Effect of sperm pretreatment with sodium hydroxide and dithiothreitol on the efficiency of bovine intracytoplasmic sperm injection

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Arias ◽  
R. Sánchez ◽  
J. Risopatrón ◽  
L. Pérez ◽  
R. Felmer

The efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in bovines is lower than in other species due, in part, to a lack of optimal conditions for its implementation; this has hindered the achievement of high rates of embryonic development and the birth of live offspring. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of pretreatment of bovine spermatozoa with NaOH and dithiothreitol (DTT) on the viability, plasma membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation and in vitro developmental potential of embryos generated by ICSI. Following pretreatment of spermatozoa with 5 mM DTT for 20 min and a low concentration of NaOH (1 mM for 60 min), there were fewer live and acrosome reacted spermatozoa (44% and 34%, respectively) than in the control group without treatment (82%). Spermatozoa subjected to higher alkali concentrations (10–50 mM) were mostly dead and reacted. However, pronuclear formation, cleavage, blastocyst rate and embryo quality did not differ between these pretreatment groups and the untreated control group. In conclusion, we have described, for the first time, the effects of NaOH treatment on bovine spermatozoa and subsequent in vitro embryonic development after ICSI, and have demonstrated that pretreatment of bovine spermatozoa with NaOH or DTT is not necessary for an appropriate in vitro embryo development in this species.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
L. M. Aguila ◽  
M. E. Arias ◽  
R. S. Sanchez ◽  
T. C. Vargas ◽  
F. A. Zambrano ◽  
...  

The efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in bovines is lower than in other species. We propose that in vitro sperm capacitation could optimize the ICSI in cattle. The aim was to evaluate the effects of isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) on the sperm capacitation and in vitro development of embryos generated by ICSI. Frozen-thawed spermatozoa (3–5 × 106 cells mL–1) were pre-incubated for 2 h at 38.5°C, 5% CO2 in defined medium (Sp-TLP/PVA) supplemented with MβCD (1 mM) or IBMX (0.4 mM) (capacitating conditions). The untreated control group (UTG; not supplemented) and vehicle group (VG) were incubated for 2 h. The non-capacitating control group (NCG) was not supplemented (neither vehicle nor IBMX or MβCD) and not incubated. The sperm viability and capacitation {intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, plasma membrane fluidity (PMF), and acrosomal reaction} were evaluated by flow cytometry (n = 3 biological replicates). For the ICSI procedure, only motile spermatozoa were selected. After ICSI, oocytes were activated with ionomycin + cycloheximide. Culture was performed at 38.5°C, 5% CO2, 5% O2, 90% N2, saturation humidity in KSOM base medium. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Scheffe's test. Pronuclear formation was evaluated by a chi-square test with Bonferroni's correction. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Pretreated spermatozoa showed lower (P < 0.05) viability (49 and 67% for IBMX and MβCD, respectively) compared with the NCG (89%), UTG (80%), and VG (78%). The [Ca2+]I analysed by median fluorescence intensity (MFI) was lower (P < 0.05) in NCG (117 MFI) with respect to UTG (127 MFI), VG (124 MFI), IBMX (126 MFI), and MβCD (131 MFI). The PMF increased (P < 0.05) with IBMX (115 MFI) and MβCD (106 MFI) compared with NCG (70 MFI), UTG (89 MFI), and VG (65 MFI). Acrosome reaction improved with capacitating treatments with respect to both control groups (16, 23, 8, 4, and 3% for IBMX, MβCD, UTG, VG, and NCG, respectively). Analysis of capacitating v. non-capacitating conditions on ICSI efficiency revealed that the fertilization rate, assessed by pronuclear formation, was higher (P < 0.05) in ICSI-MβCD (76%; n = 46) compared with ICSI-IBMX (55%; n = 53) and ICSI-NCG (50%; n = 44). Nevertheless, there were no differences among groups in cleavage (Day 3): 85, 86, and 84% and blastocyst rates (Day 8): 19, 25, and 18% for ICSI-IBMX (n = 8), ICSI-MβCD (n = 7), and ICSI-NCG (n = 7), respectively. The parthenogenetic and sham injection groups yielded a lower rate of cleavage (73 and 53%, respectively) and blastocyst (13% and 10%, respectively). The results demonstrated an improvement of the fertilization rate of bovine embryos generated by ICSI using sperm capacitated by MβCD pretreatment. However, more studies are necessary to improve in vitro developmental potential of these embryos to the blastocyst stage.Frigorífico Temuco and funding support from FONDECYT 1120241 CONICYT-Chile are gratefully acknowledged.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Yoon ◽  
L. Cai ◽  
S. U. Hwang ◽  
Y. Jeon ◽  
E. Kim ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus-derived somatic cells (CSC) during porcine in vitro maturation (IVM) and subsequent embryonic development after IVF. The CSC were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium for 48 h with various numbers of cumulus-derived somatic cells (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 × 104), and then cultured in TCM-199 for 4 h before the oocytes were added. Cumulus-oocytes complexes from 3- to 6-mm follicles were matured in 500 μL of TCM-199, with eCG and hCG, for 22 h, and then cultured in M199 without hormones for 22 h. Each experiment consisted of at least 4 replicates. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Percentage data were compared by one-way ANOVA, followed by Duncan's multiple range test. Data were presented as means ± s.e.m. Differences were considered to be significant if the P-value was 0.05. After IVM, no significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in nuclear maturation rate among the 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 × 104 groups (88.0 ± 2.37, 81.5 ± 2.17, 87.0 ± 1.98 and 86.0 ± 1.93%, respectively). The 2.5 × 104 group showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels compared with that of the other groups. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of mature oocyte in all groups showed no significant differences. The developmental competence of matured oocytes in all groups was evaluated after IVF. The 2.5 and 5.0 × 104 groups showed significantly (P < 0.05) high cleavage rates (60.0 ± 4.7 and 64.52 ± 5.9%, respectively) compared with the 0 and 10.0 × 104 groups (43.15 ± 5.0 and 53.8 ± 5.0%, respectively). The 2.5 × 104 group showed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher BL formation rate (35.7 ± 2.9) than control group (21.0 ± 3.8%, respectively), and higher total cell number (127.25 ± 7.7) compared with the 0 and 10 × 104 groups (89.3 ± 4.0 and 92.6 ± 3.7, respectively). In the analysis of gene expression, IVF-BL derived from the 2.5 and 5.0 × 104 groups showed higher (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of PCNA, which is an essential component of the DNA replication and repair machinery and POU5F1 has been used to evaluate developmental potential in embryos. The 10.0 × 104 group showed higher (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of caspase-3 and Bak as known pro-apoptotic factors, compared with the control group IVF-BL. The results of cortical granules distribution which leads digesting sperm receptor proteins ZP2 and ZP3 to block polyspermy, showed that the 2.5 × 104 group was increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the other co-culture groups (13.7 ± 6.1, 29.2 ± 9.5, 18.3 ± 0.8 and 19.52 ± 5.3, respectively). In conclusion, co-culture with 2.5 × 104 cumulus-derived somatic cells during IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine IVF embryos by increasing the intracellular GSH level and distribution of cortical granules during oocyte maturation. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ00956901), Rural Development Administration, and the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2012R1A1A4A01004885, NRF-2013R1A2A2A04008751), Republic of Korea.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
G. Wirtu ◽  
C. E. Pope ◽  
M. C. Gomez ◽  
R. A. MacLean ◽  
D. L. Paccamonti ◽  
...  

Compared to success rates in human, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is inefficient in ungulate species. Although factors such as injection of membrane-intact sperm and toxic effects of acrosome contents are suspected causes, the reasons for the inefficiency are unclear. A recent report in mice demonstrated that ICSI using spermatozoa treated with a physiological detergent, lysolecithin, improved oocyte activation, cleavage, and offspring production after embryo transfer (Morozumi K et al. 2006 PNAS 109, 17 661–17 666). The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of detergent treatment on motility and membrane integrity of frozen thawed eland, bongo and bovine spermatozoa and to examine sperm decondensation/embryonic cleavage following ICSI of in vitro-matured bovine oocytes. In experiment 1, sperm motility was observed on a warm microscope stage during exposure to 3 lecithin concentrations, 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01%, and the time at which 100% of the spermatozoa lost motility was recorded. In experiment 2, spermatozoa were exposed to 0.02% lecithin for 22 s, and the membrane integrity and acrosome status of spermatozoa were determined using a combined trypan blue-Giemsa staining (Nagy et al. 1999 Theriogenology 52, 1153–1159). In experiment 3, bovine oocytes were injected, using the piezo drill, with lecithin-treated (0.02%, immobilized) or untreated (piezo pulse immobilized) eland, bongo, or bovine spermatozoa and subsequently cultured for 2 days in CR1aa containing 3 mg mL–1 BSA. Each experiment was replicated at least 3 times. Lecithin induced time- and concentration-dependent loss of sperm motility. The average time to loss of motility in 100% of the spermatozoa at 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01% lecithin was 107, 222, and 344 s in bovine; 82, 135, and 179 s in eland; and 65, 115, and 158 in bongo, respectively. Data on membrane integrity (intact or nonintact) and acrosome status (reacted or nonreacted) of detergent-treated or control spermatozoa are shown in Table 1. Sperm head decondensation and embryonic cleavage were observed following homologous and interspecies (antelope into bovine) ICSI of lecithin-treated or control spermatozoa. In conclusion, lecithin treatment induced concentration and time-dependent loss of motility and was effective in damaging the sperm membrane and acrosome in eland, bongo, and domestic bulls. Eland and bongo spermatozoa underwent decondensation and activated bovine oocytes after interspecies ICSI. Table 1.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Kwak ◽  
S. A. Jeong ◽  
Y. B. Jeon ◽  
S. H. Hyun

The present study investigated the effects of resveratrol (a phytoalexin with various pharmacological activities) during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes on nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, gene expression in matured oocytes and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and IVF. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 using Duncan's multiple range test. In experiment 1, a total of 1146 cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were divided into 5 groups (0, 0.1, 0.5, 2.0 and 10.0 μM resveratrol). In the nuclear maturation after 44-h IVM, the groups of 0.1, 0.5 and 2.0 μM (83.0, 84.1 and 88.3%, respectively) had no significant difference compared to the control group (84.1%). The group of 10.0 μM decreased the nuclear maturation (75.0%) significantly (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, a total of 300 matured oocytes were examined for the effects of different resveratrol concentrations (0, 0.5, 2.0 and 10.0 μM) on porcine oocyte intracellular GSH and ROS levels. The groups of 0.5 and 2.0 μM showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in intracellular GSH levels (1.3 and 1.3, respectively) compared with the control and 10.0 μM groups (1.0 and 1.0, respectively). The intracellular ROS level of oocytes matured with 2.0 μM resveratrol (0.4) was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased compared to other groups (control: 1.0; 0.5 μM: 0.6; and 10.0 μM: 0.7). In experiment 3, lower expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax, Caspase-3 and Bak) was observed in matured oocytes treated with 2.0 μM resveratrol when compared with that of the control (P < 0.05). In experiment 4, a total of 728 oocytes were divided into 4 groups (control, 0.5, 2.0 and 10.0 μM) and examined subsequent to embryonic development after PA. Oocytes treated with 2.0 μM resveratrol during IVM had a significantly higher cleavage (CL) rate, blastocyst (BL) formation rate and total cell numbers (TCN) after PA compared with those of the control (2.0 μM: 96.6%, 62.1% and 49.1 vs control: 88.3%, 48.8% and 41.4, respectively) and the 10.0 μM groups (87.3%, 41.4% and 40.9, respectively). Oocytes treated with 0.5 μM resveratrol (87.2%, 50.5% and 48.6, respectively) during IVM had significantly higher TCN, but there were no differences in CL and BL formation rates. In experiment 5, a total of 935 oocytes in 3 groups (control, 2.0 and 10.0 μM resveratrol) were conducted in IVF. The BL formation rate and TCN were significantly higher in the group of 2.0 μM resveratrol (20.5% and 54.0, respectively) than the control (11.0% and 43.4, respectively) and 10.0 μM group (11.7% and 45.0, respectively), but there was no significant difference in CL rate. In conclusion, 2.0 μM resveratrol supplementation during IVM improved the developmental potential of PA and IVF in porcine embryos by increasing the intracellular GSH concentration, decreasing the ROS level and decreasing apoptosis-related gene expression during oocyte maturation. This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ008121), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Y. Jeon ◽  
B. Baasanjav ◽  
Y. I. Jeong ◽  
Y. W. Jeong ◽  
Y. W. Kim ◽  
...  

Autophagy is a critical process for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and mammalian early embryogenesis. Autophagy can be regulated by various chemical inducers. However, there are few reports about effect of autophagy inducer in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocyte. The present study investigated the effects of supplementary trehalose, a novel mTOR-independent autophagy enhancer, on oocyte maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Immature oocytes were treated with various concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 mM) of trehalose in M-199 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) supplemented with 10 ng mL–1 of epidermal growth factor (EGF; Sigma-Aldrich Corp.), 1 ug mL–1 of insulin (Sigma-Aldrich Corp.), 4 IU mL–1 of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG; Intervet, Boxmeer, Holland), 4 IU mL–1 of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; Intervet), and 10% (vol/vol) porcine follicular fluid (pFF) for 10 h, and transferred to another IVM medium without trehalose. Osmolality of each groups (0, 25, 50, and 100 mM trehalose) was in the 290 to 295, 310 to 315, 330 to 335, and 375 to 380 osmol range, respectively. After 44 h of IVM, trehalose treatment during IVM did not improve nuclear maturation rates of oocytes in any group (90.7, 92.1, 92.7, and 90.1%, respectively). The developmental competence of oocytes matured with different trehalose concentrations was evaluated after PA. There were no significant differences in cleavage rates. However, blastocyst (BL) formation was different. Oocytes treated with 25 mM of trehalose during IVM had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) BL formation rate (64.2%) after PA compared with the control (52.0%). The BL quality was also improved in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group. Early BL rate significantly reduced in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group as compared to control (19.6 v. 29.9%, P < 0.05). By contrast, expanded BL rate significantly increased in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group than of control (27.7 v. 11.0%, P < 0.05). Total cell numbers of BL were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group compared to those in the control group (52.2 v. 36.8). However, BL rate and quality of oocytes treated with 50 and 100 mM trehalose were similar with control group. In conclusion, these results indicate that 25 mM trehalose during IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine embryos. Trehalose will be useful for large-scale production of BL with good quality in porcine in vitro production.This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation Bio Green 21 Program (No. PJ009563032014), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.


Author(s):  
Maryam H Shirzeyli ◽  
Fatemeh Eini ◽  
Farshad H Shirzeyli ◽  
Saeid A Majd ◽  
Mehrdad Ghahremani ◽  
...  

Vitrification negatively affects the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in oocytes while also leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP depletion and induction of apoptosis in oocytes. Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is an antioxidant that protects mitochondrial membrane integrity from ROS. This study examined the effect of adding MitoQ to vitrification medium on mitochondrial function and embryo development in vitrified oocytes. Metaphase II (MII) stage oocytes were collected from NMRI mouse ovaries and preincubated for 20 min in a medium containing 0.02 µM of MitoQ. Next, oocytes were vitrified in medium supplemented with 0.02 μM of MitoQ (treatment group). The control group was processed in the same way but without exposure to MitoQ. After warming, oocyte survival rate, ΔΨm, cytoplasmic ROS and glutathione (GSH) levels and gene expression levels (Bcl2, BAX, and caspase3) were measured. In addition, the vitrified oocytes were fertilized in-vitro to assess developmental competence. The results showed that MitoQ improved survival and ΔΨm in treated vitrified oocytes. Treated oocytes showed lower ROS levels and higher GSH levels than did the control group. Furthermore, mRNA expression of the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase3 were significantly lower in treated oocytes. These findings indicate that medium supplementation with 0.02 μM of MitoQ during vitrification can improve oocyte survival and developmental competency in mouse oocytes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Li ◽  
Yuan Li ◽  
Shui-Ying Ma ◽  
Huai-Liang Feng ◽  
Hui-Jun Yang ◽  
...  

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the developmental potential and clinical application value of metaphase I (MI) oocytes obtained from stimulated intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. ICSI was performed on MI oocytes immediately after denudation (Group A), or on in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes following culture; oocytes in culture were further divided into two groups, being cultured for either 3–5 h (Group B) or 24–28 h (Group C). Metaphase II oocytes from the same cycle(s) isolated for ICSI served as the control group (Group D). The rates of normal fertilisation, cleavage and high-quality embryos were compared among the four groups. High-quality embryos were transferred whenever possible, and pregnancy rates were evaluated. Results showed that normal fertilisation rates for Groups B, C and D were significantly higher than that of Group A (68.6%, 57.8%, 74.5% and 30.1%, respectively; P < 0.01). The rate of high-quality embryos in Group B was comparable with Group D; the rate for Group C was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P < 0.05). Two clinical pregnancies were achieved after transfer of embryos from IVM oocytes. In vitro maturation of MI oocytes for a short period of time may increase the number of available embryos; however, overnight in vitro culture of MI oocytes did not improve results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leela Goel ◽  
Huaiyu Wu ◽  
Bohua Zhang ◽  
Jinwook Kim ◽  
Paul A. Dayton ◽  
...  

AbstractOne major challenge in current microbubble (MB) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-mediated sonothrombolysis techniques is effectively treating retracted blood clots, owing to the high density and low porosity of retracted clots. Nanodroplets (NDs) have the potential to enhance retracted clot lysis owing to their small size and ability to penetrate into retracted clots to enhance drug delivery. For the first time, we demonstrate that a sub-megahertz, forward-viewing intravascular (FVI) transducer can be used for ND-mediated sonothrombolysis, in vitro. In this study, we determined the minimum peak negative pressure to induce cavitation with low-boiling point phase change nanodroplets and clot lysis. We then compared nanodroplet mediated sonothrombolysis to MB and tPA mediate techniques. The clot lysis as a percent mass decrease in retracted clots was 9 ± 8%, 9 ± 5%, 16 ± 5%, 14 ± 9%, 17 ± 9%, 30 ± 8%, and 40 ± 9% for the control group, tPA alone, tPA + US, MB + US, MB + tPA + US, ND + US, and ND + tPA + US groups, respectively. In retracted blood clots, combined ND- and tPA-mediated sonothrombolysis was able to significantly enhance retracted clot lysis compared with traditional MB and tPA-mediated sonothrombolysis techniques. Combined nanodroplet with tPA-mediated sonothrombolysis may provide a feasible strategy for safely treating retracted clots.


Zygote ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Popelková ◽  
Z. Turanová ◽  
L. Koprdová ◽  
A. Ostró ◽  
S. Toporcerová ◽  
...  

SummaryThe aim of the study was to determine the efficiency of two vitrification techniques followed by two assisted hatching (AH) techniques based on post-thaw developmental capacity of precompacted rabbit embryos and their ability to leave the zona pellucida (hatching) during in vitro culture. The total cell number and embryo diameter as additional markers of embryo quality after warming were evaluated. In vivo fertilized, in vitro cultured 8–12-cell rabbit embryos obtained from superovulated rabbit does were cryopreserved by two-step vitrification method using ethylene glycol (EG) as cryoprotectant or by one-step vitrification method with EG and Ficoll (EG+Ficoll). Thawed embryos were subjected to enzymatic or mechanical AH. Vitrified EG group showed significantly lower (P < 0.05) blastocyst rate (22.5%) and hatching rate (15%) than those vitrified with EG + Ficoll (63 and 63% resp.) and that of control (97 and 97% respectively). Significantly lower values of total cell number (P < 0.05) as well as embryo diameter (P < 0.01) in EG group compared with EG + Ficoll and control group were recorded. No significant difference was found in developmental potential of warmed embryos treated by either mechanical or enzymatic AH. The present study demonstrates that the EG + Ficoll vitrification protocol provides superior embryo survival rates over the EG vitrification protocol for 8–12-cell stage precompacted rabbit embryos. No positive effect of either mechanical or enzymatic AH on the post-thaw viability and quality of rabbit embryos in vitro was observed.


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