Structure of preantral follicles, oxidative status and developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes after ovary storage at 4 °C in the domestic cat model

Summary The present study investigated the effects of c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the development of murine preantral follicles during in vitro growth (IVG). Preantral follicles isolated from ovaries of Kunming mice were cultured in vitro. In the culture system, CNP was supplemented in the experimental groups and omitted in the control groups. In Experiment 1, CNP was only supplemented at the early stage and follicle development was evaluated. In Experiments 2 and 3, CNP was supplemented during the whole period of in vitro culture. In Experiment 2, follicle development and oocyte maturity were evaluated. In Experiment 3, follicle development and embryo cleavage after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were assessed. The results showed that in the control groups in all three experiments, granulosa cells migrated from within the follicle and the follicles could not reach the antral stage. In the experimental groups in all three experiments, no migration of granulosa cells was observed and follicle development was assessed as attaining the antral stage, which was significantly superior to that of the control group (P < 0.0001). Oocyte meiotic arrest was effectively maintained, hence giving good developmental competence. In conclusion, CNP supplementation in the culture system during IVG benefited the development of murine preantral follicles.

Download Full-text

17 Effect of the zona-free aggregation on the developmental competence of kodkod (Leopardus guigna) embryos generated by interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv31n1ab17 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 134

Author(s):

D. Veraguas ◽

C. Aguilera ◽

D. Echeverry ◽

D. Saez-Ruiz ◽

F. O. Castro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Domestic Cat ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Relative Expression ◽

Standard Curve ◽

Morula Stage ◽

Leopardus Guigna

The kodkod is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Phylogenetically, the kodkod is classified in the Leopardus genus, which has only 36 chromosome pairs compared with the domestic cat, which has 38. The proposed hypothesis was that domestic cat oocytes are capable of reprogramming somatic cells from kodkod after interspecies somatic cell NT (SCNT), allowing the in vitro embryo development up to blastocyst stage. Five experimental groups were made based on the technology and culture system: (1) cat embryos generated by IVF (IVF), (2) cat embryos generated by SCNT (Ca1x), (3) aggregated cat embryos generated by SCNT (Ca2x), (4) kodkod embryos generated by interspecies SCNT (K1x), and (5) aggregated kodkod embryos generated by interspecies SCNT (K2x). Interspecies SCNT was performed using a zona-free method. Reconstructed embryos were activated by 2 electrical pulses of 140 kV cm−1 for 40 µs and then incubated for 5h in 10μg mL−1 of cycloheximide and 5μg mL−1 of cytochalasin B. Embryos were cultured in SOF media using the well of the well system in a 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2 atmosphere at 38.5°C for 8 days. The morulae and blastocysts rates were estimated, and diameter of cloned blastocysts was measured. The relative expression of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG was evaluated in blastocysts by RT-qPCR using the standard curve method; SDHA was used for normalization. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the developmental parameters and gene expression. The t-test was used to evaluate blastocyst diameter. Statistical differences were considered at P<0.05. The number of replicates was IVF=10, Ca1x=8, Ca2x=6, K1x=3, and K2x=8. The morulae rate was lower when clone embryos were cultured individually (IVF=97/153, 63.4%; Ca2x=28/51, 54.9%; K2x=63/110, 57.3%; Ca1x=48/126, 38.1%; K1x=22/87, 25.3%; P<0.05). In the domestic cat, blastocysts rate was higher in IVF (58/153, 37.9%) and Ca2x (28/51, 29.4%) groups than in the Ca1x group (21/126, 16.7%; P<0.05). No blastocysts were generated in the K1x group (0/87), whereas 5.5% of blastocysts were obtained from the K2x (6/110; 5.5%); this was not statistically different compared with the K1x group (P>0.05). No differences were found in blastocyst diameter between the Ca1x (220.4µm) and Ca2x (251.2µm) groups (P>0.05). However, the diameter of the blastocysts from the K2x group (172.8µm) tended to be lower than that of the blastocysts from the Ca2x group (P=0.05). Regarding gene expression, only 1 of the 6 kodkod blastocysts expressed OCT4, and none expressed SOX2 and NANOG. On the other hand, the relative expression of OCT4 tended to decrease in blastocysts from the Ca1x and Ca2x groups compared with the IVF group (P=0.09), but no differences were found in the expression of SOX2 and NANOG among groups (P>0.05). In conclusion, after interspecies SCNT, domestic cat oocytes support the development of kodkod embryos until the morula stage. However, the embryo aggregation did not significantly improve the blastocyst rate and gene expression.

Download Full-text

In vitro developmental competence of domestic cat embryos after somatic cloning: a preliminary report

Theriogenology ◽

10.1016/s0093-691x(02)01047-6 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 58 (8) ◽

pp. 1615-1621 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Maria Skrzyszowska ◽

Lucyna Kątska ◽

Bożenna Ryńska ◽

Gabriela Kania ◽

Zdzisław Smorąg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preliminary Report ◽

Domestic Cat ◽

Developmental Competence

Download Full-text

Developmental Competence of Domestic Cat Vitrified Oocytes in 3D Enriched Culture Conditions

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9060329 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 329 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Martina Colombo ◽

Maria Giorgia Morselli ◽

Mariana Riboli Tavares ◽

Maricy Apparicio ◽

Gaia Cecilia Luvoni

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stages ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Domestic Cat ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Control Group ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

In Vitro Embryo Production ◽

Physical And Chemical

Cryoinjuries severely affect the competence of vitrified oocytes (VOs) to develop into embryos after warming. The use of culture conditions that provide physical and chemical support and resemble the in vivo microenvironment in which oocytes develop, such as 3D scaffolds and coculture systems, might be useful to improve VOs outcomes. In this study, an enriched culture system of 3D barium alginate microcapsules was employed for the in vitro embryo production of domestic cat VOs. Cryotop vitrified-warmed oocytes were in vitro matured for 24 h in the 3D system with or without fresh cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in coculture, whereas a control group of VOs was cultured in traditional 2D microdrops of medium. After in vitro fertilization, presumptive embryos were cultured in 3D or 2D systems according to the maturation conditions. Vitrified oocytes were able to mature and develop into embryos in 3D microcapsules (17.42 ± 11.83%) as well as in 2D microdrops (14.96 ± 8.80%), but the coculture with companion COCs in 3D resulted in similar proportions of VOs embryo development (18.39 ± 16.67%; p = 1.00), although COCs presence allowed for blastocyst formation (0.95 ± 2.52%). In conclusion, embryos until late developmental stages were obtained from cat VOs, and 3D microcapsules were comparable to 2D microdrops, but improvements in post-warming conditions are still needed.

Download Full-text

Co-culture of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) preantral follicles with antral follicles: a comparative study of developmental competence of oocytes derived from in vivo developed and in vitro cultured antral follicles

Zygote ◽

10.1017/s0967199411000700 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 286-294 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

G. Taru Sharma ◽

Pawan K. Dubey ◽

Amar Nath ◽

G. Saikumar

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Cleavage Rate ◽

Term Survival ◽

Preantral Follicles ◽

Antral Follicles ◽

Epidermal Growth

SummaryThe present study was undertaken to examine whether the presence of antral follicles (AFs) affects the survival, growth and steroidogenesis of preantral follicles (PFs) and compare the maturation and developmental competence of buffalo oocytes derived from in vivo developed and in vitro cultured AFs. Two experiments were carried out. In experiment I, PFs (200–250 μm) were isolated and cultured with or without AFs (3–5 mm) in TCM-199 medium that contained 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 1% insulin transferin selenium (ITS), 20 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/ml follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 100 ng/ml insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. In experiment II, in vitro developmental competence was compared for the cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) recovered from in vivo developed and in vitro cultured AFs. Survival, growth, development of antrum, accumulation of estradiol and progesterone was (P < 0.05) higher when PFs were co-cultured with AFs. Developmental competence of both types of follicular oocytes did not differ significantly in terms of maturation and cleavage rate, but morula and blastocyst production rate were (P < 0.05) higher with in vivo developed AFs as compared with the in vitro cultured antral follicular oocytes. In conclusion, co-culture of PFs with AFs supports long-term survival and growth of buffalo PFs and this co-culture system plays a dual role for in vitro production of embryos as well as understanding the relationship between developing PFs and AFs.

Download Full-text

Aggregation of Leopardus geoffroyi hybrid embryos with domestic cat tetraploid blastomeres

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-20-0589 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 161 (5) ◽

pp. 539-548

Author(s):

Matteo Duque Rodriguez ◽

Andrés Gambini ◽

Laura D Ratner ◽

Adrian J Sestelo ◽

Olinda Briski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Cell Number ◽

Domestic Cat ◽

Control Group ◽

Embryonic Cells ◽

Total Cell Number ◽

Blastocyst Quality ◽

Developmental Rates ◽

Cat Model

Heterospecific embryo transfer of an endangered species has been carried out using recipients from related domestic females. Aggregation of an embryo from an endangered species with a tetraploid embryo from the species to be transferred could improve the development of pregnancy to term. The main objective of the present study was to analyze embryo aggregation in domestic cat model using hybrid embryos. For this purpose, we compared in vitro development of synchronic (Sync) or asynchronic (Async) and asynchronic with a tetraploid (Async4n) aggregation of domestic cat IVF embryos. Furthermore, aggregated blastocyst quality was analyzed by evaluation of the total cell number, cell allocation by mitotrackers staining of embryonic cells, expression of Oct4, Nanog, Sox2, Cdx2 genes, number of OCT4+ nuclei, and presence of DNA fragmentation. Additionally, the developmental rates of Async4n aggregation of domestic cat with Leopardus geoffroyi hybrid (hLg) embryos were evaluated. Async aggregation increased blastocyst cell number and the number of OCT4+ nuclei as compared to non-aggregated diploid (2n) and tetraploid (4n) embryos. Moreover, blastocysts produced by Async4n aggregation showed reduced rates of fragmented DNA. No differences were found in the expression of the pluripotent genes, with exception of the Cdx2 expression, which was higher in 4n and aggregated embryos as compared to the control group. Interestingly, hybrids embryos derived by Async4n aggregation with domestic cat embryos had similar rates of blastocysts development as the control. Altogether, the findings support the use of two-cell-fused embryos to generate tetraploid blastomeres and demonstrate that Async4n aggregation generates good quality embryos.

Download Full-text

In vitro Culture of Early Secondary Preantral Follicles to Obtain MII Oocyte Developmental Competence from CD-1 Outbred Mice

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-1247 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jongwon Kim ◽

Seungki Lee ◽

Jung Kyu Choi

Keyword(s):

In Vitro Culture ◽

Culture System ◽

Ovarian Follicle ◽

Oocyte Quality ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

Preantral Follicles ◽

Successful Isolation ◽

In Vitro Culture System

Background: The ovarian follicle is the fundamental functional tissue unit that consists of mammalian ovary. In humans, it has been known that females are born with a maximum number of follicles or oocytes that are not only non-renewable, but also undergoing degeneration with time with a sharply decreased oocyte quality after the age of 35. Methods: Here, we demonstrate that successful isolation of primary, early secondary and late secondary follicles from the ovaries of CD-1 outbred female mice and in vitro culture system to successfully induce the development of MII oocytes. Result: The 9 days of in vitro culture of early secondary follicles showed significant higher rates in growth and maturation displaying higher numbers of antral follicles and MII oocytes developed from early secondary follicles compared to those cultured for 11 days. However, there was no visible difference induced by the size of initial follicles in the rates of growth and maturation. MII oocytes derived from in vitro culture of early secondary follicles following in vitro fertilization developed into two-cell embryos. These observations demonstrate that developmentally competent MII oocytes can be obtained by in vitro culture of preantral follicles derived from the ovaries of CD-1 mice and reveal a crucial role for CD-1 mice as a novel model for research on human ovarian follicles. Furthermore, this study proposes an in vitro culture system using preantral follicle as a therapeutic strategy for fertility preservation of humans for assisted reproductive medicine.

Download Full-text