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Kunz D, Wang A, Chan CU, Pritchard RH, Wang W, Gallo F, Bradshaw CR, Terenzani E, Müller KH, Huang YYS, Xiong F. Downregulation of extraembryonic tension controls body axis formation in avian embryos. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3266. [PMID: 37277340 PMCID: PMC10241863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38988-3] [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: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic tissues undergoing shape change draw mechanical input from extraembryonic substrates. In avian eggs, the early blastoderm disk is under the tension of the vitelline membrane (VM). Here we report that the chicken VM characteristically downregulates tension and stiffness to facilitate stage-specific embryo morphogenesis. Experimental relaxation of the VM early in development impairs blastoderm expansion, while maintaining VM tension in later stages resists the convergence of the posterior body causing stalled elongation, failure of neural tube closure, and axis rupture. Biochemical and structural analysis shows that VM weakening is associated with the reduction of outer-layer glycoprotein fibers, which is caused by an increasing albumen pH due to CO2 release from the egg. Our results identify a previously unrecognized potential cause of body axis defects through mis-regulation of extraembryonic tissue tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Kunz
- Wellcome Trust / CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anfu Wang
- Wellcome Trust / CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chon U Chan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Robyn H Pritchard
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Filomena Gallo
- Cambridge Advanced Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Charles R Bradshaw
- Wellcome Trust / CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elisa Terenzani
- Wellcome Trust / CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Karin H Müller
- Cambridge Advanced Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Fengzhu Xiong
- Wellcome Trust / CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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2
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Okumura H, Mizuno A, Iwamoto E, Sakuma R, Nishio S, Nishijima KI, Matsuda T, Ujita M. New insights into the role of microheterogeneity of ZP3 during structural maturation of the avian equivalent of mammalian zona pellucida. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283087. [PMID: 36943849 PMCID: PMC10030024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The egg coat including mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) and the avian equivalent, i.e., inner-perivitelline layer (IPVL), is a specialized extracellular matrix being composed of the ZP glycoproteins and surrounds both pre-ovulatory oocytes and ovulated egg cells in vertebrates. The egg coat is well known for its potential importance in both the reproduction and early development, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Interestingly, ZP3, one of the ZP-glycoprotein family members forming scaffolds of the egg-coat matrices with other ZP glycoproteins, exhibits extreme but distinctive microheterogeneity to form a large number of isoelectric-point isoforms at least in the chicken IPVL. In the present study, we performed three-dimensional confocal imaging and two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) of chicken IPVLs that were isolated from the ovarian follicles at different growth stages before ovulation. The results suggest that the relative proportions of the ZP3 isoforms are differentially altered during the structural maturation of the egg-coat matrices. Furthermore, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analyses and ZP1 binding assays against separated ZP3 isoforms demonstrated that each ZP3 isoform contains characteristic modifications, and there are large differences among ZP3 isoforms in the ZP1 binding affinities. These results suggest that the microheterogeneity of chicken ZP3 might be regulated to be associated with the formation of egg-coat matrices during the structural maturation of chicken IPVL. Our findings may provide new insights into molecular mechanisms of egg-coat assembly processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Okumura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ayaka Mizuno
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Eri Iwamoto
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Rio Sakuma
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Nishio
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ken-Ichi Nishijima
- Avian Bioscience Research Center, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Matsuda
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Minoru Ujita
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan
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3
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Zhang J, Zhang XQ, Ling XZ, Zhao XH, Zhou KZ, Wang JY, Zhang GX. Prediction of the Effect of Methylation in the Promoter Region of ZP2 Gene on Egg Production in Jinghai Yellow Chickens. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9100570. [PMID: 36288183 PMCID: PMC9609111 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9100570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Egg production in chickens is a quantitative trait. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of promoter methylation of the Zona pellucida 2 (ZP2) gene on egg production. Real-time fluorescence quantification showed that the expression of the ZP2 gene in the ovaries of 300-day-old Jinghai yellow chickens in the high-laying group was significantly higher than that in the low-laying group (p < 0.01). A series of deletion fragments of the ZP2 gene promoter in Jinghai yellow chickens had different promoter activities in DF-1 cells, and the core region of the ZP2 gene promoter was found to be between −1552 and −1348. Four CpG islands in the promoter region of the ZP2 gene were detected by software prediction. The overall degree of methylation of the ZP2-1 amplified fragment was negatively correlated with mRNA expression to some extent (R = −0.197); the overall degree of methylation of the ZP2-2 amplified fragment was also negatively correlated with mRNA expression to some extent (R = −0.264), in which the methylation of methylcytosine (mC)-9, mC-20, and mC-21 sites was significantly negatively correlated with mRNA expression (p < 0.05). In addition, the mC-20 and mC-21 sites are located on the Sp1 transcription factor binding site, and it is speculated that these two sites may be the main sites for regulating transcription. In summary, the methylation sites mC-20 and mC-21 of the ZP2 gene may inhibit the binding of Sp1 and DNA, affect the transcription of the ZP2 gene, and then affect the number of eggs produced by the Jinghai yellow chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Xiang-Qian Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Xuan-Ze Ling
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Xiu-Hua Zhao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Kai-Zhi Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Jin-Yu Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Gen-Xi Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
- Correspondence:
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4
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Benson A, Steed J, Malloy M, Davis AJ. Quantitative Protein Analysis of ZPB2, ZPB1 and ZPC in the Germinal Disc and a Non-Germinal Disc Region of the Inner Perivitelline Layer in Two Genetic Lines of Turkey Hens That Differ in Fertility. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131672. [PMID: 35804570 PMCID: PMC9265051 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The avian inner perivitelline layer (IPVL), containing the zona pellucida (ZP) family of proteins, surrounds the ovulated ovum. In mammalian species, ZP proteins serve as key component(s) in binding sperm and initiating the acrosome reaction. Sperm binding at the germinal disc (GD) region of the IPVL initiates fertilization in avian species, and the amount of sperm binding at the GD reflects female fertility. The current research determined whether reported differences in mRNA expression in two genetic lines of turkey hens (E, high fertility and F, low fertility) translated to the protein level. ZPB2 in the IPVL is greater in the GD region compared with the nongerminal disc (NGD) region, as indicated by both mRNA and protein expression. However, protein expressions of ZPB1 and ZPC in the IPVL of E- and F-line turkey hens was in contrast to previously reported mRNA expression. The results indicate that the mRNA expression of ZP proteins at their site of synthesis in E- and F-line hens often does not directly correlate with the IPVL abundance of these proteins. The greater protein concentration of ZPB2 in the GD region compared with the NGD regions suggests that this protein may be critical for sperm binding at the GD region.
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5
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Brégeon M, Tomas D, Bernay B, Zatylny-Gaudin C, Georgeault S, Labas V, Réhault-Godbert S, Guyot N. Multifaceted roles of the egg perivitelline layer in avian reproduction: Functional insights from the proteomes of chicken egg inner and outer sublayers. J Proteomics 2022; 258:104489. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2022.104489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Słowińska M, Paukszto Ł, Pardyak L, Jastrzębski JP, Liszewska E, Wiśniewska J, Kozłowski K, Jankowski J, Bilińska B, Ciereszko A. Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Revealed Key Pathways Regulating Final Stage of Oocyte Maturation of the Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910589. [PMID: 34638931 PMCID: PMC8508634 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In birds, the zona pellucida (ZP) matrix that surrounds the ovulated oocyte—called the inner perivitelline layer—is involved in sperm–zona interaction and successful fertilization. To identify the important genes and proteins connected with the final step of egg development, next-generation sequencing and two-dimensional electrophoresis, combined with mass spectrometry, were used for the analysis of mature oocytes at the F1 developmental stage. A total of 8161 genes and 228 proteins were annotated. Six subfamilies of genes, with codes ZP, ZP1–4, ZPD, and ZPAX, were identified, with the dominant expression of ZPD. The main expression site for ZP1 was the liver; however, granulosa cells may also participate in local ZP1 secretion. A ubiquitination system was identified in mature oocytes, where ZP1 was found to be the main ubiquitinated protein. Analysis of transcripts classified in estrogen receptor (ESR) signaling indicated the presence of ESR1 and ESR2, as well as a set of estrogen-dependent genes involved in both genomic and nongenomic mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression by estrogen. Oxidative phosphorylation was found to be a possible source of adenosine triphosphate, and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway could be involved in the response against oxidative stress. Oocyte–granulosa cell communication by tight, adherens, and gap junctions seems to be essential for the final step of oocyte maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariola Słowińska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland; (E.L.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-89-539-3173
| | - Łukasz Paukszto
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; (Ł.P.); (J.P.J.)
| | - Laura Pardyak
- Center of Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-248 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Jan P. Jastrzębski
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; (Ł.P.); (J.P.J.)
| | - Ewa Liszewska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland; (E.L.); (A.C.)
| | - Joanna Wiśniewska
- Department of Biological Function of Food, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Krzysztof Kozłowski
- Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; (K.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Jan Jankowski
- Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; (K.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Barbara Bilińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Andrzej Ciereszko
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland; (E.L.); (A.C.)
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7
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Mfoundou JDL, Guo YJ, Liu MM, Ran XR, Fu DH, Yan ZQ, Li MN, Wang XR. The morphological and histological study of chicken left ovary during growth and development among Hy-line brown layers of different ages. Poult Sci 2021; 100:101191. [PMID: 34242943 PMCID: PMC8271164 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chicken ovaries are known to develop asymmetrically and only the left ovary fully develops. Although both have been greatly investigated, a gap in scientific reports is still felt between 2-mo-old and sexual maturity. In this study, we aimed at investigating the changes in components that occur during growth to analyze the morphohistological correlation between the left ovary and the follicle development at different age stages in Gallus domesticus. The ovaries were harvested from 60 chickens aged 1 and 3-wk-old, 1, 2, 3, and 4-mo-old (n = 10 per age group), then fixed in AAF solution. Hematoxylin-and Eosin protocol was used to stain the tissue for microscopic observations. Results revealed that the left ovary exhibited an ovarian tissue, a site of follicular growth that displayed various shapes from smooth to greatly indented as the follicles differentiated. Atretic follicles at various regression stages were noticed frequently as the chicks grew in age from 3-wk-old onward along with their differentiation. Rete ovarii, remnants from the male homologs were observed throughout the whole study showing epoöphoron, connecting rete, and gland-like structures that tend to diminish with age. The feature of the left ovary is closely related to the follicular developmental stage, and the bigger and differentiated the follicles are, the more indented and irregular its epithelium appears. Atresia is a normal physiological process that we observed throughout the whole study. Also that, rete ovarii do not spontaneously arise in the ovary but it develops and grows in juvenile chicken as well as in adult ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D L Mfoundou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - Y J Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - M M Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - X R Ran
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - D H Fu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - Z Q Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - M N Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China
| | - X R Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, No. 1, Yingmen Village, Bei Binhe West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, China.
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Assersohn K, Brekke P, Hemmings N. Physiological factors influencing female fertility in birds. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202274. [PMID: 34350009 PMCID: PMC8316823 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fertility is fundamental to reproductive success, but not all copulation attempts result in a fertilized embryo. Fertilization failure is especially costly for females, but we still lack a clear understanding of the causes of variation in female fertility across taxa. Birds make a useful model system for fertility research, partly because their large eggs are easily studied outside of the female's body, but also because of the wealth of data available on the reproductive productivity of commercial birds. Here, we review the factors contributing to female infertility in birds, providing evidence that female fertility traits are understudied relative to male fertility traits, and that avian fertility research has been dominated by studies focused on Galliformes and captive (relative to wild) populations. We then discuss the key stages of the female reproductive cycle where fertility may be compromised, and make recommendations for future research. We particularly emphasize that studies must differentiate between infertility and embryo mortality as causes of hatching failure, and that non-breeding individuals should be monitored more routinely where possible. This review lays the groundwork for developing a clearer understanding of the causes of female infertility, with important consequences for multiple fields including reproductive science, conservation and commercial breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Assersohn
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Patricia Brekke
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Nicola Hemmings
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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9
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Hu Z, Liu J, Cao J, Zhang H, Liu X. Ovarian transcriptomic analysis of black Muscovy duck at the early, peak and late egg-laying stages. Gene 2021; 777:145449. [PMID: 33482277 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian development is a complex process involving many genes and pathways. A well-developed ovary is essential for poultry to keep high egg production and egg fertility. In order to better understand the mechanism of egg production performance, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed on ovaries of black Muscovy ducks at the early (BE), peak (BP) and late laying (BL) stages. 1683 DEGs were identified from BL-vs-BE, BL-vs-BP and BP-vs-BE, and the up-regulated genes were 41, 835, 260, the down-regulated genes were 60, 255, 730, respectively. Besides, there were 32, 20 and 424 DEGs co-expressed in the two comparison groups, and 11 DEGs were co-expressed in the three comparison groups. HOXA10, HtrA3, StAR, ZP2 and TAT were found to be involved in the regulation of ovarian development were significantly differentially expressed at different laying stages, which helped to regulate ovarian maturation and egg production. Moreover, we discovered several important functional pathways, such as steroid hormone biosynthesis and ovarian steroidogenesis, that appear to be much more active in the BP ovary compared to those of the BE and BL. Furthermore, 17 coding and 244 non-coding new transcripts were detected in the three comparison groups, the gene structures were optimized and the gene annotation informations were improved. These findings will provide a solid foundation on ovarian development in black Muscovy ducks and other poultry animals at different laying stages, and help to understand the complex molecular and cellular mechanisms of ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Jing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Junting Cao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Huilin Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China.
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10
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Li XN, Li HX, Yang TN, Li XW, Huang YQ, Zhu SY, Li JL. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced developmental abnormalities of the ovary in quail (Coturnix japonica) via disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 741:140293. [PMID: 32610232 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of epidemiologic studies show that women have a special exposure profile to phthalates, and the exposures have attracted attention regarding their potential health hazards. Here, we developed a model for studying the ovarian action of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its major metabolite monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). In vivo, treatment with DEHP (250, 500, and 1000 mg kg^-1) induced decreased thickness of ovarian granulosa cell layer and mitochondrial damage in quail, caused oxidative stress, interfered with the transcription of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA) steroid hormone-related factors (increased transcription of StAR, 3β-HSD, P450scc, and LH and decreased transcription of 17β-HSD, P450arom, FSH, and ERβ), and blocked the secretion of steroid hormones (decreased FSH, E2, and T levels and increased LH, P, and PRL levels). In vitro, granulosa cells were cultured with MEHP (50, 100, and 200 μM), activator of PPARγ (rosiglitazone, 50 μM), or antagonist of PPARγ (GW9662, 10 μM) for 24 h and gene and protein expression were analyzed by real time RT-PCR and western blot. Rosiglitazone, like MEHP, significantly decreased mRNA and protein levels of P450arom. Antagonist GW9662 partially blocked the suppression of P450arom by MEHP, suggesting that MEHP acts through PPARγ, but not exclusively. Our model shows that MEHP acts on granulosa cells in quail by stimulating PPARs, which leads to decreased gene and protein expression of P450arom. Therefore, the environmental endocrine disruptor DEHP and its major metabolite MEHP act through a receptor-mediated signaling pathway to inhibit the production of estradiol, interfere with the modulation of HPOA, suppress the synthesis of sex hormones, and cause sex hormone secretion disorders, resulting in severe toxicity in the female reproductive system. A framework for an adverse outcome pathway of DEHP/MEHP-induced ovarian toxicity was constructed, which can facilitate an improved understanding of the mechanism of female reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Nan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Hui-Xin Li
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, PR China
| | - Tian-Ning Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Xiao-Wei Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yue-Qiang Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Shi-Yong Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jin-Long Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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11
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Abstract
An ovulated egg of vertebrates is surrounded by unique extracellular matrix, the egg coat or zona pellucida, playing important roles in fertilization and early development. The vertebrate egg coat is composed of two to six zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins that are characterized by the evolutionarily conserved ZP-domain module and classified into six subfamilies based on phylogenetic analyses. Interestingly, investigations of biochemical and functional features of the ZP glycoproteins show that the roles of each ZP-glycoprotein family member in the egg-coat formation and the egg-sperm interactions seemingly vary across vertebrates. This might be one reason why comprehensive understandings of the molecular basis of either architecture or physiological functions of egg coat still remain elusive despite more than 3 decades of intensive investigations. In this chapter, an overview of avian egg focusing on the oogenesis are provided in the first section, and unique features of avian egg coat, i.e., perivitelline layer, including the morphology, biogenesis pathway, and physiological functions are discussed mainly on chicken and quail in terms of the characteristics of ZP glycoproteins in the following sections. In addition, these features of avian egg coat are compared to mammalian zona pellucida, from the viewpoint that the structural and functional varieties of ZP glycoproteins might be associated with the evolutionary adaptation to their reproductive strategies. By comparing the egg coat of birds and mammals whose reproductive strategies are largely different, new insights into the molecular mechanisms of vertebrate egg-sperm interactions might be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Okumura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan.
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12
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Nishio S, Okumura H, Matsuda T. Egg-Coat and Zona Pellucida Proteins of Chicken as a Typical Species of Aves. Curr Top Dev Biol 2018; 130:307-329. [PMID: 29853181 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Birds are oviparous vertebrates in terrestrial animals. Birds' eggs accumulate mass of egg yolk during the egg development and are accordingly much larger than the eggs of viviparous vertebrates. Despite such difference in size and contents, the birds' eggs are surrounded with the egg-coat morphologically and compositionally resembling the mammalian egg-coat, zona pellucida. On the other hand, there are some differences in part between the two egg-coats, though relationships of such structural differences to any biological roles specific for the extracellular matrix of birds' eggs are not fully understood. In birds, unlike mammals, ZP proteins constituting the egg-coat are highly conserved and therefore those of chicken are described as a representative of birds. The egg-coat ZP proteins, ZP1, ZP3, and ZPD as the majors, accumulate and form the matrix by self-assembly around the egg rapidly growing in the ovarian follicle, in which ZP1 is from liver and both ZP3 and ZPD are from follicular granulosa cells. Although details of the egg-coat-sperm interaction on fertilization remain to be investigated, the lytic degradation process of egg-coat matrix for the sperm penetration has become to be clarified gradually. ZP1 is the primary target of sperm acrosin, and the limited cleavage in the specific region leading to the loss of intermolecular cross-linkages is crucial for the lysis of egg-coat matrix. Possible roles of the ZP1 with the additional sequence characteristic to birds are discussed from a viewpoint of giving both robustness and elastomeric nature to the egg-coat matrix for the birds' eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Nishio
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | - Tsukasa Matsuda
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
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Nishio S, Kohno Y, Iwata Y, Arai M, Okumura H, Oshima K, Nadano D, Matsuda T. Glycosylated Chicken ZP2 Accumulates in the Egg Coat of Immature Oocytes and Remains Localized to the Germinal Disc Region of Mature Eggs1. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:107. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.119826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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Rodler D, Sinowatz F. Expression of intermediate filaments in the Balbiani body and ovarian follicular wall of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Cells Tissues Organs 2013; 197:298-311. [PMID: 23391820 DOI: 10.1159/000346048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we examined the distribution of 6 groups of intermediate filaments (IFs; cytokeratins, CKs, vimentin, synemin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and lamins) in oocytes and follicular walls of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) during their development using immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques. A distinctly vimentin- and synemin-positive Balbiani body, which is a transient accumulation of organelles (mitochondria, Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum) that occurs in the oocytes of all vertebrates including birds, could be detected in the oocytes of primordial and early pre-vitellogenic follicles. In larger pre-vitellogenic follicles, the Balbiani body has dispersed and the positivity of the granulosa cells appeared to concentrate in the basal portion of their cytoplasm. Our ultrastructural data demonstrated that the matrix of the Bal-biani body consists of fine IFs, which may play a role in the formation and dispersion of the Balbiani body. Of the CKs studied (panCK, CK5, CK7, CK8, CK14, CK15, CK18 and CK19), only CK5 showed a slight positive staining in both the theca externa and the Balbiani bodies of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. In conclusion, our data, which describe the changes in avian IF protein expression during folliculogenesis, suggest that the functions of the IFs (vimentin and synemin) of oocytes and follicular walls are not primarily mechanical but may be involved in the transient tethering of mitochondria in the area of the Balbiani body and in the gain of endocrine competence during the differentiation of granulosa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rodler
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Munich, DE–80539 Munich, Germany
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Rodler D. Histochemical Detection of Glycoconjugates in the Inner Perivitelline Layer of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica). Anat Histol Embryol 2011; 40:441-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2011.01090.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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