Effect of hormone pre-treatment of prepubertal sheep on the production and developmental capacity of oocytes in vitro and in vivo

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 625 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. O'Brien ◽  
N. F. G. Beck ◽  
W. M. C. Maxwell ◽  
G. Evans

Twenty 36-week-old Merino lambs were given either 3, 1 or 0 treatments of 50 µg oestradiol benzoate and (48 h later) a 1·5 mg Norgestamet implant left in situ for 9 days (3-, 1- and 0CYCLE+G). On Day 7 after the last implant insertion, and on the same day for 0CYCLE+G, each lamb received 400 I.U. pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and 6 mg follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The reproductive tracts were removed for oocyte collection 24 h after FSH. Reproductive tracts were also collected from 16-24-week-old lambs (n = 31) (0CYCLEG). The number of antral follicles per ovary was similar for the 3-, 1- and 0CYCLE+G treatments. Similar rates of in vitro maturation and monospermic fertilization were obtained for all groups. The proportion of blastocysts per cleaved oocyte was higher for 1CYCLE+G (50·5%) than for 3CYCLE+G (32·9%), 0CYCLE+G (24·3%), and 0CYCLEG (11·8%) (P < 0·05). Viable fetuses were obtained at Day 93 of pregnancy after transfer of embryos from all treatments. These results indicate that a single treatment with oestrogen and progesterone, prior to gonadotrophin stimulation, will increase the yield and developmental capacity of oocytes from prepubertal sheep.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. W. Santiquet ◽  
A. F. Greene ◽  
W. B. Schoolcraft ◽  
R. L. Krisher

In vitro maturation (IVM) of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) results in oocytes with reduced quality and is still not as efficient as in vivo maturation in most species. One hypothesis that could explain the low developmental competence of oocytes following IVM is that the oocytes resume meiosis too quickly after being retrieved from the follicles. Studies in mice and bovine have shown that a short period of prematuration in the presence of cAMP modulators, before IVM, enhances oocyte developmental competence. Moreover, other studies have recently demonstrated that cGMP is also a crucial molecule involved in meiotic resumption. Here, our objective was to examine the effect of a cGMP modulator in combination with a cAMP modulator during a short period of prematuration on mouse oocyte nuclear maturation and subsequent embryo development following IVF. The COC were collected (6 replicates) from 2-month-old outbred CF1 mice 48 h after PMSG (5 IU) injection in the presence (pre-IVM) or absence (control) of cGMP and cAMP modulators. Pre-IVM COC (n = 184) were then placed in prematuration medium that also contained these cGMP and cAMP modulators. After 2 h, pre-IVM COC were washed and transferred to our in-house prepared, completely defined IVM medium (Paczkowski et al. 2014 Reprod.) for the remaining 16 h of culture; 10 oocytes per 50 µL drop under oil, at 37°C in 7.5% CO2 and 6.5% O2 due to the increased altitude at our location. Control COC (n = 161) were matured in the same IVM medium under identical conditions for 18 h, without prematuration. After IVM, oocytes were fixed for assessment of nuclear maturation, or fertilized and cultured in vitro and subsequent development (96 and 112 h) was recorded (Paczkowski et al. 2014 Reprod.). Results were analysed by ANOVA. A short 2-h prematuration period in the presence of cGMP and cAMP modulators had no impact on oocyte nuclear maturation to metaphase II after IVM or on embryo cleavage after IVF. However, pre-IVM treatment improved the developmental competence of the oocyte, as demonstrated by increased embryo development. More (P < 0.02) blastocysts (96 h of culture) and hatched blastocysts (112 h of culture) developed in the pre-IVM treatment compared to control (31.0 ± 3.4 v. 19.9 ± 3.2%; 31.5 ± 3.4 v. 19.9 ± 3.2%, respectively). In conclusion, a combination of cGMP and cAMP modulators during oocyte collection and a subsequent short pre-IVM improves oocyte developmental competence and could therefore be a potential tool to improve embryo yield following IVM.


1977 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta E. Apfelbaum ◽  
S. Taleisnik

ABSTRACT The effect of oestrogen on the release and synthesis of LH and FSH was studied in rat adenohypophyses incubated for a period of 4 h in flasks containing 1 ml Eagle's medium. One hemipituitary was used as the experimental gland and the other half served as a control. The spontaneous release of LH and FSH by glands from ovarectomized rats was not affected by oestradiol-17β added to the incubation medium in doses of 55, 166, 500 and 1500 ng/ml. The amount of hormones released by pituitaries from spayed rats injected with oestradiol benzoate (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 μg/rat) 2 h or 24 h before killing the animals too was not different from that of oil-injected rats. Neither was there any effect of oestrogen when added to the incubation medium of glands from oestrogen-pre-treated rats. However, the concentration of LH and FSH in the gland increased when oestrogen was added to the incubation medium, indicating enhanced synthesis. The effect was dose-dependent up to the dose of 500 ng/ml oestradiol but a dose of 1500 ng/ml was less effective. Increased synthesis of LH but not of FSH was also observed in incubated glands from rats injected with oestrogen 24 h before death, but no changes were seen in those of rats killed 2 h after treatment. Additive effects occurred with the in vivo and in vitro steroid treatment. These results indicate that oestrogen favours synthesis of LH and FSH in cultured pituitaries, without affecting gonadotrophin secretion and that the changes induced in the in situ gland by oestrogen treatment are reflected by their in vitro activity.


1977 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Lisk ◽  
Lawrence A. Reuter

ABSTRACT Pituitary retention of [3H]oestradiol in ovariectomized rats was measured following in vivo progesterone pre-treatment and found to be significantly increased after 48, 72, 96 and 120 h of pre-treatment. Increased [3H]oestradiol retention was also observed for at least up to 72 h after removal of the progesterone pre-treatment source. This retention was measured as dpm per mg dry tissue weight. [3H]Oestradiol retention was also measured in the nuclear fraction of tissues incubated with [3H]oestradiol in vitro. Following 72 h of in vivo progesterone pre-treatment, the nuclear fraction from the pituitary was found to retain significantly more [3H]oestradiol than corresponding fractions from non-treated animals. In contrast to ovariectomized females, no increase in [3H]oestradiol retention was found in the pituitary of orchidectomized males pre-treated with progesterone for 72 h. [3H]Oestradiol retention by pituitaries of ovariectomized rats injected on the day of birth with 200 μg oestradiol benzoate (OeB) or 500 μg testosterone propionate (TP) was significantly decreased in comparison to control animals. When the rats were pre-treated in vivo with oestradiol for 6 or 72 h and [3H]oestradiol retention was measured 6 or 24 h after this pre-treatment, the OeB and TP treated animals retained significantly less [3H]oestradiol under most treatment conditions. Progesterone pretreatment for 24 or 72 h in vivo followed by measurement of [3H]oestradiol retention immediately or 6 or 24 h later resulted in a significant increase in [3H]oestradiol retention for the control animals. In contrast, the neonatally OeB or TP treated animals differed significantly by not showing increased retention. When [3H]oestradiol retention of the pituitary was measured in vitro following homogenization at 0°C and incubation at 37°C for 1 h, the nuclear fraction from both OeB and TP treated animals was found to retain less hormone per unit DNA; however, this decrease was significant only for the TP animals. Thus, males and androgen- or oestrogensterilized females have an altered and reduced augmentation of pituitary oestradiol retention in response to both oestrogen and progesterone pretreatments.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Held ◽  
Eva-Maria Mertens ◽  
Abdollah Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh ◽  
Dessie Salilew-Wondim ◽  
Urban Besenfelder ◽  
...  

In the present study we aimed to analyse structural changes during in vitro maturation of the bovine zona pellucida (ZP) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) ands zona pellucida birefringence (ZPB). Here we show that alterations during in vitro maturation invasively analysed by SEM are reflected in ZPB. In vivo-matured oocytes displayed significantly lower birefringence parameters and significantly higher blastocyst rates compared with in vitro-derived oocytes (39.1% vs 21.6%). The same was observed for in vitro-matured oocytes with cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) Quality 1 (Q1) compared with Q3-COCs with respect to zona birefringence and developmental capacity. Immature oocytes with Q1-COCs displayed higher ZPB values and a higher developmental capacity to the blastocyst stage (27.7% vs 16.9%) compared with immature Q3-COCs. Considering in vitro-matured oocytes, only those with Q1-COC showed a trend for ZPB similar to in vivo-matured oocytes. Therefore, a decreasing trend for ZPB during in vitro maturation seems to be typical for high-quality oocytes and successful cytoplasmic maturation. In accordance, fully-grown immature oocytes reached significantly higher blastocyst rates (32.0% vs 11.5%) and lower ZPB values compared with still-growing ones. In conclusion, we successfully evaluated the applicability of zona imaging to bovine oocytes: alterations during in vitro maturation invasively analysed by scanning electron microscopy were reflected in the birefringence of the zona pellucida of bovine oocytes affecting developmental capacity at the same value. Therefore ZPB measurement by live zona imaging has potential to become a new tool to assess correctness of in vitro maturation and to predict developmental competence.


1977 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 714-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta E. Apfelbaum ◽  
S. Taleisnik

ABSTRACT The release and synthesis of prolactin were studied in incubated adenohypophyses from ovariectomized rats. After a 4 h incubation period the prolactin concentration in the medium markedly increased whereas that in the gland was reduced. However, the concentration of prolactin in the system, tissue plus medium, after 4 h was almost twice as much as that present at the beginning of incubation indicating spontaneous synthesis. This spontaneous release and synthesis of prolactin was greatly increased in incubated glands from ovariectomized oestrogen-treated rats. Oestradiol benzoate was injected in doses of 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 μg/rat 2 or 24 h before killing the animals. Lower effects were obtained in glands from 2 h-oestradiol-pre-treated rats than from 24 h-oestradiol-primed rats. Oestradiol-17β (55, 166, 500 and 1500 ng/ml) added to the incubation medium also enhanced the release and synthesis of prolactin and the effect was more marked in glands from oestrogen injected rats than in those of non-treated animals. The increase was dose-related although the higher doses were less effective. These results provide further evidence of the effect of oestrogen on the release and synthesis of prolactin by a direct action on the pituitary gland. They also show that oestradiol pre-treatment in vivo increase the response of the prolactin cells towards oestradiol in vitro.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon Kim ◽  
Byeong-Cheol Kang ◽  
Jun Yun ◽  
Jae Ahn ◽  
Yong Kim ◽  
...  

The in vitro maturation of oocytes is frequently used as an assisted reproductive technique (ART), and has been successfully established in humans and rodents. To overcome the limitations of ART, novel procedures for the in vitro maturation of early follicles are emerging. During the follicle isolation procedure, the unintended rupture of each follicle leads to a release of extra oocytes. Such oocytes, which are obtained during follicle isolation from marmosets, can be used for early maturation studies. Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), which is classified as a new-world monkey, is a novel model that has been employed in reproductive biomedical research, as its reproductive physiology is similar to that of humans in several aspects. The ovaries of female marmosets were collected, and the excess oocytes present during follicle isolation were retrieved without pre-gonadotropin induction. Each oocyte was matured in vitro for 48 h in the presence of various concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the maturity of oocytes and optimal maturation conditions were evaluated. Each oocyte was individually reverse-transcribed, and the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs (miRs) were analyzed. Concentrations of hCG significantly affected the maturation rate of oocytes [the number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes]. The expression of BMP15 and ZP1 was highest when the oocytes were matured using 100 IU/L of hCG without pre-treatment with gonadotropins, and that of Cja-mir-27a was highest when cultured with follicle stimulating hormone. These results suggest that these up-regulated miRs affect the maturation of oocytes. Interactions with other protein networks were analyzed, and a strong association of BMP15 and ZP1 with sperm binding receptor (ACR), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and AMH receptor was demonstrated, which is related to the proliferation of granulosa cells. Collectively, on the basis of these results, the authors propose optimal maturation conditions of excess oocytes of marmoset without in vivo gonadotropin treatment, and demonstrated the roles of miRs in early oocyte maturation at the single-cell level in marmosets.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Schei Haugan ◽  
Anders Løbner-Olesen ◽  
Niels Frimodt-Møller

AbstractCommonly used antibiotics exert their effect predominantly on rapidly growing bacterial cells, yet growth dynamics taking place during infection in a complex host environment remain largely unknown. Hence, means to measure in situ bacterial growth rate is essential to predict the outcome of antibacterial treatment. We have recently validated chromosome replication as readout for in situ bacterial growth rate during Escherichia coli infection in the mouse peritonitis model. By the use of two complementary methods (qPCR and fluorescence microscopy) for differential genome origin and terminus copy number quantification, we demonstrated the ability to track bacterial growth rate, both on a population average and on a single-cell level; from one single biological specimen. Here, we asked whether the in situ growth rate could predict antibiotic treatment effect during infection in the same model. Parallel in vitro growth experiments were conducted as proof-of-concept. Our data demonstrate that the activity of commonly used antibiotics Ceftriaxone and Gentamicin correlated with pre-treatment bacterial growth rate; both drugs performing better during rapid growth than during slow growth. Conversely, Ciprofloxacin was less sensitive to bacterial growth rate, both in a homogenous in vitro bacterial population and in a more heterogeneous in vivo bacterial population. The method serves as a platform to test any antibiotic’s dependency upon active in situ bacterial growth. Improved insight into this relationship in vivo could ultimately prove helpful in evaluating future antibacterial strategies.ImportanceMost antibiotics in clinical use exert their effect predominantly on rapidly growing bacterial cells, yet there is a lack of insight into bacterial growth dynamics taking place during infection in vivo. We have applied inexpensive and easily accessible methods for extraction of in situ bacterial growth rate from bacterial chromosome replication during experimental murine infection. This approach not only allows for a better understanding of bacterial growth dynamics taking place during the course of infection, but also serves as a platform to test the activity of different antibiotics as a function of pre-treatment in situ growth rate. The method has the advantage that bacterial growth rate can be probed from a single biological sample, with the potential for extension into clinical use in pre-treatment infected biological specimens. A better understanding of commonly used antibiotics’ level of dependency upon bacterial growth, combined with measurements of in situ bacterial growth rate in infected clinical specimens, could prove helpful in evaluating future antibacterial treatment regimens.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
F. A. Diaz ◽  
E. J. Gutierrez ◽  
B. A. Foster ◽  
P. T. Hardin ◽  
K. R. Bondioli

Cattle under the effect of heat stress have reduced fertility, with negative effects on the oocyte observed at the morphological, biochemical, transcriptional and developmental levels. There are no studies evaluating the effect of heat stress on the epigenetic profile of bovine oocytes, which plays a fundamental role in the regulation of gamete development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of in vivo heat stress during the spring to summer transition on DNA methylation and DNA hydroxymethylation of bovine oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) stages. Ten Bos taurus crossbred nonlactating beef cows located at Saint Gabriel, Louisiana, USA (30°16′11.1″ N, 91°06′12.1″ W), were used for oocyte collection once monthly from April to August. Dominant follicle removal was performed 5-7 days before oocyte collection. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected through ovum pick-up from follicles &gt;2mm. Germinal vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes (50% of total obtained per cow) were subjected to a standard bovine in vitro maturation protocol to obtain metaphase II (MII) stage oocytes. The DNA methylation and DNA hydroxymethylation of GV and MII oocytes was assessed by fluorescence immunohistochemistry utilising primary antibodies against 5′-methylcytosine and 5′-hydromethylcytosine. Secondary antibodies utilised were Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-mouse IgG and Alexa Fluor 546 donkey anti-rabbit IgG. Oocytes were visualised utilising a fluorescence deconvolution microscope and immunofluorescence data were expressed as corrected relative fluorescence per nucleus. The polar body was not included for fluorescence quantification when evaluating MII stage oocytes. Results (least squares means±standard error) were evaluated as cold months (April and May) and hot months (June, July, and August). Results were analysed by the type III test of fixed effects and Tukey media separation utilising Proc Glimmix of SAS 9.4 (P&lt;0.05; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Maturation rates and percent of grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 oocytes were square root arcsine transformed for statistical analysis. The number of total oocytes obtained per cow was higher in cold compared to hot months (21.88±2.34 and 14.23±2.17, respectively). Percent of grade-1 oocytes was higher in cold compared to hot months (38.25±3.69 and 27.59±3.09, respectively). There was no difference in percent of grade-2 oocytes between cold and hot months (21.80±2.44 and 22.60±2.20, respectively). There was a lower percent of grade-3 oocytes in cold compared to hot months (39.82±4.54 and 55.87±3.98, respectively). Maturation rate (in vitro maturation) was not different between cold and hot months (81.92±4.04 and 91.11±3.36, respectively). There was no difference between cold and hot months in DNA methylation (417,218.90±71,793.86 and 313,819.88±55,528.01, respectively) and DNA hydroxymethylation (444,931.10±67,920.78 and 352,254.68±56,425.96, respectively) of GV-stage oocytes. There was no difference between cold and hot months in DNA methylation (87,122.36±14,449.47 and 89,807.26±11,303.72 AU, respectively) and DNA hydroxymethylation (102,933.83±15,517.70 and 137,622.45±11,826.86 AU, respectively) of MII-stage oocytes.


1984 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Schuiling ◽  
H. Moes ◽  
T. R. Koiter

Abstract. The effect of a combined in vivo pre-treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH) and oestradiol benzoate (EB) on the autonomous and the 'supra-maximally' LRH-stimulated in vitro release of LH and FSH by pituitary glands of 2 weeks ovariectomized (OVX) rats was studied using a perifusion system. The concentration of LRH in the perifusion medium was 1 μg/ml. Pre-treatment with LRH during 6 days was effected by means of sc implanted Alzet® osmotic minipumps (MP). Control rats received a piece of silastic with the dimesions of a minipump ('sham-pump'; Sh-P). EB, 3 μg/injection or solvent (arachis oil) was sc injected on days –3 and –1 (day of perifusion: day 0). Of the pituitary glands of EB-injected, Sh-P-implanted rats both the autonomous and the LRH-stimulated secretion of LH and the LRH-stimulated secretion of FSH were significantly higher than those of the oil-injected, Sh-P-implanted rats without EB administration. Pretreatment with LRH for 6 days had a suppressing effect on the autonomous and the LRH-induced depletion of the pituitary LH and FSH stores. In combination with EB, the suppressing effect of LRH pre-treatment on the LRH-stimulated secretion of LH and FSH was still greater: the pituitary gland appeared to be fixed in a relatively unresponsive state with very low autonomous LH and FSH secretion. It is discussed that increase of pituitary LRH-responsiveness due to EB demands withdrawal of the pituitary gland from the influence of LRH, an effect which is in vivo achieved by the negative feedback of oestrogen on the hypothalamus.


Author(s):  
D. Reis ◽  
B. Vian ◽  
J. C. Roland

Wall morphogenesis in higher plants is a problem still open to controversy. Until now the possibility of a transmembrane control and the involvement of microtubules were mostly envisaged. Self-assembly processes have been observed in the case of walls of Chlamydomonas and bacteria. Spontaneous gelling interactions between xanthan and galactomannan from Ceratonia have been analyzed very recently. The present work provides indications that some processes of spontaneous aggregation could occur in higher plants during the formation and expansion of cell wall.Observations were performed on hypocotyl of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) for which growth characteristics and wall composition have been previously defined.In situ, the walls of actively growing cells (primary walls) show an ordered three-dimensional organization (fig. 1). The wall is typically polylamellate with multifibrillar layers alternately transverse and longitudinal. Between these layers intermediate strata exist in which the orientation of microfibrils progressively rotates. Thus a progressive change in the morphogenetic activity occurs.


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