Laser Microtomography for IVF Oocyte of Human

For in vitro fertilization technology, the quality of oocytes has a direct impact on the egg fertilization and developmental competence of early embryo. The morphological criteria are used for the estimation of oocyte quality before its fertilization in vitro. To date, only one method is known to determine the maturity of oocyte. This is the routine observation with a light microscope. The aim of this article was to adapt the noninvasive quantitative laser scanning microtomography (QLSM) for the investigation of morphological features of a human oocyte in vitro. This approach was used to accumulate the Z-stack gallery of optical sections of IVF oocyte. The layer-by-layer acquisition allows the fine cytoplasmic structure imaging. Applying the QLSM Z-stack of optical sections, the cellular volume was calculated with quantitative 3D reconstruction of a human oocyte. The volume value and intracellular structure were used as novel criteria to assess the oocyte state after the stress evoked by cryopreservation procedure.

Bacterial Film Disintegration with Electrochemically Reduced Water

The aim of this work was to study the fine structure of bacterial films grown on the inner tube surface of a flow reactor. Using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) approaches, the detailed biofilm relief was visualized. The action of electrochemically reduced water (ERW) on the biofilm ultrastructure generated by the plankton form of E. coli and/or lacto bacteria was investigated. The treatment with an ERW solution destroyed the biofilm organic polymer matrix and bacterial cells embedded in the matrix.

High Potassium Concentration during Culturing of Early Mammalian Embryos: Normal or Extreme Situation?

Analysis of the element composition of oviduct and uterine fluid in mammals showed high potassium concentrations in the early embryo microenvironment in vivo. The results of early embryogenesis of mammals in vitro in the presence of high potassium concentrations are discussed. The data are summarized in accordance with the conditions of experimentally modeled pre-implantation development. Comparative assessment of the quality of embryo development until the blastocyst stage in vitro proved the embryos more successfully developed at potassium concentrations close to those registered in the oviductal fluid.

[Nonspecific effect of Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibition with strophanthin or under hypothermia in rat heart]

Electron probe microanalysis was applied to study the kinetics of changes in potassium and sodium concentration in muscle cells of isolated heart from Wistar rat during experimental ischemia. Hypoxic perfusion without glucose was shown to evoke the potassium deficiency and sodium accumulation in cardiac myocells. Short-term action (10 min) of strophanthin (0.1 mM/l) recovered Na/K balance in ischemic myocells. Hypothermic perfusion exhibited the opportunity to conserve the cytoplasmic elemental contents in the state corresponding to the beginning of low temperature (4 degrees C) operation.

[Electrone probe microanalysis of rubidium retention in myocell of rat heart during acute ischemia]

In the given investigation contents of potassium and its physiological analog, rubidium, are determined in cardiomyocyte. Applying Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), cytoplasmic concentrations of elements (K, Rb) are measured. The data obtained exhibit that for initial acute ischemia phase the active transport is involved in the uptake of rubidium which competes with potassium entry in cardiac myocell. Then, deep deenergization leads to the intracellular potassium depletion and rubidium retention. This suggests that Rb+ is physiologically not complete analog for K+. Results of combined perfusion with and without rubidium allow us to hypothesize the appearance of cascade of ionic transports to compensate acute ischemic disturbances following the oxygen and substrate deficiency.

[Cyto B dependent and ouabain insensitive regulatory volume decrease in bicellular mouse embryo]

Mouse single-cell embryos exhibit robust Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD). In what manner the very early mammalian embryo following zygote stage is appreciably altered by the anisotonic extracellular solution is, as yet, totally unclear. Little attention was paid to this direction since there was no way to determine the blastomere volume. This work has served to quantitatively investigate the osmotic response of bicellular mouse embryos employing Laser Scanning Microtomography (LSM) followed with three-dimensional reconstruction (3 DR). We have shown that bicellular mouse embryos in hypotonic Dulbecco's experience RVD. Embryonic cells subjected to hyposmolar exhibit rapid osmotic swelling followed by gradual shrinking back toward their original volume. The van't Hoff law defines swelling phase with the effective hydraulic conductivity of 0.3 micron x min(-1) x atm(-1). Water release during RVD in bicellular mouse embryos is abolished by Cytochalasin B (Cyto B) and the volume recovery is insensitive to ouabain treatment.

Evaluation of collagen gel microstructure by scanning electron microscopy

We performed qualitative comparison of freeze drying and chemical drying as methods of preparing 3D wet specimens for scanning electron microscopy. Human fibroblasts immobilized in collagen gel were used as a model system. Specimens fixed with glutaraldehyde were frozen in liquid nitrogen and freeze-dried at low temperature in high vacuum. In parallel experiments, glutaraldehyde-fixed samples were dehydrated in ascending ethanol solutions, absolute ethanol, and 100% hexamethyldisilazane and then dried at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy microphotographs of collagen fibers and cells were characterized by high resolution and the absence of collapsed or deformed structures even at high magnification (×50,000) for both chemical drying and high-vacuum freeze drying. However, high-vacuum freeze drying is superior to chemical drying for the investigation of the internal space of 3D scaffolds, because sample fracture can be prepared directly in liquid nitrogen. These techniques are a part of the sample preparation process for scanning electron microscopy and can also be used for studies of cell adhesion, morphology, and arrangement in wet specimens (3D gels and flexible tissue engineering scaffolds).

[Electron probe microanalysis of potassium, sodium, and chlorine levels in the cardiomyocyte cytoplasm during acute ischemia]

Electron probe microanalysis was applied to determine cytoplasmic elemental (K, Na, Cl) concentrations in cardiac cells of the rat (Wistar). Potassium, sodium and chlorine contents were measured in papillary muscle myocytes of the rat heart perfused by the Langendorff's procedure. Ischemic depletion was created by perfusion with deeply deoxygenated Tirode's solution in the absence of glucose. It was found that the initial phase of acute ischemia is characterized by the potassium deficiency and the accumulation of sodium and chlorine in cardiac myocytes. It should be noted that changes in the total charge of the main intracellular cations (K+, Na+) do not compensate for the increased chlorine concentration. This result can be accounted for by the appearance of ionic (K+ and Cl-) transport coupled with the removal of lactate anions produced in cardiomyocytes during anaerobic glycolysis.

[Osmotic behavior of mouse embryonic cells subjected to hypotonic shock]

Osmotic adaptation in a blastomere of mouse embryo has been studied by the direct measurement of the cell volume using laser scanning microscopy microtomography followed by quantitative 3D reconstruction. Embryonic cells subjected to hypotonic shock first swelled and then returned to the initial size. At the beginning of osmotic stress, the swelling occurred by the van't Hoff equation with the water permeability coefficient (L(p)) of 0.4 micro x min(-1) atm(-1). The phase of the regulatory volume decrease was not abolished by Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibition.

Effect of acute hypoxia on the concentrations of potassium and phosphorus in the cardiomyocyte of a pregnant animal during early organogenesis

The concentrations of potassium and phosphorus in the cardiomyocyte cytoplasm of the Wistar rat were measured by means of electron probe microanalysis. Pregnancy was accompanied by a decrease in cytoplasmic phosphorus concentration and an increase in cytoplasmic potassium concentration. Acute hypoxia modified the concentrations of these elements in the cytoplasm.

[Electron probe microanalysis of the potassium and phosphorus content in cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes of pregnant rats after an acute hypoxia incident]

The concentration of the elements (K, P) in the cytoplasm of rat (Wistar) cardiomyocytes has been determined by the electron probe analysis. The intracellular content of potassium and phosphorus was determined in early organogenesis and in unfertilized animals. In pregnant animals, a decrease in the cytoplasmic concentration of phosphorus and an increase in the concentration of potassium were registered. It was shown that the acute hypobaric hypoxia changes the content of both elements in the cytoplasm. The data obtained are discussed in terms of the activation of the ion transport system, which is aimed at compensating the cellular acidosis and lactosis induced by the development of hypoxic deenergization in pregnant animals.

A succinate-based composition reverses menopausal symptoms without sex hormone replacement therapy

Menopausal transition is often accompanied by a variety of adverse pathological symptoms, currently treated with hormone replacement therapy, which is associated with a number of health risks. This report investigated the role of a food supplement--a composition of energy-exchange metabolites, with succinate as the main component--for treating menopausal syndrome. We studied the impact of a 4-week succinate-based food composition (SBC) treatment on the estral cycle, and bone mass and calcium content of aging mice. The impact of SBC on hormone levels and on the progression of several neurovegetative and psycho-emotional symptoms was further investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of early menopausal women. Data were collected from questionnaires, Kupperman index scores, Spielberger-Hanin tests, and blood analysis of hormone levels taken at baseline and throughout the 5-week study. A "rejuvenating" effect of SBC on menopausal animals was observed, expressed as restoration of the estral cycle and an increase in the weight and calcium content of bone tissue. Furthermore, in the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study in menopausal women, SBC-based monotherapy significantly lowered most subjectively evaluated characteristics of menopausal syndrome and increased blood serum levels of estradiol fourfold. This monotherapy also alleviated symptoms of some neurovegetative and psycho-emotional disorders, such as hot flushes, headache, and anxiety. Succinate-based therapy alleviated many biochemical symptoms of menopause in aging mice and early menopausal women, as well as neurovegetative and psycho-emotional disorders in women. Succinate-based therapy appeared to be free of adverse side effects.

[Circulation of excitation waves in a model medium containing unexcitable obstacles]

The 3D structure of the heart tissue of Wistar rats from different age groups has been reconstructed by light microscopy of consecutive series of semithin sections. At the histological resolution level, connective tissue segments in the myocardium of aged (18 months) animals were found, while in the myocardium of young (2 months) animals no connective tissue segments were observed. A mathematical model and the results of the 3D reconstruction were used to simulate the formation of excitation wave circulation in the myocardium. The values of conductivity and the excitability threshold, and the pulse frequency rates were found at which the disturbances of the heart rhythm resulting from the excitation wave circulation are predicted by the mathematical modeling.

[Cytochalasin B induced changes in cytoplasmic Na+/K+ balance in 2-cell mouse embryo]

This work was performed to study changes in intracellular elemental (Na/K) concentrations caused by Cytochalasin B in two-cell mouse embryo using Electron Probe Microanalysis. The presence of Cytochalasin B is required to transfer a somatic cell nuclear into an early embryo cell. The direct effect of this chemical is cytoskeleton transformation, which would be able to cause the increase of potassium channel activity resulting in cytoplasmic Na/K imbalance. In our study Cytochalasin B was shown to decrease the intracellular sodium concentration. The Na/K balance in the cytoplasm of mouse embryos reverted to its intact level after treatment them with Cytochalasin B free Dulbecco's solution. Possible mechanisms responsible for the changes in the intracellular sodium concentration observed in the embryo cells are discussed.

Electron probe microanalysis of cytoplasmic concentrations of elements in a single cell in culture and suspension

Electron probe microanalysis is a method for evaluation of concentrations of elements at the subcellular level, effective in studies of an individual cell in culture or suspension. Intracellular concentrations of cytoplasmic ions (K+, Na+, Cl-) most rapidly and markedly reacting to changes is an adequate criterion for evaluating the traumatism of manipulations used in cell technologies. Using electron probe microanalysis it will be possible to develop special procedures (for example, therapeutic cloning) for reprogramming or cryopreservation, when intactness of intracellular balance of element serves as the criterion of cell status.

[Cytoplasmic K/Na balance in heart muscle cells of young and old rats under oxygen and substrate deficiency]

Age-related changes in the content of the major cellular cations of potassium and sodium in heart muscle cells of Wistar rats have been studied. The cytoplasmic concentration of potassium and sodium was determined by the electron probe microanalysis. The results revealed differences in both the concentration of the elements in young and old control animals and the responses of a cardiomyocyte to the state of acute hypoxic deenergization modelled on a perfused heart. The data are consistent with the hypothesis about the presence of genetically-related age changes in the conductance of potassium channels, which in old animals are realized against the background of deficient supply of tissues with oxygen and substrate.

Electron probe microanalysis of potassium and sodium in clonogenic culture of human neural stem cells

The mean potassium and sodium concentrations and distribution of potassium in clonogenic culture of human neural stem cells (neurosphere) were estimated by means of electron probe microanalysis. High sodium concentration was typical of undifferentiated cells. Potassium was irregularly distributed in the test structure. Our results confirm published data on heterogeneous morphological structure of neurospheres.

[Electron probe microanalysis of potassium and phosphorus in mouse oocytes and zygotes]

Intracellular concentrations of potassium and phosphorus were determined by Electron Probe Microanalysis in mouse mature oocytes and zygotes. The oocytes were characterized by insignificant variations in the concentrations of these elements in the cytoplasm: 60 +/- 4 and 103 +/- 6 mM, respectively. In zygotes, on the contrary, significant variations were observed: 64 +/- 16 and 84 +/- 14 mM, respectively. Changes in the potassium homeostasis during the first cell cycle have been discussed.

Histological method for evaluation of the efficiency of Enerlit-Clima

We propose a method of evaluation of anticlimacteric efficiency of a drug by its effect on the estrous cycle. The study was carried out on 9-month-old mice with retained, but notably reduced reproductive function. Analysis of the cell components of the estrous cycle was carried out on histological preparations of vaginal smears.

[3-D reconstruction of early preimplantation mouse embryo]

Method of 3-D reconstruction approaches for early mouse embryo in preimplantation stages was modified. The developed technique is based on application of light microscopy of serial thin sections and well known soft operating. The designed method enabled us 1) to get serial sections of a single mouse embryo; 2) to create an orthogonal system independent on the sample for orientation of virtual sections. The adequacy of 3-DR protocol was checked on reconstruction of air bubbles embedded in epoxy resin as a model of sphere.

Potassium assay in blastomere of two-cell mouse embryo after equilibration and washing from cryoprotector

The need for effective methods of cryopreservation of early mammalian embryos necessitates the study of the mechanisms of blastomere adaptation to the equilibration procedure and subsequent washing from the cryoprotector. The osmotic effects during these procedures can cause electrolyte imbalance in embryonic cells. Intracellular potassium concentrations at the stage of two-blastomere mouse embryo were studied by electron probe microanalysis.

Changes in intracellular potassium concentration in a one-cell mouse embryo after enucleation

Comparative analysis of potassium concentrations in the cytoplasm of intact and enucleated one-cell mouse embryos of showed that microsurgical manipulations during collection of pronuclei disordered potassium homeostasis in the embryonic cell.

Preclinical Study of the Effect of Cardiotropic Agents on Isolated Heart

Direct effects of cardiotropic preparations on the hearts isolated from Wistar rats were examined. Deenergization of cardiomyocytes was modeled under conditions of hypoxic perfusion. Recovery of cardiac function during reperfusion was assessed by changes in the heart rate and contraction amplitude.

[Activation of specific membrane mechanisms in the myocardium cells on early stages of ischemia]

Electron probe microanalysis was employed to determine the elemental concentration (K,Na,Cl) in a myocyte on cryosections of the papillary muscle of the isolated rat (Wistar) heart. Protocols of global ischemia and ischemic conditions under glucose-free anoxic perfusion were applied. It was shown that global ischemia induces potassium deficiency (94 +/- 2 mM) in the myocyte and an increase in the level of sodium (72 +/- 4 mM) and chlorine (42 +/- 1 mM) in the cytoplasm compared with intact cell (122 +/- 2; 36 +/- 1; 24 +/- 1 mM). Glucose-free anoxic perfusion leads to a smooth fall of potassium concentration in the cell up to 54 +/- 2 mM with the retention of intracellular sodium (40 +/- 1 mM) and chlorine (26 +/- 1 mM) level. The present finding suggest that, in early ischemia, specific membrane mechanisms of ion transport are activated. Among these are KNa channel, Hi(+)-Nao+ exchange, KATP channel, lactate transport from the cell, associated either with potassium efflux to the extracellular space or chlorine influx into the myocyte. It is assumed that Na/K-ATPase is also activated under ischemic conditions.