330 TRICHOSTATIN A IMPROVES THE IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF CLONED BOVINE EMBRYOS RECONSTRUCTED WITH TRANSGENIC DONOR CELLS

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
L. S. A. Camargo ◽  
R. J. Otero Arroyo ◽  
T. D. Araujo ◽  
G. N. Quinelato ◽  
C. R. C. Quintao ◽  
...  

Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been described as a potential modulator of nuclear reprogramming in bovine zygotes reconstructed by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), but with controversial results (Lee et al. 2011 J. Reprod. Dev. 57, 34–42; Sangalli et al. 2012 Cell Reprogramming 14, 1–13). The effect of TSA in zygotes reconstructed with transgenic cells cultured for long periods is not known. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TSA on development of bovine embryos reconstructed with donor cells transfected with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-reporter transgene. Bovine fibroblasts at second passage were transfected with lentiviral vectors carrying the GFP transgene and cultured at 37.5°C under 5% CO2 in air. Transfected cells were cultured for additional 10 passages to establish a cell lineage expressing the protein. In the 12th passage, the cells were frozen in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide plus FCS (Nutricell, Campinas, Brazil) and frozen–thawed cells expressing GFP were used as nucleus donors. In vitro-matured oocytes were enucleated, fused to GFP positive fibroblasts, and activated with ionomycin. Putative zygotes were randomly distributed into 2 groups: SCNT-CONT (n = 55): zygotes were cultured for 4 h in CR2aa medium plus BSA with 6-DMAP followed by 7 h in CR2aa medium plus 2.5% FCS; SCNT-TSA (n = 49): zygotes were cultured in the same conditions described above, but supplemented with 50 nM TSA (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO). Then, embryos from all groups were cultured in CR2aa supplemented with 2.5% FCS under 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 at 38.5°C. Evaluations of cleavage and blastocyst percentages were performed at 72 and 168 h post-activation, respectively, and 4 replicates were carried out. Expression of GFP in embryos at blastocyst stage was visualised using an epifluorescence microscope. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and data are shown as mean ± SEM. No difference (P > 0.05) on cleavage percentage was found between groups (72.9 ± 11.3% and 66.1 ± 14.4% for SCNT-CONT and SCNT-TSA, respectively). The blastocyst percentage calculated based on putative zygotes tended (P = 0.077) to be higher for SCNT-TSA (16.7 ± 4.0%) than for SCNT-CONT (6.8 ± 2.3%). When the blastocyst percentage was calculated based on cleaved embryos, a higher rate (P < 0.05) was achieved in SCNT-TSA (26.7 ± 3.8%) than in SCNT-CONT (10.3 ± 3.6%) group. Blastocysts of both groups expressed GFP, with no difference among embryos. In a previous study, we reported that TSA had no positive effect on in vitro embryo development or gene expression, despite the reduction on apoptosis index [Camargo et al. 2011 Acta Sci. Vet. 39(Suppl.), S442; Camargo et al. 2012 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 24, 121–122). In the present study, however, the treatment with TSA of zygotes reconstructed with transgenic cells cultured for a long time improved embryo development without impairing GFP expression. This result suggests that TSA may be effective in clones reconstructed with transgenic cells. Supported by Embrapa 01.07.01.002, CBAB/CNPq, CAPES and Fapemig.

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.E. Ferguson ◽  
T.R. Davidson ◽  
M.R.B. Mello ◽  
A.S. Lima ◽  
D.J. Kesler ◽  
...  

There has been much debate over a direct role for progesterone (P4) in early bovine embryo development. While previous attempts to supplement bovine embryos in vitro with P4 produced results that vary and are often contradictory, this may be a response of administering P4 at inappropriate times. Therefore, the objective of these experiments was to determine if P4 could exert a direct effect on developing IVF-derived bovine embryos when administered at an appropriate time of embryo development. In Exp. I, IVF-derived bovine 8-cell embryos were randomly allotted to treatments: (1) control, CR1aa medium (n = 168); (2) vehicle, CR1aa + ETOH (0.01%) (n = 170); and (3) P4, CR1aa + ETOH + P4 (20 ng/mL in 50-μL droplet) (n = 173). In Exp. II, IVF-derived bovine 8-cell embryos were randomly allotted to treatments: (1) control, CR1aa medium (n = 160); (2) vehicle, CR1aa + DMSO (0.01%) (n = 180); and (3) P4, CR1aa + DMSO (0.01%) + P4 (20 ng/mL in 50-μL droplet) (n = 170). All embryos were evaluated on Days 6 to 9 post-insemination and rates calculated from 8-cell embryos. In Exp. I, ETOH tended to have a detrimental effect with significantly fewer (P < 0.05) embryos (53%) developing to the blastocyst stage on Day 7 compared with the control (62%) and P4 (71%) groups. At Day 7, significantly more embryos cultured in P4 (71%) developed to the blastocyst stage compared with the control group (62%). P4 treatment significantly increased the number of Grade 1 blastocysts (25%) on Day 7 compared with vehicle (15%) and control (17%) groups. At the end of culture, there were also significantly more Day 9 hatched blastocysts in the P4 group (33%) compared with vehicle (22%) and control (21%) groups. Supplementing P4 in the culture medium increased the rate of development, resulting in significantly more blastocysts (8%) on Day 6 and hatched blastocysts (21%) on Day 8 compared with vehicle (3% and 12%) and control (0% and 8%) groups, respectively. In Exp. II, there were no significant differences between treatment groups for Day 7 blastocysts (control 54%, DMSO 61%, P4 57%) and Day 9 hatched blastocysts (control 46%, DMSO 51%, P4 46%). However, there were significantly more Grade 1 blastocysts in the P4 group (22% and 36%) on Days 6 and 8 compared with vehicle (11% and 23%) and control (13% and 23%) groups, respectively. The lack of improvement in Day 7 blastocysts and Day 9 hatched blastocysts rates leads to further uncertainty in understanding the P4 vehicle interactions. In conclusion, the results of these two experiments indicate that P4 can exert a direct effect on the developing IVF-derived bovine embryo; however, due to P4 vehicle interactions; other inert vehicles need to be explored to further evaluate the direct effects of P4 on the developing bovine embryo.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 2065-2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanokwan Srirattana ◽  
Justin C St. John

Abstract The mixing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the donor cell and the recipient oocyte in embryos and offspring derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) compromises genetic integrity and affects embryo development. We set out to generate SCNT embryos that inherited their mtDNA from the recipient oocyte only, as is the case following natural conception. While SCNT blastocysts produced from Holstein (Bos taurus) fibroblasts were depleted of their mtDNA, and oocytes derived from Angus (Bos taurus) cattle possessed oocyte mtDNA only, the coexistence of donor cell and oocyte mtDNA resulted in blastocysts derived from nondepleted cells. Moreover, the use of the reprogramming agent, Trichostatin A (TSA), further improved the development of embryos derived from depleted cells. RNA-seq analysis highlighted 35 differentially expressed genes from the comparison between blastocysts generated from nondepleted cells and blastocysts from depleted cells, both in the presence of TSA. The only differences between these two sets of embryos were the presence of donor cell mtDNA, and a significantly higher mtDNA copy number for embryos derived from nondepleted cells. Furthermore, the use of TSA on embryos derived from depleted cells positively modulated the expression of CLDN8, TMEM38A, and FREM1, which affect embryonic development. In conclusion, SCNT embryos produced by mtDNA depleted donor cells have the same potential to develop to the blastocyst stage without the presumed damaging effect resulting from the mixture of donor and recipient mtDNA.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
Y. Du ◽  
P. M. Kragh ◽  
S. Purup ◽  
K. Villemoes ◽  
...  

Development to the blastocyst stage following nuclear transfer is dependent on the donor cell's ability to reprogram its genome to a totipotent state. Reprogramming of the transferred somatic nuclei must be completed by the time normal activation of the embryonic genome occurs (Solter 2000 Nat. Rev. Genet. 1, 199–207). Recently, Enright et al. (2003 Biol. Reprod. 69, 896–901) reported that in vitro development of cloned cow embryos was improved by treatment of donor cells with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, TrichostatinA (TSA). So far, there are no reports available for adult pig fibroblast cells treated with TSA. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the development of handmade cloned embryos in pig could be improved by using TSA-treated donor cells. Adult pig fibroblast cells were treated with 100, 150, or 200 nm TSA for 24 h, compared to untreated controls, and were then used as donor cells. The cells were electrofused with handmade enucleated pig oocytes separately and were activated with calcium ionophore and cycloheximide. They were subsequently cultured in porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM-3; Yoshioka et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 112–119) using the well of the well system (WOW; Vajta et al. 2000 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55, 256–264). Experiments were repeated 4 times and the data were analyzed with AVEDEV and t-test in Excel (Microsoft Excel 2007). The cleavage rates and the total cell numbers per blastocyst were similar between groups (P > 0.05), as shown in Table 1. However, the cloned blastocyst rate using donor cells treated with 100 nm TSA was higher than in the other groups (69.9 ± 4.7% v. 43.6 ± 4.3%, 43.1 ± 5.8%, or 46.6 ± 3.6%; P < 0.05), as shown in Table 1. These data suggest that proper TSA treatment for donor cells before somatic cloning improves the rate of development of porcine handmade cloned embryos to the blastocyst stage. Further research is needed to examine the in vivo development of embryos reconstructed with TSA-treated donor cells. Table 1. Developmental ability of cloned pig embryos derived fromTSA-treated donor cells


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-146
Author(s):  
Ju-Young Lee ◽  
Sang Hwan Kim ◽  
Jong Taek Yoon

AbstractIn this study, we first investigated the effects of 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, and the inducer – rapamycin (RAPA) on the incidence of programmed cell death (PCD) symptoms during in vitro development of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived embryos. The expression of autophagy inhibitor mTOR protein was decreased in porcine SCNT blastocysts treated with 3MA. The abundance of the autophagy marker LC3 increased in blastocysts following RAPA treatment. Exposure of porcine SCNT-derived embryos to 3-MA suppressed their developmental abilities to reach the blastocyst stage. No significant difference in the expression pattern of PCD-related proteins was found between non-transfected dermal cell and transfected dermal cell groups. Additionally, the pattern of PCD in SCNT-derived blastocysts generated using SC and TSC was not significantly different, and in terms of porcine SCNT-derived embryo development rates and total blastocyst cell numbers, there was no significant difference between non-transfected cells and transfected cells. In conclusion, regulation of autophagy affected the development of porcine SCNT embryos. Regardless of the type of nuclear donor cells (transfected or non-transfected dermal cells) used for SCNT, there was no difference in the developmental potential and quantitative profiles of autophagy/apoptosis biomarkers between porcine transgenic and non-transgenic cloned embryos. These results led us to conclude that PCD is important for controlling porcine SCNT-derived embryo development, and that transfected dermal cells can be utilized as a source of nuclear donors for the production of transgenic cloned progeny in pigs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
J. Caudle ◽  
C. K. Hamilton ◽  
F. A. Ashkar ◽  
W. A. King

Sexual dimorphisms such as differences in growth rate and metabolism have been observed in the early embryo, suggesting that sex chromosome-linked gene expression may play an active role in early embryo development. Furthermore, in vitro sex ratios are often skewed toward males, indicating that Y-linked genes may benefit development. While little attention has been paid to the Y chromosome, expression of some Y-linked genes such as SRY and ZFY has been identified in the early embryo, and only a few studies have systematically examined early stages. Identification of transcripts of Y-linked genes in the early embryo may provide insights into male development and provide markers of embryonic genome activation in male embryos. The objectives of this study were i) to examine the timing of transcription of 2 Y chromosome-linked genes involved with sperm production and male development, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 (USP9Y) and zinc finger protein (ZFY), in in vitro-produced bovine embryos from the 2-cell stage to the blastocyst stage and ii) to determine if USP9Y and ZFY transcripts are present in in vitro-produced embryos arrested at the 2- to 8-cell stages. To examine the chronology of transcription of these genes, pools of 30 embryos for each developmental stage, 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 16-cell, morula, and blastocyst, were produced by bovine standard in vitro embryo production (Ashkar et al. 2010 Hum. Reprod. 252, 334–344) using semen from a single bull. Pools of 30 were used to balance sex ratios and to account for naturally arresting embryos. Embryos for each developmental stage were harvested and snap frozen. Total RNA was extracted from each pool, reverse transcribed to cDNA and by using PCR, and transcripts of USP9Y and ZFY were detected as positive or negative. In addition pools of 30 embryos arrested at the 2- to 8-cell stage harvested 7 days after IVF were processed and analysed in the same way to determine if transcripts from the Y chromosomes are present in developmentally arrested embryos. Transcripts of USP9Y and ZFY were detected in the pooled embryos from the 8-cell stage through to the blastocyst stage, but none were detected in the 2-cell or 4-cell pools. Transcripts of ZFY were detected in the arrested 2- to 8-cell embryo pool, but transcripts of USP9Y were not detected. Given that these Y genes begin expression at the 8-cell stage, coincident with embryonic genome activation, it was concluded that these genes may be important for early male embryo development. Furthermore, the results suggest that arrested embryos that have stopped cleaving before the major activation of the embryonic genome are still capable of transcribing at least some of these genes. The absence of USP9Y transcripts in the arrested embryos suggests that it may be important for early male embryo development. Funding was provided by NSERC, the CRC program, and the OVC scholarship program.


Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahin Eghbalsaied ◽  
Kamran Ghaedi ◽  
Götz Laible ◽  
Sayed Morteza Hosseini ◽  
Mohsen Forouzanfar ◽  
...  

Transgenic mammals have been produced using sperm as vectors for exogenous DNA (sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT)) in combination with artificial insemination. Our study evaluated whether SMGT could also be achieved in combination with IVF to efficiently produce transgenic bovine embryos. We assessed binding and uptake of fluorescently labelled plasmids into sperm in the presence of different concentrations of dimethyl sulphoxide or lipofectamine. Live motile sperm displayed a characteristic punctuate fluorescence pattern across their entire surface, while uniform postacrosomal fluorescence was only apparent in dead sperm. Association with sperm or lipofection reagent protected exogenous DNA from DNase I digestion. Following IVF, presence and expression of episomal and non-episomal green fluorescent protein (GFP)-reporter plasmids was monitored in oocytes and embryos. We found no evidence of intracellular plasmid uptake and none of the resulting zygotes (n=96) and blastocysts were GFP positive by fluorescence microscopy or genomic PCR (n=751). When individual zona-free oocytes were matured, fertilised and continuously cultured in the presence of episomal reporter plasmids until the blastocyst stage, most embryos (38/68=56%) were associated with the exogenous DNA. Using anti-GFP immunocytochemistry (n=48) or GFP fluorescence (n=94), no GFP expression was detected in blastocysts. By contrast, ICSI resulted in 18% of embryos expressing the GFP reporter. In summary, exposure to DNA was an inefficient technique to produce transgenic bovine sperm or blastocysts in vitro.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bertolini ◽  
L. R. Bertolini ◽  
S. G. Petkov ◽  
K. R. Madden ◽  
J. D. Murray ◽  
...  

The RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a powerful tool for studies in functional genomics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a cationic lipid-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) and/or DNA delivery to 1-cell-stage bovine embryos on survival to the blastocyst stage. In vitro-produced (IVP) embryos were generated according to Bertolini et al. 2002 (Theriogenology 58, 973), and cloned embryos were produced by the handmade cloning technique (Vajta et al. 2003 Biol. Reprod. 68, 571) using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing fibroblast cells as nuclear donors. Lipofections were performed on zona-free 1-cell-stage IVP embryos at 24–28 h post-fertilization by exposure to 1% (v/v) Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen Co., CA, USA), 0.002% (w/v) GFP plasmid (pEFGP-N1, Clontech Laboratories, CA, USA) and/or various doses of siRNA GFP-specific siRNA oligonucleotide (Invitrogen) or DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1)-specific siRNA fragments for 60 min at 39°C, according to 5 treatment groups: (1) zona-intact IVP embryos (controls), (2) zona-free control embryos (controls for embryo development after zona removal), (3) embryos treated with GFP + GFP-siRNA at 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, or 800 nm, (4) embryos treated with Dnmt1-siRNA at 0, 50, 100, 250, or 500 nm, and (5) cloned embryos (positive controls for GFP expression). After treatment, embryos were in vitro-cultured in a WOW culture system (Vajta et al. 2000 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55, 256) for 7 days. Cleavage and developmental rates to at least 8-cell and to blastocyst stages were assessed at 48, 96, and 168 h post-fertilization (hpf), respectively. Data were analyzed by the chi-square test. Cleavage rates in embryos treated with higher doses of siRNA were lower than in all other groups (Table 1). Embryo survival to at least 8-cell stage at 48 h, based on cleavage, was similar among all treatments (data not shown), but survival to blastocyst stage was affected by higher doses of GFP- or Dnmt1-siRNA (Table 1). After a qualitative assessment by fluorescence microscopy at 168 hpf, 40 to 63% of GFP-transfected blastocysts showed various levels of fluorescence, irrespective of the siRNA treatments. Fragments of siRNA are known to be short-lived in cultured cells, although we are still uncertain of their behavior and effects in early bovine embryos. We are currently analyzing the effectiveness of the siRNA transfection in the early IVP and clone embryo. In conclusion, liposome transfection of 1-cell-stage embryos did not affect survival and development to the blastocyst stage. However, survival followed an siRNA dose-response effect, with doses higher than 400 nm appearing to be detrimental to embryo development, with a developmental arrest at or close to the embryonic genome activation period. Table 1. Developmental rate of bovine embryos following lipid-based transfection at the 1-cell-stage


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
L. Chacón ◽  
J. A. Jenkins ◽  
S. P. Leibo ◽  
G. Wirtu ◽  
B. L. Dresser ◽  
...  

The epigenetic status of donor cells is an important factor for their successful reprogramming during somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Environmental factors partly influence DNA methylation and histone modifications (Fraga et al. 2005 PNAS USA 102, 10 604–10 609; Ke et al. 2006 Carcinogenesis 27, 1481–1488; Rodenhiser and Mann 2006 CMAJ 174, 341–348); low temperatures have altered epigenetic events in plants (Amasino 2004 Plant Cell; Hao et al. 2002 Cryo Letters 23, 37–46). Because cryopreservation alters histone acetylation levels in donor cells and subsequent viability of cloned embryos (Gómez et al. 2008 Cloning Stem Cells, in press), similar alterations may occur in bovine cloned embryos reconstructed with donor cells thawed immediately before SCNT. The objectives of the present study were (1) to measure the relative levels of nuclear histone acetylation in bovine fibroblasts immediately after thawing (frozen/thawed) or following a period of culturing (cultured) and (2) to determine the influence of the epigenetic status of donor cells on the in vitro development of reconstructed, cloned bovine embryos by gauging blastocyst development. Cell cultures lines were derived from the skin of 3 adult cows and analyzed at passage 1 (P1), 2 (P2), and 10 (P10). For each of 3 passages, cells were cultured until reaching 100% confluence, followed by an additional 3 days of culture during which time acetylation levels were measured in cultured and frozen/thawed cells. For cryopreservation, cells at P1, P2, and P10 were disaggregated and resuspended in CryoStor™ (CS10; BioLife Solutions, Bothell, WA, USA) and cooled at 1.0°C min–1 to –80°C prior to storage in liquid nitrogen. Cells were fixed with ethanol for 12 h and incubated for 30 min with antibody directed against acetylated lysine 9 on histone 3 (H3K9). The cells were then incubated with a fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated secondary antibody and DNA stain and evaluated by flow cytometry. Cloned embryos were reconstructed with cultured or frozen/thawed cells at P1, P2, and P10 as described by Vajta et al. 2005 (Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 17, 791–797). Derived embryos were cultured until Day 8, and cleavage and development to the blastocyst stage were evaluated. Histone acetylation levels for all 3 cell lines, either fresh or frozen/thawed, were significantly higher at P1 than at P2 and P10 (Table 1), and cryopreservation reduced histone acetylation levels only in cell culture line 2 at P1. Higher development to the blastocyst stage (25%) was observed when embryos were reconstructed with cultured cells at P2 and with cells that had lower histone acetylation levels (Pearson correlation, r = –0.55; P = 0.01) Table 1.Relative levels of histone acetylation in bovine fibroblast culture and percentages of development to blastocyst stage after cloning


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
J. H. Quan ◽  
H. B. Seok ◽  
S. K. Kim

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of culture medium, culture duration, and atmospheric condition on the fusion and in vitro development rates of nuclear transfer porcine embryos constructed by the microinjection of fetal fibroblast cells into in vitro-matured oocytes. Single fetal donor cells were deposited into the perivitelline space of enucleated oocytes, followed by electrical fusion and activation. Activated embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 5% FBS, at 38.5�C for 6 to 8 days in 5% CO2 and air. In Experiment 1, the fusion rates of nuclear transfer embryos did not differ from those of fetal fibroblast cells incubated in 5% FBS + NCSU-23 or 5% FBS + TL-HEPES medium, nor did fusion rates of donor cells differ among 1–8-h incubation durations. Fusion rates for the 4 treatment subclasses ranged from 72.1% to 78.0%. In Experiment 2, pre-synchronization in medium containing 0.1 �g mL-1 Hoechst(H) 33342 increased during the period from 0 and 8 h of culture up to 15 h, the end of the synchronization period, at which time there was a significantly increased percentage of porcine fibroblast cells at the G2/M stage (12.4%, 17.5%, and 47.6%; P &lt; 0.01). Neither an increase in the concentration of H 33342 (0.2–1.6 �g mL-1) nor a longer exposure time (12 h, 18 h, and 24 h) increased the proportion of porcine G2/M fibroblasts. In Experiment 3, fusion rates did not differ significantly between nuclear transfer embryos constructed using donor cells cultured in 5% FBS + NCSU-23 medium for 1–2, 6–8, or 12–14 days (60.0%, 73.3%, and 62.5%, respectively). The cleavage rate for nuclear transplant embryos using fetal fibroblast cells cultured for 1–2 days was 44.0%, which was significantly less than the 56.7% and 50.0% for 6–8 or 12–14 days of culture, respectively (P &lt; 0.05). In Experiment 4, the proportions of nuclear transfer embryos that developed to the e2 cell and to the blastocyst stage were not affected significantly by culture medium (5% FBS + NCSU-23 or 5% FBS + TL-HEPES) or by O2 concentration during culture (5% vs. 10%). The developmental rates to the e2 cell stage ranged from 65.9% to 70.1%, and those to the blastocyst stage ranged from 9.8% to 12.5%, for the 4 treatment subclasses. Blastocyst rate was highest for embryos cultured in 5% FBS + NCSU-23 under a gas atmosphere of 5% O2 in air.


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