scholarly journals MicroRNAs in amniotic fluid and maternal blood plasma associated with sex determination and early gonad differentiation in cattle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María Sánchez ◽  
Isabel Gómez-Redondo ◽  
John A Browne ◽  
Benjamín Planells ◽  
Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Sex Determination ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Female Embryo ◽  
Single Male ◽  
Male Embryo ◽  
Gonad Differentiation

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as gene expression regulators, may play a critical role during the sex determination process. We hypothesised that the expression of miRNAs in amniotic fluid (AF) and maternal blood plasma (MP) during this process would be affected by the sex of the embryo. Amniotic fluid and MP were collected from six pregnant heifers (3 carrying a single male and 3 a single female embryo) following slaughter on Day 39 post insemination, coinciding with the peak of SRY expression. Samples (6 AF and 6 MP) were profiled using a miRNA Serum/Plasma Focus PCR Panel. Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in AF (n = 5) and associated MP (n = 56) of male vs female embryos (P < 0.05). Functional analysis showed that inflammatory and immune response were amongst the 13 biological processes enriched by miRNAs DE in MP in the male group (FDR < 0.05), suggesting that these sex-dependent DE miRNAs may be implicated in modulating the receptivity of the dam to a male embryo. Further, we compared the downstream targets of the sex-dependent DE miRNAs detected in MP with genes previously identified as DE in male vs female genital ridges. The analyses revealed potential targets that might be important during this developmental stage such as SHROOM2, DDX3Y, SOX9, SRY, PPP1CB, JARID2, USP9X, KDM6A, and EIF2S3. Results from this study highlight novel aspects of sex determination and embryo-maternal communication in cattle such as the potential role of miRNAs in gonad development as well as in the modulation of the receptivity of the dam to a male embryo.

55 Identification of microRNAs associated with sex determination in bovine amniotic fluid and maternal blood plasma

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Sánchez ◽  
I. Gómez-Redondo ◽  
J. A. Browne ◽  
B. Planells ◽  
A. Gutiérrez-Adán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Sex Determination ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Female Embryo ◽  
Male Embryo

In most eutherian mammals, sex determination is the process through which a bipotential gonad (also known as genital ridges) develops into a testis or ovary depending on the sex chromosome content of the embryo, specifically by the presence of the SRY/Sry gene (sex-determining region of the Y chromosome). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression and are involved in diverse functional roles including development, differentiation, apoptosis, and immunity. We hypothesised that the expression of miRNAs in amniotic fluid (AF) and maternal blood plasma (MP) would be affected by the sex of the embryo around the time of sex determination. Amniotic fluid and MP were collected from 6 crossbred beef pregnant heifers (3 carrying a single male and 3 carrying a single female embryo) following slaughter on Day 39 (when the peak of SRY expression occurs in cattle). All heifers had been synchronized and inseminated with semen from the same beef bull. A total of 12 samples (6 AF and 6 MP) were profiled using the miRCURY LNA miRNA Serum/Plasma Focus PCR Panel (Qiagen; 179 assays targeting relevant miRNAs). Data were analysed by GeneGlobe Data Analysis Center (Qiagen). A threshold cycle cut-off of 35 was applied and data were analysed using an unpaired t-test. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was performed using the WebGestaltR package to explore the possible functions of differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs. In this study, DE miRNAs were identified in male vs. female AF (n=5; 3 upregulated and 2 downregulated; P<0.05) and MP (n=57; 54 upregulated and 3 downregulated; P<0.05). Although no enrichment was detected for DE miRNAs in AF (in either sex) or in MP in heifers carrying a female embryo, 37 biological processes were enriched by DE miRNAs in MP of heifers carrying a male embryo (false discovery rate<0.05). Interestingly, the top five most enriched biological processes were male gonad development, development of primary male sexual characteristics, signal transduction in absence of ligand, actomyosin structure organisation, and male sex differentiation, suggesting a potential role of these miRNAs in reproductive traits. Results from this study highlight unique aspects of sex determination in cattle such as the role of miRNAs in gonad development. Moreover, although it is well known that AF provides a protective space around the developing embryo/fetus that allows its movement and growth; here we provide evidence suggesting that its components may play important roles in fetal development. Finally, miRNAs in MP may offer new opportunities to investigate biomarkers for early prediction of embryo/fetal sex in commercial practice. This research was supported by the Science Foundation Ireland (13/IA/1983) and the European Union H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network project Biology and Technology of Reproductive Health - REP-BIOTECH - 675526.

scholarly journals N-Cadherin Is Critical for the Survival of Germ Cells, the Formation of Steroidogenic Cells, and the Architecture of Developing Mouse Gonads

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafal P. Piprek ◽  
Michal Kolasa ◽  
Dagmara Podkowa ◽  
Malgorzata Kloc ◽  
Jacek Z. Kubiak
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Gonad Differentiation ◽  
Steroidogenic Cells ◽  
The Individual ◽  
And Function

Normal gonad development assures the fertility of the individual. The properly functioning gonads must contain a sufficient number of the viable germ cells, possess a correct architecture and tissue structure, and assure the proper hormonal regulation. This is achieved by the interplay between the germ cells and different types of somatic cells. N-cadherin coded by the Cdh2 gene plays a critical role in this interplay. To gain an insight into the role of N-cadherin in the development of mouse gonads, we used the Cre-loxP system to knock out N-cadherin separately in two cell lines: the SF1+ somatic cells and the OCT4+ germ cells. We observed that N-cadherin plays a key role in the survival of both female and male germ cells. However, the N-cadherin is not necessary for the differentiation of the Sertoli cells or the initiation of the formation of testis cords or ovigerous cords. In the later stages of gonad development, N-cadherin is important for the maintenance of testis cord structure and is required for the formation of steroidogenic cells. In the ovaries, N-cadherin is necessary for the formation of the ovarian follicles. These results indicate that N-cadherin plays a major role in gonad differentiation, structuralization, and function.

Detection of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from maternal blood plasma and amniotic fluid in Indian population

2017 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhanshu Shekhar ◽  
Surbhi Sood ◽  
Sadiya Showkat ◽  
Christy Lite ◽  
Anjalakshi Chandrasekhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Indian Population ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

New observations on procoagulant properties of amniotic fluid: Microparticles (MPs) and tissue factor-bearing MPs (MPs-TF), comparison with maternal blood plasma

2013 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 757-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waldemar Uszyński ◽  
Ewa Żekanowska ◽  
Mieczysław Uszyński ◽  
Andrzej Żyliński ◽  
Jarosław Kuczyński
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Tissue Factor ◽  
Maternal Blood

scholarly journals Single cell transcriptomics reveal temporal dynamics of critical regulators of germ cell fate during mouse sex determination

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloé Mayère ◽  
Yasmine Neirijnck ◽  
Pauline Sararols ◽  
Chris M Rands ◽  
Isabelle Stévant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Determination ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Gene Networks ◽  
Network Inference ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Intron Retention ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Altered Expression

SummaryDespite the importance of germ cell (GC) differentiation for sexual reproduction, the gene networks underlying their fate remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively characterize the gene expression dynamics during sex determination based on single-cell RNA sequencing of 14,914 XX and XY mouse GCs between embryonic days (E) 9.0 and 16.5. We found that XX and XY GCs diverge transcriptionally as early as E11.5 with upregulation of genes downstream of the Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and Nodal/Activin pathways in XY and XX GCs, respectively. We also identified a sex-specific upregulation of genes associated with negative regulation of mRNA processing and an increase in intron retention consistent with a reduction in mRNA splicing in XY testicular GCs by E13.5. Using computational gene regulation network inference analysis, we identified sex-specific, sequential waves of putative key regulator genes during GC differentiation and revealed that the meiotic genes are regulated by positive and negative master modules acting in an antagonistic fashion. Finally, we found that rare adrenal GCs enter meiosis similarly to ovarian GCs but display altered expression of master genes controlling the female and male genetic programs, indicating that the somatic environment is important for GC function. Our data is available on a web platform and provides a molecular roadmap of GC sex determination at single-cell resolution, which will serve as a valuable resource for future studies of gonad development, function and disease.

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