Development of bovine embryos in vitro in coculture with murine mesenchymal stem cells and embryonic fibroblasts

Mogroside III improves bovine oocyte in vitro maturation by regulating autophagy in cumulus cells

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is pivotal for successful embryo production. Cumulus cells (CCs) contribute to oocyte maturation through the secretion of hormones and nutrients, with proper autophagic activity being crucial for this process. However, the role of autophagy in CCs remains underexplored. Siraitia grosvenorii extract Mogroside III (MIII), known for its antioxidant properties, has yet to be extensively studied for its impact on bovine oocyte IVM and its potential regulatory effects on autophagy. This study assessed the influence of MIII on autophagic activity in CCs and its subsequent effects on oocyte developmental potential. The results demonstrated that MIII enhanced bovine oocyte IVM, promoted CC expansion, and supported embryonic development. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that MIII upregulated the expression of autophagy-related genes. In vitro experiments on CCs revealed that MIII increased LC3B protein levels, reduced SQSTM1 accumulation, and upregulated the gene expression of LC3, Beclin1, and ATG5. In co-culture systems, autophagy inhibition in CCs impaired oocyte IVM and embryonic development, but MIII alleviated these effects, restoring oocyte developmental capacity compromised by 3-MA-induced autophagy inhibition. Mechanistically, MIII facilitated the degradation of WT1 by upregulating LC3B, influencing CC differentiation, enhancing FSHR synthesis, and increasing estrogen and progesterone secretion. In conclusion, MIII enhances oocyte developmental potential by modulating autophagy in CCs.

Lysate of bovine adipose-derived stem cells accelerates in-vitro development and increases cryotolerance through reduced content of lipid in the in vitro fertilized embryos

Mesenchymal stem cells such as adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are known to secrete factors that stimulate cell division and promote regeneration in neighboring cells. While conditioned medium from stem cells has been used in blastocyst production, no studies have examined the use of cell lysates. In this study we investigated the effects of adding ADSC lysate to in vitro culture (IVC) medium. ADSCs and fibroblasts were isolated from bovine adipose tissue and auricular tissue, respectively, and their lysates were prepared by freeze-thaw disruption. ADSC lysate was added to synthetic oviductal fluid medium. The effects on cleavage, blastocyst development rates, cell numbers, cryotolerance, gene expression (POU5F1, BAX, IGF1R, IGF2R, SOD2), lipid content, and membrane integrity were evaluated according to the experimental design. In Expt. 1, the comparison involved adding ADSC or fibroblast lysate alongside the control group. The total blastocyst rate increased when ADSC lysate was introduced (ADSCs: 40.1 %, fibroblasts: 33.1 %, control: 27.3 %). However, there were no significant differences in the number of trophoblast cells or in the inner cell mass. Experiment 2 confirmed that this increase in blastocyst development was not due to the solvent, PBS(-). In Expt. 3, addition of 10 % fetal calf serum (FCS) or ADSC lysate increased the total blastocyst rate compared to the control (control, 26.2 %; 10 % FCS, 43.4 %; 1 % ADSC lysate, 34.2 %; 10 % ADSC lysate, 48.1 %). After freezing and thawing, the survival and hatching rates of embryos with FCS were significantly lower than those of the control as well as those with added ADSC lysate. In Expt. 4, the addition of ADSC lysate or FCS had no significant effect on gene expression in blastocysts compared to control. However, the addition of FCS significantly increased the gray intensity, indicating higher lipid content compared to the control, with a significant increase in the number of dead cells in the blastocyst. These results indicate that the addition of ADSC lysate to the IVC medium accelerates bovine blastocyst development and that its 10 % addition, corresponding to 1 × 105 cells/mL, is as effective as 10 % FCS without a decrease in cryotolerance due to the increased lipid content.

Feline Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a feeder layer for oocytes maturation and embryos culture in vitro

Introduction

Due to their capacity to release growth factors and cytokines, co-culture using mesenchymal stem cells has been considered a good alternative to promoting the maturation of the oocytes and the embryo's development quality in vitro in different mammalian species. In this regard, we investigated the effect of feline Wharton's jelly MSCs as feeders layer in oocyte maturation-consequently, the development of resulting embryos in co-culture.

Methods

Oocytes with dark cytoplasm and a few layers of cumulus cells were collected and subjected to in vitro maturation and embryo culture using commercial media with and without MSCs addition. The oocytes' nuclear maturation and the degree of cumulus expansion in different groups were assessed after 24 h; the development of the embryo was evaluated every 12 h until day eight.

Results

Although MSCs increased the proportion of cumulus cells oocytes exhibiting cumulus expansion, there were no significant differences in the percentage of matured oocytes (metaphase II) among the groups (p > 0.05). However, the embryo development differs significantly, with a higher cleavage, morula, and blastocyst percentage in oocytes matured with MSC co-culture conditions than in commercial media alone (p < 0.05). Also, we observed higher morula and blastocyst rates in the embryos co-cultured with MSCs during the in vitro culture (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Based on our results, the co-culture with MSCs during the oocyte maturation resulted in better embryo development, as well as the MSCs addition during embryo culture returned an increased number of morula and blastocysts. Further research is needed to fully understand and optimize the use of MSCs in oocyte maturation and embryo development.

The role of embryonic stem cells, transcription and growth factors in mammals: A review

Mammals represent a relevant species in worldwide cultures with significant commercial value. These animals are considered an attractive large animal model for biomedical and biotechnology research. The development of large animal experimental models may open alternative strategies for investigating stem cells (SCs) physiology and potential application in the veterinary field. The embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are known to possess natural pluripotency that confers the ability to differentiate into various tissues in vivo and in vitro. These notable characteristics can be useful for research and innovative applications, including biomedicine, agriculture and industry. Transcription factors play a crucial role in preserving stem cell self-renewal, whereas growth factors are involved in both growth and differentiation. However, to date, many questions concerning pluripotency, cellular differentiation regulator genes, and other molecules such as growth factors and their interactions in many mammalian species remain unresolved. The purpose of this review is to provide an overall review regarding the study of ESCs in mammals and briefly discuss the role of transcription and growth factors.

Human amniotic membrane stem cells' conditioned medium has better support for in-vitro production of bovine embryos than FBS

Apart from oocyte quality, the media used has a significant effect on the production and quality of blastocysts produced in vitro. This study was designed to evaluate the replacement of serum with human amniotic membrane stem cells' conditioned medium (hAMSCs-CM) during bovine embryo culture on the quantity and quality of produced blastocysts. The in-vitro-produced embryos on the third day of IVC were randomly divided into the following culture groups: SOFaa + 5% FBS (Control), SOFaa + 5% hAMSCs-CM (5% CM), SOFaa + 2.5% hAMSCs-CM + 2.5% FBS (2.5% CM) and SOFaa + hAMSC co-culture (co-culture). The blastocyst and hatching rates, blastocyst cells number (the number of trophectoderm, inner cell mass and total cells), and the expression of some developmentally important genes (OCT4, PLAC8 and COX2 genes) in the treated groups, especially in the 5% CM, compared to the control had improved (p < .05). No significant difference was observed between groups for viability and hatching rate in vitrified-warmed blastocysts. Due to the positive effect of hAMSCs' conditioned medium (hAMSCs-CM) on blastocyst production, as well as its ease of preparation and the need to avoid the transmission of microbial contamination to the culture medium, hAMSCs-CM can be used as a suitable alternative to FBS during 3 to 8 days of bovine embryo culture.

Metabolomic Analysis Evidences That Uterine Epithelial Cells Enhance Blastocyst Development in a Microfluidic Device

Here we report the use of a microfluidic system to assess the differential metabolomics of murine embryos cultured with endometrial cells-conditioned media (CM). Groups of 10, 1-cell murine B6C3F1 × B6D2F1 embryos were cultured in the microfluidic device. To produce CM, mouse uterine epithelial cells were cultured in potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM) for 24 h. Media samples were collected from devices after 5 days of culture with KSOM (control) and CM, analyzed by reverse phase liquid chromatography and untargeted positive ion mode mass spectrometry analysis. Blastocyst rates were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in CM (71.8%) compared to control media (54.6%). We observed significant upregulation of 341 compounds and downregulation of 214 compounds in spent media from CM devices when compared to control. Out of these, 353 compounds were identified showing a significant increased abundance of metabolites involved in key metabolic pathways (e.g., arginine, proline and pyrimidine metabolism) in the CM group, suggesting a beneficial effect of CM on embryo development. The metabolomic study carried out in a microfluidic environment confirms our hypothesis on the potential of uterine epithelial cells to enhance blastocyst development. Further investigations are required to highlight specific pathways involved in embryo development and implantation.

Embryo co-culture with bovine amniotic membrane stem cells can enhance the cryo-survival of IVF-derived bovine blastocysts comparable with co-culture with bovine oviduct epithelial cells

Culture conditions have a profound effect on the quality of in vitro-produced embryos. Co-culturing embryos with somatic cells has some beneficial effects on embryonic development. Considering the ability of stem cells to secrete a broad range of growth factors with different biological activities, we hypothesized that bovine amniotic membrane stem cells (bAMSCs) might be superior to bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) in supporting embryonic development and enhancing their cryo-survival. Bovine abattoir-derived oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro. The resultant presumptive zygotes were then cultured up to the blastocyst stage in the following groups: (i) co-culture with bAMSCs, (ii) co-culture with BOECs, and (iii) cell-free culture (Con). Embryos that reached the blastocyst stage were vitrified and warmed, and their post-warming re-expansion, survival and hatching rates were evaluated after 72 h culture. Results showed that the cleavage, blastocyst, and 2 h post-warming re-expansion rates of embryos did not differ between groups. However, their survival rates in BOEC and bAMSC groups were significantly higher compared with the control (72.7, 75.6 and 37.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that the cryo-survivability of IVF-derived bovine embryos could be improved through co-culturing with bAMSCs. Moreover, considering the possibility to provide multiple passages from bAMSCs compared with BOECs, due to their stemness properties and their ability to produce growth factors, the use of bAMSCs is a good alternative to BOECs in embryo co-culture systems.