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Nie L, Wang X, Wang S, Hong Z, Wang M. Genetic insights into the complexity of premature ovarian insufficiency. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:94. [PMID: 39095891 PMCID: PMC11295921 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01254-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a highly heterogeneous condition characterized by ovarian dysfunction in women occurring before the age of 40, representing a significant cause of female infertility. It manifests through primary or secondary amenorrhea. While more than half of POI cases are idiopathic, genetic factors play a pivotal role in all instances with known causes, contributing to approximately 20-25% of cases. This article comprehensively reviews the genetic factors associated with POI, delineating the primary candidate genes. The discussion delves into the intricate relationship between these genes and ovarian development, elucidating the functional consequences of diverse mutations to underscore the fundamental impact of genetic effects on POI. The identified genetic factors, encompassing gene mutations and chromosomal abnormalities, are systematically classified based on whether the resulting POI is syndromic or non-syndromic. Furthermore, this paper explores the genetic interplay between mitochondrial genes, such as Required for Meiotic Nuclear Division 1 homolog Gene (RMND1), Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein S22 Gene (MRPS22), Leucine-rich Pentapeptide Repeat Gene (LRPPRC), and non-coding RNAs, including both microRNAs and Long non-coding RNAs, with POI. The insights provided serve to consolidate and enhance our understanding of the etiology of POI, contributing to establishing a theoretical foundation for diagnosing and treating POI patients, as well as for exploring the mechanisms underlying the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhang Nie
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
- WuHan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
- Second Clinical Hospital of WuHan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Songyuan Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
- WuHan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Zhidan Hong
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
- Clinical Medicine Research Center of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Health in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Science and Birth Health, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
| | - Mei Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
- Clinical Medicine Research Center of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Health in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Science and Birth Health, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China.
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Floccari S, Sabry R, Choux L, Neal MS, Khokhar JY, Favetta LA. DNA methylation, but not microRNA expression, is affected by in vitro THC exposure in bovine granulosa cells. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 25:42. [PMID: 39010179 PMCID: PMC11247865 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-024-00763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A global increase in cannabis use has led to questions about its effects on fertility. The rise in consumption amongst women of reproductive age is a growing concern, as this group is vulnerable in terms of reproductive health. Ample evidence suggests that the psychoactive component of cannabis, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), that helps regulate mammalian reproduction. This study aimed to research the epigenetic effects of THC in bovine granulosa cells (GCs) by (1) investigating global DNA methylation via measuring 5-mC and 5-hmC levels; (2) measuring key methylation regulators, including the methylating enzymes DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b and the demethylases TDG and TET1/2/3; and (3) assessing fertility-associated miRNAs key in developmental competency, including miR-21, -155, -33b, -324 and -346. METHODS Bovine GCs were used as a translational model for reproductive toxicity in humans. To determine THC effects, GCs were isolated from Cumulus-Oocyte-Complexes (COCs) from bovine ovaries, cultured in vitro for 7 days, or until confluent, and cryopreserved at passage 1 (P1). For experimentation, cells were thawed, cultured until passage 2 (P2), serum restricted for 24-h and treated for 24-h in one of five groups: control, vehicle (1:1:18 ethanol: tween: saline) and three clinically relevant THC doses (0.032, 0.32 and 3.2 μM). Global methylation was assessed by measuring 5-mC and 5-hmC levels with flow cytometry. To assess mRNA and protein expression of methylation regulators and miRNA profiles, qPCR and Western Blotting were utilized. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine normality within datasets. One-way ANOVA was applied to determine statistical significance using GraphPad Prism 6.0.0. RESULTS Results indicate a significant decrease (p = 0.0435) in 5-mC levels following low THC exposure, while no changes were observed in 5-hmC levels. A significant increase in DNMT1 following high THC exposure at the RNA level (p < 0.05) and a significant increase following low THC exposure at the protein level (p = 0.0048) were also observed. No significant differences were observed in DNMT3a/3b, TDG, TET1/2/3 mRNAs or in any of the miRNAs analyzed. CONCLUSIONS This research suggests that THC mainly affects DNA methylation, but not miRNA profiles, ultimately altering gene expression and likely impairing oocyte competence, maturation, and fertilization potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Floccari
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Reem Sabry
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Laurie Choux
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Michael S Neal
- ONE Fertility, Burlington, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jibran Y Khokhar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Laura A Favetta
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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Zhang T, Tong Y, Zhu R, Liang Y, Zhang J, Hu C, He M, Hu Z, Shen Z, Niu J, Zhang J, Yu Y, Jin B, Lei S, Zeng Z, Wu Y, Cheng Z, Xiao Z, Guo B, Zhao S, Xu G, Pan W, Chen T. HDAC6-dependent deacetylation of NGF dictates its ubiquitination and maintains primordial follicle dormancy. Theranostics 2024; 14:2345-2366. [PMID: 38646645 PMCID: PMC11024860 DOI: 10.7150/thno.95164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Primordial follicles are limited in number and cannot be regenerated, dormant primordial follicles cannot be reversed once they enter a growth state. Therefore, the length of the female reproductive lifespan depends on the orderly progression and selective activation of primordial follicles, the mechanism of which remains unclear. Methods: We used human ovarian cortical biopsy specimens, granulosa cells from diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) patients, Hdac6-overexpressing transgenic mouse model, and RNA sequencing to analyze the crucial roles of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in fertility preservation and primordial follicle activation. Results: In the present study, we found that HDAC6 was highly expressed in most dormant primordial follicles. The HDAC6 expression was reduced accompanying reproductive senescence in human and mouse ovaries. Overexpression of Hdac6 delayed the rate of primordial follicle activation, thereby prolonging the mouse reproductive lifespan. Short-term inhibition of HDAC6 promoted primordial follicle activation and follicular development in humans and mice. Mechanism studies revealed that HDAC6 directly interacted with NGF, reducing acetylation modification of NGF and thereby accelerating its ubiquitination degradation. Consequently, the reduced NGF protein level maintained the dormancy of primordial follicles. Conclusions: The physiological significance of the high expression of HDAC6 in most primordial follicles is to reduce NGF expression and prevent primordial follicle activation to maintain female fertility. Reduced HDAC6 expression increases NGF expression in primordial follicles, activating their development and contributing to reproduction. Our study provides a clinical reference value for fertility preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Zhang
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Yuntong Tong
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Rengguang Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Yaoyun Liang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Jixian Zhang
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Chujiao Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Meina He
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Zhu Hu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Zhiyi Shen
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Jin Niu
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Bangming Jin
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Shan Lei
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Zhirui Zeng
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Yingmin Wu
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Zengmei Cheng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Ziwen Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Bing Guo
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Shuyun Zhao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Guoqiang Xu
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Wei Pan
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
| | - Tengxiang Chen
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, China
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Wang JJ, Zhang XY, Zeng Y, Liu QC, Feng XL, Yan JM, Li MH, Reiter RJ, Shen W. Melatonin alleviates the toxic effect of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on oocyte quality resulting from CEBPB suppression during primordial follicle formation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:132997. [PMID: 38008054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132997] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Presently, the exposure of plasticizers to humans and animals occurs daily, which pose a potential threat to reproductive health. In the present study, a pregnant mouse model exposed to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, one of the most common plasticizers) and melatonin was established, and the single-cell transcriptome technology was applied to investigate the effects of melatonin in ovarian cells against DEHP. Results showed that DEHP markedly altered the gene expression pattern of ovarian cells, and severely weakened the histone methylation modification of oocytes. The administration of melatonin recovered the expression of LHX8 and SOHLH1 proteins that essential for primordial follicle formation, and increased the expression of CEBPB, as well as key genes of histone methylation modification (such as Smyd3 and Kdm5a). In addition, the ovarian damage caused by DEHP was also relieved after the overexpression of CEBPB, which suggested melatonin could improve primordial follicle formation progress via enhancing CEBPB expression in mice. Besides, the apoptosis of ovarian cells induced by DEHP also was diminished by melatonin. The study provides evidence of melatonin preventing the damage mediated by plasticizers on the reproductive system in females and CEBPB may serve as a downstream target factor of melatonin in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Yue Zeng
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Qing-Chun Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Xin-Lei Feng
- Animal Products Quality and Safety Center, Shandong Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jia-Mao Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Ming-Hao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Russel J Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Long School of Medicine, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
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Zhang T, Lin H, Ren T, He M, Zheng W, Tong Y, Jin B, Xie K, Deng A, Liu S, Chen Y, Xu G, Chen T, Pan W, Xiao Z. ROCK1 is a multifunctional factor maintaining the primordial follicle reserve and follicular development in mice. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C27-C39. [PMID: 37661919 PMCID: PMC11192470 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00019.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The follicle is the basic structural and functional unit of the ovary in female mammals. The excessive depletion of follicles will lead to diminished ovarian reserve or even premature ovarian failure, resulting in diminished ovarian oogenesis and endocrine function. Excessive follicular depletion is mainly due to loss of primordial follicles. Our analysis of published human ovarian single-cell sequencing results by others revealed a significant increase in rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) expression during primordial follicle development. However, the role of ROCK1 in primordial follicle development and maintenance is not clear. This study revealed a gradual increase in ROCK1 expression during primordial follicle activation. Inhibition of ROCK1 resulted in reduced primordial follicle activation, decreased follicular reserve, and delayed development of growing follicles. This effect may be achieved through the HIPPO pathway. The present study indicates that ROCK1 is a key molecule for primordial follicular reserve and follicular development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY ROCK1, one of the Rho GTPases, plays an important role in primordial follicle reserve and follicular development. ROCK1 was primarily expressed in the cytoplasm of oocytes and granulosa cell in mice. Inhibition of ROCK1 significantly reduced the primordial follicle reserve and delayed growing follicle development. ROCK1 regulates primordial follicular reserve and follicle development through the HIPPO signaling pathway. These findings shed new lights on the physiology of sustaining female reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Zhang
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Lin
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianhe Ren
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Meina He
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenying Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuntong Tong
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Bangming Jin
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaiyun Xie
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ankang Deng
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyu Liu
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqian Chen
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqiang Xu
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tengxiang Chen
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Pan
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziwen Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China
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Zhang Y, Wan Y, Mu X, Gao R, Geng Y, Chen X, Li F, He J. Gestational dibutyl phthalate exposure impairs primordial folliculogenesis in mice through autophagy activation and NOTCH2 signal interruption. Food Chem Toxicol 2023:113861. [PMID: 37277016 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113861] [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: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Female reproductive lifespan is largely determined by the size of the primordial follicle pool, which is established in early life. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a popular plasticiser, is a known environmental endocrine disruptor that poses a potential threat to reproductive health. However, DBP impact on early oogenesis has been rarely reported. In this study, maternal exposure to DBP in gestation disrupted germ-cell cyst breakdown and primordial follicle assembly in foetal ovary, impairing female fertility in adulthood. Subsequently, altered autophagic flux with autophagosome accumulation was observed in DBP-exposed ovaries carrying CAG-RFP-EGFP-LC3 reporter genes, whereas autophagy inhibition by 3-methyladenine attenuated the impact of DBP on primordial folliculogenesis. Moreover, DBP exposure reduced the expression of NOTCH2 intracellular domain (NICD2) and decreased interactions between NICD2 and Beclin-l. NICD2 was observed within the autophagosomes in DBP-exposed ovaries. Furthermore, NICD2 overexpression partially restored primordial folliculogenesis. Furthermore, melatonin significantly relieved oxidative stress, decreased autophagy, and restored NOTCH2 signalling, consequently reversing the effect on folliculogenesis. Therefore, this study demonstrated that gestational DBP exposure disrupts primordial folliculogenesis by inducing autophagy, which targets NOTCH2 signalling, and this impact has long-term consequences on fertility in adulthood, strengthening the potential contribution of environmental chemicals to the development of ovarian dysfunctional diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Yiji Wan
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Xinyi Mu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Rufei Gao
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Yanqing Geng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Junlin He
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
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7
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Han L, Huang Y, Li B, Wang W, Sun YL, Zhang X, Zhang W, Liu S, Zhou W, Xia W, Zhang M. The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice. Theranostics 2023; 13:3131-3148. [PMID: 37351158 PMCID: PMC10283063 DOI: 10.7150/thno.82553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Aged women and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients have residual dormant primordial follicles that are hard to be activated through a physiological process. However, there are no effective and safe drugs to help them. Methods: We used the in vitro culture model of newborn mouse ovaries to identify the drugs that promote primordial follicle activation and study its mechanisms. It was verified by in vivo injection model of newborn mice and in vitro culture model of human ovarian tissue. In addition, we used the aged mice as a low infertility model to verify the effects of primordial follicle activation, and fertility by drugs. Results: Eleven metallic compounds activated mouse primordial follicles, and the five most effective compounds were selected for further study. Thapsigargin (TG), CrCl3, MnCl2, FeCl3 and ZnSO4 increased the levels of the glycolysis-related proteins (glucose transporter type 4, GLUT4; hexokinase 1, HK1; pyruvate kinase M2, PKM2; phosphofructokinase, liver type, PFKL), phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) in cultured mouse ovaries. The compound-promoted p-mTOR levels could be completely blocked by 2-DG (the inhibitor of glycolysis). The compounds also increased the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt). TG-, CrCl3- and FeCl3-promoted p-Akt levels, but not MnCl2- and ZnSO4- promoted p-Akt levels, could be completely blocked by ISCK03 (the inhibitor of proto-oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase, KIT). The injection of newborn mice with the compounds also activated primordial follicles and increased the levels of the glycolysis-related proteins, p-mTOR, and p-Akt. The oral administration of the compounds in adolescent and aged mice promoted primordial follicle activation, and had no obvious side effect. Importantly, ZnSO4 also increased ovulated oocytes, oocyte quality and offspring in aged mice. Furthermore, the compounds promoted human primordial follicle activation and increased the levels of the glycolysis-related proteins, p-mTOR, and p-Akt. Conclusion: The metallic compounds activate primordial follicles through the glycolysis-dependent mTOR pathway and/or the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the oral administration of ZnSO4 enhances fertility in aged mice. We suggest that these metallic compounds may be oral drugs to ameliorate fertility deficits in aged women and POI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lincheng Han
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Yingying Huang
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Biao Li
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Weiyong Wang
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Yan-li Sun
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Xiaodan Zhang
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Wenjun Zhou
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510180, China
| | - Meijia Zhang
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
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8
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Zheng W, Zhang T, Zhao T, Zhu Z, Qin S, Yan H, He M, Zhou B, Xia G, Zhang H, Wang C. cAMP controls the balance between dormancy and activation of primordial follicles in mouse ovaries. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad055. [PMID: 36938502 PMCID: PMC10019762 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian ovaries, the balance between dormancy and activation of primordial follicles determines the female fecundity and endocrine homeostasis. Recently, several functional molecules and pathways have been reported to be involved in the activation of primordial follicles. However, the homeostasis regulatory mechanisms of primordial follicle activation are still scant. Our previous study has proved that a relatively higher concentration of cyclic AMP (cAMP) is required for primordial follicle formation. Here, we identified that cAMP also plays a vital role in the balance between dormancy and activation of primordial follicles. Our results showed that the concentration of cAMP remained stable in neonatal mouse ovaries, which is due to ADCY3, the synthetase of cAMP, and PDE3A, the hydrolytic enzyme of cAMP, were synchronously increased during the activation of primordial follicles in mouse ovaries. Once the concentration of cAMP in neonatal ovaries was either elevated or reduced in vitro, the activation of primordial follicles was either accelerated or decelerated accordingly. In addition, a higher concentration of cAMP in the ovaries of puberty mice improved primordial follicle activation in vivo. Finally, cAMP promoted primordial follicle activation via canonical mTORC1-PI3K signaling cascades and PKA signaling. In conclusion, our findings reveal that the concentration of cAMP acts as a key regulator in balancing the dormancy and activation of primordial follicles in the mouse ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ting Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zijian Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shaogang Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Meina He
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province 550025, China
| | - Bo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guoliang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western China, College of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chao Wang
- To whom correspondence should be addressed:
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9
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Zhang T, He M, Zhang J, Tong Y, Chen T, Wang C, Pan W, Xiao Z. Mechanisms of primordial follicle activation and new pregnancy opportunity for premature ovarian failure patients. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1113684. [PMID: 36926197 PMCID: PMC10011087 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1113684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Primordial follicles are the starting point of follicular development and the basic functional unit of female reproduction. Primordial follicles are formed around birth, and most of the primordial follicles then enter a dormant state. Since primordial follicles are limited in number and can't be renewed, dormant primordial follicles cannot be reversed once they enter the growing state. Thus, the orderly occurrence of primordial follicles selective activation directly affects the rate of follicle consumption and thus determines the length of female reproductive lifespan. Studies have found that appropriately inhibiting the activation rate of primordial follicles can effectively slow down the rate of follicle consumption, maintain fertility and delay ovarian aging. Based on the known mechanisms of primordial follicle activation, primordial follicle in vitro activation (IVA) technique has been clinically developed. IVA can help patients with premature ovarian failure, middle-aged infertile women, or infertile women due to gynecological surgery treatment to solve infertility problems. The study of the mechanism of selective activation of primordial follicles can contribute to the development of more efficient and safe IVA techniques. In this paper, recent mechanisms of primordial follicle activation and its clinical application are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Meina He
- College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Yuntong Tong
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Tengxiang Chen
- Transformation Engineering Research Center of Chronic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,College of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Pan
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center in Guizhou Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ziwen Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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10
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Li MH, Wang JJ, Feng YQ, Liu X, Yan ZH, Zhang XJ, Wen YX, Luo HW, Li L, De Felici M, Zhao AH, Shen W. H3K4me3 as a target of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) impairing primordial follicle assembly. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 310:136811. [PMID: 36220427 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plastics additive that growing evidence indicates as endocrine disruptor able to negatively affect various reproductive processes both in female and male animals, including humans. However, the precise molecular mechanism of such actions is not completely understood. In the present study, scRNA-seq was performed on the ovaries of offspring from mothers exposed to DEHP from 16.5 days post coitum to 3 days post-partum, when the primordial follicle (PF) stockpile is established. While the histological observations of the offspring ovaries from DEHP exposed mothers confirmed previous data about a distinct reduction of oocytes enclosed in PFs. Focusing on oocytes, scRNA-seq analyses showed that the genes that mostly changed by DEHP were enriched GO terms related to histone H3-K4 methylation. Moreover, we observed H3K4me3 level, an epigenetics modification of H3 that is crucial for chromatin transcription, decreased by 40.28% (P < 0.01) in DEHP-treated group compared with control. When the newborn ovaries were cultured in vitro, the DEHP effects were abolished by tamoxifen (an estrogen receptor antagonist) or overexpression of Smyd3 (one specific methyltransferase of H3K4me3), in particular, the percentage of oocyte enclosed in PF was increased by 15.39% in DEHP plus Smyd3 overexpression group than of DEHP group (P < 0.01), which was accompanied by the upregulation of H3K4me3. Collectively, the present results discover Smyd3-H3K4me3 as a novel target of the deleterious ER-mediated effect of DEHP on PF formation during early folliculogenesis in the mouse and highlight epigenetics changes as prominent targets of endocrine disruptors like DEHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Yan-Qin Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Zi-Hui Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Ya-Xin Wen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Hao-Wei Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Lan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy.
| | - Ai-Hong Zhao
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266100, China.
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
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11
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Stem Cell-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency and Infertility: A Focus on Aging. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233713. [PMID: 36496972 PMCID: PMC9738202 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive aging is on the rise globally and inseparable from the entire aging process. An extreme form of reproductive aging is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which to date has mostly been of idiopathic etiology, thus hampering further clinical applications and associated with enormous socioeconomic and personal costs. In the field of reproduction, the important functional role of inflammation-induced ovarian deterioration and therapeutic strategies to prevent ovarian aging and increase its function are current research hotspots. This review discusses the general pathophysiology and relative causes of POI and comprehensively describes the association between the aging features of POI and infertility. Next, various preclinical studies of stem cell therapies with potential for POI treatment and their molecular mechanisms are described, with particular emphasis on the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology in the current scenario. Finally, the progress made in the development of hiPSC technology as a POI research tool for engineering more mature and functional organoids suitable as an alternative therapy to restore infertility provides new insights into therapeutic vulnerability, and perspectives on this exciting research on stem cells and the derived exosomes towards more effective POI diagnosis and treatment are also discussed.
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12
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The programmed death of fetal oocytes and the correlated surveillance mechanisms. REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1097/rd9.0000000000000016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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13
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Johnson J, Emerson JW, Lawley SD. Recapitulating human ovarian aging using random walks. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13941. [PMID: 36032944 PMCID: PMC9406804 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanism(s) that control whether individual human primordial ovarian follicles (PFs) remain dormant, or begin to grow, are all but unknown. One of our groups has recently shown that activation of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) pathway can slow follicular granulosa cell proliferation by activating cell cycle checkpoints. Those data suggest that the ISR is active and fluctuates according to local conditions in dormant PFs. Because cell cycle entry of (pre)granulosa cells is required for PF growth activation (PFGA), we propose that rare ISR checkpoint resolution allows individual PFs to begin to grow. Fluctuating ISR activity within individual PFs can be described by a random process. In this article, we model ISR activity of individual PFs by one-dimensional random walks (RWs) and monitor the rate at which simulated checkpoint resolution and thus PFGA threshold crossing occurs. We show that the simultaneous recapitulation of (i) the loss of PFs over time within simulated subjects, and (ii) the timing of PF depletion in populations of simulated subjects equivalent to the distribution of the human age of natural menopause can be produced using this approach. In the RW model, the probability that individual PFs grow is influenced by regionally fluctuating conditions, that over time manifests in the known pattern of PFGA. Considered at the level of the ovary, randomness appears to be a key, purposeful feature of human ovarian aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Johnson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - John W. Emerson
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Sean D. Lawley
- Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
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14
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hnRNPH1 recruits PTBP2 and SRSF3 to modulate alternative splicing in germ cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3588. [PMID: 35739118 PMCID: PMC9226075 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31364-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Coordinated regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing is essential for germ cell development. However, the underlying molecular mechanism that controls alternative mRNA expression during germ cell development remains elusive. Herein, we show that hnRNPH1 is highly expressed in the reproductive system and recruits the PTBP2 and SRSF3 to modulate the alternative splicing in germ cells. Conditional knockout Hnrnph1 in spermatogenic cells causes many abnormal splicing events, thus affecting the genes related to meiosis and communication between germ cells and Sertoli cells. This is characterized by asynapsis of chromosomes and impairment of germ-Sertoli communications, which ultimately leads to male sterility. Markedly, Hnrnph1 germline-specific mutant female mice are also infertile, and Hnrnph1-deficient oocytes exhibit a similar defective synapsis and cell-cell junction as seen in Hnrnph1-deficient male germ cells. Collectively, our data support a molecular model wherein hnRNPH1 governs a network of alternative splicing events in germ cells via recruitment of PTBP2 and SRSF3. Coordinated regulation of alternative splicing is essential for germ cell development. Here, the authors report that hnRNPH1 interacts with alternative splicing factors PTBP2 and SRSF3 in the germline to regulate pre-mRNA alternative splicing.
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15
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Shang Y, Huang J, Li W, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Shao Q, Tan T, Yin S, Zhang L, Wang S. MEIOK21 regulates oocyte quantity and quality via modulating meiotic recombination. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22357. [PMID: 35593531 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101950r] [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: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The reproductive life span of females is largely determined by the number and quality of oocytes. Previously, we identified MEIOK21 as a meiotic recombination regulator required for male fertility. Here, we characterize the important roles of MEIOK21 in regulating female meiosis and oocyte number and quality. MEIOK21 localizes at recombination sites as a component of recombination bridges in oogenesis like in spermatogenesis. Meiok21-/- female mice show subfertility. Consistently, the size of the primordial follicle pool in Meiok21-/- females is only ~40% of wild-type females because a great number of oocytes with defects in meiotic recombination and/or synapsis are eliminated. Furthermore, the numbers of primordial and growing follicles show a more marked decrease in an age-dependent manner compared with wild-type females. Further analysis shows Meiok21-/- oocytes also have reduced rates of germinal vesicle breakdown and the first polar body extrusion when cultured in vitro, indicating poor oocyte quality. Additionally, Meiok21-/- oocytes have more chromosomes bearing a single distally localized crossover (chiasmata), suggesting a possible defect in crossover maturation. Taken together, our findings indicate critical roles for MEIOK21 in ensuring the number and quality of oocytes in the follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongliang Shang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ju Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
| | - Weidong Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qiqi Shao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Taicong Tan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shen Yin
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Liangran Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Shunxin Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, China
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16
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Ouni E, Nedbal V, Da Pian M, Cao H, Haas KT, Peaucelle A, Van Kerk O, Herinckx G, Marbaix E, Dolmans MM, Tuuri T, Otala M, Amorim CA, Vertommen D. Proteome-wide and matrisome-specific atlas of the human ovary computes fertility biomarker candidates and open the way for precision oncofertility. Matrix Biol 2022; 109:91-120. [PMID: 35341935 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Our modern era is witnessing an increasing infertility rate worldwide. Although some of the causes can be attributed to our modern lifestyle (e.g., persistent organic pollutants, late pregnancy), our knowledge of the human ovarian tissue has remained limited and insufficient to reverse the infertility statistics. Indeed, all efforts have been focused on the endocrine and cellular function in support of the cell theory that dates back to the 18th century, while the human ovarian matrisome is still under-described. Hereby, we unveil the extracellular side of the story during different periods of the ovary life, demonstrating that follicle survival and development, and ultimately fertility, would not be possible without its involvement. We examined the human ovarian matrisome and described its remodeling from prepuberty until menopause, creating the first ovarian proteomic codex. Here, we confidently identified and quantified 98 matrisome proteins present in the three ovary groups. Among them, 26 were expressed differently among age groups, delineating a peculiar matrisomal fingerprint at each stage. Such proteins could be potential biomarkers phenotyping ovarian ECM at each age phase of female reproductive life. Beyond proteomics, our study presents a unique approach to understanding the data and depicting the spatiotemporal ECM-intracellular signaling networks and remodeling with age through imaging, advanced text-mining based on natural language processing technology, machine learning, and data sonification. Our findings provide essential context for healthy ovarian physiology, identifying and characterizing disease states, and recapitulating physiological tissues or development in vitro. This comprehensive proteomics analysis represents the ovarian proteomic codex and contributes to an improved understanding of the critical roles that ECM plays throughout the ovarian life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Ouni
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Valerie Nedbal
- Global Technical Enablement, SAS Institute GmbH, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Kalina T Haas
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Alexis Peaucelle
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Olivier Van Kerk
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gaetan Herinckx
- PHOS Unit & MASSPROT platform de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Etienne Marbaix
- Cell Biology Unit, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Gynecology and Andrology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Madeleine Dolmans
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Gynecology and Andrology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Timo Tuuri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjut Otala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Christiani A Amorim
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Didier Vertommen
- PHOS Unit & MASSPROT platform de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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17
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Enhanced glycolysis in granulosa cells promotes the activation of primordial follicles through mTOR signaling. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:87. [PMID: 35087042 PMCID: PMC8795455 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04541-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, nonrenewable primordial follicles are activated in an orderly manner to maintain the longevity of reproductive life. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-KIT ligand (KITL) signaling in pre-granulosa cells and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt)-forkhead Box O3a (FOXO3a) signaling in oocytes are important for primordial follicle activation. The activation process is accompanied by the enhancement of energy metabolism, but the causal relationship is unclear. In the present study, the levels of glycolysis-related proteins GLUT4, HK1, PFKL, and PKM2 were significantly increased in granulosa cells but were decreased in oocytes during the mouse primordial-to-primary follicle transition. Both short-term pyruvate deprivation in vitro and acute fasting in vivo increased the glycolysis-related gene and protein levels, decreased AMPK activity, and increased mTOR activity in mouse ovaries. The downstream pathways Akt and FOXO3a were phosphorylated, resulting in mouse primordial follicle activation. The blockade of glycolysis by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), but not the blockade of the communication network between pre-granulosa cells and oocyte by KIT inhibitor ISCK03, decreased short-term pyruvate deprivation-promoted mTOR activity. Glycolysis was also increased in human granulosa cells during the primordial-to-primary follicle transition, and short-term pyruvate deprivation promoted the activation of human primordial follicles by increasing the glycolysis-related protein levels and mTOR activity in ovarian tissues. Taken together, the enhanced glycolysis in granulosa cells promotes the activation of primordial follicles through mTOR signaling. These findings provide new insight into the relationship between glycolytic disorders and POI/PCOS.
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18
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Transcriptomic Profile of New Gene Markers Encoding Proteins Responsible for Structure of Porcine Ovarian Granulosa Cells. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111214. [PMID: 34827207 PMCID: PMC8615192 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The extracellular matrix (ECM) is involved in many physiological processes that occur in the ovary and affect reproduction in animals and humans. The ECM has been shown to significantly affect folliculogenesis, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation. This is mainly due to the involvement of ECM in intercellular signaling. In the present study, we report the gene expression profile of porcine granulosa cells during their primary in vitro culture. The genes presented are related to ECM formation but also to cadherins and integrins that influence intercellular dialogue. During the study, it was shown that most of the genes were upregulated. A detailed understanding of the expression of genes such as POSTN, CHI3L1, CAV-1, IRS1, DCN in in vitro culture of granulosa cells may provide a basis for further studies on the molecular mechanisms occurring within the ovary. Knowledge of ECM-related gene expression within granulosa cells can also be used to study the recently discovered stemness of these cells. Moreover, the presented data may serve for the development of assisted reproduction techniques, which, especially in vitro, are becoming increasingly common. Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) in granulosa cells is functionally very important, and it is involved in many processes related to ovarian follicle growth and ovulation. The aim of this study was to describe the expression profile of genes within granulosa cells that are associated with extracellular matrix formation, intercellular signaling, and cell–cell fusion. The material for this study was ovaries of sexually mature pigs obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse. Laboratory-derived granulosa cells (GCs) from ovarian follicles were cultured in a primary in vitro culture model. The extracted genetic material (0, 48, 96, and 144 h) were subjected to microarray expression analysis. Among 81 genes, 66 showed increased expression and only 15 showed decreased expression were assigned to 7 gene ontology groups “extracellular matrix binding”, “extracellular matrix structural constituent”, “binding, bridging”, “cadherin binding”, “cell adhesion molecule binding”, “collagen binding” and “cadherin binding involved in cell-cell adhesion”. The 10 genes with the highest expression (POSTN, ITGA2, FN1, LAMB1, ITGB3, CHI3L1, PCOLCE2, CAV1, DCN, COL14A1) and 10 of the most down-regulated (SPP1, IRS1, CNTLN, TMPO, PAICS, ANK2, ADAM23, ABI3BP, DNAJB1, IGF1) were selected for further analysis. The results were validated by RT-qPCR. The current results may serve as preliminary data for further analyses using in vitro granulosa cell cultures in assisted reproduction technologies, studies of pathological processes in the ovary as well as in the use of the stemness potential of GCs.
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19
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Burton JJN, Luke AJ, Pepling ME. Regulation of mouse primordial follicle formation by signaling through the PI3K pathway. Biol Reprod 2021; 106:515-525. [PMID: 34725674 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell signaling mediated by the KIT receptor is critical for many aspects of oogenesis including the proliferation and migration of primordial germ cells, as well as the survival, growth, and maturation of ovarian follicles. We previously showed that KIT regulates cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation, and in this study, have investigated the mechanisms downstream of the receptor by modulating the activity of two downstream signaling cascades: the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. E17.5 ovaries were cultured for five days with a daily dose of media supplemented with either the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, the MEK inhibitor U0126, or a DMSO vehicle control. Our histological observations aligned with the established role of PI3K in oocyte growth and primordial follicle activation but also revealed that LY294002 treatment delayed the processes of cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation. U0126 treatment also led to a reduction in oocyte growth and follicle development but did not appear to affect cyst breakdown. The delay in cyst breakdown was mitigated when ovaries were dually dosed with LY294002 and KITL, suggesting that while KIT may signal through PI3K to promote cyst breakdown, other signaling networks downstream of the receptor could compensate. These observations unearth a role for PI3K signaling in the establishment of the ovarian reserve and suggest that PI3K might be the primary mediator of KIT-induced cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation in the mouse ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda J Luke
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
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20
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HDAC6 regulates primordial follicle activation through mTOR signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:559. [PMID: 34052832 PMCID: PMC8164630 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03842-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Primordial follicle pool established perinatally is a non-renewable resource which determines the female fecundity in mammals. While the majority of primordial follicles in the primordial follicle pool maintain dormant state, only a few of them are activated into growing follicles in adults in each cycle. Excessive activation of the primordial follicles accelerates follicle pool consumption and leads to premature ovarian failure. Although previous studies including ours have emphasized the importance of keeping the balance between primordial follicle activation and dormancy via molecules within the primordial follicles, such as TGF-β, E-Cadherin, mTOR, and AKT through different mechanisms, the homeostasis regulatory mechanisms of primordial follicle activation remain unclear. Here, we reported that HDAC6 acts as a key negative regulator of mTOR in dormant primordial follicles. In the cytoplasm of both oocytes and granulosa cells of primordial follicles, HDAC6 expressed strong, however in those activated primordial follicles, its expression level is relatively weaker. Inhibition or knockdown of HDAC6 significantly promoted the activation of limited primordial follicles while the size of follicle pool was not affected profoundly in vitro. Importantly, the expression level of mTOR in the follicle and the activity of PI3K in the oocyte of the follicle were simultaneously up-regulated after inhibiting of HDAC6. The up-regulated mTOR leads to not only the growth and differentiation of primordial follicles granulosa cells (pfGCs) into granulosa cells (GCs), but the increased secretion of KITL in these somatic cells. As a result, inhibition of HDAC6 awaked the dormant primordial follicles of mice in vitro. In conclusion, HDAC6 may play an indispensable role in balancing the maintenance and activation of primordial follicles through mTOR signaling in mice. These findings shed new lights on uncovering the epigenetic factors involved physiology of sustaining female reproduction.
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21
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Abstract
Formation of primordial follicles occurs when germ cell nests break apart and individual oocytes become surrounded by pregranulosa cells. Why mammalian germ cells develop in germ cell nests is not fully understood but recent work has provided evidence that some oocytes serve as nurse cells supporting other oocytes in the cyst. Headway has also been made in understanding interactions that occur between cyst cells that must change as individual oocytes separate to associate with pregranulosa cells. As germ cell nests undergo breakdown some oocytes are lost by programmed cell death that has been attributed to apoptosis, but newer studies have implicated autophagy in counteracting apoptosis to promote cell survival and maintain the ovarian reserve. Work in the past few years has added to already known pathways regulating primordial follicle formation and has identified new players including signaling molecules, transcription factors and RNA binding proteins.
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22
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Wang JJ, Tian Y, Li MH, Feng YQ, Kong L, Zhang FL, Shen W. Single-cell transcriptome dissection of the toxic impact of Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on primordial follicle assembly. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4992-5009. [PMID: 33754040 PMCID: PMC7978297 DOI: 10.7150/thno.55006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Accumulated evidence indicates that environmental plasticizers are a threat to human and animal fertility. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer to which humans are exposed daily, can trigger reproductive toxicity by acting as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. In mammals, the female primordial follicle pool forms the lifetime available ovarian reserve, which does not undergo regeneration once it is established during the fetal and neonatal period. It is therefore critical to examine the toxicity of DEHP regarding the establishment of the ovarian reserve as it has not been well investigated. Methods: The ovarian cells of postnatal pups, following maternal DEHP exposure, were prepared for single cell-RNA sequencing, and the effects of DEHP on primordial follicle formation were revealed using gene differential expression analysis and single-cell developmental trajectory. In addition, further biochemical experiments, including immunohistochemical staining, apoptosis detection, and Western blotting, were performed to verify the dataset results. Results: Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we revealed the gene expression dynamics of female germ cells and granulosa cells following exposure to DEHP in mice. Regarding germ cells: DEHP impeded the progression of follicle assembly and interfered with their developmental status, while key genes such as Lhx8, Figla, and others, strongly evidenced the reduction. As for granulosa cells: DEHP likely inhibited their proliferative activity, and activated the regulation of cell death. Furthermore, the interaction between ovarian cells mediated by transforming growth factor-beta signaling, was disrupted by DEHP exposure, since the expression of GDF9, BMPR1A, and SMAD3 was affected. In addition, DNA damage and apoptosis were elevated in germ cells and/or somatic cells. Conclusion: These findings offer substantial novel insights into the reproductive toxicity of DEHP exposure during murine germ cell cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation. These results may enhance the understanding of DEHP exposure on reproductive health.
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23
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The developmental competence of bovine oocytes matured in vitro using thymosin beta 4. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2020-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) during in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and subsequent embryonic development after in vitro fertilization as well as to assess the quality of obtained blastocysts. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in 4 different media: 1. control medium; 2. control media supplemented with 50 ng/mL Tβ4; 3. control media supplemented with 0.5 mg/mL Tβ4; and 4. control media supplemented with 1 mg/mL Tβ4. The quality of the developed blastocysts was analysed by the TUNEL method. The number of cleaved eggs was significantly higher (P<0.05) when gametes were matured in the presence of 50 ng/mL Tβ4 than it was using the other types of media. Additionally, the largest number of blastocysts was observed when 0.5 mg Tβ4 was added to the medium (P<0.05). No significant difference was noted in the mean number of apoptotic nuclei per blastocyst or in the mean number of nuclei per blastocyst in any of the analysed groups. In conclusion, Tβ4 supplementation (50 ng/mL) in maturation medium increased the number of cleaved oocytes, and the number of blastocysts obtained increased when 0.5 mg/mL Tβ4 was used. This positive effect was not observed when a higher concentration of Tβ4 (1 mg/mL) was used.
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24
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Ma L, Lu H, Chen R, Wu M, Jin Y, Zhang J, Wang S. Identification of Key Genes and Potential New Biomarkers for Ovarian Aging: A Study Based on RNA-Sequencing Data. Front Genet 2020; 11:590660. [PMID: 33304387 PMCID: PMC7701310 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.590660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian aging leads to reproductive and endocrine dysfunction, causing the disorder of multiple organs in the body and even declined quality of offspring's health. However, few studies have investigated the changes in gene expression profile in the ovarian aging process. Here, we applied integrated bioinformatics to screen, identify, and validate the critical pathogenic genes involved in ovarian aging and uncover potential molecular mechanisms. The expression profiles of GSE84078 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, which included the data from ovarian samples of 10 normal C57BL/6 mice, including old (21-22 months old, ovarian failure period) and young (5-6 months old, reproductive bloom period) ovaries. First, we filtered 931 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 876 upregulated and 55 downregulated genes through comparison between ovarian expression data from old and young mice. Functional enrichment analysis showed that biological functions of DEGs were primarily immune response regulation, cell-cell adhesion, and phagosome pathway. The most closely related genes among DEGs (Tyrobp, Rac2, Cd14, Zap70, Lcp2, Itgb2, H2-Ab1, and Fcer1g) were identified by constructing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and consequently verified using mRNA and protein quantitative detection. Finally, the immune cell infiltration in the ovarian aging process was also evaluated by applying CIBERSORT, and a correlation analysis between hub genes and immune cell type was also performed. The results suggested that plasma cells and naïve CD4+ T cells may participate in ovarian aging. The hub genes were positively correlated with memory B cells, plasma cells, M1 macrophages, Th17 cells, and immature dendritic cells. In conclusion, this study indicates that screening for DEGs and pathways in ovarian aging using bioinformatic analysis could provide potential clues for researchers to unveil the molecular mechanism underlying ovarian aging. These results could be of clinical significance and provide effective molecular targets for the treatment of ovarian aging.
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25
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Chen Y, Yang W, Shi X, Zhang C, Song G, Huang D. The Factors and Pathways Regulating the Activation of Mammalian Primordial Follicles in vivo. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:575706. [PMID: 33102482 PMCID: PMC7554314 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.575706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian ovaries consist of follicles as basic functional units. Each follicle comprised an innermost oocyte and several surrounding flattened granulosa cells. Unlike males, according to the initial size of the primordial follicle pool and the rate of its activation and depletion, a female's reproductive life has been determined early in life. Primordial follicles, once activated, will get into an irreversible process of development. Most follicles undergo atretic degeneration, and only a few of them could mature and ovulate. Although there are a lot of researches contributing to exploring the activation of primordial follicles, little is known about its underlying mechanisms. Thus, in this review, we collected the latest papers and summarized the signaling pathways as well as some factors involved in the activation of primordial follicles, hoping to lead to a more profound understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of primordial follicle activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Chen
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research (Institute of Family Planning Research), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weina Yang
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research (Institute of Family Planning Research), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu Shi
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research (Institute of Family Planning Research), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenlu Zhang
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research (Institute of Family Planning Research), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ge Song
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Donghui Huang
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research (Institute of Family Planning Research), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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26
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Sun X, Klinger FG, Liu J, De Felici M, Shen W, Sun X. miR-378-3p maintains the size of mouse primordial follicle pool by regulating cell autophagy and apoptosis. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:737. [PMID: 32913213 PMCID: PMC7483766 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02965-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Primordial follicle pool provides all available oocytes throughout the whole reproductive life span. Abnormal regulation in primordial follicle assembly leads to abnormal size of primordial follicle pool, even causes infertility. Here, miR-378-3p was proved to regulate mouse primordial follicle assembly both in vivo and in vitro. The expression of miR-378-3p significantly increased in mice ovaries from 17.5 dpc (days post coitum) up to 3 dpp (day post partum) compared with the expression of 16.5 dpc ovaries, which suggested that miR-378-3p was involved in primordial follicle assembly. To uncover the underlying mechanism, newborn mice ovaries were cultured in vitro in the presence of rapamycin and 3-methyladenine, which showed that the expression of miR-378-3p changed together with the percentage of primordial follicle. Moreover, during the normal process of primordial follicle assembly between 17.6 dpc and 3 dpp, autophagy is activated, while, apoptosis is inhibited. The in vivo results showed that newborn mice starved for 1.5 days showing the increased miR-378-3p, activated autophagy and inhibited apoptosis in the ovaries, had more percentage of primordial follicles. Over-expression of miR-378-3p using miR-378-3p agomir caused increased percentage of primordial follicle, increased level of autophagy, and decreased level of apoptosis. Knockdown of miR-378-3p by miR-378-3p antiagomir had the opposite results. Using pmirGLO Dual-Luciferase miRNA Target Expression system, we confirmed both PDK1 and Caspase9 were targets of miR-378-3p, which suggested that miR-378-3p activated autophagy by targeting PDK1 and inhibited apoptosis by targeting Caspase9. MiR-378-3p could be used as a biomarker of diseases caused by abnormal size of primordial follicle pool for diagnosis, prevention, or therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.,College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Francesca Gioia Klinger
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Jing Liu
- Central laboratory of Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Xiaofeng Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
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27
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Grive KJ. Pathways coordinating oocyte attrition and abundance during mammalian ovarian reserve establishment. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:843-856. [PMID: 32720428 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian ovarian reserve is comprised of a finite pool of primordial follicles, representing the lifetime reproductive capacity of females. In most mammals, the reserve is produced during embryonic and early postnatal development with oocyte numbers peaking during mid-to-late gestation, and then experiencing a dramatic decline continuing until shortly after birth. Oocytes remaining after the bulk of this attrition are subsequently surrounded by a layer of somatic pre-granulosa cells with these units then referred to as "primordial follicles." The complex and varied cell death mechanisms intrinsic to this process are not only characteristic of, but also essential for, the proper formation of this pool of follicles, and as a result must be immaculately balanced to ensure long-term fertility and reproductive health. Too few follicles can lead to Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, resulting in fertility loss and other features of aging, such as an overall shorter lifespan. On the other hand, whereas an excess of follicles might extend reproductive lifespan, this might also be the underlying etiology of other ovarian pathologies. The last decade, in particular, has vastly expanded our understanding of oocyte attrition and determinants of ovarian reserve abundance. By continuing to decipher the intricacies underlying the cell death processes and development of the initial primordial follicle pool, we may be in a much better position to understand idiopathic cases of premature follicle depletion and improve ovarian health in reproductive-age women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J Grive
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Program in Women's Oncology, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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28
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Le HT, Hasegawa Y, Daitoku Y, Kato K, Miznuo-Iijima S, Dinh TTH, Kuba Y, Osawa Y, Mikami N, Morimoto K, Ayabe S, Tanimoto Y, Murata K, Yagami KI, Takahashi S, Mizuno S, Sugiyama F. Generation of B6-Ddx4 em1(CreERT2)Utr , a novel CreERT2 knock-in line, for germ cell lineage by CRISPR/Cas9. Genesis 2020; 58:e23367. [PMID: 32293787 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Germ cell development is essential for maintaining reproduction in animals. In postpubertal females, oogenesis is a highly complicated event for producing fertilizable oocytes. It starts when dormant primordial oocytes undergo activation to become growing oocytes. In postpubertal males, spermatogenesis is a differentiation process for producing sperm from spermatogonial stem cells. To obtain full understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying germ cell development, the Cre/loxP system has been widely applied for conditional knock-out mouse studies. In this study, we established a novel knock-in mouse line, B6-Ddx4 em1(CreERT2)Utr , which expresses CreERT2 recombinase under the control of the endogenous DEAD-box helicase 4 (Ddx4) gene promoter. Ddx4 was specifically expressed in both female and male germ cell lineages. We mated the CreERT2 mice with R26GRR mice, expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and tDsRed before and after Cre recombination. We found tDsRed signals in the testes and ovaries of tamoxifen-treated B6-Ddx4 em1(CreERT2)Utr ::R26GRR mice, but not in untreated mice. Immunostaining of their ovaries clearly showed that Cre recombination occurred in all oocytes at every follicle stage. We also found 100% Cre recombination efficiency in male germ cells via the progeny test. In summary, our results indicate that B6-Ddx4 em1(CreERT2)Utr is beneficial for studying female and male germ cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoai Thu Le
- Ph.D Program in Human Biology, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Hasegawa
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoko Daitoku
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kanako Kato
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Saori Miznuo-Iijima
- Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tra Thi Huong Dinh
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yumeno Kuba
- Master's Program in Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuki Osawa
- Master's Program in Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Natsuki Mikami
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kento Morimoto
- Master's Program in Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shinya Ayabe
- Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoko Tanimoto
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kazuya Murata
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Yagami
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Fumihiro Sugiyama
- Trans-Border Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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29
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Koth ML, Garcia-Moreno SA, Novak A, Holthusen KA, Kothandapani A, Jiang K, Taketo MM, Nicol B, Yao HHC, Futtner CR, Maatouk DM, Jorgensen JS. Canonical Wnt/β-catenin activity and differential epigenetic marks direct sexually dimorphic regulation of Irx3 and Irx5 in developing mouse gonads. Development 2020; 147:dev183814. [PMID: 32108023 PMCID: PMC7132837 DOI: 10.1242/dev.183814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Iroquois B (IrxB) homeodomain cluster genes, specifically Irx3 and Irx5, are crucial for heart, limb and bone development. Recently, we reported their importance for oocyte and follicle survival within the developing ovary. Irx3 and Irx5 expression begins after sex determination in the ovary but remains absent in the fetal testis. Mutually antagonistic molecular signals ensure ovary versus testis differentiation with canonical Wnt/β-catenin signals paramount for promoting the ovary pathway. Notably, few direct downstream targets have been identified. We report that Wnt/β-catenin signaling directly stimulates Irx3 and Irx5 transcription in the developing ovary. Using in silico analysis of ATAC- and ChIP-Seq databases in conjunction with mouse gonad explant transfection assays, we identified TCF/LEF-binding sequences within two distal enhancers of the IrxB locus that promote β-catenin-responsive ovary expression. Meanwhile, Irx3 and Irx5 transcription is suppressed within the developing testis by the presence of H3K27me3 on these same sites. Thus, we resolved sexually dimorphic regulation of Irx3 and Irx5 via epigenetic and β-catenin transcriptional control where their ovarian presence promotes oocyte and follicle survival vital for future ovarian health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Koth
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | | | - Annie Novak
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kirsten A Holthusen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Anbarasi Kothandapani
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Keer Jiang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Makoto Mark Taketo
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christopher R Futtner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Danielle M Maatouk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Joan S Jorgensen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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