76 Clock MUTANT MICE HAVING A DIMINISHED CIRCADIAN CLOCK SHOW ABNORMAL IMPLANTATION

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
T. Amano

The circadian clock involves co-operative transcription of circadian genes including Clock and regulates circadian rhythms in mammals such as the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. In reproductive physiologies in mammals, there are several time-dependent events such as progression of the oestrous cycle and embryonic development, and we therefore checked the reproductive characters of mice homozygous for Clock delta-19 mutation (CL) having a diminished circadian clock to elucidate the effect of the circadian clock on reproductive physiologies. Profiles of the oestrous cycle were the same in female (f) wild-type mice (WT) and fCL: oestrous cycles of both fWT and fCL consisted of the same 3 stages, proestrous, oestrous, and metestrous/diestrous stages, and the average lengths of each stage and one oestrous cycle were the same in 10 fWT and 14 fCL. We therefore compared outcomes from the 4 possible mating groups between WT and CL. Average numbers of newborn pups obtained from mating pairs of 14 male (m) WT × fWT, 10 mCL × fWT, 14 mWT × fCL, and 15 mCL × fCL were 13.4 ± 0.8, 12.6 ± 0.4, 12.3 ± 0.7, and 8.6 ± 1.5, respectively, and gradually decreased depending on the number of mutated Clock alleles in mothers and embryos. Since increases in body weights of the mothers during the gestation period were not different in the 4 mating groups and since there were no signs of spontaneous abortion from mid to late gestation, we reasoned that some embryos were lost before or at the time of implantation. Immediately before implantation (88 h after fertilization), neither the number of embryos collected from uteri nor the percentage of embryos that reached the pre-implantation stage (blastocyst stage) differed significantly among mating groups. In contrast, immediately after implantation (160 h after fertilization), the average numbers of implantation sites in mating pairs of 12 mWT × fWT, 11 mCL × fWT, 13 mWT × fCL, and 13 fCL × fCL were 13.0 ± 1.5, 13.1 ± 1.2, 11.7 ± 0.8, and 7.0 ± 1.3, respectively, and also gradually decreased with increase in the number of mutated Clock alleles in mothers and embryos. This decrease was accompanied by a significant lowering of the positions of implantation sites in uteri, a possible cause of the decrease of the number of newborns and implantation sites, and average percentages of embryos implanted in a lower part of the uterus were 48.8, 59.3, 69.7, and 77.7% in mWT × fWT, mCL × fWT, mWT × fCL, and mCL × fCL, respectively. The difference between the mCL × fWT and mWT × fWT groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05), and this difference was thought to be due to the difference in embryonic genotype, specifically between WT and heterozygous embryos. However, the distribution of implantation sites in the mWT × fCL group was significantly smaller than that in the mCL × fWT group (P < 0.05), presumably due to the difference in maternal genotype, specifically between WT and homozygous mutant dams. This study showed involvement of the circadian clock, possibly the maternal and embryonic circadian clock, in implantation among events that occur from fertilization to parturition.

Author(s):  
Jessica F Hebert ◽  
Jess A Millar ◽  
Rahul Raghavan ◽  
Amie Romney ◽  
Jason E Podrabsky ◽  
...  

Abstract Abnormally increased angiotensin II activity related to maternal angiotensinogen (AGT) genetic variants, or aberrant receptor activation, is associated with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) babies and abnormal uterine spiral artery remodeling in humans. Our group studies a murine AGT gene titration transgenic (TG; 3-copies of the AGT gene) model, which has a 20% increase in AGT expression mimicking a common human AGT genetic variant (A[−6]G) associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and spiral artery pathology. We hypothesized that aberrant maternal AGT expression impacts pregnancy-induced uterine spiral artery angiogenesis in this mouse model leading to IUGR. We controlled for fetal sex and fetal genotype (e.g., only 2-copy wild-type [WT] progeny from WT and TG dams were included). Uteroplacental samples from WT and TG dams from early (days 6.5 and 8.5), mid (d12.5), and late (d16.5) gestation were studied to assess uterine natural killer cell (uNK) phenotypes, decidual metrial triangle angiogenic factors, placental growth and capillary density, placental transcriptomics, and placental nutrient transport. Spiral artery architecture was evaluated at day 16.5 by contrast-perfused three-dimensional micro-computed tomography (3D microCT). Our results suggest that uteroplacental angiogenesis is significantly reduced in TG dams at day 16.5. Males from TG dams are associated with significantly reduced uteroplacental angiogenesis from early to late gestation compared with their female littermates and WT controls. Angiogenesis was not different between fetal sexes from WT dams. We conclude that male fetal sex compounds the pathologic impact of maternal genotype in this mouse model of growth restriction.


1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 938-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene A. Ichinose ◽  
Kenneth D. Smith ◽  
John G. Anderson

Abstract An accident at the Sierra Chemical Company Kean Canyon plant, 16 km east of Reno, Nevada, resulted in two explosions 3.52 sec apart that devastated the facility. An investigation into a possible cause for the accident required the determination of the chronological order of the explosions. We resolved the high-precision relative locations and chronology of the explosions using a cross-correlation method applied to both seismic and air waves. The difference in relative arrival times of air waves between the explosions indicated that the first explosion occurred at the northern site. We then determined two station centroid separations between explosions, which average about 73 m with uncertainties ranging from ± 17 to 41 m depending on the alignment of station pairs. We estimated a centroid separation of 80 m using P waves with a larger uncertainty of ± 340 m. We performed a grid search for an optimal separation and the azimuth by combining air-wave arrivals from three station pairs. The best solution for the relative location of the second explosion is 73.2 m S35°E from the first explosion. This estimate is well within the uncertainties of the survey by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). The CSB reported a separation of approximately 76.2 m S33°E. The spectral amplitudes of P waves are 3 to 4 times higher for the second explosion relative to the first explosion, but the air waves have similar spectral amplitudes. We suggest that this difference is due to the partitioning of energy between the ground and air caused by downward directivity at the southern explosion, and upward directivity at the northern explosion. This is consistent with the absence of a crater for the first explosion and a 1.8-m-deep crater for the second explosion.


Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 3419-3426 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.E. Latham

Previous experiments revealed a strain-dependent effect of egg cytoplasm on the developmental potential of androgenetic (two paternal genomes) mouse embryos. Eggs obtained from C57BL/6 mice supported androgenone development to the blastocyst stage at a much higher frequency than eggs from DBA/2 mice. Transient exposure of paternal pronuclei to DBA/2 egg cytoplasm also compromised development, indicating that the DBA/2 egg cytoplasm negatively affected the ability of paternal pronuclei to support blastocyst formation. An essential first step toward understanding the molecular mechanism by which egg modifier factors influence gene expression is to determine the number of loci that are responsible for the strain difference. To do this, (B6D2)F1 hybrid females were backcrossed to DBA/2 males and the eggs from individual female progeny assayed for their ability to support androgenetic development. Approximately one fourth of the backcross females produced eggs that failed to support androgenone development, indicating that two independently segregating genetic loci are most likely responsible for the difference between DBA/2 and C57BL/6 egg phenotypes. Comparison of DBA/2 and C57BL/6 oocytes by two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis revealed at least 17 proteins that exhibited significant, reproducible, quantitative differences in rates of synthesis. All of these proteins were synthesized in (B6D2)F1 oocytes. These data, combined with the previous observation that the C57BL/6 egg phenotype is dominant, are consistent with a model in which a C57BL/6 allele at either locus provides a protective function, either by antagonizing the actions of the DBA/2 alleles or by providing, through partial or complete redundancy, a function not provided by the DBA/2 alleles.


Development ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tsunoda ◽  
T. Tokunaga ◽  
H. Imai ◽  
T. Uchida

We examined the developmental ability of enucleated eggs receiving embryonic nuclei and male primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the mouse. Reconstituted eggs developed into the blastocyst stage only when an earlier 2-cell nucleus was transplanted (36%) but very rarely if the donor nucleus was derived from a later 2-cell, 8-cell, or inner cell mass of a blastocyst (0–3%). 54–100%, 11–67%, 6–43% and 6–20% of enucleated eggs receiving male PGCs developed to 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell and blastocyst stage, respectively, in culture. The overall success rate when taking into account the total number of attempts at introducing germ cells was actually 0–6%. Live fetuses were not obtained after transfer of reconstituted eggs to recipients, although implantation sites were observed. The developmental ability of reconstituted eggs in relation to embryonic genome activation and genomic imprinting is discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyan Lakshminrusimha ◽  
Frederick C. Morin ◽  
Robin H. Steinhorn ◽  
Sylvia F. Gugino ◽  
Rita M. Ryan ◽  
...  

Recent studies suggest that a bronchial-derived relaxing factor (BrDRF) decreases the contractility of newborn, but not fetal, rat pulmonary arteries (PAs) by a nitric oxide (NO)-mediated mechanism. We studied the effect of an adjacent bronchus on PA contractility to norepinephrine (NE) in late-gestation fetal ( n = 7), neonatal (1 day old, n = 9), ventilated neonatal (24-h ventilation from birth with 100% oxygen, n = 9), and adult sheep ( n = 6) in the presence and absence of the NO synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA). The sheep were anesthetized and killed, and fifth-generation PA rings with and without an attached adjacent bronchus (PA+Br) were contracted in standard tissue baths with NE (10−8–10−6 M). NE contractions were expressed as fraction of KCl (118 mM) contraction and as grams of contraction force. NE contractions were significantly diminished by the presence of an attached bronchus in the neonatal and ventilated neonatal and adult, but not fetal, lambs. Hyperoxic ventilation markedly increased NE contractions in PA and PA+Br. l-NNA significantly enhanced NE contractions in PA+Br in postnatal but not in fetal lambs. Pretreatment with l-NNA abolished the difference between NE contractions in PA and PA+Br in neonatal but not in hyperoxic ventilated neonatal lambs. We conclude that there is a BrDRF that is developmentally regulated and has vascular activity postnatally but not during fetal life. The effect of BrDRF is predominantly mediated by NO in air-breathing neonatal lambs but may involve a second non-NO mediator following hyperoxic ventilation. We speculate that BrDRF may have an important role in postnatal changes in pulmonary arterial reactivity.


1965 ◽  
Vol 208 (6) ◽  
pp. 1217-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Hunt ◽  
Harald Schraer

The response of the rat skeleton to hypoxia (380 mm Hg) has been investigated. The femur images in calibrated radiographs taken at 2-week intervals were analyzed photodensitometrically. Femurs were also excised from other rats to obtain density and volume measurements by displacement methods. Hematocrit values and body weights were recorded. Differences between femur densities and between femur dry weights (hypoxic group 13 and 20% less, respectively) developed during the first 31 days. Differences between femur volumes, between body weights, and between hematocrit values (hypoxic group 8% less, 16% less, and 60% more, respectively) developed during the first 15 days. However, the difference between marrow cavity volumes (hypoxic group 22% more) developed between days 15 and 31. The interpretation is that during the first 15 days when marrow cavity volumes did not differ, the large hematocrit value was caused by increased hemopoietic activity of marrow present at the onset of hypoxia. Subsequently, marrow cavities become 22% larger than normal, facilitating production of blood at a more nearly normal activity.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
P. Booth ◽  
T. Watson ◽  
H. Leese

Pre-implantation embryos can produce and consume amino acids in a manner dependent upon stage of embryonic development (Partridge and Leese 1996 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 8, 945) that may also be predictive of subsequent viability (Houghton et al. 2002 Hum. Reprod. 17, 999). To examine these relationships in the pig, the appearance or depletion of 18 amino acids from a presumptive near-physiological mixture was determined by HPLC in porcine in vitro-produced embryos from the zygote to the blastocyst stage. Cumulus oocyte complexes derived from slaughterhouse prepubertal pig ovaries were matured for 40 h in modified TCM-199 before being fertilized (Day 0) with frozen thawed semen in tris-based medium. After 6 h, presumptive zygotes were denuded and cultured in groups of 20 in NCSU medium modified to contain a physiological mixture of 18 amino acids including 0.1 mM glutamine (NCSUaa). Groups of 2–10 embryos (dependent on stage) were removed on Day 0 (1 cell), Day 1 (2- and 4-cell), Day 4 (compact morula), and Day 6 (blastocyst) and placed in 4 μL NCSUaa for 24 h. After incubation, the embryos were removed and the medium analyzed by HPLC. Each stage was replicated 3–9 times. Since amino acid profiles of 2- and 4-cell embryos were not different, data were combined. Overall, arginine (1.19 ± 0.33), glutamine (0.78 ± 0.34) and threonine (0.05 ± 0.04) were significantly (P < 0.01) depleted from the medium whereas alanine (0.21 ± 0.1), glycine (0.20 ± 0.06), asparagine (0.13 ± 0.5), lysine (0.1 ± 0.03), isoleucine (0.08 ± 0.01), valine (0.05 ± 0.01), leucine (0.04 ± 0.02), phenylalanine (0.03 ± 0.01), and histidine (0.02 ± 0.04) significantly (P < 0.05) accumulated (mean of the 4 sampling timepoints; all values pmol/embryo/h ± SEM). The difference between amino acid accumulation and depletion (balance) was approximately equivalent between Day 0 and the morula stage although turnover (sum of depletion and accumulation) steadily decreased during this period from 3.1 on Day 0 to 1.35 pmol/embryo/h at the morula stage. However, at the blastocyst stage, turnover and balance increased to 6.32 and 2.42 pmol/embryo/h, respectively, i.e. net appearance occurred. Notable changes in amino acid profile during development included decreases in accumulation of asparagine, glutamate, and glycine in the medium and the depletion of glutamine over Days 0, 1, and 4, followed by reversal of these trends by Day 6. These data suggest that pig embryos can alter the accumulation and depletion rates of amino acids in a manner that is dependent on the specific amino acid and the stage of embryonic development. This work was supported by BBSRC.


1986 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. S. Bassett ◽  
P. D. Gluckman

ABSTRACT The ontogenesis of the pulsatility of GH in the ovine fetus was determined by obtaining blood samples at 20-min intervals for 3-h periods from fetuses (n = 33) at various stages of development (76–147 days gestation), and in neonatal life (n = 19). A significant increase (P <0·01) in the GH mean, nadir and maximum, and pulse height was observed between the ages of 100 and 130–139 days of gestation. An analysis of the difference in the mean, maximum and nadir concentrations between 100 and 139 days of gestation revealed that males had higher GH levels than females (P <0·05). There was a significant fall in plasma GH concentrations from 140 days of gestation to term, but before the onset of active labour. There was a more rapid fall in the circulating levels of fetal GH directly following birth. Immediately before birth fetal GH levels were still relatively high, but within 60 min of birth they had fallen by more than 80%. It is suggested that these changes in the pulsatile pattern of GH release are a consequence of both maturational changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary unit and the effects of pregnancy-related factors on GH release. The sexually dimorphic nature of GH release in the adult is also observed in the sheep fetus during late gestation. J. Endocr. (1986) 109, 307–312


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
C. C. Chase ◽  
E. C. Wright ◽  
A. K. McNeel ◽  
R. A. Cushman ◽  
G. A. Perry ◽  
...  

Pubertal heifers can be classified between those with high (n = 25) or low (n = 15) antral follicle counts (AFC). The objective of this study was to determine oocyte development and maturation (e.g. fertility) in an IVF system for high- and low-AFC heifers. From a pool of 120 heifers, 10 high- and 10 low-AFC heifers were determined by transrectal ultrasonography; all heifers with evidence of oestrous cyclicity (i.e. pubertal) were synchronized with two 5-mL injections of prostaglandin F2α 11 days apart. Heifers were euthanized over 4 days on Days 15 to 16 of the synchronized oestrous cycle. A total of 15 heifers (n = 7 high and n = 8 low AFC) were at the appropriate stage of the oestrous cycle. Ovaries were collected and transported to the laboratory. Follicles less than 8 mm in diameter were aspirated. The IVF procedures and media were as previously described (Miles et al. 2004. Biol. Reprod. 71, 1919–1926). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were identified and washed in oocyte collection medium and then in maturation medium and were cultured (5% CO2; 38.5°C) for 24 h. Following maturation, COC were transferred and washed in fertilization medium. Thawed frozen semen from a crossbred bull was subjected to the swim-up procedure. Motile spermatozoa were collected and added to COC to yield a final concentration of spermatozoa per milliliter of fertilization medium. About 24 h later, presumptive zygotes were washed in development medium, placed in microdrops of development medium, and cultured for 8 days. On Days 3 and 8 after fertilization, cleavage and blastocyst development, respectively, were assessed. Data were analysed using the Proc Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) and the model included the effects of day of collection (n = 4), group (n = 7 high- or n = 8 low-AFC heifers), and the interaction. The interaction did not differ (P = 0.10). Day of collection influenced (P < 0.05) the number of COC and the number of oocytes cleaved. High- compared to low-AFC heifers had the greater (P < 0.05) numbers of COC (42.7 ± 4.66 v. 22.1 ± 4.59), oocytes that cleaved (28.1 ± 3.60 v. 15.9 ± 3.55), and developed to blastocysts (13.2 ± 1.71 v. 6.2 ± 1.69). However, there was no difference (P > 0.10) in the percentage of COC that cleaved (65.3 ± 5.58 v. 66.2 ± 5.50%, high v. low, respectively) or that developed to blastocysts (46.7 ± 6.75 v. 42.2 ± 6.65%). In conclusion, AFC did not appear to affect oocyte maturation and development through the blastocyst stage.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (3) ◽  
pp. R675-R681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia L. Brooks ◽  
Colleen M. Kane ◽  
Lisa S. Welch

Late pregnant (P) conscious rabbits are less able to maintain arterial pressure during hemorrhage than nonpregnant (NP) animals. This study tested the hypothesis that the difference is due in part to less reflex vasoconstriction when the rabbits are P. Rabbits ( n = 14) were instrumented with arterial and venous catheters as well as ultrasonic flow probes around the superior mesenteric, renal, and/or terminal aortic arteries. Pregnancy increased ( P < 0.05) blood volume [235 ± 5 (P) vs. 171 ± 3 (NP) ml], terminal aortic conductance [1.88 ± 0.11 (P) vs. 0.98 ± 0.06 (NP) ml ⋅ min−1 ⋅ mmHg−1], mesenteric conductance [1.20 ± 0.19 (P) vs. 0.80 ± 0.05 (NP) ml ⋅ min−1 ⋅ mmHg−1], and heart rate [191 ± 4 (P) vs. 162 ± 3 (NP) beats/min] and decreased arterial pressure [59 ± 1 (P) vs. 67 ± 2 (NP) mmHg; P < 0.05]. Renal conductance was unaltered. The rabbits were bled in both the NP and P states at 2% of the initial blood volume per minute until arterial pressure fell below 45 mmHg. Arterial pressure fell with less blood loss in P rabbits [28 ± 2% (P) vs. 39 ± 2% (NP) of initial blood volume; P < 0.001]. Terminal aortic conductance decreased ( P < 0.001) before the pressure fall in both groups, but the response was reduced in P rabbits. Mesenteric and renal conductances did not change in either group before the blood pressure fall. During the pressure fall, terminal aortic conductance increased ( P < 0.05) only in NP rabbits. Mesenteric conductance increased in both groups. In summary, rabbits in late gestation are less able to maintain arterial pressure during hemorrhage, at least in part because of reduced vasoconstriction in tissues perfused by the terminal aorta.


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