scholarly journals The role of Trp53 in the mouse embryonic response to DNA damage

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 397-407
Author(s):  
Yvonne Wilson ◽  
Ian D Morris ◽  
Susan J Kimber ◽  
Daniel R Brison

Abstract Apoptosis occurs primarily in the blastocyst inner cell mass, cells of which go on to form the foetus. Apoptosis is likely to play a role in ensuring the genetic integrity of the foetus, yet little is known about its regulation. In this study, the role of the mouse gene, transformation-related protein 53 (Trp53) in the response of embryos to in vitro culture and environmentally induced DNA damage was investigated using embryos from a Trp53 knockout mouse model. In vivo-derived blastocysts were compared to control embryos X-irradiated at the two-cell stage and cultured to Day 5. An analysis of DNA by comet assay demonstrated that 1.5 Gy X-irradiation directly induced damage in cultured two-cell mouse embryos; this was correlated with retarded development to blastocyst stage and increased apoptosis at the blastocyst stage but not prior to this. Trp53 null embryos developed to blastocysts at a higher frequency and with higher cell numbers than wild-type embryos. Trp53 also mediates apoptosis in conditions of low levels of DNA damage, in vivo or in vitro in the absence of irradiation. However, following DNA damage induced by X-irradiation, apoptosis is induced by Trp53 independent as well as dependent mechanisms. These data suggest that Trp53 and apoptosis play important roles in normal mouse embryonic development both in vitro and in vivo and in response to DNA damage. Therefore, clinical ART practices that alter apoptosis in human embryos and/or select embryos for transfer, which potentially lack a functional Trp53 gene, need to be carefully considered.

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Harlow ◽  
P Quinn

The culture conditions for the development in vitro of (C57BL/6 X CBA) F2 hybrid two-cell embryos to the blastocyst stage have been optimized. Commercially available pre-sterile disposable plastic culture dishes supported more reliable development than re-usable washed glass tubes. The presence of an oil layer reduced the variability in development. An average of 85 % of blastocysts developed from hybrid two-cell embryos cultured in drops of Whitten's medium under oil in plastic culture dishes in an atmosphere of 5% O2 : 5% CO2 : 90% N2 ? The time taken for the total cell number to double in embryos developing in vivo was 10 h, and in cultured embryos 17 h. Embryos cultured in vitro from the two-cell stage to blastocyst stage were retarded by 18-24 h in comparison with those remaining in vivo. Day-4 blastocysts in vivo contained 25-70 cells (mean 50) with 7-28 (mean 16) of these in the inner cell mass. Cultured blastocysts contained 19-73 cells (mean 44) with 8-34 (mean 19) of these in the inner cell mass. In the uterine environment, inner-cell-mass blastomeres divided at a faster rate than trophectoderm blastomeres and it is suggested that a long cell cycle is associated with terminal differentiation. Although cultured blastocysts and inner cell masses contained the same number of cells as blastocysts and inner cell masses in vivo, the rate of cell division in cultured inner cell masses was markedly reduced.


Development ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 597-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hardy ◽  
A.H. Handyside ◽  
R.M. Winston

The development of 181 surplus human embryos, including both normally and abnormally fertilized, was observed from day 2 to day 5, 6 or 7 in vitro. 63/149 (42%) normally fertilized embryos reached the blastocyst stage on day 5 or 6. Total, trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) cell numbers were analyzed by differential labelling of the nuclei with polynucleotide-specific fluorochromes. The TE nuclei were labelled with one fluorochrome during immunosurgical lysis, before fixing the embryo and labelling both sets of nuclei with a second fluorochrome (Handyside and Hunter, 1984, 1986). Newly expanded normally fertilized blastocysts on day 5 had a total of 58.3 +/− 8.1 cells, which increased to 84.4 +/− 5.7 and 125.5 +/− 19 on days 6 and 7, respectively. The numbers of TE cells were similar on days 5 and 6 (37.9 +/− 6.0 and 40.3 +/− 5.0, respectively) and then doubled on day 7 (80.6 +/− 15.2). In contrast, ICM cell numbers doubled between days 5 and 6 (20.4 +/− 4.0 and 41.9 +/− 5.0, respectively) and remained virtually unchanged on day 7 (45.6 +/− 10.2). There was widespread cell death in both the TE and ICM as evidenced by fragmenting nuclei, which increased substantially by day 7. These results are compared with the numbers of cells in morphologically abnormal blastocysts and blastocysts derived from abnormally fertilized embryos. The nuclei of arrested embryos were also examined. The number of TE and ICM cells allocated in normally fertilized blastocysts appears to be similar to the numbers allocated in the mouse. Unlike the mouse, however, the proportion of ICM cells remains higher, despite cell death in both lineages.


1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Th. Rülicke ◽  
P. Autenried

Approximately 18% of cryopreserved 2-cell mouse embryos of 26 different batches showed various degrees of morphological damage after the freeze-thaw process. Normal and damaged morphology were assessed by light microscopy and the ability of an embryo to develop in vitro to a blastocyst, or to develop to term, after transfer to foster mothers. Using vital stains such as Fluorescein-diacetate (FDA) and 4',6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole (DAPI) it was found that in approximately 82% of the cases, both of the 2 blastomeres of the cryopreserved embryos survived the freeze-thaw process; in 10% only one cell survived the process; and in 8% none survived. Normally, only intact 2-cell embryos are considered for transfer. Here it was shown that over 60% of the partially damaged embryos developed in vitro to the blastocyst stage and, of those, 26% developed to term after transfer to suitable foster mothers. Although the inner cell mass (ICM) appeared to remain smaller during culture after the transfer of partially damaged 2-cell stage embryos, no difference during gestation period was found compared with intact embryos.


Zygote ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asangla Ao ◽  
Robert P. Erickson ◽  
Robert M.L. Winston ◽  
Alan H Handysude

SummaryGlobal activation of the embryonic genome occurs at the 4– to 8–cell stage in human embryos and is marked by continuation of early cleavage divisions in the presence of transcriptional inhibitors. Here we demonstrate, using recerse transcripase–polymerase chin reaction (Rt–PCR), the presence of transcripts for wo paternal Y chromosomal genes, ZFY and SRY in human preimplantation embryos. ZFY transcripts were detected as early as the pronucleate stage, 20–24 h post-insemination In vitro and at intermediate stages up to the blastocyst stage. SRY Transcripts were also detected at 2–cell to blastocyos observed in many mammalian species focuses attention on the role of events in six determination prior to gonad differentiation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
P. Kasinathan ◽  
M.F. Nichols ◽  
J.E. Griffin ◽  
J.M. Robl

Chimeras have been used for investigating fundamental aspects of early embryonic development, and differentiation, and for introducing foreign genes into mammals (Robertson et al., 1986 Nature 323, 445–448; Cibelli et al., 1998 Science 280, 1256–1258). The main objective of this study was to determine if the transfer of blastomeres from in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos into cloned, transchromosomic embryos improved the efficiency of producing transchromosomic calves. Cloned embryos were produced using in vitro-matured bovine oocytes and bovine fetal fibroblasts containing a human artificial chromosome (HAC) (Kuroiwa et al., 2002 Nat Biotechnol 20, 889–894). IVP embryos were produced using standard procedures and blastomeres were harvested at the 8–16 cell stage by removing the zona pellucida with protease. Cloned embryos were randomly divided on Day 4 into two groups. One group received 3–4 IVP blastomeres while a second group served as a control (nonmanipulated cloned embryos). After transferring the blastomeres, the chimeric and cloned embryos were placed in culture (Kasinathan et al., 2001 Biol. Reprod. 64, 1487–1493) and on Day 7 development to the blastocyst stage was evaluated. Grades 1 and 2 embryos were transferred; two each per synchronized recipient. Pregnancy maintenance, calving, and calf survival were evaluated in both groups. Presence of a HAC in live calves was evaluated in both fibroblasts and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) using FISH analysis. Embryo development to the blastocyst stage, maintenance of pregnancy and number of calves born were analyzed using Chi-square. There were no differences in the rate of blastocyst development at day 7 or establishment of pregnancy at 40d (P>0.05). However, pregnancy rate at 120d, and number of calves that developed to term and were alive at birth (chimera 14/54 and clone 4/90), and at 1 month of age (chimera 13/54 and clone 1/90) were lower (P<0.01) for cloned embryos. The proportion of cells containing an HAC in PBLs, was higher in cloned calves (100%) compared to chimeric calves (26%). The HAC retension rates in PBLs in HAC-positive chimeric and cloned calves were 84% and 95%, respectively. These data indicate that, although the proportion of calves retaining an HAC was lower in chimeras compared to clones, more HAC-positive calves were produced in the chimeric treatment from fewer cloned embryos. We speculate that higher rates of development in the chimeras may be related to the normality of the placenta. Future studies will be required to determine the contribution of the IVP blastomeres to both the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. Therefore, a chimeric approach may be useful for improving the efficiency of producing cloned transchromosomic calves.


Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 159 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Cui ◽  
Agnes Cheong ◽  
Yongsheng Wang ◽  
Yuran Tsuchida ◽  
Yong Liu ◽  
...  

Microspherule protein 1 (MCRS1, also known as MSP58) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that has been implicated in various biological processes. Although a variety of functions have been attributed to MCRS1 in vitro, mammalian MCRS1 has not been studied in vivo. Here we report that MCRS1 is essential during early murine development. Mcrs1 mutant embryos exhibit normal morphology at the blastocyst stage but cannot be recovered at gastrulation, suggesting an implantation failure. Outgrowth (OG) assays reveal that mutant blastocysts do not form a typical inner cell mass (ICM) colony, the source of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Surprisingly, cell death and histone H4 acetylation analysis reveal that apoptosis and global H4 acetylation are normal in mutant blastocysts. However, analysis of lineage specification reveals that while the trophoblast and primitive endoderm are properly specified, the epiblast lineage is compromised and exhibits a severe reduction in cell number. In summary, our study demonstrates the indispensable role of MCRS1 in epiblast development during early mammalian embryogenesis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
L. Ganeshan ◽  
C. O'Neill

The developmental viability of the early embryo requires the formation of the inner cell mass (ICM) at the blastocyst stage. The ICM contributes to all cell lineages within the developing embryo in vivo and the embryonic stem cell (ESC) lineage in vitro. Commitment of cells to the ICM lineage and its pluripotency requires the expression of core transcription factors, including Nanog and Pou5f1 (Oct4). Embryos subjected to culture in vitro commonly display a reduced developmental potential. Much of this loss of viability is due to the up-regulation of TRP53 in affected embryos. This study investigated whether increased TRP53 disrupts the expression of the pluripotency proteins and the normal formation of the ICM lineage. Mouse C57BL6 morulae and blastocysts cultured from zygotes (modHTF media) possessed fewer (p < 0.001) NANOG-positive cells than equivalent stage embryos collected fresh from the uterus. Blocking TRP53 actions by either genetic deletion (Trp53–/–) or pharmacological inhibition (Pifithrin-α) reversed this loss of NANOG expression during culture. Zygote culture also resulted in a TRP53-dependent loss of POU5F1-positive cells from resulting blastocysts. Drug-induced expression of TRP53 (by Nutlin-3) also caused a reduction in formation of pluripotent ICM. The loss of NANOG- and POU5F1-positive cells caused a marked reduction in the capacity of blastocysts to form proliferating ICM after outgrowth, and a consequent reduced ability to form ESC lines. These poor outcomes were ameliorated by the absence of TRP53, resulting in transmission distortion in favour of Trp53–/– zygotes (p < 0.001). This study shows that stresses induced by culture caused TRP53-dependent loss of pluripotent cells from the early embryo. This is a cause of the relative loss of viability and developmental potential of cultured embryos. The preferential survival of Trp53–/– embryos after culture due to their improved formation of pluripotent cells creates a genetic danger associated with these technologies.


Development ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55
Author(s):  
J. Rossant ◽  
K. M. Vijh

Embryos homozygous for the velvet coat mutation, Ve/Ve, were recognized at 6·5 days post coitum by the reduced size of the ectodermal portions of the egg cylinder and the loose, columnar nature of the overlying endoderm. Later in development ectoderm tissues were sometimes entirely absent. Abnormalities appeared in the ectoplacental cone at 8·5 days but trophoblast giant cells and parietal endoderm appeared unaffected. Homozygotes could not be unequivocally identified at 5·5 days nor at the blastocyst stage but were recognized in blastocyst outgrowths by poor development of the inner cell mass derivatives, It has previously been suggested that Ve may exert its action at the blastocyst stage by reducing the size of the inner cell mass, but no evidence for such a reduction was found. Most of the observations on Ve/Ve homozygotes are, however, consistent with the hypothesis that Ve exerts its action primarily on later primitive ectoderm development.


Development ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-547
Author(s):  
Jacek A. Modliński

Up to the present time the function and significance of the zona pellucida in the development of mammalian eggs has not been fully explained. Zona-free mouse eggs will develop in vitro from the 2-cell stage, or later, up to the blastocyst stage (Tarkowski, 1961; Mintz, 1962; Gwatkin, 1963). Single blastomeres isolated at the 2-cell (Mulnard, 1965), 4- and 8-cell stage (Tarkowski & Wróblewska, 1967) will also develop in vitro up to the blastocyst stage. Similar experiments on development in vitro of 1- and 2-cell rabbit eggs (Edwards, 1964) showed that in this species also cleavage can occur when the zona pellucida is absent, although the blastomeres exhibit a tendency to fall away from each other. Tarkowski's observations (unpublished) would appear to show, however, that naked 1-, 2- and 4-cell mouse eggs do not develop when transferred to the oviduct. A few hours after transplanting the naked eggs none could be recovered by flushing the oviduct, whereas eggs surrounded by zonae which were transplanted simultaneously were recovered.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (15) ◽  
pp. 5346-5353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Larsen ◽  
Christine Gran ◽  
Barbro Elisabet Sæther ◽  
Erling Seeberg ◽  
Arne Klungland

ABSTRACT Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) has been shown to remove 5′ overhanging flap intermediates during base excision repair and to process the 5′ ends of Okazaki fragments during lagging-strand DNA replication in vitro. To assess the in vivo role of the mammalian enzyme in repair and replication, we used a gene-targeting approach to generate mice lacking a functional Fen1 gene. Heterozygote animals appear normal, whereas complete depletion of FEN1 causes early embryonic lethality. Fen1−/− blastocysts fail to form inner cell mass during cellular outgrowth, and a complete inactivation of DNA synthesis in giant cells of blastocyst outgrowth was observed. Exposure of Fen1−/− blastocysts to gamma radiation caused extensive apoptosis, implying an essential role for FEN1 in the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage in vivo. Our data thus provide in vivo evidence for an essential function of FEN1 in DNA repair, as well as in DNA replication.


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