Establishment of pregnancy in cattle by reconstituted eggs produced by fusion of an in vitro matured oocyte and a blastomere from a 16-cell embryo produced in vivo

1991 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Ushijima ◽  
T. Etoh ◽  
Y. Tsunoda
Keyword(s):  
2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
T. Yamanouchi ◽  
H. Matsuda ◽  
M. Ohtake ◽  
Y. Ogata ◽  
Y. Aikawa ◽  
...  

It has been reported that in vitro- and in vivo-matured oocyte obtained from fully growth follicles have high developmental competence. Furthermore, the timing of cleavage in early embryo after IVF affect pregnancy success after embryo transfer. It is still unknown whether origin of oocyte affects the timing of cleavage. In this study, we examined the influence of oocyte origin on cleavage timing of early embryo after IVF. Japanese Black cows were used as donors. Oocytes derived from non-stimulation follicles (control: CON), fully grown follicles after super-stimulation treatment (SST) and follicles just before ovulation after ovulation-induction treatment (in vivo-matured oocyte: VIVO) were obtained by ovum pick-up (OPU). In the CON group, OPU was conducted on arbitrary days except oestrus. In SST group, dominant follicles were aspirated and a CIDR was inserted into the vagina on Day 0, and then FSH was injected twice a day from the evening of Day 1 to the morning of Day 5 with decreasing doses in total 20 AU. In the evening of Day 4, prostaglandin F2α (0.5 mg of cloprostenol) was administered. On Day 6, SST oocytes were collected after CIDR withdrawl. In the VIVO group, the treatment was carried out as SST until prostaglandin F2α administration, and then CIDR withdrawal and administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH, 0.2 mg of fertirelin acetate) performed on the evening of Day 4 and morning of Day 5, respectively. The VIVO oocytes were collected at 25 to 26 h after GnRH. The CON and SST oocytes were inseminated after 20 to 22 h of IVM, and VIVO oocytes were inseminated at 30 h after GnRH, with 3 × 106 sperm mL−1, respectively. After 6 h of IVF, presumptive zygotes were individually cultured for 168 h, using a well-of-the-well dish (Dai-Nippon-Print, Japan) and were observed by time-lapse cinematography (CCM-4MZS; Astec, Japan) to analyse the cleavage timing of embryos. Oxygen consumption (O2) was measured in blastocysts on 168 hpi with a scaning electrochemical microscopy system (HV-405SP; Hokuto Denko, Japan). Statistical analysis was carried out by Steel-Dwass test for the timing of cleavage and Tukey-Kramer test for O2. In CON (n = 15), SST (n = 25), and VIVO (n = 36), the time of first cleavage was 27.5, 29.1, and 26.1 hpi, that of second cleavage was 38.9, 40.3, and 36.0 hpi, and that of third cleavage was 48.5, 46.1, and 45.9 hpi, respectively. These cleavage times were shorter in VIVO than in CON and SST (P < 0.01). The time interval between first and second cleavage (2nd cell cycle) was shorter in VIVO (10.1; P < 0.01) than CON (11.4) and SST (11.2). The time interval between second and third (3rd cell cycle) were shorter (P < 0.01) in SST (9.4) than in VIVO (10.1), and in VIVO than in CON (10.2), respectively. Consumption of O2 was lower (P < 0.01) in CON (0.61 × 10−14 mol s−1) than in SST (0.94 × 10−14 mol s−1) and VIVO (0.94 × 10−14 mol s−1). These results suggest that the origin of oocyte influences the length of cell cycle and O2 consumption of blastocyst producted in vitro.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
T. Yamanouchi ◽  
H. Matsuda ◽  
M. Ohtake ◽  
K. Masaki ◽  
E. Horiguchi ◽  
...  

Embryo transfer using a female embryo is an effective tool for offspring production on dairy industry; however, embryo production by embryo recovery (ER) using X-sorted semen is not sufficient because non-fertilized oocytes are recovered frequently. In Holstein cows, we developed a system for high blastocyst production that was performed by IVF using X-sorted sperm and in vivo-matured oocytes obtained by ovum pickup (OPU) after superstimulation. The purpose of this study was to adjust this system to Brown Swiss cows, comparing between ER and embryo production from oocytes derived from OPU with or without superstimulation. In the ER group, cows (n = 10) received a CIDR (Day 0) and 2 mg of oestradiol-benzoate on Day 1. A total of 30 Armour Units of FSH were injected into cows twice a day, with decreasing doses from the evening of Day 5 to the morning of Day 9. On the evening of Day 7 or 8, 0.75 mg of prostaglandin F2α (cloprostenol) was injected. The CIDR was removed on Day 8 or 9 and 0.2 mg of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; fertirelin acetate) were injected on Day 9 or 10. At oestrus, AI was carried out twice, 12 h apart, with a total of 4 straws of X-sorted semen per cow. In the OPU group, cows (n = 7) were subjected to OPU without any pretreatment, collected immature oocytes were in vivo matured for 20 to 22 h, followed by IVF using X-sorted sperm for 6 h; then, presumptive zygotes were in vitro cultured (IVC) for 9 days. In the in vivo-matured oocyte group (matured group), a CIDR was inserted (Day 0) in cows (n = 4), all follicles larger than 8 mm were removed on Day 5. Administration of FSH, prostaglandin F2α, and GnRH, as well as withdrawal of CIDR, were performed as in the ER group. In vivo-matured oocytes were collected from follicles larger than 5 mm by OPU at 25 to 26 h following GnRH injection; collected oocytes with expanded cumulus cells were fertilized with X-sorted sperm 30 h after GnRH. After 6 h of IVF, presumptive zygotes were transferred to in vitro culture, as in the OPU group. Data were compared among 3 groups; the ER group was analysed for number of CL, collected embryos, and normal embryos, against the number of aspirated follicles, collected oocytes used for IVF, and formed blastocysts in the OPU and matured groups, respectively, by Tukey-kramer test after ANOVA. There were no differences between the number of CL in the ER group and the number of follicles in the OPU and matured groups (16.4 ± 5.3 v. 31.6 ± 22.7 v. 18.5 ± 4.7, mean ± s.d., respectively). Also the number of collected embryos in the ER group and number of oocytes for IVF in the OPU and matured groups (12.8 ± 7.6 v. 14.9 ± 11.8 v. 17.8 ± 7.7, respectively) was similar. However, the number of blastocysts in the matured group (13.0 ± 5.9; P < 0.01) was higher than that in the OPU group (3.0 ± 2.2) and in the ER group (2.8 ± 3.7). For female embryo production in Brown Swiss cows using X-sorted sperm, the system of IVF with in vivo matured oocytes obtained by OPU is more effective than ER or OPU without pretreatment.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
M. Apimeteeumrong ◽  
A. Thuangsanthia ◽  
N. Leingchaloen ◽  
V. Yiengvisavakul ◽  
A. Harintharanon ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to compare the development to the morula and blastocyst stages, after either cycloheximide (CHX) or ethanol (ETOH) activation, in somatic nuclear transfer (NT) goat embryos derived from 2 sources of oocytes. In vivo- and in vitro-matured oocytes were obtained from FSH-stimulated goats (Native, Saanen, and Native-Saanen crossbred goats). Gonadotropin treatment was performed with a modified program of a previous report (Reggio et al. 2001 Biol. Reprod. 64, 849-856). In vivo-matured oocytes were flushed from the oviduct of donor goats by exposing the reproductive tract via a small ventral laparotomy incision. In vitro-matured oocytes were aspirated and cultured in maturation medium (M199 + 10% FCS, 10 �g mL-1 FSH, 10 �g mL-1 LH, and 1 �g mL-1 17�-estradiol) for 22 h, at 38.5�C in 5% CO2 and air. Donor cells were prepared from ear skin fibroblasts of a female goat (Native breed). Cells, at passage 3-9, starved by culturing in 0.5% FCS for 4-8 days, were used for NT. Matured oocytes were enucleated, and cell-cytoplast couplets (n = 162 in vivo-, and n = 190 in vitro-matured oocyte groups, respectively) were fused by applying 2 DC pulses of 2.2 kV cm-1 for 30 �s. One to 2 h after fusion, fused embryos were either incubated in 10 �g mL-1 cycloheximide plus 5 �g mL-1 cytochalasin B for 5 h (CHX treatment) or in 7% ethanol for 5 min followed by a 4-h incubation in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine plus 5 �g mL-1 cytochalasin B (ETOH treatment). NT embryos were then cultured in B2 medium supplemented with 5% FCS and Vero cells for 9 days. At the end of the culture period, the NT embryos were fixed and stained with Hoechst 33342 (Begin et al. 2003 Theriogenology 59, 1839-1850). The numbers of nuclei were counted under ultraviolet light. Fusion, cleavage, and development rates were compared using chi-square test or Fisher&apos;s exact test. For the in vivo-matured oocyte group, there were no significant differences in fusion rates (78.1% vs. 68.7%), cleavage rates (87.7% vs. 87.0%, based on the numbers of embryos fused) between the CHX and ETOH treatment groups, respectively (P &gt; 0.05). However, the development rates to morula and blastocyst stages of NT embryos derived from either in vivo- or in vitro-matured oocytes were significantly higher in the ETOH group than in the CHX group (in vivo: 15.2% vs. 0%, and in vitro: 7.1% vs. 0%, for ETOH and CHX groups, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). For the in vitro-matured oocyte group, no significant differences were found between the CHX and ETOH groups in fusion rates (78.6% vs. 83.6%; P &gt; 0.05), cleavage rates (80.5% vs. 83.9%: P &gt; 0.05, based on the numbers of embryos fused). NT embryos from the CHX treatment group derived from in vivo- or in vitro-matured oocytes did not develop beyond the 16-cell stage. These results demonstrate that activation with CHX plus cytochalasin B treatment affects the development to the blastocyst stage of cloned goat embryos whether derived from in vivo- or in vitro-matured oocytes. This work was supported by the RGJ PhD program, Thailand Research Fund, and the Bureau of Biotechnology in Animal Production, Department of Livestock Development.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Hinrichs

This paper reviews current equine assisted reproduction techniques. Embryo transfer is the most common equine ART, but is still limited by the inability to superovulate mares effectively. Immature oocytes may be recovered by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of immature follicles, or from ovaries postmortem, and can be effectively matured in vitro. Notably, the in vivo-matured oocyte may be easily recovered from the stimulated preovulatory follicle. Standard IVF is still not repeatable in the horse; however, embryos and foals can be produced by surgical transfer of mature oocytes to the oviducts of inseminated recipient mares or via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Currently, ICSI and in vitro embryo culture are routinely performed by only a few laboratories, but reported blastocyst development rates approach those found after bovine IVF (i.e. 25%–35%). Nuclear transfer can be relatively efficient (up to 26% live foal rate per transferred embryo), but few laboratories are working in this area. Equine blastocysts may be biopsied via micromanipulation, with normal pregnancy rates after biopsy, and accurate genetic analysis. Equine expanded blastocysts may be vitrified after collapsing them via micromanipulation, with normal pregnancy rates after warming and transfer. Many of these recently developed techniques are now in clinical use.


Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoya Nakanishi ◽  
Risa Tanaka ◽  
Shingo Tonai ◽  
Joo Yeon Lee ◽  
Manami Yamaoka ◽  
...  

Abstract In the liver, the sterol response element binding protein (SREBP) and the SREBP cleavage-activated protein (SCAP) complex upregulates cholesterol biosynthesis by gene induction of de novo cholesterol synthetic enzymes (Hmgcr, Cyp51, and Dhcr7). Insulin induced gene 1 (INSIG1) negatively regulates cholesterol biosynthesis by the inhibition of de novo cholesterol biosynthetic gene expression. In the ovary, cholesterol is de novo synthesized; however, the roles of SREBP and its regulators (SCAP and INSIG1) are not well understood. In this study, when immature mice were treated with gonadotropins (eCG followed by hCG), eCG induced and hCG maintained the expression of SREBP-1a, -2, and SCAP granulosa cells, whereas INSIG1 expression was dramatically downregulated after hCG injection. Downregulation of INSIG1 led to generate the SREBPs active form and translocate the SREBPs active form to nuclei. Inhibition of generation of the SREBPs active form by fatostatin or Scap siRNA in both in vivo and in vitro significantly decreased the expressions of de novo cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes, cholesterol accumulation, and progesterone (P4) production compared to control group. Fatostatin treatment inhibited the ovulation and increased the formation of abnormal corpus luteum which trapped the matured oocyte in the corpus luteum, however, the phenomenon was abolished by P4 administration. The results showed that decreasing INSIG1 level after hCG stimulation activated SREBP-induced de novo cholesterol biosynthesis in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles, which is essential for P4 production and the rupture of matured oocyte during ovulation process.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Taubenschmid-Stowers ◽  
Maria Rostovskaya ◽  
Fatima Santos ◽  
Sebastian Ljung ◽  
Ricard Argelaguet ◽  
...  

The remodelling of the epigenome and transcriptome of the fertilised oocyte to establish totipotency in the zygote and developing embryo is one of the most critical processes in mammalian embryogenesis. Zygotic or embryonic genome activation (ZGA, EGA) in the 2-cell embryo in mouse, and the 8-cell embryo in humans, constitutes the first major wave of transcription. Failure to initiate ZGA leads to developmental defects, and contributes to the high attrition rates of human pre-implantation embryos. Due to limitations in cell numbers and experimental tractability, the mechanisms that regulate human embryonic genome activation in the totipotent embryo remain poorly understood. Here we report the discovery of human 8-cell like cells (8CLCs) specifically among naive embryonic stem cells, but not primed pluripotent cells. 8CLCs express ZGA marker genes such as ZSCAN4, LEUTX and DUXA and their transcriptome closely resembles that of the 8-cell human embryo. 8-cell like cells reactivate 8-cell stage specific transposable elements such as HERVL and MLT2A1 and are characterized by upregulation of the DNA methylation regulator DPPA3. 8CLCs show reduced SOX2 protein, and can be identified based on expression of the novel ZGA-associated protein markers TPRX1 and H3.Y in vitro. Overexpression of the transcription factor DUX4 as well as spliceosome inhibition increase ZGA-like transcription and enhance TPRX1+ 8CLCs formation. Excitingly, the in vitro identified 8CLC marker proteins TPRX1 and H3.Y are also expressed in 8-cell human embryos at the time of genome activation and may thus be relevant in vivo. The discovery of 8CLCs provides a unique opportunity to model and manipulate human ZGA-like transcriptional programs in vitro, and might provide critical functional insights into one of the earliest events in human embryogenesis in vivo.


Zygote ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kopecný ◽  
M. Biggiogera ◽  
J. Pivko ◽  
A. Pavlok ◽  
T.E. Martin ◽  
...  

Nuclear bodies occuring during the 2-cell stage of bovine embryos (obtained either by in vitro fertilisation of in vitro matured ovarian oocytes, or collection after fertilisation and cleavage in vivo) were studied using ultrastructural cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry to determine whether their occurrence may be linked with the onset of embryonic transcription. In addition, the species-specific ultrastructural features of the interchromatin structures of the 2-cell bovine embryo were displayed. Three different types of nuclear bodies were distinguished: (i) nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs), (ii) loose bodies (LBs) and (iii) dense bodies (DBs). In order to determine their possible functional significance, we considered parallels between these three nuclear entities and interchromatin compartments reported in other cells. As detected by their preferential ribonucleoprotein staining, all types of nuclear bodies contained ribonucleoproteins. In contrast to the other types of nuclear bodies studied, NPBs contained argyrophilic proteins but in no case they did show morphological features of functional nucleoli. Both compact and vacuolated forms of NPBs were seen in both in vivo and in vitro embryos, sometimes simultaneously in the same nucleus. LBs and DBs reacted with antibodies to Sm antigen, indicating the presence of a group of nucleoplasmic, non-nucleolar small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). The immunoreactivity for Sm antigen was more intense and homogeneous in DBs than in LBs. DBs were seen in both categories of embryo. A possible kinship of DBs with the sphere organelle known from oocytes of different animal species or the prominent spherical inclusions of the early mouse embryo nuclei is suggested. The last type of intranuclear body, the LBs, showed a composite structure. Their granular component, occurring in clusters and displaying immunoreactivity for Sm antigen, was similar to interchromatin granules and was therefore named IG-like granules. Another component forming the LBs showed a much finer structure and a lower immunoreactivity with anti-Sm antibodies. We suggest that this amorphous component may be related to the IG-associated zone. All three types of intranuclear bodies were often seen close together, suggesting their possible mutual functional relationship. From these and other observations we conclude that the intranuclear bodies in 2-cell bovine embryos correspond, with the exception of the NPB, to similar structures/compartments supposed to accumulate inactive spliceosomal components in certain phases of somatic cell nucleus functions. Accordingly, the occurrence of such nuclear bodies does not represent cytological evidence for RNA synthesis. In contrast to this, an important morphological feature revealing the status of the bovine 2-cell embryo is the vacuol-isation of the NPB.


Author(s):  
E. J. Kollar

The differentiation and maintenance of many specialized epithelial structures are dependent on the underlying connective tissue stroma and on an intact basal lamina. These requirements are especially stringent in the development and maintenance of the skin and oral mucosa. The keratinization patterns of thin or thick cornified layers as well as the appearance of specialized functional derivatives such as hair and teeth can be correlated with the specific source of stroma which supports these differentiated expressions.


Author(s):  
M.J. Murphy ◽  
R.R. Price ◽  
J.C. Sloman

The in vitro human tumor cloning assay originally described by Salmon and Hamburger has been applied recently to the investigation of differential anti-tumor drug sensitivities over a broad range of human neoplasms. A major problem in the acceptance of this technique has been the question of the relationship between the cultured cells and the original patient tumor, i.e., whether the colonies that develop derive from the neoplasm or from some other cell type within the initial cell population. A study of the ultrastructural morphology of the cultured cells vs. patient tumor has therefore been undertaken to resolve this question. Direct correlation was assured by division of a common tumor mass at surgical resection, one biopsy being fixed for TEM studies, the second being rapidly transported to the laboratory for culture.


Author(s):  
Raul I. Garcia ◽  
Evelyn A. Flynn ◽  
George Szabo

Skin pigmentation in mammals involves the interaction of epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes in the structural and functional unit known as the Epidermal Melanin Unit. Melanocytes(M) synthesize melanin within specialized membrane-bound organelles, the melanosome or pigment granule. These are subsequently transferred by way of M dendrites to keratinocytes(K) by a mechanism still to be clearly defined. Three different, though not necessarily mutually exclusive, mechanisms of melanosome transfer have been proposed: cytophagocytosis by K of M dendrite tips containing melanosomes, direct injection of melanosomes into the K cytoplasm through a cell-to-cell pore or communicating channel formed by localized fusion of M and K cell membranes, release of melanosomes into the extracellular space(ECS) by exocytosis followed by K uptake using conventional phagocytosis. Variability in methods of transfer has been noted both in vivo and in vitro and there is evidence in support of each transfer mechanism. We Have previously studied M-K interactions in vitro using time-lapse cinemicrography and in vivo at the ultrastructural level using lanthanum tracer and freeze-fracture.


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