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Bordiga M, Lupi C, Langer G, Gianoncelli A, Birarda G, Pollastri S, Bonanni V, Bedolla DE, Vaccari L, Gariani G, Cerino F, Cabrini M, Beran A, Zuccotti M, Fiorentino G, Zanoni M, Garagna S, Cobianchi M, Di Giulio A. Unexpected silicon localization in calcium carbonate exoskeleton of cultured and fossil coccolithophores. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7417. [PMID: 37150777 PMCID: PMC10164752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccolithophores, marine calcifying phytoplankton, are important primary producers impacting the global carbon cycle at different timescales. Their biomineral structures, the calcite containing coccoliths, are among the most elaborate hard parts of any organism. Understanding the morphogenesis of coccoliths is not only relevant in the context of coccolithophore eco-physiology but will also inform biomineralization and crystal design research more generally. The recent discovery of a silicon (Si) requirement for crystal shaping in some coccolithophores has opened up a new avenue of biomineralization research. In order to develop a mechanistic understanding of the role of Si, the presence and localization of this chemical element in coccoliths needs to be known. Here, we document for the first time the uneven Si distribution in Helicosphaera carteri coccoliths through three synchrotron-based techniques employing X-ray Fluorescence and Infrared Spectromicroscopy. The enrichment of Si in specific areas of the coccoliths point to a targeted role of this element in the coccolith formation. Our findings mark a key step in biomineralization research because it opens the door for a detailed mechanistic understanding of the role Si plays in shaping coccolith crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bordiga
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Lupi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - G Langer
- ICTA, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - A Gianoncelli
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - G Birarda
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - S Pollastri
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - V Bonanni
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - D E Bedolla
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
- AREA Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - L Vaccari
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - G Gariani
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - F Cerino
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - M Cabrini
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - A Beran
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - M Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Fiorentino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Zanoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Garagna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Cobianchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Di Giulio
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
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Fiorentino G, Smith A, Nicora G, Bellazzi R, Magni F, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. MALDI mass spectrometry imaging shows a gradual change in the proteome landscape during mouse ovarian folliculogenesis. Mol Hum Reprod 2023; 29:7025499. [PMID: 36734599 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaad006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge regarding the role proteins play in the mutual relationship among oocytes, surrounding follicle cells, stroma, and the vascular network inside the ovary is still poor and obtaining insights into this context would significantly aid our understanding of folliculogenesis. Here, we describe a spatial proteomics approach to characterise the proteome of individual follicles at different growth stages in a whole prepubertal 25-day-old mouse ovary. A total of 401 proteins were identified by nano-scale liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI-MS/MS), 69 with a known function in ovary biology, as demonstrated by earlier proteomics studies. Enrichment analysis highlighted significant KEGG and Reactome pathways, with apoptosis, developmental biology, PI3K-Akt, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and extracellular matrix organisation being well represented. Then, correlating these data with the spatial information provided by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) on 276 follicles enabled the protein profiles of single follicle types to be mapped within their native context, highlighting 94 proteins that were detected throughout the secondary to the pre-ovulatory transition. Statistical analyses identified a group of 37 proteins that showed a gradual quantitative change during follicle differentiation, comprising 10 with a known role in follicle growth (NUMA1, TPM2), oocyte germinal vesicle-to-metaphase II transition (SFPQ, ACTBL, MARCS, NUCL), ovulation (GELS, CO1A2) and preimplantation development (TIF1B, KHDC3). The proteome landscape identified includes molecules of known function in the ovary, but also those whose specific role is emerging. Altogether, this work demonstrates the utility of performing spatial proteomics in the context of the ovary and offers sound bases for more in-depth investigations that aim to further unravel its spatial proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fiorentino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrew Smith
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Giovanna Nicora
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bellazzi
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Magni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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López SL, Cirio MC, Garagna S. Editorial: Early animal development: From fertilization to gastrulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1146778. [PMID: 36776556 PMCID: PMC9911284 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1146778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia L. López
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología/1° U.A. Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina,CONICET–Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia “Prof. E. De Robertis” (IBCN), Laboratorio de Embriología Molecular “Prof. Dr. Andrés E. Carrasco”, Buenos Aires, Argentina,*Correspondence: Silvia L. López,
| | - M. Cecilia Cirio
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Fiorentino G, Cimadomo D, Innocenti F, Soscia D, Vaiarelli A, Ubaldi FM, Gennarelli G, Garagna S, Rienzi L, Zuccotti M. Biomechanical forces and signals operating in the ovary during folliculogenesis and their dysregulation: implications for fertility. Hum Reprod Update 2023; 29:1-23. [PMID: 35856663 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folliculogenesis occurs in the highly dynamic environment of the ovary. Follicle cyclic recruitment, neo-angiogenesis, spatial displacement, follicle atresia and ovulation stand out as major events resulting from the interplay between mechanical forces and molecular signals. Morphological and functional changes to the growing follicle and to the surrounding tissue are required to produce oocytes capable of supporting preimplantation development to the blastocyst stage. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review will summarize the ovarian morphological and functional context that contributes to follicle recruitment, growth and ovulation, as well as to the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence. We will describe the changes occurring during folliculogenesis to the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) and to the vasculature, their influence on the mechanical properties of the ovarian tissue, and, in turn, their influence on the regulation of signal transduction. Also, we will outline how their dysregulation might be associated with pathologies such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Finally, for each of these three pathologies, we will highlight therapeutic strategies attempting to correct the altered biomechanical context in order to restore fertility. SEARCH METHODS For each area discussed, a systematic bibliographical search was performed, without temporal limits, using PubMed Central, Web of Science and Scopus search engines employing the keywords extracellular matrix, mechanobiology, biomechanics, vasculature, angiogenesis or signalling pathway in combination with: ovary, oogenesis, oocyte, folliculogenesis, ovarian follicle, theca, granulosa, cumulus, follicular fluid, corpus luteum, meiosis, oocyte developmental competence, preimplantation, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency or endometriosis. OUTCOMES Through search engines queries, we yielded a total of 37 368 papers that were further selected based on our focus on mammals and, specifically, on rodents, bovine, equine, ovine, primates and human, and also were trimmed around each specific topic of the review. After the elimination of duplicates, this selection process resulted in 628 papers, of which 287 were cited in the manuscript. Among these, 89.2% were published in the past 22 years, while the remaining 8.0%, 2.4% or 0.3% were published during the 1990s, 1980s or before, respectively. During folliculogenesis, changes occur to the ovarian ECM composition and organization that, together with vasculature modelling around the growing follicle, are aimed to sustain its recruitment and growth, and the maturation of the enclosed oocyte. These events define the scenario in which mechanical forces are key to the regulation of cascades of molecular signals. Alterations to this context determine impaired folliculogenesis and decreased oocyte developmental potential, as observed in pathological conditions which are causes of infertility, such as PCOS, endometriosis or POI. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The knowledge of these mechanisms and the rules that govern them lay a sound basis to explain how follicles recruitment and growth are modulated, and stimulate insights to develop, in clinical practice, strategies to improve follicular recruitment and oocyte competence, particularly for pathologies like PCOS, endometriosis and POI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Daria Soscia
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Gianluca Gennarelli
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.,Livet, GeneraLife IVF, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Fabozzi G, Rebuzzini P, Cimadomo D, Allori M, Franzago M, Stuppia L, Garagna S, Ubaldi FM, Zuccotti M, Rienzi L. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, Gut Microbiota, and Human (In)Fertility-It Is Time to Consider the Triad. Cells 2022; 11:3335. [PMID: 36359730 PMCID: PMC9654651 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota (GM) is a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms living in the human gastrointestinal tract that play an important role in human health and diseases. Recent evidence suggests a strong direct or indirect correlation between GM and both male and female fertility: on the one hand, GM is involved in the regulation of sex hormone levels and in the preservation of the blood-testis barrier integrity; on the other hand, a dysbiotic GM is linked to the onset of pro-inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis or PCOS, which are often associated with infertility. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is one of the main causes of GM dysbiosis, with important consequences to the host health and potential transgenerational effects. This perspective article aims to show that the negative effects of EDCs on reproduction are in part due to a dysbiotic GM. We will highlight (i) the link between GM and male and female fertility; (ii) the mechanisms of interaction between EDCs and GM; and (iii) the importance of the maternal-fetal GM axis for offspring growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Fabozzi
- B-Woman, Via dei Monti Parioli 6, 00197 Rome, Italy
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Via De Notaris 2B, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Via De Notaris 2B, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marica Franzago
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Liborio Stuppia
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Via De Notaris 2B, 00197 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Via Sant’Andrea 34, 61029 Urbino, Italy
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Rebuzzini P, Fabozzi G, Cimadomo D, Ubaldi FM, Rienzi L, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Multi- and Transgenerational Effects of Environmental Toxicants on Mammalian Reproduction. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193163. [PMID: 36231124 PMCID: PMC9563050 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental toxicants (ETs) are an exogenous chemical group diffused in the environment that contaminate food, water, air and soil, and through the food chain, they bioaccumulate into the organisms. In mammals, the exposure to ETs can affect both male and female fertility and their reproductive health through complex alterations that impact both gametogeneses, among other processes. In humans, direct exposure to ETs concurs to the declining of fertility, and its transmission across generations has been recently proposed. However, multi- and transgenerational inheritances of ET reprotoxicity have only been demonstrated in animals. Here, we review recent studies performed on laboratory model animals investigating the effects of ETs, such as BPA, phthalates, pesticides and persistent contaminants, on the reproductive system transmitted through generations. This includes multigenerational effects, where exposure to the compounds cannot be excluded, and transgenerational effects in unexposed animals. Additionally, we report on epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone tails and noncoding RNAs, which may play a mechanistic role in a nongenetic transmission of environmental information exposure through the germline across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, Via Ferrata 9, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.R.); (M.Z.); (S.G.); Tel.: +39-0382-986323 (P.R. & M.Z. & S.G.)
| | - Gemma Fabozzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Via De Notaris 2B, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Via De Notaris 2B, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Rienzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF, Via De Notaris 2B, 00197 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Via Sant’Andrea 34, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, Via Ferrata 9, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.R.); (M.Z.); (S.G.); Tel.: +39-0382-986323 (P.R. & M.Z. & S.G.)
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, Via Ferrata 9, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.R.); (M.Z.); (S.G.); Tel.: +39-0382-986323 (P.R. & M.Z. & S.G.)
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Cimadomo D, Fiorentino G, Innocenti F, Merico V, Taggi M, Angotzi M, Venturella R, Albricci L, Vaiarelli A, Sproviero D, Cereda C, Gagliardi S, Ubaldi F, Garagna S, Rienzi L, Zuccotti M. Cumulus cells secrete micro-vesicles carrying miRNAs: their role in the acquisition of mouse and human oocyte's developmental competence. Reprod Biomed Online 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2022]
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Fiorentino G, Parrilli A, Cimadomo D, Vaiarelli A, Rienzi L, Ubaldi F, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. P-586 3D micro-Computed Tomography imaging and reconstruction of the mouse ovary before and after gonadotropins treatment. Hum Reprod 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac107.540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study question
How does gonadotropins treatment impact on the number of the different follicle types, their 3D localization, and their recruitment and selection dynamics inside the ovary?
Summary answer
Treatment with gonadotropins modifies the dynamics of follicles recruitment and selection within the 3D context of the ovary.
What is known already
Gonadotropins regulate mouse folliculogenesis during follicles recruitment (type 4-5, T4-5) and selection for growth or elimination (T6-7). To further our understanding of the impact of gonadotropins treatment on folliculogenetic dynamics inside the ovary, we used Computed Tomography (CT).
3D imaging of the ovary provides information on its inner spatial organization, and microCT is the only technique that combines high resolution with cubic voxels and allows the organ 3D in-silico reconstruction. We recently published the method for microCT analysis of the adult mouse ovary demonstrating that follicle recruitment occurs simultaneously all-over the cortex, and folliculogenesis is completed within the same region.
Study design, size, duration
25-day-old CD1-mice were used since this age rightly precedes the first ovulation: follicles, from the primordial T1 to the pre-ovulatory T8, are all present, but corpora lutea (CL) are yet not formed. Ovaries from different individuals were analyzed by microCT: three not-treated controls (CTR); three injected with 3.5 I.U. PMSG and sacrificed 48hr later (PMSG); three treated first with PMSG, 48hr later injected with 3.5 I.U. hCG and then sacrificed after 15hr upon ovulation (PMSG+hCG).
Participants/materials, setting, methods
Ovaries were fixed in 4% Paraformaldehyde and treated with Lugol’s solution for 3hr at RT. Then, they were imaged with the EasyTom XL (RX Solutions) tomographic system, using a 1-1.2 µm/pixel resolution. Following microCT imaging, follicles classification (Fiji ImageJ, NIH), 3D mapping (XnConvert, XnSoft) and ovary in-silico reconstruction (Avizo-9, Thermo Fisher Scientific) were performed. ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc statistical analyses were done with RStudio > (p < 0.05).
Main results and the role of chance
Compared to CTR, 48hr after PMSG injection, the T3, T4 and T5 follicle classes remained numerically unchanged, suggesting that the FSH-dependent recruitment involving T4-5 follicles is balanced by an equivalent number of follicles growing from the preceding primordial pool. The most evident change in PMSG ovaries was a 5-fold decrease (p = 0.002) in the number of antral T7 follicles, at the stage of follicle selection. This observation was paralleled by the presence, in the medulla region, of many atretic-like follicles, characterized by a more intense microCT contrast associated with a collapsed antrum, de-structured granulosa-cell layers and fragmented oocytes.
In PMSG+hCG ovaries, the number of T3-7 follicles was analogous to that described for PMSG, although the atretic-like follicles almost disappeared, suggesting their elimination sometime prior to ovulation.
To understand whether follicle recruitment and selection have a territoriality within the 3D female gonad, ovaries were virtually divided into eight dorsal (D-I/II/III/IV) and ventral (V-I/II/III/IV) sectors. Compared to CTR, PMSG injection appeared to increase follicle selection in sectors V-I (p = 0.03), V-II (p = 0.01) and V-IV (p = 0.02), whereas PMSG+hCG displayed a higher follicle recruitment in sector V-IV (p = 0.0007). Overall, these data suggest a spatial differential effect of the gonadotropins treatment inside the 3D mouse ovary.
Limitations, reasons for caution
To strengthen the results and better account for the inter-individual variability in response to hormonal treatments, the number of ovaries/individuals should be increased. Also, important is extending the analysis to the time-interval after hCG injection, beyond 15 hr, to assess the effects of ovarian stimulation on subsequent cycles.
Wider implications of the findings
The method proposed allows to map all follicle stages and to reconstruct a 3D in-silico model of the mouse ovary. This approach could be extended to other Mammals, including human, in normal and pathological conditions, as well as in response to different hormonal stimuli (e.g., dose or type of gonadotropins).
Trial registration number
not applicable
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fiorentino
- University of Pavia, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani” , Pavia, Italy
| | - A Parrilli
- Empa, Center of X-ray Analytics , Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - D Cimadomo
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF , Rome, Italy
| | - A Vaiarelli
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF , Rome, Italy
| | - L Rienzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF , Rome, Italy
| | - F.M Ubaldi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF , Rome, Italy
| | - S Garagna
- University of Pavia, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani” , Pavia, Italy
| | - M Zuccotti
- University of Pavia, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani” , Pavia, Italy
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Innocenti F, Fiorentino G, Cimadomo D, Soscia D, Garagna S, Rienzi L, Ubaldi FM, Zuccotti M. Maternal effect factors that contribute to oocytes developmental competence: an update. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:861-871. [PMID: 35165782 PMCID: PMC9051001 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02434-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oocyte developmental competence is defined as the capacity of the female gamete to be fertilized and sustain development to the blastocyst stage. Epigenetic reprogramming, a correct cell division pattern, and an efficient DNA damage response are all critical events that, before embryonic genome activation, are governed by maternally inherited factors such as maternal-effect gene (MEG) products. Although these molecules are stored inside the oocyte until ovulation and exert their main role during fertilization and preimplantation development, some of them are already functioning during folliculogenesis and oocyte meiosis resumption. This mini review summarizes the crucial roles played by MEGs during oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation development with a direct/indirect effect on the acquisition or maintenance of oocyte competence. Our aim is to inspire future research on a topic with potential clinical perspectives for the prediction and treatment of female infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Innocenti
- GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. de Notaris, 2b, 00197, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. de Notaris, 2b, 00197, Rome, Italy.
| | - Daria Soscia
- GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. de Notaris, 2b, 00197, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. de Notaris, 2b, 00197, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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10
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Rebuzzini P, Civello C, Fassina L, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Functional and structural phenotyping of cardiomyocytes in the 3D organization of embryoid bodies exposed to arsenic trioxide. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23116. [PMID: 34848780 PMCID: PMC8633008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02590-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants threatens human health. Arsenic, a world-wide diffused toxicant, is associated to cardiac pathology in the adult and to congenital heart defects in the foetus. Poorly known are its effects on perinatal cardiomyocytes. Here, bioinformatic image-analysis tools were coupled with cellular and molecular analyses to obtain functional and structural quantitative metrics of the impairment induced by 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 µM arsenic trioxide exposure on the perinatal-like cardiomyocyte component of mouse embryoid bodies, within their 3D complex cell organization. With this approach, we quantified alterations to the (a) beating activity; (b) sarcomere organization (texture, edge, repetitiveness, height and width of the Z bands); (c) cardiomyocyte size and shape; (d) volume occupied by cardiomyocytes within the EBs. Sarcomere organization and cell morphology impairment are paralleled by differential expression of sarcomeric α-actin and Tropomyosin proteins and of acta2, myh6 and myh7 genes. Also, significant increase of Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45 connexin genes and of Cx43 protein expression profiles is paralleled by large Cx43 immunofluorescence signals. These results provide new insights into the role of arsenic in impairing cytoskeletal components of perinatal-like cardiomyocytes which, in turn, affect cell size, shape and beating capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Civello
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fassina
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering (DIII), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, Pavia, Italy.
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11
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Garagna S, Cebral E, Aréchaga J, Zuccotti M. Editorial: 3D Modelling of Mammalian Embryos and Organs. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:763008. [PMID: 34631724 PMCID: PMC8493065 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.763008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Garagna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Lazzaro Spallanzani, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Cebral
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Aréchaga
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Lazzaro Spallanzani, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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12
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Fiorentino G, Parrilli A, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. O-157 Micro-Computed Tomography of the adult mouse ovary: an in-silico 3D reconstruction of folliculogenesis. Hum Reprod 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab127.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study question
Which are the spatial dynamics of follicles recruitment and growth inside the ovary?
Summary answer
3D micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) shows a simultaneous and homogeneous distribution of follicle recruitment all-over the cortex,and subsequent growth within the same ovarian region.
What is known already
In the mouse ovary, folliculogenesis progresses from the primordial type 1 (T1) to the fully-grown T8 follicle. Most of our knowledge of the folliculogenetic process has been obtained by disaggregating the ovary into its functional units (i.e., follicles and oocytes), thus losing the complexity of the whole histo-functional context.
To date, few studies employed 3D imaging approaches to gain information on the inside 3D ovary organisation. MicroCT is the only technique that combines a high spatial resolution (down to ∼1 µm) with the production of a true 3D organ reconstruction, with cubic voxels and isotropic resolution.
Study design, size, duration
Three ovaries of three different adult mice were treated with the contrast agent and then imaged with microCT. A typical experiment required a total of 35 man/h from ovaries isolation to completion of X-ray scanning, and 24 man/h for follicles classification and mapping.
Participants/materials, setting, methods
Three ovaries of three different 8-week-old CD1 mice were fixed in 4% Paraformaldehyde and treated with Lugol’s solution for 3 hr at RT. Ovaries were scanned with Skyscan 1172 (Bruker) using a 1.5 µm/pixel resolution. MicroCT sections were processed with Fiji ImageJ (NIH), and 3D rendering of follicles and blood vessels were obtained with Avizo-9 (Thermo Fisher Scientific). ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hocstatistical analyses were performed with RStudio, considering data significantly different when p < 0.05.
Main results and the role of chance
Using microCT we built the first in silico3D reconstruction of the tiny mouse ovary, identifying, mapping and counting follicles,from pre-antral secondary T4 (53.2 + 12.7 µm in diameter) to fully-grown antral T8 (321.0 + 21.3 µm), and the corpora lutea.MicroCTbrought up the main functional compartments of the growing follicle, i.e., granulosa and cumulus cells, the antrum, the zona pellucida, and the oocyte with its nucleus. Instead, primordial and primary follicles (T1–T3) could not be observed, perhaps due to the reduced size of their enclosed oocyte and to the absence of a well-formed zona pellucida around the germ cell. In addition, our analysis allowed the visualisation and 3D modelling of the main ovarian vasculature, from the largest vessel that enters the organ at the hilum site (∼150 µm size in diameter)to smaller branches present in the medulla region (∼35 µm).
These results show that each of the eight ovarian sectors, virtually segmented along the dorsal-ventral axis,houses an equal number of each follicle type, suggesting a simultaneous and homogeneous distribution of follicle recruitment all-over the cortex,and subsequent growth within the same ovarian region.
Limitations, reasons for caution
To strengthen the results, the number of ovaries/individuals analysed should be increased.
Wider implications of the findings
This 3D mapping of follicles and vessels could contribute our understanding of folliculogenesis dynamics, not only under normal conditions, but also during ageing, after hormones or drugs administration, or in the presence of ovarian pathologies.
Trial registration number
not applicable
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fiorentino
- Università di Pavia, Biologia e Biotecnologie Lazzaro Spallanzani, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Parrilli
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology - Empa, Center for X-ray Analytics, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - S Garagna
- Università di Pavia, Biologia e Biotecnologie Lazzaro Spallanzani, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Zuccotti
- Università di Pavia, Biologia e Biotecnologie Lazzaro Spallanzani, Pavia, Italy
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Fiorentino G, Parrilli A, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Three-dimensional imaging and reconstruction of the whole ovary and testis: a new frontier for the reproductive scientist. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:6129265. [PMID: 33544861 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The 3D functional reconstruction of a whole organ or organism down to the single cell level and to the subcellular components and molecules is a major future scientific challenge. The recent convergence of advanced imaging techniques with an impressively increased computing power allowed early attempts to translate and combine 2D images and functional data to obtain in-silico organ 3D models. This review first describes the experimental pipeline required for organ 3D reconstruction: from the collection of 2D serial images obtained with light, confocal, light-sheet microscopy or tomography, followed by their registration, segmentation and subsequent 3D rendering. Then, we summarise the results of investigations performed so far by applying these 3D image analyses to the study of the female and male mammalian gonads. These studies highlight the importance of working towards a 3D in-silico model of the ovary and testis as a tool to gain insights into their biology during the phases of differentiation or adulthood, in normal or pathological conditions. Furthermore, the use of 3D imaging approaches opens to key technical improvements, ranging from image acquisition to optimisation and development of new processing tools, and unfolds novel possibilities for multidisciplinary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Annapaola Parrilli
- Center for X-ray Analytics, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
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14
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Merico V, Imberti JF, Zanoni M, Boriani G, Garagna S, Imberti R. Inhibition of lysyl oxidase stimulates TGF-β signaling and metalloproteinases-2 and -9 expression and contributes to the disruption of ascending aorta in rats: protection by propylthiouracil. Heart Vessels 2021; 36:738-747. [PMID: 33462684 DOI: 10.1007/s00380-020-01750-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in lysyl oxidase (LOX) genes cause severe vascular anomalies in mice and humans. LOX activity can be irreversibly inhibited by the administration of β-aminoproprionitrile (BAPN). We investigated the mechanisms underlying the damage to the ascending thoracic aorta induced by LOX deficiency and evaluated whether 6-propylthiouracil (PTU) can afford protection in rats. BAPN administration caused disruption of the ascending aortic wall, increased the number of apoptotic cells, stimulated TGF-β signaling (increase of nuclear p-SMAD2 staining), and up-regulated the expression of metalloproteinases-2 and -9. In BAPN-treated animals, PTU reduced apoptosis, p-SMAD2 staining, MMP-2, and -9 expression, and markedly decreased the damage to the aortic wall. Our results suggest that, as in some heritable vascular diseases, enhanced TGF-β signaling and upregulation of MMP-2 and -9 can contribute to the pathogenesis of ascending aorta damage caused by LOX deficiency. We have also shown that PTU, a drug already in clinical use, protects against the effects of LOX inhibition. MMP-2 and -9 might be potential targets of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of vascular diseases caused by LOX deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Merico
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Jacopo Francesco Imberti
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Mario Zanoni
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Boriani
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Imberti
- Phase I Clinical Trials Unit and Experimental Therapy, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
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15
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Campi G, Nicora G, Fiorentino G, Smith A, Magni F, Garagna S, Zuccotti M, Bellazzi R. A Topological Data Analysis Mapper of the Ovarian Folliculogenesis Based on MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging Proteomics. Artif Intell Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77211-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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16
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Coticchio G, Fiorentino G, Nicora G, Sciajno R, Cavalera F, Bellazzi R, Garagna S, Borini A, Zuccotti M. Cytoplasmic movements of the early human embryo: imaging and artificial intelligence to predict blastocyst development. Reprod Biomed Online 2020; 42:521-528. [PMID: 33558172 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Can artificial intelligence and advanced image analysis extract and harness novel information derived from cytoplasmic movements of the early human embryo to predict development to blastocyst? DESIGN In a proof-of-principle study, 230 human preimplantation embryos were retrospectively assessed using an artificial neural network. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryos underwent time-lapse monitoring for 44 h. For comparison, standard embryo assessment of each embryo by a single embryologist was carried out to predict development to blastocyst stage based on a single picture frame taken at 42 h of development. In the experimental approach, in embryos that developed to blastocyst or destined to arrest, cytoplasm movement velocity was recorded by time-lapse monitoring during the first 44 h of culture and analysed with a Particle Image Velocimetry algorithm to extract quantitative information. Three main artificial intelligence approaches, the k-Nearest Neighbour, the Long-Short Term Memory Neural Network and the hybrid ensemble classifier were used to classify the embryos. RESULTS Blind operator assessment classified each embryo in terms of ability to develop to blastocyst, with 75.4% accuracy, 76.5% sensitivity, 74.3% specificity, 74.3% precision and 75.4% F1 score. Integration of results from artificial intelligence models with the blind operator classification, resulted in 82.6% accuracy, 79.4% sensitivity, 85.7% specificity, 84.4% precision and 81.8% F1 score. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests the possibility of predicting human blastocyst development at early cleavage stages by detection of cytoplasm movement velocity and artificial intelligence analysis. This indicates the importance of the dynamics of the cytoplasm as a novel and valuable source of data to assess embryo viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Coticchio
- 9.baby Family and Fertility Center, Via Dante, 15, Bologna 40125, Italy.
| | - Giulia Fiorentino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9 27100, Italy; Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanna Nicora
- Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Raffaella Sciajno
- 9.baby Family and Fertility Center, Via Dante, 15, Bologna 40125, Italy
| | - Federica Cavalera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9 27100, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bellazzi
- Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9 27100, Italy; Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Borini
- 9.baby Family and Fertility Center, Via Dante, 15, Bologna 40125, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9 27100, Italy; Centre for Health Technology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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17
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Fiorentino G, Parrilli A, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Three-Dimensional Micro-Computed Tomography of the Adult Mouse Ovary. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:566152. [PMID: 33195196 PMCID: PMC7604317 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.566152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mouse ovary, folliculogenesis proceeds through eight main growth stages, from small primordial type 1 (T1) to fully grown antral T8 follicles. Most of our understanding of this process was obtained with approaches that disrupted the ovary three-dimensional (3D) integrity. Micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) allows the maintenance of the organ structure and a true in-silico 3D reconstruction, with cubic voxels and isotropic resolution, giving a precise spatial mapping of its functional units. Here, we developed a robust method that, by combining an optimized contrast procedure with microCT imaging of the tiny adult mouse ovary, allowed 3D mapping and counting of follicles, from pre-antral secondary T4 (53.2 ± 12.7 μm in diameter) to antral T8 (321.0 ± 21.3 μm) and corpora lutea, together with the major vasculature branches. Primordial and primary follicles (T1–T3) could not be observed. Our procedure highlighted, with unprecedent details, the main functional compartments of the growing follicle: granulosa, antrum, cumulus cells, zona pellucida, and oocyte with its nucleus. The results describe a homogeneous distribution of all follicle types between the ovary dorsal and ventral regions. Also, they show that each of the eight sectors, virtually segmented along the dorsal-ventral axis, houses an equal number of each follicle type. Altogether, these data suggest that follicle recruitment is homogeneously distributed all-over the ovarian surface. This topographic reconstruction builds sound bases for modeling follicles position and, prospectively, could contribute to our understanding of folliculogenesis dynamics, not only under normal conditions, but, importantly, during aging, in the presence of pathologies or after hormones or drugs administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annapaola Parrilli
- Center for X-ray Analytics, Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Center for Health Technologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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18
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Merico V, Luaces JP, Rossi LF, Rebuzzini P, Merani MS, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Sertoli-immature spermatids disengagement during testis regression in the armadillo. Reproduction 2020; 157:27-42. [PMID: 30394707 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In nature, mammalian seasonal breeders undergo spermatogenetic arrest during the non-breeding season. In the large hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus, testis regression initiates with immature post-meiotic germ cells sloughing into the tubule lumen and continues with the death of the remaining spermatocytes. At the end of the regression period, only spermatogonia and Sertoli cells persist in the seminiferous epithelium. It has been suggested that cell sloughing is determined by changes in the adhesion complexes between Sertoli cells and spermatids, which are mediated by low intra-testicular testosterone levels. By immunofluorescence and Western blotting we studied key proteins of the N-cadherin/N-cadherin and A6B1-integrin/laminin interlocks that contribute to the complex Sertoli/spermatid adhesion system throughout the eight stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in the comparison between active and regressing testes. In active testis, B1-integrin, laminin G3, N-cadherin, B-catenin, P-B-catenin-Tyr654, FAK, P-FAK-Tyr397, SRC, P-SRC-Tyr416 proteins present a spermatogenetic cycle-dependent localisation pattern, unmaintained in regressing testes. In the latter, quantitative variations and changes in the phosphorylation state of protein FAK, SRC and B-catenin contribute to the disassembly of the N-cadherin/N-cadherin and A6B1-integrin/laminin interlocks, thus promoting the massive release of immature spermatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Merico
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technology, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Juan Pablo Luaces
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis Francisco Rossi
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paola Rebuzzini
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Susana Merani
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technology, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technology, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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19
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Merico V, Zanoni M, Parada-Bustamante A, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. In Vitro Maturation of Fully Grown Mouse Antral Follicles in the Presence of 1 nM 2-Hydroxyestradiol Improves Oocytes' Developmental Competence. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:121-133. [PMID: 32757137 PMCID: PMC7782423 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00276-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cathecolestrogens are estradiol metabolites produced during folliculogenesis in the mammalian ovary. 2-Hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) is one of the most abundant although its role remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the presence of 2-OHE2 during the germinal vesicle-to-metaphase II transition affects oocyte meiotic and preimplantation developmental competence. Mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), isolated from fully grown antral follicles, were in vitro–matured (IVM) in the presence of 2-OHE2 (0.1, 1, 10 or 100 nM) for 6 or 15 h; then, their meiotic and developmental competence was evaluated using a number of cytological quality markers. With the exception of the highest dose (100 nM), the addition of 2-OHE2 to the IVM medium, did not alter, compared with untreated control, the frequency of oocytes that reached the MII stage. Instead, IVM in the presence of 1 nM 2-OHE2 highly increased the rate of preimplantation development and blastocyst quality. To understand whether this positive effect could be attributed to the events occurring during meiosis resumption, we analysed a number of specific cytological quality markers of the asymmetric division, such as PB-I volume and position, presence and extension of the cortical F-actin cap, meiotic spindle shape and area, and microtubule organisation centre localisation. The results highlighted how the presence of 1 nM 2-OHE2 significantly improved the overall cytological organisation required for a correct asymmetric division. Our results contribute a first step to acknowledge a potential role of this estradiol metabolite during the GV-to-MII transition, contributing to the acquisition of oocytes developmental competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Mario Zanoni
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alexis Parada-Bustamante
- Institute of Maternal and Child Research, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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20
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Rebuzzini P, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. X-Chromosome Inactivation during Preimplantation Development and in Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cytogenet Genome Res 2020; 160:283-294. [PMID: 32575101 DOI: 10.1159/000508610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
X dosage compensation between XX female and XY male mammalian cells is achieved by a process known as X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). XCI initiates early during preimplantation development in female cells, and it is subsequently stably maintained in somatic cells. However, XCI is a reversible process that occurs in vivo in the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, in primordial germ cells or in spermatids during reprogramming. Erasure of transcriptional gene silencing can occur though a mechanism named X-chromosome reactivation (XCR). XCI and XCR have been substantially deciphered in the mouse, whereas they still remain debated in the human. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in the knowledge of X-linked gene dosage compensation during mouse and human preimplantation development and in pluripotent stem cells.
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21
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Merico V, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. A Brief Incubation of Cumulus-Enclosed Mouse Eggs in a Calcium-Free Medium Containing a High Concentration of Calcium-Chelator Markedly Improves Preimplantation Development. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E3505. [PMID: 32429575 PMCID: PMC7277781 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The presence of cumulus cells (CCs) surrounding ovulated eggs is beneficial to in vitro fertilization and preimplantation development outcomes in several mammalian species. In the mouse, this contribution has a negligible effect on the fertilization rate; however, it is not yet clear whether it has positive effects on preimplantation development. Here, we compared the rates of in vitro fertilization and preimplantation development of ovulated B6C3F1 CC-enclosed vs. CC-free eggs, the latter obtained either after a 5 min treatment in M2 medium containing hyaluronidase or after 5-25 min in M2 medium supplemented with 34.2 mM EDTA (M2-EDTA). We found that, although the maintenance of CCs around ovulated eggs does not increment their developmental rate to blastocyst, the quality of the latter is significantly enhanced. Most importantly, for the first time, we describe a further quantitative and qualitative improvement, on preimplantation development, when CC-enclosed eggs are isolated from the oviducts in M2-EDTA and left in this medium for a total of 5 min prior to sperm insemination. Altogether, our results establish an important advancement in mouse IVF procedures that would be now interesting to test on other mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Lazzaro Spallanzani, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (V.M.); (S.G.)
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22
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Rebuzzini P, Civello C, Nantia Akono E, Fassina L, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Chronic cypermethrin exposure alters mouse embryonic stem cell growth kinetics, induces Phase II detoxification response and affects pluripotency and differentiation gene expression. Eur J Histochem 2020; 64. [PMID: 32214279 PMCID: PMC7036707 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2020.3084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide uncontrolled use of synthetic pyrethroids contaminates water and soil leading to health hazards. Cypermethrin (CYP), the most used pyrethroid, induces detrimental effects on adults and embryos at different stages of development of several vertebrate species. In Mammals, CYP-induced alterations have been previously described in adult somatic cells and in post-implantation embryos. It remains unknown whether CYP has effects during pre-implantation development. Studies to access pre-implantation embryo toxicity are complicated by the restricted number of blastocysts that may be obtained, either in vivo or in vitro. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are an in vitro model study that overcomes these limitations, as millions of pluripotent cells are available to the analysis. Also, ESCs maintain the same pluripotency characteristics and differentiation capacity of the inner cell mass (ICM) present in the blastocyst, from which they derive. In this work, using mouse R1 ESCs, we studied CYP-induced cell death, ROS production, the activation of oxidative stress-related and detoxification responses and the population growth kinetics following 72 h exposure at the 0.3 mM LD50 dose. Also, the expression levels of pluripotency genes in exposed ESCs and of markers of the three germ layers after their differentiation into embryoid bodies (EBs) were determined. Two apoptotic waves were observed at 12-24 h and at 72 h. The increase of ROS production, at 24 h until the end of the culture period, was accompanied by the induction, at 48 h, of redox-related Cat, Sod1, Sod2, Gpx1 and Gpx4 genes. Up-regulation of Cyp1b1, but not of Cyp1a1, phase I gene was detected at 72 h and induction of Nqo1, Gsta1 and Ugt1a6 phase II genes began at 24 h exposure. The results show that exposed R1 ESCs activate oxidative stress-related and detoxification responses, although not sufficient, during the culture period tested, to warrant recovery of the growth rate observed in untreated cells. Also, CYP exposure altered the expression of Oct-4 and Nanog pluripotency genes in ESCs and, when differentiated into EBs, the expression of Fgf5, Brachyury and Foxa2, early markers of the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm germ layers, respectively. NIH/3T3 cells, a differentiated cell line of embryonic origin, were used for comparison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia.
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23
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Cavalera F, Zanoni M, Merico V, Sacchi L, Bellazzi R, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Chromatin organization and timing of polar body I extrusion identify developmentally competent mouse oocytes. Int J Dev Biol 2020; 63:245-251. [PMID: 31058301 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.180362sg] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In the mouse, the use of the DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33342 allows the classification of fully-grown antral oocytes into two categories distinguished by their chromatin conformation: surrounding nucleolus (SN) and not-surrounding nucleolus (NSN) oocytes, the former capable of completing development, the latter unable to proceed beyond the 2-cell stage. In the present study, time-lapse observation of SN and NSN oocyte GV-to-MII transition highlighted differences in the timing of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar body I (PB-I) extrusion. PB-I extrusion, but not GVBD, revealed the presence of three main groups of significantly different oocytes: Group A (456-576 min) comprising mainly SN oocytes (91.4%), group B (584-728 min) entailing an almost equivalent percentage of SN (52.7%) and NSN (47.3%) oocytes, whereas group C (736-896 min) consisting of almost all NSN (94.4%) oocytes. In a further set of time-lapse experiments, GV oocytes were in vitro matured without Hoechst staining and, depending on the timing of PB-I extrusion, sorted into group A, B or C, inseminated with sperm and observed throughout preimplantation. The results show that 26.2 ± 12.3% of group A, 2.4 ± 5.0% of group B and none of group C MII oocytes developed to blastocyst. Overall, this study shows that SN oocytes that complete MI earlier are those with a better developmental competence. The possibility to avoid the use of the invasive DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst is relevant for future applications in human and domestic animal reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cavalera
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Pavia, Italy
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24
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Rossi LF, Nottola S, Miglietta S, Macchiarelli G, Luaces JP, Merico V, Merani S, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Germ cell cysts, a fetal feature in mammals, are constitutively present in the adult armadillo. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 87:91-101. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Francisco Rossi
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de MedicinaUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires Argentina
| | - Stefania Nottola
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and OrthopedicsUniversity of Rome La SapienzaRome Italy
| | - Selenia Miglietta
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and OrthopedicsUniversity of Rome La SapienzaRome Italy
| | - Guido Macchiarelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental SciencesUniversity of L'aquilaL'aquila Italy
| | - Juan Pablo Luaces
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de MedicinaUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires Argentina
| | - Valeria Merico
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani,”University of PaviaPavia Italy
- Centre for Health TechnologyUniversity of PaviaPavia Italy
| | - Susana Merani
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de MedicinaUniversidad de Buenos AiresBuenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires Argentina
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani,”University of PaviaPavia Italy
- Centre for Health TechnologyUniversity of PaviaPavia Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani,”University of PaviaPavia Italy
- Centre for Health TechnologyUniversity of PaviaPavia Italy
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25
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Coticchio G, Sciajno R, Fiorentino G, Cavalera F, Nicora G, Bellazzi R, Borini A, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Artificial neural-network analysis combined with time-lapse imaging predicts embryo ability to develop to the blastocyst stage. Fertil Steril 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.07.810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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26
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Cavalera F, Simovic M, Zanoni M, Merico V, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. IVM of mouse fully grown germinal vesicle oocytes upon a feeder layer of selected cumulus cells enhances their developmental competence. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:1068-1077. [PMID: 30922442 DOI: 10.1071/rd18444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the ovary, acquisition of oocyte developmental competence depends on a bidirectional exchange between the gamete and its companion cumulus cells (CCs). In this study we investigated the contribution of CCs surrounding oocytes of known developmental competence or incompetence to the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence. To this end, feeder layers of CCs (FL-CCs) were prepared using CCs isolated either from: (1) developmentally competent mouse oocytes whose nucleolus was surrounded by a chromatin ring (FL-SN-CCs); or (2) developmentally incompetent mouse oocytes whose nucleolus was not surrounded by a chromatin ring (FL-NSN-CCs). Denuded, fully grown oocytes (DOs) were matured to the MII stage on either FL-SN-CCs or FL-NSN-CCs, inseminated with spermatozoa and cultured throughout preimplantation development. FL-SN-CCs significantly improved the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence, with a blastocyst development rate equal to that for maturation of intact cumulus-oocyte-complexes. In contrast, DOs matured on FL-NSN-CCs or in the absence of CCs exhibited developmental failure, with embryos arresting at either the 4-cell or morula stage. These results set a culture platform to further improve the protocols for the maturation of DOs and to unravel the molecules involved in the cross-talk between the gamete and its companion CCs during the germinal vesicle to MII transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cavalera
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Milena Simovic
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; and German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Mario Zanoni
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Valeria Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; and Corresponding authors. ;
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; and Corresponding authors. ;
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27
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Rebuzzini P, Zuccolo E, Civello C, Fassina L, Arechaga J, Izquierdo A, Faris P, Zuccotti M, Moccia F, Garagna S. Polychlorinated biphenyls reduce the kinematics contractile properties of embryonic stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes by disrupting their intracellular Ca 2+ dynamics. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17909. [PMID: 30559452 PMCID: PMC6297156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36333-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants are a group of chemicals that include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs exposure during adult life increases incidence and severity of cardiomyopathies, whereas in utero exposure determines congenital heart defects. Being fat-soluble, PCBs are passed to newborns through maternal milk, impairing heart functionality in the adult. It is still unknown how PCBs impair cardiac contraction at cellular/molecular levels. Here, we study the molecular mechanisms by which PCBs cause the observed heart contraction defects, analysing the alterations of Ca2+ toolkit components that regulate contraction. We investigated the effect that Aroclor 1254 (Aroclor), a mixture of PCBs, has on perinatal-like cardiomyocytes derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Cardiomyocytes, exposed to 1 or 2 µg/ml Aroclor for 24 h, were analyzed for their kinematics contractile properties and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. We observed that Aroclor impairs cardiomyocytes contractile properties by inhibiting spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations. It disrupts intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis by reducing the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content and by inhibiting voltage-gated Ca2+ entry. These findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of PCBs-induced cardiovascular alterations, which are emerging as an additional life-threatening hurdle associated to PCBs pollution. Therefore, PCBs-dependent alteration of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics is the most likely trigger of developmental cardiac functional alteration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Estella Zuccolo
- Laboratorio di Fisiologia Generale, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Civello
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fassina
- Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell'Informazione, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Juan Arechaga
- Laboratory of Stem Cells, Development and Cancer, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Universidad del País Vasco, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - Amaia Izquierdo
- Laboratory of Stem Cells, Development and Cancer, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Universidad del País Vasco, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - Pawan Faris
- Laboratorio di Fisiologia Generale, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Kurdistan-Region of Iraq, Iraq
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Laboratorio di Fisiologia Generale, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy. .,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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28
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Cavalera F, Zanoni M, Merico V, Bui TTH, Belli M, Fassina L, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. A Neural Network-Based Identification of Developmentally Competent or Incompetent Mouse Fully-Grown Oocytes. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29553524 DOI: 10.3791/56668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility clinics would benefit from the ability to select developmentally competent vs. incompetent oocytes using non-invasive procedures, thus improving the overall pregnancy outcome. We recently developed a classification method based on microscopic live observations of mouse oocytes during their in vitro maturation from the germinal vesicle (GV) to the metaphase II stage, followed by the analysis of the cytoplasmic movements occurring during this time-lapse period. Here, we present detailed protocols of this procedure. Oocytes are isolated from fully-grown antral follicles and cultured for 15 h inside a microscope equipped for time-lapse analysis at 37 °C and 5% CO2. Pictures are taken at 8 min intervals. The images are analyzed using the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method that calculates, for each oocyte, the profile of Cytoplasmic Movement Velocities (CMVs) occurring throughout the culture period. Finally, the CMVs of each single oocyte are fed through a mathematical classification tool (Feed-forward Artificial Neural Network, FANN), which predicts the probability of a gamete to be developmentally competent or incompetent with an accuracy of 91.03%. This protocol, set up for the mouse, could now be tested on oocytes of other species, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cavalera
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia
| | - Mario Zanoni
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia
| | - Valeria Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia
| | - Thi Thu Hien Bui
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia; Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki
| | - Martina Belli
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia; Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California San Diego
| | - Lorenzo Fassina
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell'Informazione, University of Pavia
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia;
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29
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Vigone G, Merico V, Redi CA, Mazzini G, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. FSH and LH receptors are differentially expressed in cumulus cells surrounding developmentally competent and incompetent mouse fully grown antral oocytes. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 27:497-503. [PMID: 24476692 DOI: 10.1071/rd13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cumulus cells (CCs) maintain strict functional relationships with the enclosed antral oocyte and are thought to reflect its developmental competence. Several studies have described a correlation between CC gene expression and oocyte quality. Herein, we tested whether CC-specific FSH and LH receptors (FSHR and LHR, respectively) are differentially expressed in CCs enclosing developmentally competent or incompetent oocytes. To this end, mouse fully grown cumulus-oocyte complexes were isolated and their CCs and oocytes analysed separately. Based on their chromatin organisation, oocytes were classified as those with a surrounded nucleolus (SN) or a non-surrounded nucleolus (NSN), the former being developmentally competent, whereas the latter arrest at the 2-cell stage. The CCs were then analysed to compare the pattern of expression of the Fshr and Lhr genes and their proteins. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that only Lhr is significantly differentially expressed. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that both FSHR and LHR proteins are significantly upregulated in CCs surrounding oocytes arrested at the 2-cell stage, reflecting their developmental incompetence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Vigone
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Valeria Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlo Alberto Redi
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Mazzini
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Sezione di Anatomia, Istologia ed Embriologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
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30
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Bui TTH, Belli M, Fassina L, Vigone G, Merico V, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Cytoplasmic movement profiles of mouse surrounding nucleolus and not-surrounding nucleolus antral oocytes during meiotic resumption. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:356-362. [PMID: 28233368 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Full-grown mouse antral oocytes are classified as surrounding nucleolus (SN) or not-surrounding nucleolus (NSN), depending on the respective presence or absence of a ring of Hoechst-positive chromatin surrounding the nucleolus. In culture, both types of oocytes resume meiosis and reach the metaphase II (MII) stage, but following insemination, NSN oocytes arrest at the two-cell stage whereas SN oocytes may develop to term. By coupling time-lapse bright-field microscopy with image analysis based on particle image velocimetry, we provide the first systematic measure of the changes to the cytoplasmic movement velocity (CMV) occurring during the germinal vesicle-to-MII (GV-to-MII) transition of these two types of oocytes. Compared to SN oocytes, NSN oocytes display a delayed GV-to-MII transition, which can be mostly explained by retarded germinal vesicle break down and first polar body extrusion. SN and NSN oocytes also exhibit significantly different CMV profiles at four main time-lapse intervals, although this difference was not predictive of SN or NSN oocyte origin because of the high variability in CMV. When CMV profile was analyzed through a trained artificial neural network, however, each single SN or NSN oocyte was blindly identified with a probability of 92.2% and 88.7%, respectively. Thus, the CMV profile recorded during meiotic resumption may be exploited as a cytological signature for the non-invasive assessment of the oocyte developmental potential, and could be informative for the analysis of the GV-to-MII transition of oocytes of other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Thu Hien Bui
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Martina Belli
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fassina
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell'Informazione, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Vigone
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valeria Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Garagna
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Centre for Health Technologies (C.H.T.), University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zuccotti
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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31
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Giménez MD, Förster DW, Jones EP, Jóhannesdóttir F, Gabriel SI, Panithanarak T, Scascitelli M, Merico V, Garagna S, Searle JB, Hauffe HC. A Half-Century of Studies on a Chromosomal Hybrid Zone of the House Mouse. J Hered 2016; 108:25-35. [PMID: 27729448 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esw061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The first natural chromosomal variation in the house mouse was described nearly 50 years ago in Val Poschiavo on the Swiss side of the Swiss-Italian border in the Central Eastern Alps. Studies have extended into neighboring Valtellina, and the house mice of the Poschiavo-Valtellina area have been subject to detailed analysis, reviewed here. The maximum extent of this area is 70 km, yet it has 4 metacentric races and the standard 40-chromosome telocentric race distributed in a patchwork fashion. The metacentric races are characterized by highly reduced diploid numbers (2n = 22-26) resulting from Robertsonian fusions, perhaps modified by whole-arm reciprocal translocations. The races hybridize and the whole Poschiavo-Valtellina area can be considered a "hybrid zone." The studies of this area have provided insights into origin of races within hybrid zones, gene flow within hybrid zones and the possibility of speciation in hybrid zones. This provides a case study of how chromosomal rearrangements may impact the genetic structure of populations and their diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel D Giménez
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Daniel W Förster
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Eleanor P Jones
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Fríða Jóhannesdóttir
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Sofia I Gabriel
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Thadsin Panithanarak
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Moira Scascitelli
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Valeria Merico
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Silvia Garagna
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
| | - Heidi C Hauffe
- From the Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK (Giménez, Förster, Jones, Jóhannesdóttir, Gabriel, Panithanarak, Scascitelli, Searle, and Hauffe); Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina (Giménez); Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany (Förster); Fera Science, York, UK (Jones); Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 (Jóhannesdóttir and Searle); CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (Gabriel); Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand (Panithanarak); Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Merico and Garagna); and Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy (Hauffe)
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Terzaghi L, Tessaro I, Raucci F, Merico V, Mazzini G, Garagna S, Zuccotti M, Franciosi F, Lodde V. PGRMC1 participates in late events of bovine granulosa cells mitosis and oocyte meiosis. Cell Cycle 2016; 15:2019-32. [PMID: 27260975 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1192731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 (PGRMC1) is expressed in both oocyte and ovarian somatic cells, where it is found in multiple cellular sub-compartments including the mitotic spindle apparatus. PGRMC1 localization in the maturing bovine oocytes mirrors its localization in mitotic cells, suggesting a possible common action in mitosis and meiosis. To test the hypothesis that altering PGRMC1 activity leads to similar defects in mitosis and meiosis, PGRMC1 function was perturbed in cultured bovine granulosa cells (bGC) and maturing oocytes and the effect on mitotic and meiotic progression assessed. RNA interference-mediated PGRMC1 silencing in bGC significantly reduced cell proliferation, with a concomitant increase in the percentage of cells arrested at G2/M phase, which is consistent with an arrested or prolonged M-phase. This observation was confirmed by time-lapse imaging that revealed defects in late karyokinesis. In agreement with a role during late mitotic events, a direct interaction between PGRMC1 and Aurora Kinase B (AURKB) was observed in the central spindle at of dividing cells. Similarly, treatment with the PGRMC1 inhibitor AG205 or PGRMC1 silencing in the oocyte impaired completion of meiosis I. Specifically the ability of the oocyte to extrude the first polar body was significantly impaired while meiotic figures aberration and chromatin scattering within the ooplasm increased. Finally, analysis of PGRMC1 and AURKB localization in AG205-treated oocytes confirmed an altered localization of both proteins when meiotic errors occur. The present findings demonstrate that PGRMC1 participates in late events of both mammalian mitosis and oocyte meiosis, consistent with PGRMC1's localization at the mid-zone and mid-body of the mitotic and meiotic spindle.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Terzaghi
- a Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health , Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - I Tessaro
- a Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health , Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - F Raucci
- a Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health , Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - V Merico
- b Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - G Mazzini
- c Istituto di Genetica Molecolare - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Pavia , Italy
| | - S Garagna
- b Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - M Zuccotti
- d Sezione di Anatomia, Istologia ed Embriologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche , Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali (S.Bi.Bi.T.), University of Parma , Italy
| | - F Franciosi
- a Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health , Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - V Lodde
- a Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health , Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan , Milan , Italy
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Dorati R, Genta I, Ferrari M, Vigone G, Merico V, Garagna S, Zuccotti M, Conti B. Formulation and stability evaluation of 3D alginate beads potentially useful for cumulus–oocyte complexes culture. J Microencapsul 2016; 33:137-45. [DOI: 10.3109/02652048.2015.1134691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Rebuzzini P, Zuccotti M, Redi CA, Garagna S. Chromosomal Abnormalities in Embryonic and Somatic Stem Cells. Cytogenet Genome Res 2015; 147:1-9. [PMID: 26583376 DOI: 10.1159/000441645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential use of stem cells (SCs) for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, disease modeling, toxicological studies, drug delivery, and as in vitro model for the study of basic developmental processes implies large-scale in vitro culture. Here, after a brief description of the main techniques used for karyotype analysis, we will give a detailed overview of the chromosome abnormalities described in pluripotent (embryonic and induced pluripotent SCs) and somatic SCs, and the possible causes of their origin during culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Universitx00E0; degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Medarde N, Merico V, López-Fuster MJ, Zuccotti M, Garagna S, Ventura J. Impact of the number of Robertsonian chromosomes on germ cell death in wild male house mice. Chromosome Res 2015; 23:159-69. [PMID: 25589476 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-014-9442-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies in the house mouse have shown that the presence of Robertsonian (Rb) metacentric chromosomes in heterozygous condition affects the process of spermatogenesis. This detrimental effect mainly depends on the number of metacentrics involved and the complexity of the resulting meiotic figures. In this study, we aimed at elucidating the relationship between the chromosomal composition and spermatogenesis impairment in mice present in an area of chromosomal polymorphism (the so-called Barcelona system BRbS) in which Rb mice are surrounded by all acrocentric animals, no established metacentric races are present and the level of structural heterozygosity is relatively low. Using the terminal deoxinucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, we report higher frequency of apoptotic spermatogenetic cells in mice carrying six pairs of metacentrics at the homozygous state than in those carrying two or three fusions at the heterozygous state. Specifically, we detected a higher frequency of TUNEL-positive (T+) tubules and of T+ cells per tubule cross section and also a lower spermatid/spermatocyte ratio. These results indicate that the number of metacentrics at the homozygous state is more influential in determining apoptotic germ cell death than that of moderate chromosome heterozygosity. The percentage of germ cell death lower than 50 % found in our samples and the geographic distribution of the set of metacentrics within the BRbS indicate that although the spermatogenic alterations detected in this area could act as a partial barrier to gene flow, they are not sufficient to prevent Rb chromosomes from spreading in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Medarde
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain,
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Zuccotti M, Merico V, Rebuzzini P, Belli M, Vigone G, Mulas F, Fassina L, Wruck W, Adjaye J, Bellazzi R, Garagna S. 3D culture of ovarian follicles: a system towards their engineering? Int J Dev Biol 2015; 59:211-6. [DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.150172mz] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Luaces JP, Rossi LF, Sciurano RB, Rebuzzini P, Merico V, Zuccotti M, Merani MS, Garagna S. Loss of Sertoli-germ cell adhesion determines the rapid germ cell elimination during the seasonal regression of the seminiferous epithelium of the large hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus. Biol Reprod 2014; 90:48. [PMID: 24451984 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.113118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The armadillo Chaetophractus villosus is a seasonal breeder whose seminiferous epithelium undergoes rapid regression with massive germ cell loss, leaving the tubules with only Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. Here, we addressed the question of whether this regression entails 1) the disassembly of cell junctions (immunolocalization of nectin-3, Cadm1, N-cadherin, and beta-catenin, and transmission electron microscopy [TEM]); 2) apoptosis (immunolocalization of cytochrome c and caspase 3; TUNEL assay); and 3) the involvement of Sertoli cells in germ cell phagocytosis (TEM). We showed a dramatic reduction in the extension of vimentin filaments associated with desmosomelike junctions at the interface between Sertoli and germ cells, and an increased diffusion of the immunosignals of nectin-3, Cadm1, N-cadherin, and beta-catenin. Together, these results suggest loss of Sertoli-germ cell adhesion, which in turn might determine postmeiotic cell sloughing at the beginning of epithelium regression. Then, loss of Sertoli-germ cell adhesion triggers cell death. Cytochrome c is released from mitochondria, but although postmeiotic cells were negative for late apoptotic markers, at advanced regression spermatocytes were positive for all apoptotic markers. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed cytoplasmic engulfment of cell debris and lipid droplets within Sertoli cells, a sign of their phagocytic activity, which contributes to the elimination of the residual meiocytes still present in the latest regression phases. These findings are novel and add new players to the mechanisms of seminiferous epithelium regression occurring in seasonal breeders, and they introduce the armadillo as an interesting model for studying seasonal spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Luaces
- Laboratorio de Biología Cromosómica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Merico V, Giménez MD, Vasco C, Zuccotti M, Searle JB, Hauffe HC, Garagna S. Chromosomal speciation in mice: a cytogenetic analysis of recombination. Chromosome Res 2013; 21:523-33. [PMID: 23963733 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-013-9377-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Within species, populations differing by chromosomal rearrangements ("chromosomal races") may become reproductively isolated in association with reduced hybrid fertility due to meiotic aberrations. Speciation is also possible if hybridizing chromosomal races accumulate genetic differences because of reduced meiotic recombination in the heterozygous configuration in hybrids. Here, we examine recombination in pure races and hybrids within a model system for chromosomal speciation: the hybridization of the Poschiavo (CHPO) and Upper Valtellina (IUVA) chromosomal races of house mouse in Upper Valtellina, Italy. These races differ by Robertsonian fusions/whole-arm reciprocal translocations, such that hybrids produce a pentavalent meiotic configuration. We determined the number and position of the recombination points (using an antibody against the MutL homolog 1 [MLH1] protein) on synaptonemal complexes at pachytene in laboratory-reared CHPO, IUVA, and hybrid males, analyzing at least 112 spermatocytes per karyotypic group, up to a total of 534 spermatocytes. The mean ± standard deviation numbers of MLH1 foci per spermatocyte were 22.2 ± 3.2, 20.1 ± 2.9, 20.7 ± 2.3, and 21.9 ± 2.9 for CHPO, IUVA, CHPO × IUVA, and IUVA × CHPO, respectively. Altogether, 10,146 chromosome arms were examined, allowing multiple comparisons. Overall, recombination events were more frequently distal than proximal or interstitial. The average number of proximal MLH1 foci per chromosome arm decreased going from telocentric to metacentric bivalents to pentavalents (when present), which (together with other factors) influenced the average number of MLH1 foci per cell between CHPO, IUVA, and hybrid mice. The low frequency of proximal recombination in pentavalents of CHPO-IUVA hybrids may promote reproductive isolation between the CHPO and IUVA races, when coupled with reduced hybrid unfitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Merico
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie Lazzaro Spallanzani, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
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Zuccotti M, Merico V, Belli M, Mulas F, Sacchi L, Zupan B, Redi CA, Prigione A, Adjaye J, Bellazzi R, Garagna S. OCT4 and the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence during folliculogenesis. Int J Dev Biol 2013; 56:853-8. [PMID: 23417407 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.120174mz] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The role that the transcription factor OCT4 plays during oocyte growth is yet unknown. In this review, we summarise the data on its potential role in the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence in the mouse. These studies describe the presence in MII oocytes and 2-cell embryos of an OCT4 transcriptional network that might be part of the molecular signature of maternal origin on which the inner cell mass and the embryonic stem cell-associated pluripotency is assembled and shaped. The Oct4-gene regulatory network thus provides a connection between eggs, early preimplantation embryos and embryonic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Zuccotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Universitá degli Studi di Parma, Via Volturno 39, Parma, Italy.
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Rebuzzini P, Fassina L, Mulas F, Bellazzi R, Redi CA, Di Liberto R, Magenes G, Adjaye J, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Mouse embryonic stem cells irradiated with γ-rays differentiate into cardiomyocytes but with altered contractile properties. Mutat Res 2013; 756:37-45. [PMID: 23792212 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) for their derivation from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst represent a valuable in vitro model to investigate the effects of ionizing radiation on early embryonic cellular response. Following irradiation, both human and mouse ESCs (mESCs) maintain their pluripotent status and the capacity to differentiate into embryoid bodies and to form teratomas. Although informative of the maintenance of a pluripotent status, these studies never investigated the capability of irradiated ESCs to form specific differentiated phenotypes. Here, for the first time, 5Gy-irradiated mESCs were differentiated into cardiomyocytes, thus allowing the analysis of the long-term effects of ionizing radiations on the differentiation potential of a pluripotent stem cell population. On treated mESCs, 96h after irradiation, a genome-wide expression analysis was first performed in order to determine whether the treatment influenced gene expression of the surviving mESCs. Microarrays analysis showed that only 186 genes were differentially expressed in treated mESCs compared to control cells; a quarter of these genes were involved in cellular differentiation, with three main gene networks emerging, including cardiogenesis. Based on these results, we differentiated irradiated mESCs into cardiomyocytes. On day 5, 8 and 12 of differentiation, treated cells showed a significant alteration (qRT-PCR) of the expression of marker genes (Gata-4, Nkx-2.5, Tnnc1 and Alpk3) when compared to control cells. At day 15 of differentiation, although the organization of sarcomeric α-actinin and troponin T proteins appeared similar in cardiomyocytes differentiated from either mock or treated cells, the video evaluation of the kinematics and dynamics of the beating cardiac syncytium evidenced altered contractile properties of cardiomyocytes derived from irradiated mESCs. This alteration correlated with significant reduction of Connexin 43 foci. Our results indicate that mESCs populations that survive an ionizing irradiation treatment are capable to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, but they have altered contractile properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Vigone G, Merico V, Prigione A, Mulas F, Sacchi L, Gabetta M, Bellazzi R, Redi CA, Mazzini G, Adjaye J, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Transcriptome based identification of mouse cumulus cell markers that predict the developmental competence of their enclosed antral oocytes. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:380. [PMID: 23758669 PMCID: PMC3679864 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cumulus cells (CCs) enveloping antral and ovulated oocytes have been regarded as putative source of non-invasive markers of the oocyte developmental competence. A number of studies have indeed observed a correlation between CCs gene expression, embryo quality, and final pregnancy outcome. Here, we isolated CCs from antral mouse oocytes of known developmental incompetence (NSN-CCs) or competence (SN-CCs) and compared their transcriptomes with the aim of identifying distinct marker transcripts. RESULTS Global gene expression analysis highlighted that both types of CCs share similar transcriptomes, with the exception of 422 genes, 97.6% of which were down-regulated in NSN-CCs vs. SN-CCs. This transcriptional down-regulation in NSN-CCs was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of CC-related genes (Has2, Ptx3, Tnfaip6 and Ptgs2). Only ten of the 422 genes were up-regulated with Amh being the most up-regulated in NSN-CCs, with an average 4-fold higher expression when analysed by qRT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS The developmental incompetence (NSN) or competence (SN) of antral oocytes can be predicted using transcript markers expressed by their surrounding CCs (i.e., Has2, Ptx3, Tnfaip6, Ptgs2 and Amh). Overall, the regulated nature of the group of genes brought out by whole transcriptome analysis constitutes the molecular signature of CCs associated either with developmentally incompetent or competent oocytes and may represent a valuable resource for developing new molecular tools for the assessment of oocyte quality and to further investigate the complex bi-directional interaction occurring between CCs and oocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Vigone
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie Lazzaro Spallanzani, Universita' degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Belli M, Cimadomo D, Merico V, Redi CA, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. The NOBOX protein becomes undetectable in developmentally competent antral and ovulated oocytes. Int J Dev Biol 2013; 57:35-9. [DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.120125mz] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Luaces JP, Rossi LF, Merico V, Zuccotti M, Redi CA, Solari AJ, Merani MS, Garagna S. Spermatogenesis is seasonal in the large hairy armadillo, Chaetophractus villosus (Dasypodidae, Xenarthra, Mammalia). Reprod Fertil Dev 2013; 25:547-57. [DOI: 10.1071/rd12127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Very little is known about the distinct reproductive biology of armadillos. Very few studies have investigated armadillo spermatogenesis, with data available only for Euphractus sexcinctus and Dasypus novemcinctus. In the present study, we analysed male germ cell differentiation in the large hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus throughout the year, describing a cycle of the seminiferous epithelium made of eight different stages. Evaluation of the testis/body mass ratio, analysis of the architecture of the seminiferous epithelium and the frequency of defective seminiferous tubules allowed identification of a temporal interruption of spermatogenesis during the period between mid-May to July (mid–end autumn) in correlation with very low testosterone levels. Overall, these results suggest that spermatogenesis is seasonal in C. villosus.
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Merico V, Zuccotti M, Carpi D, Baev D, Mulas F, Sacchi L, Bellazzi R, Pastorelli R, Redi CA, Moratti R, Garagna S, Balduini A. The genomic and proteomic blueprint of mouse megakaryocytes derived from embryonic stem cells. J Thromb Haemost 2012; 10:907-15. [PMID: 22372922 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2012.04673.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platelets are specialized cells, produced by megakaryocytes (MKs) in the bone marrow, which represent the first defense against hemorrhage. There are many diseases where platelet production or function is impaired, with severe consequences for patients. Therefore, new insights into the process of MK differentiation and platelet formation would have a major impact on both basic and clinical research. OBJECTIVES Embryonic stem (ES) cells represent a good in vitro model to study the differentiation of MKs, with the possibility of being genetically engineered and constituting an unlimited source of MKs. However, lack of knowledge about the molecular identity of ES-derived MKs (ES-MKs) may prevent any further development and application of this model. METHODS This paper presents the first comprehensive transcriptional and proteome profile analyses of mouse ES-MKs in comparison with MKs derived from mouse fetal liver progenitors (FL-MKs). RESULTS In ES-MKs we found a down-regulation of cytoskeleton proteins, specific transcription factors and membrane receptors at both transcriptional and protein levels. At the phenotypic level, this molecular blueprint was displayed by ES-MKs' lower polyploidy, lower nuclear/cytoplasm ratio and reduced capacity to form proplatelets and releasing platelets. CONCLUSIONS Overall our data demonstrate that ES-MKs represent a useful model to clarify many aspects of both MK physiology and pathological conditions where impaired MK functions are related to defective MK development, as in inherited thrombocytopenias and primary myelofibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Merico
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie Lazzaro Spallanzani, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Rebuzzini P, Pignalosa D, Mazzini G, Di Liberto R, Coppola A, Terranova N, Magni P, Redi CA, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Mouse embryonic stem cells that survive γ-rays exposure maintain pluripotent differentiation potential and genome stability. J Cell Physiol 2012; 227:1242-9. [PMID: 21732352 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the cell cycle, apoptosis, cytogenetics and differentiation capacity of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) that survived a single dose of 2 or 5 Gy γ-rays during a period of up to 96 h of culture. After 2 Gy irradiation and 24 h culture, compared to control, a significant majority of cells was blocked at the G2/M phase and a massive apoptosis was recorded. Between 48 and 72 h post-irradiation, the parameters used to describe the cell cycle and apoptosis returned similar to those of control samples. When mESCs were irradiated with 5 Gy, a small fraction of cells, even after 96 h of culture, still presented clear evidences of a G2/M block and apoptosis. The cytogenetic analysis performed at 96 h showed that the structural stability of the aberrations did not change significantly when comparing control and 2 or 5 Gy-treated populations. However, the chromosomal damage observed in the progeny of the survived cells after 5 Gy exposure is significantly higher than that observed in control samples, although it is mostly of the stable and transmissible type. Ninety-six hours after irradiation, the survived mESCs maintained their undifferentiated status and capability to differentiate into the three germ layers. Overall, these results indicate a commitment of mESCs to maintain pluripotency and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rebuzzini
- Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Vasco C, Manterola M, Page J, Zuccotti M, de la Fuente R, Redi CA, Fernandez-Donoso R, Garagna S. The frequency of heterologous synapsis increases with aging in Robertsonian heterozygous male mice. Chromosome Res 2012; 20:269-78. [PMID: 22231503 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-011-9272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Revised: 12/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The house mouse is characterised by highly variable chromosome number due to the presence of Robertsonian (Rb) chromosomes. During meiosis in Rb heterozygotes, intricated chromosomal figures are produced, and many unsynapsed regions are present during the first prophase, triggering a meiotic silencing of unsynapsed chromatin (MSUC) in a similar mode to the sex chromosome inactivation. The presence of unsynapsed chromosome regions is associated with impaired spermatogenesis. Interestingly, in male mice carrying multiple Rb trivalents, the frequency of germ cell death, defective tubules, and altered sperm morphology decreases during aging. Here, we studied whether synapsis of trivalent chromosomes and MSUC are involved in this improvement. By immunocytochemistry, we analysed the frequency of unsynapsed chromosomes and of those positive to γH2AX (a marker of MSUC) labelling in spermatocytes of 3-, 5- and 7-month-old Rb heterozygotes. With aging, we observed a decrease of the frequency of unsynapsed chromosomes, of spermatocytes bearing them and of trivalents carrying γH2AX-negative unsynapsed regions. Our quantitative results show that both synapsis and MSUC processes are better accomplished during male aging, partially accounting for the improvement of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Vasco
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Universita' degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Mulas F, Sacchi L, Zagar L, Garagna S, Zuccotti M, Zupan B, Bellazzi R. Knowledge-based bioinformatics for the study of mammalian oocytes. Int J Dev Biol 2012; 56:859-66. [DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.120138fm] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Belli M, Vigone G, Merico V, Redi CA, Zuccotti M, Garagna S. Towards a 3D culture of mouse ovarian follicles. Int J Dev Biol 2012; 56:931-7. [DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.120175mz] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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