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Horcajo P, Ortega-Mora LM, Benavides J, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Amieva R, Collantes-Fernández E, Pastor-Fernández I. Ovine placental explants: A new ex vivo model to study host‒pathogen interactions in reproductive pathogens. Theriogenology 2023; 212:157-171. [PMID: 37729817 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive failure is one of the main performance constraints in ruminant livestock. Transmissible agents such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are commonly involved in the occurrence of abortion in ruminants, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. While in vivo models are optimal for the study of abortion pathogenesis, they have a high economic cost and come with ethical concerns. Unfortunately, alternative in vitro models fail to replicate the complex in vivo placental structure. To overcome the limitations of currently available models, we developed an ex vivo model based on the cultivation of fresh and cryopreserved sheep placental explants, enabling the biobanking of tissues. Reproducible and simple markers of tissue integrity (histology, RNA concentrations), viability (resazurin reduction), and functionality (synthesis of steroid hormones) were also investigated, allowing a clear quality assessment of the model. This work shows that, similar to fresh explants, tissues cryopreserved in ethylene glycol using slow freezing rates maintain not only their structure and function but also their receptivity to T. gondii and N. caninum infection. In addition, the findings demonstrate that explant lifespan is mainly limited by the culture method, with protocols requiring improvements to extend it beyond 2 days. These findings suggest that cryopreserved tissues can be exploited to study the initial host‒pathogen interactions taking place in the placenta, thus deepening the knowledge of the specific mechanisms that trigger reproductive failure in sheep. Importantly, this work paves the way for the development of similar models in related species and contributes to the reduction of experimental animal use in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Horcajo
- SALUVET group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Julio Benavides
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), Grulleros, León, 24346, Spain.
| | - Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez
- SALUVET group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rafael Amieva
- SALUVET group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Esther Collantes-Fernández
- SALUVET group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Iván Pastor-Fernández
- SALUVET group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
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Ge C, Geng T, Cheng L, Zhang Y. Gestational exposure to PCB-118 impairs placental angiogenesis and fetal growth. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:49126-49135. [PMID: 35217957 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19240-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Maternal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) results in adverse effects on fetal development. However, the underlying mechanism has not been sufficiently explored in respect to particular PCBs. Placental angiogenesis plays a crucial role in feto-maternal substances transportation and fetal development. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of prenatal PCB118 exposure on placental angiogenesis and fetal growth. The pregnant dam received PCB118 at environmentally relevant doses (0, 20, or 100 μg/kg/day) intragastrically from gestational day (GD) 7.5-18.5 to establish an in vivo model. Compared with the control group, the fetal body and placental weights of the PCB118 (100 μg/kg/day) group were significantly decreased and the intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) rates were increased both in the female and male fetus. Furthermore, we found that placental histology was significantly impaired and the number of blood vessels was decreased in the PCB118 group. Additionally, gestational exposure to PCB118 caused anomalous mRNA expression of the genes in the placenta regarding angiogenesis. These findings indicate that PCB118 may contribute to the occurrence of IUGR by provoking placental angiogenesis dysfunction. This study clarified the adverse effects and potential mechanism of prenatal PCBs exposure on fetal growth, providing a new theoretical and experimental basis for future treatment and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Ge
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Clinical Research Center for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Health, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Geng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Clinical Research Center for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Health, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Cheng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Clinical Research Center for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Health, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhen Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
- Hubei Clinical Research Center for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Health, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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Murati T, Miletić M, Pleadin J, Šimić B, Kmetič I. Cell membrane-related toxic responses and disruption of intercellular communication in PCB mechanisms of toxicity: A review. J Appl Toxicol 2020; 40:1592-1601. [PMID: 32648282 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener-specific effects on cell membrane and intercellular communication is important within the studies of PCB absorption, organ-related PCB accumulation and exertion of toxic responses. Toxic potential of PCBs is linked to various deleterious effects on human health, including neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity and, recently in 2016 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has upgraded the classification of PCBs to Group 1 "Carcinogenic to humans." Proposed mechanisms of aforementioned PCBs adverse effects at cellular membrane level are: (i) downregulation of gap junction intercellular communication and/or connexins; (ii) compromised membrane integrity; and (iii) altered tight junction barrier function. This study, based on an extensive literature survey, shows the progress in scientific research of each of these three levels with the aim of pointing out the earliest toxic events of PCBs, which can result in serious cell/tissue/organ damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teuta Murati
- Laboratory for Toxicology, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Miletić
- Laboratory for Toxicology, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelka Pleadin
- Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branimir Šimić
- Laboratory for Toxicology, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Kmetič
- Laboratory for Toxicology, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Ahmed R, El-Gareib A, Shaker H. Gestational 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) exposure disrupts fetoplacental unit: Fetal thyroid-cytokines dysfunction. Life Sci 2018; 192:213-220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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