Potential role of microRNAs in mammalian female fertility

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawit Tesfaye ◽  
Dessie Salilew-Wondim ◽  
Samuel Gebremedhn ◽  
Md Mahmodul Hasan Sohel ◽  
Hari Om Pandey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Extracellular Mirnas ◽  
Mammalian Female

Since the first evidence for the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in various reproductive processes through conditional knockout of DICER, several studies have been conducted to investigate the expression pattern and role of miRNAs in ovarian follicular development, oocyte maturation, embryo development, embryo–maternal communication, pregnancy establishment and various reproductive diseases. Although advances in sequencing technology have fuelled miRNA studies in mammalian species, the presence of extracellular miRNAs in various biological fluids, including follicular fluid, blood plasma, urine and milk among others, has opened a new door in miRNA research for their use as diagnostic markers. This review presents data related to the identification and expression analysis of cellular miRNA in mammalian female fertility associated with ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, preimplantation embryo development and embryo implantation. In addition, the relevance of miRNAs to female reproductive disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometritis and abnormal pregnancies, is discussed for various mammalian species. Most importantly, the mechanism of release and the role of extracellular miRNAs in cell–cell communication and their potential role as non-invasive markers in female fertility are discussed in detail. Understanding this layer of regulation in female reproduction processes will pave the way to understanding the genetic regulation of female fertility in mammalian species.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs: tiny molecules with a significant role in mammalian follicular and oocyte development

Reproduction ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (3) ◽  
pp. R121-R135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawit Tesfaye ◽  
Samuel Gebremedhn ◽  
Dessie Salilew-Wondim ◽  
Tsige Hailay ◽  
Michael Hoelker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Oocyte Growth ◽  
Extracellular Mirnas ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

The genetic regulation of female fertility (follicular development, oocyte maturation and early preimplantation embryo development) involves the spatio-temporal regulation of those genes that play key roles in various stages of the female reproductive axis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are known to regulate the expression of a large proportion of such genes. In recent decades, multiple studies have aimed to determine the roles of these non-coding RNAs in mammalian follicular development, oocyte growth and embryo development. These studies have applied a variety of approaches, including conditional knockout of miRNA biogenesis genes, high-throughput sequencing technologies for pattern recognition in miRNA expression and loss- and gain-of-function of miRNAs in various animal models. In addition to the cellular miRNAs, a large variety of RNAs are found in circulation, being coupled with extracellular vesicles, proteins and lipids. Because of their potential as diagnostic markers for abnormal physiologies, there is increasing interest in the identification of extracellular miRNAs in various biological fluids and spentin vitroculture media. This review focuses on studies addressing the expression and potential role of cellular and extracellular miRNAs in mammalian follicular cell physiology and subsequent ovarian functionality and oocyte maturation.

scholarly journals The potential role of granulosa cells in the maturation rate of immature human oocytes and embryo development: A co-culture study

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahia Namavar Jahromi ◽  
Zahra Mosallanezhad ◽  
Najmeh Matloob ◽  
Maryam Davari ◽  
Mohamed Amin Ghobadifar
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Culture Study ◽  
Human Oocytes ◽  
Maturation Rate

scholarly journals The Usefulness of Retinoic Acid Supplementation during in Vitro Oocyte Maturation for the in Vitro Embryo Production of Livestock: A Review

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelnour ◽  
El-Hack ◽  
Swelum ◽  
Saadeldin ◽  
Noreldin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Embryonic Growth ◽  
Oxidative Damages

Retinoic acid (RA) is an indigenous metabolite and descriptive physiologically functioning constituent of vitamin A. Retinoids were documented as vital regulators for cell development and distinction, embryonic growth, and reproductive function in both male and female livestock. Previously, RA has been shown to have several positive impacts in vivo and in vitro and critically control many reproductive events, such as oocyte development, follicular growth, and early embryonic growth. In addition, RA manages apoptotic signaling and oxidative damages in cells. Recently, RA has been used widely in assisted reproductive technology fields, especially during in vitro embryo development in various mammalian species, including buffaloes, bovine, goats, sheep, pigs, and rabbits. However, the optimum concentration of RA greatly differs based on the condition of maturation media and species. Based on the obtained findings, it was generally accepted that RA enhances nuclear oocyte maturation, cleavage and maturation rates, blastocyst formation, and embryo development. As such, it possesses antioxidant properties against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an anti-apoptotic effect through enhancing the transcription of some related genes such as superoxide dismutase, prostaglandin synthase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxins, and heme oxygenase. Therefore, the current review concludes that an addition of RA (up to 50 nM) has the potential to improve the oocyte maturation media of various species of livestock due to its antioxidant activity.

scholarly journals Male relatedness and familiarity are required to modulate male-induced harm to females in Drosophila

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1860) ◽  
pp. 20170441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Le Page ◽  
Irem Sepil ◽  
Ewan Flintham ◽  
Tommaso Pizzari ◽  
Pau Carazo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Inclusive Fitness Theory ◽  
Indirect Fitness ◽  
Female Lifespan

Males compete over mating and fertilization, and often harm females in the process. Inclusive fitness theory predicts that increasing relatedness within groups of males may relax competition and discourage male harm of females as males gain indirect benefits. Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster are consistent with these predictions, and have found that within-group male relatedness increases female fitness, though others have found no effects. Importantly, these studies did not fully disentangle male genetic relatedness from larval familiarity, so the extent to which modulation of harm to females is explained by male familiarity remains unclear. Here we performed a fully factorial design, isolating the effects of male relatedness and larval familiarity on female harm. While we found no differences in male courtship or aggression, there was a significant interaction between male genetic relatedness and familiarity on female reproduction and survival. Relatedness among males increased female lifespan, reproductive lifespan and overall reproductive success, but only when males were familiar. By showing that both male relatedness and larval familiarity are required to modulate female harm, these findings reconcile previous studies, shedding light on the potential role of indirect fitness effects on sexual conflict and the mechanisms underpinning kin recognition in fly populations.

scholarly journals GLP is critical for oogenesis exhibiting a G9A-independent role in transcriptional repression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Demond ◽  
Courtney W Hanna ◽  
Juan Castillo-Fernandez ◽  
Fatima Santos ◽  
Evangelina K Papachristou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Knockout Mouse ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Oocyte Developmental Competence ◽  
Gene Dysregulation ◽  
Conditional Knockout Mouse

GLP (EHMT1) functions as an H3K9me1 and H3K9me2 methyltransferase through its reportedly obligatory dimerization with G9A (EHMT2). Here, we investigated the role of GLP in oocyte and embryo development in comparison to G9A using oocyte-specific conditional knockout mouse models (G9a cKO, Glp cKO, G9a-Glp cDKO). Loss of GLP in oogenesis severely impairs oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development, resulting in lethality before embryonic day E12.5. In contrast, loss of G9A has a milder effect with a proportion of embryos producing viable offspring. The Glp cKO also showed loss of G9A protein and, hence, was phenotypically very similar to the G9a-Glp cDKO. H3K9me2 was equally depleted in all cKO genotypes, whereas H3K9me1 was decreased only in Glp cKO and G9a-Glp cDKO oocytes. Furthermore, the transcriptome, DNA methylome and proteome were markedly more affected in G9a-Glp cDKO than G9a cKO oocytes, demonstrating that in the absence of GLP there are widespread epigenetic and gene expression changes in the oocyte independent of H3K9me2. Gene dysregulation with coupled changes in DNA methylation suggest localised loss of chromatin repression, resulting in upregulated protein expression. Together, our findings demonstrate that GLP can function independently of G9A in the oocyte and is required for oocyte developmental competence.

scholarly journals Receptor-Dependent Coronavirus Infection of Dendritic Cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 5486-5490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C. Turner ◽  
Erin M. Hemmila ◽  
Nicole Beauchemin ◽  
Kathryn V. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Dc Line ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Dependent Pathway ◽  
Murine Coronavirus

ABSTRACT In several mammalian species, including humans, coronavirus infection can modulate the host immune response. We show a potential role of dendritic cells (DC) in murine coronavirus-induced immune modulation and pathogenesis by demonstrating that the JAW SII DC line and primary DC from BALB/c mice and p/p mice with reduced expression of the murine coronavirus receptor, murine CEACAM1a, are susceptible to murine coronavirus infection by a receptor-dependent pathway.

scholarly journals Lipids and oocyte developmental competence: the role of fatty acids and β-oxidation

Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. R15-R27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylie R Dunning ◽  
Darryl L Russell ◽  
Rebecca L Robker
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Oocyte Developmental Competence

Metabolism and ATP levels within the oocyte and adjacent cumulus cells are associated with quality of oocyte and optimal development of a healthy embryo. Lipid metabolism provides a potent source of energy and its importance during oocyte maturation is being increasingly recognised. The triglyceride and fatty acid composition of ovarian follicular fluid has been characterised for many species and is influenced by nutritional status (i.e. dietary fat, fasting, obesity and season) as well as lactation in cows. Lipid in oocytes is a primarily triglyceride of specific fatty acids which differ by species, stored in distinct droplet organelles that re-localise during oocyte maturation. The presence of lipids, particularly saturated vs unsaturated fatty acids, in in vitro maturation systems affects oocyte lipid content as well as developmental competence. Triglycerides are metabolised by lipases that have been localised to cumulus cells as well as oocytes. Fatty acids generated by lipolysis are further metabolised by β-oxidation in mitochondria for the production of ATP. β-oxidation is induced in cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) by the LH surge, and pharmacological inhibition of β-oxidation impairs oocyte maturation and embryo development. Promoting β-oxidation with l-carnitine improves embryo development in many species. Thus, fatty acid metabolism in the mammalian COC is regulated by maternal physiological and in vitro environmental conditions; and is important for oocyte developmental competence.

scholarly journals Review: The role of leukaemia inhibitory factor in the establishment of pregnancy

1999 ◽  
Vol 160 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Vogiagis ◽  
LA Salamonsen
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Development ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Inhibitory Factor ◽  
Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor ◽  
Blastocyst Implantation ◽  
Important Cytokine

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotrophic cytokine required for blastocyst implantation in mice. Uterine expression of LIF and that of its receptors has been demonstrated in a number of mammalian species indicating that LIF may have widespread importance in the establishment of pregnancy. The variations in the reaction of the uterus in preparation for and during implantation are considerable between species and understanding the differences and similarities assists in the interpretation of how this cytokine functions. Recent studies suggest that reduced endometrial LIF contributes to human infertility. Studies also demonstrate a potential role in placentation and fetal development. Thus, LIF has become an important cytokine warranting further investigation in the human. It is anticipated that when the mechanisms underlying normal embryonic and endometrial development are elucidated, fertility and infertility will be more precisely understood and hence able to be effectively controlled.

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