was down-regulated while
Bcl-2 was up-regulated in oocytes treated with RJ at 5 and 10 mg/ml compared with
the control group. Addition of RJ at concentrations of 5 mg/ml improved embryo production
through increasing maturation rate. RJ seems to improve the IVM microenvironment by reducing
expression of genes inducing apoptosis, enhancing GSH content, and reducing incidence of
apoptosis in blastocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Veshkini
- Department of Transgenic Animal Science, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Nasser Ghanem
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Elmira Mottaghi
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Kamaledini
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Deldar
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran
| | - Irfan Ozturk
- Department of Biometry Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey
| | - Eduardo Leite Gastal
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA
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Zhu J, Moawad AR, Wang CY, Li HF, Ren JY, Dai YF. Advances in in vitro production of sheep embryos. Int J Vet Sci Med 2018; 6:S15-S26. [PMID: 30761316 PMCID: PMC6161858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sheep is an important livestock in the world providing meat, milk and wool for human beings. With increasing human population, the worldwide needs of production of sheep have elevated. To meet the needs, the assistant reproductive technology including ovine in vitro embryo production (ovine IVP) is urgently required to enhance the effective production of sheep in the world. To learn the status of ovine IVP, we collected some publications related to ovine IVP through PubMed and analyzed the progress in ovine IVP made in the last five years (2012-2017). We made comparisons of these data and found that the recent advances in ovine IVP has been made slowly comparable to that of ovine IVP two decades ago. Therefore, we suggested two strategies or approaches to tackle the main problems in ovine IVP and expect that the efficiency of ovine IVP could be improved significantly when the approaches would be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhu
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Adel R. Moawad
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO BOX 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Chun-Yu Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Hui-Feng Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Jing-Yu Ren
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Yan-Feng Dai
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
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Duarte Alcoba D, Gonsales Valério E, Conzatti M, Schneider J, Capp E, von Eye Corleta H, Brum IS. Selection of developmentally competent human oocytes aspirated during cesarean section. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2017; 31:735-739. [DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1297405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Duarte Alcoba
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Endócrina e Tumoral – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Edimárlei Gonsales Valério
- Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia – Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil
| | - Maiara Conzatti
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Endócrina e Tumoral – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Júlia Schneider
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Endócrina e Tumoral – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Edison Capp
- Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia – Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Helena von Eye Corleta
- Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia – Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil
| | - Ilma Simoni Brum
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Endócrina e Tumoral – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Wang L, Jiang X, Wu Y, Lin J, Zhang L, Yang N, Huang J. Effect of milrinone on the developmental competence of growing lamb oocytes identified with brilliant cresyl blue. Theriogenology 2016; 86:2020-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Eshtiyaghi M, Deldar H, Pirsaraei ZA, Shohreh B. Royal jelly may improve the metabolism of glucose and redox state of ovine oocytes matured in vitro and embryonic development following in vitro fertilization. Theriogenology 2016; 86:2210-2221. [PMID: 27568457 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of royal jelly (RJ) on in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization, cleavage, blastocyst rates, glutathione (GSH) content in ovine oocyte, mRNA abundance of antioxidant enzymes in both oocyte and cumulus, and glucose metabolism-related genes in cumulus cells. In vitro maturation of oocyte was performed in the presence of control (RJ0), 2.5 (RJ2.5), 5 (RJ5), and 10 (RJ10) mg/mL of RJ. Nuclear status, intracellular GSH content in oocytes, and mRNA abundance of selected genes were evaluated following 24 hours of IVM. Following the IVM, fertilization and embryo culture were carried out in all the groups and embryonic development was examined. The addition of 10-mg/mL RJ to maturation media not only yielded a higher number of oocytes at MII stage but also showed an increased level of intracellular GSH content than did RJ2.5 and control groups. Fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst rate were higher in the RJ10 treatment group in comparison to the control one. In cumulus cells, the expression of PFKM, PFKL, and G6PDH were increased following the addition of RJ to the maturation media. Supplementation of 10-mg/mL RJ to IVM medium increased the GPx mRNA abundance in both oocyte and cumulus cells and SOD expression in the cumulus cells. The CAT mRNA abundance was not influenced by the addition of RJ to the maturation media in either oocyte or cumulus cells. It seems that the improvement of oocyte maturation and its subsequent development in RJ10 group may be associated with amelioration of redox status in the oocytes and activation of glucose metabolic pathways in their surrounding cumulus cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahbobeh Eshtiyaghi
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran
| | - Hamid Deldar
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran.
| | - Zarbakht Ansari Pirsaraei
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran
| | - Bahram Shohreh
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran
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Paramio MT, Izquierdo D. Recent advances in in vitro embryo production in small ruminants. Theriogenology 2016; 86:152-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Azari-dolatabad N, Rahmani H, Hajian M, Ostadhosseini S, Hosseini S, Nasr-esfahani M. Effects of cilostamide and/or forskolin on the meiotic resumption and development competence of growing ovine oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue staining. Theriogenology 2016; 85:1483-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Valiollahpoor Amiri M, Deldar H, Ansari Pirsaraei Z. Impact of supplementary royal jelly onin vitromaturation of sheep oocytes: genes involved in apoptosis and embryonic development. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2015; 62:31-8. [DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2015.1088102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Veshkini A, Khadem AA, Mohammadi-sangcheshmeh A, Alamouti AA, Soleimani M, Gastal EL. Linolenic acid improves oocyte developmental competence and decreases apoptosis of in vitro -produced blastocysts in goat. ZYGOTE 2016; 24:537-48. [DOI: 10.1017/s0967199415000507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SummaryThe effects of α-linolenic acid (ALA) on developmental competence of oocytes in goats were evaluated in this study. Initially, the level of ALA in small and large antral follicles was determined to be in a range of 0.018–0.028 mg/ml (64.6–100.6 μM, respectively).In vitromaturation was performed in the presence of various concentrations (10, 50, 100, or 200 μM) of ALA. Cumulus expansion, meiotic maturation, levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH), embryonic cleavage, blastocyst formation following parthenogenetic activation (PA) andin vitrofertilization (IVF), number of total and apoptotic cells in blastocyst, and expression ofBax, Bcl-2, and p53 genes in blastocyst cells were determined. Compared with the control, no improvement was observed in cumulus expansion in ALA-treated groups. At 50 μM concentration, ALA increased meiotic maturation rate but had no effect on GSH level. When oocytes treated with 50 μM ALA were subsequently used for PA or IVF, a higher rate of blastocyst formation was observed, and these embryos had a higher total cell number and a lower apoptotic cell number. Expression analyses of genes in blastocysts revealed lesser transcript abundances forBaxgene, and higher transcript abundances forBcl-2gene in 50 μM ALA group. Expression ofp53gene was also less observed in ALA-treated blastocysts. Our results show that ALA treatment at 50 μM duringin vitromaturation (IVM) had a beneficial effect on maturation of goat oocytes and this, in turn, stimulated embryonic development and regulated apoptotic gene expression.
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Paramio MT, Izquierdo D. Current status of in vitro embryo production in sheep and goats. Reprod Domest Anim 2015; 49 Suppl 4:37-48. [PMID: 25277431 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sheep and goat production is an important economic activity in Spain with an increasing interest in milk production. Multiovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) and In vitro Embryo Production (IVEP) are assisted reproductive technologies aimed at increasing the genetic diffusion of females. In vitro embryo production is a multi-step methodology comprising the following procedures: (i) In vitro Maturation (IVM) of oocytes recovered directly from the follicles, (ii) In vitro Fertilization (IVF) or co-incubation of capacitated spermatozoa with in vitro matured oocytes and (iii) In vitro culture (IVC) of zygotes up to the blastocyst stage. In vitro embryo production from oocytes recovered from prepubertal females is called JIVET (Juvenile in vitro Embryo Transfer) and allows shortened generation intervals and increased genetic gain. Embryo production together with embryo cryoconservation would allow large-scale embryo marketing, a pathogen-free genetic movement and easier and cheaper germplasm commercial transactions. Commercial Embryo activity in small ruminants is low compared to cows in the European Union (data from the European Embryo Transfer Association) and in the world (data from the International Embryo Transfer Association). There is less IVEP research in small ruminants compared to other livestock species. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the current status of IVEP of small ruminant with an emphasis on (i) description of the main methodologies currently used for IVM, IVF and IVC of embryos (ii) comparing procedures and outputs from JIVET and IVEP of adult females and (iii) the future research perspectives of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-T Paramio
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University Autonomous of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Reader KL, Cox NR, Stanton JAL, Juengel JL. Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on lamb oocyte blastocyst rate, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Theriogenology 2015; 83:1484-92. [PMID: 25748246 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Viable lambs can be produced after transfer of in vitro-derived embryos from oocytes harvested from prepubertal lambs. However, this occurs at a much lower efficiency than from adult ewe oocyte donors. The reduced competence of prepubertal oocytes is believed to be due, at least in part, to deficiencies in cytoplasmic maturation. Differences in the cytoplasmic ultrastructure between prepubertal and adult oocytes have been described in the sheep, pig, and cow. Prepubertal lamb oocytes have been shown to have a different distribution of mitochondria and lipid droplets, and less mitochondria and storage vesicles than their adult counterparts. L-carnitine plays a role in supplying energy to the cell by transporting long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for β-oxidation to produce ATP. Both L-carnitine and its derivative acetyl-L-carnitine have been reported to increase the blastocyst rate of oocytes from mice, cows, and pigs, treated during IVM. L-carnitine has also been shown to increase mitochondrial biogenesis in adipose cells. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine if treatment of oocytes from prepubertal lambs with acetyl-L-carnitine during IVM could increase the blastocyst rate and alter mitochondria, vesicle, or lipid droplet number, volume, or distribution. The blastocyst rate was doubled in prepubertal lamb oocytes treated with acetyl-L-carnitine when compared to untreated oocytes (10.0% and 4.6%, respectively; P = 0.028). Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and stereology techniques were used to quantify organelles in untreated and acetyl-L-carnitine-treated lamb oocytes, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods were used to measure the mitochondrial DNA copy number. There were no differences in mitochondrial volume, number, or mitochondrial DNA copy number. Acetyl-L-carnitine treatment increased the cytoplasmic volume (P = 0.015) of the oocytes, and there were trends toward an increase in the vesicle volume (P = 0.089) and an altered distribution of lipid droplets (P = 0.076). In conclusion, acetyl-L-carnitine can be used to increase the in vitro blastocyst rate of juvenile oocytes and therefore to improve juvenile in vitro embryo transfer methods. These methods can be used for livestock improvement by increasing the rate of genetic gain. Further work is required to identify the contents of the vesicles and confirm the mode of action of acetyl-L-carnitine in improving oocyte competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Reader
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Animal Productivity, AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
| | - Neil R Cox
- Bioinformatics and Statistics, AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand
| | - Jo-Ann L Stanton
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer L Juengel
- Animal Productivity, AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand
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Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A, Veshkini A, Hajarizadeh A, Jamshidi-Adegani F, Zhandi M, Abazari-Kia AH, Cinar MU, Soleimani M, Gastal EL. Association of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity with oocyte cytoplasmic lipid content, developmental competence, and expression of candidate genes in a sheep model. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:1089-98. [PMID: 24913026 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0264-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate associations of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity in sheep oocytes with cytoplasmic lipid content, maturational competence, developmental competence to the blastocyst stage, and gene expression of certain molecular markers. METHODS Before brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining test, oocytes were classified as high, middle, and low cytoplasmic lipid content (HCLC, MCLC, and LCLC) and after the test as having low or high G6PDH-activity (BCB(+) and BCB(-), respectively). After maturation in vitro, a group of oocytes were subjected to IVF followed by in vitro embryo culture and another group was used for evaluation of expression of candidate genes. RESULTS The cleavage and blastosyst rates were lowest (P < 0.05) in LCLC group, intermediate (P < 0.05) in MCLC group and highest (P < 0.05) in HCLC group. More (P < 0.05) oocytes in HCLC group were BCB(+), and higher (P < 0.05) maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst rates were seen for BCB(+) oocytes than the BCB(-) oocytes. Our gene expression data indicated that mRNA transcript abundance of ITGB2, pZP3, BMP15, and GDF9 genes was similar between BCB oocytes groups. However, the expression of ATP1A1 was higher (P < 0.05) for BCB(+) oocytes compared to BCB(-) oocytes. In addition, BAX transcript abundance was similar (P > 0.05) among BCB(+), BCB(-), and control groups, before and after maturation in vitro. CONCLUSION Activity of G6PDH in sheep oocytes is highly associated with lipid content, and compared with the morphological parameters might be a more precise and objective predictor for subsequent developmental competence in vitro.
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Abazari-Kia AH, Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A, Dehghani-Mohammadabadi M, Jamshidi-Adegani F, Veshkini A, Zhandi M, Cinar MU, Salehi M. Intracellular glutathione content, developmental competence and expression of apoptosis-related genes associated with G6PDH-activity in goat oocyte. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:313-21. [PMID: 24356867 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-013-0159-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To associate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity in goat oocytes with intracellular glutathione (GSH) content, meiotic competence, developmental potential, and relative abundance of Bax and Bcl-2 genes transcripts. METHODS Goat oocytes were exposed to brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining test and categorized into BCB(+) (blue-cytoplasm), and BCB(-) (colorless-cytoplasm) groups. A group of oocytes were not exposed to BCB test and was considered as a control group. After maturation in vitro, a group of oocytes were used for determination of nuclear status and intracellular GSH content while another group was subjected to parthenogenetic activation followed by in vitro embryo culture. RESULTS We found that BCB(+) oocytes not only yielded higher rate of maturation, but also showed an increased level of intracellular GSH content than BCB(-) and control oocytes. Furthermore, BCB(+) oocytes produced more blastocysts than BCB(-) and control oocytes. Our data revealed that the expression of anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and pro-apoptotic (Bax) genes were interacted with G6PDH-activity in mature oocyte, their surrounding cumulus cells, and blastocyst-stage embryos. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study demonstrate that selection of goat oocytes based on G6PDH-activity through the BCB test improves their developmental competence, increases intracellular GSH content, and affects the expression of the apoptosis-related genes.
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Pawlak P, Warzych E, Chabowska A, Lechniak D. Differences in cytoplasmic maturation between the BCB+ and control porcine oocytes do not justify application of the BCB test for a standard IVM protocol. J Reprod Dev 2013; 60:28-36. [PMID: 24284835 PMCID: PMC3963294 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2013-092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) test relies on G6PDH activity and a simple protocol for
the selection of higher quality oocytes. Although the BCB+ oocytes of all the species that
have been investigated are characterized by superior quality when compared to BCB-
counterparts, application of the test for embryo production still remains an open issue.
The aim of our study was to compare BCB+ and the control oocytes (not subjected to the BCB
test) in terms of selected aspects of cytoplasmic maturation (mtDNA copy number,
mitochondria distribution, relative transcript abundance of six marker genes). The results
of our study revealed more relevant differences within the BCB+ and the control oocytes
(before and after IVM) than between the two categories of oocytes. There was no difference
in the transcript abundance of the BCB+ and the control oocytes in 5 out of 6 analyzed
genes (BMP15, GDF9, ATP5A1,
EEF1A, ZAR1) and in mtDNA content (pre-IVM 179609
vs. 176595 and post-IVM 187243 vs. 246984,
respectively). With regard to mitochondria distribution in pre- and post-IVM oocytes,
there was nonsignificant tendency for a more frequent occurrence of the expected patterns
in the BCB+ group. The results of the present study do not support the application of BCB
staining in a routine IVM protocol due to relatively high similarity in selected
parameters characterizing cytoplasmic maturation of BCB+ and control oocytes. This high
similarity may results from the limited amount of less competent BCB- oocytes (10%) still
present among nonselected oocytes of proper morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Pawlak
- Department of Genetics And Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
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Opiela J, Kątska-Książkiewicz L. The utility of Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) staining of mammalian oocytes used for in vitro embryo production (IVP). Reprod Biol 2013; 13:177-83. [PMID: 24011188 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2013.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The present article summarizes the results of experiments investigating the Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) staining for selection of immature oocytes before in vitro embryo production or somatic cell nuclear transfer. Developmental competence of oocytes stained with BCB and quality of blastocysts derived from such oocytes as well as the expression of apoptosis-related genes, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication-related genes and the transcripts encoded by the mitochondrial genome in BCB stained oocytes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Opiela
- National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Biotechnology of Animal Reproduction, Balice/Kraków, Poland.
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