scholarly journals Morphologic changes in boar sperm nuclei with reduced disulfide bonds in electrostimulated porcine oocytes

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 603-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiko Nakai ◽  
Naomi Kashiwazaki ◽  
Akiko Takizawa ◽  
Naoki Maedomari ◽  
Manabu Ozawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sperm Nuclei ◽  
Morphologic Changes ◽  
Number Of Cells ◽  
Stimulation Of ◽  
Nuclear Decondensation

In pigs, failure of sperm nuclear decondensation has been reported after injection into oocytes. We examined the effects of pretreating sperm heads with Triton X-100 (TX-100) and dithiothreitol (DTT) and of electrical stimulation of oocytes after sperm head injection on time-dependent morphologic changes in sperm nuclei andin vitrodevelopment to the blastocyst stage. In experiment 1, spermatozoa were pretreated with 1% TX-100 and 5 mM DTT (T + D) or not treated, and then injected intoin vitromatured oocytes. Electrical stimulation (1.5 kV/cm, 20 μs DC pulse) was applied to the oocytes 1 h after injection (stimulated group) or was not applied (unstimulated group). Some of the oocytes in each group were evaluated at hourly intervals until 10 h after injection for morphologic changes in the sperm nuclei. Unstimulated oocytes injected with untreated spermatozoa showed a delayed peak in the rate of nuclear decondensation (39.4–44.1%, 3–6 h after injection) compared with oocytes injected with T + D-treated spermatozoa (57.0% and 52.6%, 1 and 2 h, respectively). The rate of male pronucleus formation peaked 6 h after stimulation (by 40–60%) after injected oocytes had been stimulated with an electrical pulse, irrespective of whether or not the spermatozoa had been pretreated. In unstimulated oocytes, the rate of male pronucleus formation did not increase and stayed at the basal level (less than 20%) throughout the culture period, regardless of the sperm treatment. Thus, T + D treatment of spermatozoa did not affect completion of fertilization. In experiment 2, we evaluated the effects of electrical stimulation and sperm treatment with T + D on the rate of blastocyst formation and the mean number of cells per blastocyst. Oocytes stimulated after injection with either T + D-treated or untreated spermatozoa showed significantly higher percentages of blastocyst formation (24.8% and 27.1% respectively) than did unstimulated oocytes (1.1% and 4.1% for T + D-treated and untreated respectively;P< 0.01 by Duncan’s multiple-range test). The rate of blastocyst formation did not differ between the T + D-treated and untreated groups. The mean number of cells per blastocyst did not differ among any of the groups (14.0–29.4 cells). These results suggest that pretreatment of sperm with TX-100 and DTT shifted the timing of sperm nuclear decondensation forward. However, pronucleus formation and development to the blastocyst stagein vitrowere not improved by sperm treatment. Thus, electrical stimulation of injected oocytes enhancesin vitrodevelopment to the blastocyst stage in pigs.

357 FERTILIZATION AND EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT OF PORCINE OOCYTES FOLLOWING INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM HEAD INJECTION ENHANCED BY ELECTRIC STIMULATION TO OOCYTES BUT NOT BY PRE-TREATMENT OF SPERMATOZOA WITH DITHIOTHREITOL

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
M. Nakai ◽  
N. Kashiwazaki ◽  
A. Takizawa ◽  
N. Maedomari ◽  
M. Ozawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Stimulation ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
In Vitro Development ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pronuclear Formation ◽  
Vitro Development ◽  
Nuclear Decondensation

Failure of sperm nuclear decondensation has been reported after injection into oocytes in pigs (Kren et al. 2003 J. Reprod. Dev. 49, 271-273). We examined the effects of pretreatment of spermatozoa with Triton X-100 (TX-100) and dithiothreitol (DTT) and electric stimulation of oocytes after injection on sperm decondensation, male pronuclear formation, and in vitro development to the blastocyst stage. We performed three replicates in each experimental group, with a total of about 70 oocytes per group. In Experiment 1, spermatozoa were pretreated with 1% TX-100 and 5 mM DTT (T+D), and injected into IVM oocytes that were collected from crossbred gilts. Electric stimulation (1.5 kV/cm, 20 �s; Nakai et al. 2003 Biol. Reprod. 68, 1003-1008) was applied 1 h to the oocytes after the injection (the stimulated group) or was not applied (the nonstimulated group). Some of the oocytes in each group were evaluated for morphological changes of sperm nuclei at hourly intervals until 10 h post-injection. Of nonstimulated oocytes, those injected with untreated spermatozoa showed a delayed peak in nuclear decondensation (39.4 to 44.1%, 3-6 h after the injection) compared to that of oocytes injected with T+D treated spermatozoa (57.0 to 52.6%, 1-1 h). The rate of male pronuclear formation increased after 4 h post-stimulation (by 40 to 60%) when the injected oocytes were stimulated, whether or not spermatozoa were pretreated. In nonstimulated oocytes, the rate of male pronuclear formation stayed at the basal level (less than 20%) throughout the culture period regardless of sperm treatments. Thus, the T+D treatment of spermatozoa did not affect decondensation and pronuclear formation. In Experiment 2, the effects of electric stimulation and sperm treatments with T+D on the rate of blastocyst formation and the mean numbers of cells per blastocyst were evaluated. Oocytes that were stimulated after injection of either T+D-treated or untreated spermatozoa showed significantly higher percentages of blastocyst formation (24.8% and 27.1%, respectively) than did nonstimulated oocytes (1.1% and 4.1% for T+D-treated and untreated, respectively; P < 0.01). The rate of blastocyst formation was not different between the T+D-treated and the untreated groups. The mean number of cells per blastocyst was not different among all groups (14.0-29.4). In conclusion, the pretreatment of sperm with TX-100 and DTT shifted the timing of sperm nuclear decondensation forward. However, pronuclear formation and development to the blastocyst stage in vitro were not improved by the sperm treatment. Electric stimulation to the injected oocytes enhances in vitro development to the blastocyst stage in pigs.

Activation of in vivo- and in vitro-derived porcine oocytes by using multiple electrical pulses

1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Grupen ◽  
Paul J. Verma ◽  
Zhong Tao Du ◽  
Stephen M. McIlfatrick ◽  
Rodney J. Ashman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Single Treatment ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Parthenogenetic Development ◽  
Electrical Pulses ◽  
Number Of Cells

The current protocols used to activate pig nuclear transfer embryos are less efficient than those used for other species. To address this problem, the effect of multiple sets of electrical pulses on the parthenogenetic development of in vivo- and in vitro-derived porcine oocytes was examined. Each set of pulses consisted of two 1.5 kV cm–1 DC pulses of 60 s duration each, administered 1 s apart. For in vivo-derived oocytes, application of a second set of pulses 30 min after the first set increased the proportion of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage compared with a single treatment (51 v. 34%). Application of a third set of pulses 30 min after the second set reduced the rate of blastocyst formation compared with two sets of pulses. In contrast, the rate of blastocyst formation was greater with one set of pulses compared with two sets for in vitro matured oocytes (31 v. 16%). Additional sets of electrical pulses did not affect the number of cells in blastocysts obtained from either group of oocytes compared with a single treatment. In summary, the study demonstrates that the application of a second set of activating pulses 30 min after the first set is beneficial to in vivo-derived oocytes, but detrimental to in vitro matured oocytes, in terms of their ability to develop parthenogenetically to the blastocyst stage.

scholarly journals Establishment of a New Device for Electrical Stimulation of Non-Degenerative Cartilage Cells In Vitro

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
Simone Krueger ◽  
Alexander Riess ◽  
Anika Jonitz-Heincke ◽  
Alina Weizel ◽  
Anika Seyfarth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Cartilage Tissue ◽  
Type I ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
New Device ◽  
Alternating Electric Fields ◽  
Cartilage Cells ◽  
Stimulation Of

In cell-based therapies for cartilage lesions, the main problem is still the formation of fibrous cartilage, caused by underlying de-differentiation processes ex vivo. Biophysical stimulation is a promising approach to optimize cell-based procedures and to adapt them more closely to physiological conditions. The occurrence of mechano-electrical transduction phenomena within cartilage tissue is physiological and based on streaming and diffusion potentials. The application of exogenous electric fields can be used to mimic endogenous fields and, thus, support the differentiation of chondrocytes in vitro. For this purpose, we have developed a new device for electrical stimulation of chondrocytes, which operates on the basis of capacitive coupling of alternating electric fields. The reusable and sterilizable stimulation device allows the simultaneous use of 12 cavities with independently applicable fields using only one main supply. The first parameter settings for the stimulation of human non-degenerative chondrocytes, seeded on collagen type I elastin-based scaffolds, were derived from numerical electric field simulations. Our first results suggest that applied alternating electric fields induce chondrogenic re-differentiation at the gene and especially at the protein level of human de-differentiated chondrocytes in a frequency-dependent manner. In future studies, further parameter optimizations will be performed to improve the differentiation capacity of human cartilage cells.

scholarly journals Properties and Interconnections of Trigeminal Interneurons of the Lateral Pontine Reticular Formation in the Rat

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 2583-2596 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.-J. Bourque ◽  
A. Kolta
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Reticular Formation ◽  
Motor Pattern ◽  
High Frequency Stimulation ◽  
Motor Nucleus ◽  
Trigeminal Motor Nucleus ◽  
Postsynaptic Potentials ◽  
Frequency Stimulation ◽  
Stimulation Of

Numerous evidence suggests that interneurons located in the lateral tegmentum at the level of the trigeminal motor nucleus contribute importantly to the circuitry involved in mastication. However, the question of whether these neurons participate actively to genesis of the rhythmic motor pattern or simply relay it to trigeminal motoneurons remains open. To answer this question, intracellular recordings were performed in an in vitro slice preparation comprising interneurons of the peritrigeminal area (PeriV) surrounding the trigeminal motor nucleus (NVmt) and the parvocellular reticular formation ventral and caudal to it (PCRt). Intracellular and extracellular injections of anterograde tracers were also used to examine the local connections established by these neurons. In 97% of recordings, electrical stimulation of adjacent areas evoked a postsynaptic potential (PSP). These PSPs were primarily excitatory, but inhibitory and biphasic responses were also induced. Most occurred at latencies longer than those required for monosynaptic transmission and were considered to involve oligosynaptic pathways. Both the anatomical and physiological findings show that all divisions of PeriV and PCRt are extensively interconnected. Most responses followed high-frequency stimulation (50 Hz) and showed little variability in latency indicating that the network reliably distributes inputs across all areas. In all neurons but one, excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were also elicited by stimulation of NVmt, suggesting the existence of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons within the motor nucleus. In a number of cases, these PSPs were reproduced by local injection of glutamate in lieu of the electrical stimulation. All EPSPs induced by stimulation of PeriV, PCRt, or NVmt were sensitive to ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists 6-cyano-7-dinitroquinoxaline and d,l-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid, while IPSPs were blocked by bicuculline and strychnine, antagonists of GABAA and glycine receptors. Examination of PeriV and PCRt intrinsic properties indicate that they form a fairly uniform network. Three types of neurons were identified on the basis of their firing adaptation properties. These types were not associated with particular regions. Only 5% of all neurons showed bursting behavior. Our results do not support the hypothesis that neurons of PeriV and PCRt participate actively to rhythm generation, but suggest instead that they are driven by rhythmical synaptic inputs. The organization of the network allows for rapid distribution of this rhythmic input across premotoneuron groups.

Brain stem responses to electrical stimulation of ventral vagal gastric fibers

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (1) ◽  
pp. G24-G29
Author(s):  
W. D. Barber ◽  
C. S. Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Time Of Arrival ◽  
Neuronal Responses ◽  
Proximal Stomach ◽  
Afferent Fibers ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

The brain stem neuronal responses to electrical stimulation of gastric branches of the ventral vagal trunk serving the proximal stomach were localized and evaluated in anesthetized cats. The responses were equally distributed bilaterally in the region of nucleus solitarius in the caudal brain stem. The mean latency of the response was 289 +/- 46 (SD) ms, which translated into a conduction velocity of less than 1 m/s based on the distance between the stimulating and recording electrodes. The responses consisted of single and multiple spikes that showed slight variability in the latency, indicating orthodromic activation via a synapse in approximately 98% of the responses recorded. Forty two percent of the units tested showed evidence of convergence of input from vagal afferent fibers in different branches of the ventral vagal trunk that served the proximal stomach. The resultant activity pattern of the unitary response appeared to be the product of 1) the gastric sensory input or modality conveyed by the afferent source and 2) the time of arrival and diversity of modalities served by other gastric afferents impinging on the unit. This provides a mechanism capable of responding on the basis of specific sensory modalities that dynamically reflect ongoing events monitored and conveyed by other gastric afferents in the region.

41 EFFICIENT STRATEGY FOR INTERSPECIFIC CLONING IN FELIDS

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
L. N. Moro ◽  
M. I. Hiriart ◽  
J. Jarazo ◽  
C. Buemo ◽  
A. Sestelo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Conservation ◽  
Total Cell ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Felis Silvestris ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Number Of Cells

Most of the 36 species of wild felids are at a level of threat, and interspecific SCNT (iSCNT) comes as a strategy to contribute to these species conservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryo aggregation in cheetah (Ch, Acinonyx jubatus), bengal (Ben, a hybrid between Felis silvestris and Prionailurus bengalensis), and domestic cat (DC, Felis silvestris) embryos generated by cloning. DC oocytes were in vitro matured and zona-free SCNT (with DC fibroblasts) or iSCNT (with Ch or Ben fibroblasts) was performed. The reconstructed embryos were activated with 5 μM ionomycin and 1.9 mM 6-DMAP, and cultured in SOF using microwells. Cloned embryos were cultured individually or as 2-embryo aggregates. The experimental groups were Ch1X, Ch2X, Ben1X, Ben2X, and the control groups were DC1X and DC2X. Embryo development was compared by Fisher's exact test (P ≤ 0.05). Embryo aggregation improved cleavage (Day 2) and blastocyst (Day 7) rates per well in all the groups (87.2% v. 96.7%, 83.8% v. 93.3% and 87.6% v. 98.2% for cleavage; and 13.7% v. 28.6%, 33.3% v. 43.8% and 27.4% v. 47.7% for blastocyst, for Ch1X (n = 102), Ch2X (n = 91), Ben1X (n = 154), Ben2X (n = 105), DC1X (n = 113), and DC2X (n = 109), respectively. Moreover, the Ch2X blastocyst rate was statistically similar as the control group DC1X. The mean total cell numbers of the blastocysts obtained were 264 ± 211 and 400.8 ± 97 for Ch1X and Ch2X, 278 ± 62 and 517 ± 104 for Ben1X and Ben2X, 385 ± 127 and 625 ± 183 for DC1X and DC2X, respectively. Although no statistical differences were obtained between the 1X and 2X groups, the 2X groups nearly doubled the average number of cells compared with the 1X groups. Blastocysts were also classified as grade 1 (expanded blastocysts with a well-defined ICM), grade 2 (expanded blastocysts without a well-defined ICM), and grade 3 (not expanded blastocysts). This classification showed an increase in grade 1 DC2X blastocyst compared with DC1X blastocysts (36.7% v. 16.1%), but no differences were observed in the other species. Expression of OCT-4 was assessed by inmunocytochemistry. The cheetah blastocysts markedly over-expressed this protein: the percentage of cells that expressed OCT-4 in Ch1X, Ch2X, Ben1X, Ben2X, DC1X, and DC2X was 88.2, 80.2, 46.3, 45.4, 51, and 47.4%, respectively, with statistical differences among all the groups except Ben1X and Ben2X. The proportion of OCT-4 expressing cells over total cell numbers was analysed by the difference of proportions test (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, iSCNT resulted in high rates of blastocyst formation, especially when embryo aggregation was applied. This strategy has not been previously evaluated in felids or iSCNT procedures, and has been demonstrated to improve blastocyst formation, the number of cells in the 3 groups, and the blastocyst quality in the DC. Other pluripotent genes besides OCT-4 should be studied to determine whether the overexpression of this gene in cheetah embryos is the consequence of an inefficient nuclear reprogramming that prevents a correct regulation. Finally, the iSCNT and embryo aggregation could contribute to species conservation in felids.

154 COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT CULTURE MEDIA AND INCUBATION METHODS ON CULTURING MURINE EMBRYOS IN VITRO USING STRAW AS A RECEPTACLE

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
L. R. Madzhie ◽  
M. A. Raseona ◽  
L. P. Nethenzheni ◽  
O. Ajao ◽  
M. L. Mphaphathi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Murine Embryos

In vitro fertilization in the straw system might increase the efficiency of fertilization and the quality of blastocyst formation as compared with micro-drops-IVF systems. The aim of the study was to in vitro fertilize mouse oocytes and culture the resulting zygotes in bi-gas incubator and in a goat vagina and compare the in vitro embryo developmental stages in TCM-199 and Ham’s F10 culture media until the blastocyst-stage of development. F1 generations (Balb C × C57) were used to harvest oocytes and spermatozoa. The fresh sperm were capacitated in different incubation methods (bi-gas incubator and in the vagina of a goat). A volume of 2–4 µL of Ham’s F10 containing capacitated sperm (~8 × 106 per mL) were placed into Ham’s F10 fertilization drops under the oil, containing 10 oocytes and penicillamine, hypotaurine, and epinephrine for enhancing sperm motility and penetration of oocytes. The same procedure was used with the TCM-199 medium and IVF drops without oil (both TCM-199 and Ham’s F10) for straw filling. The presumptive embryos in Ham’s F10 and TCM-199 were divided into different groups: first group were cultured in micro-drops, second group the embryos were aspirated in semen straws and placed in the incubator (incubator straws) for culture, and other straws were covered with a sponge and inserted in the vagina of a goat (vaginal straws) for culture. The resulted blastocysts were stained using Hoechst 33528 solution and blastomeres were counted on a fluorescent UV light inverted microscope at 400× magnification (Nikon Eclipse TI, Narishige Co., Ltd., Amityville, NY, USA). The results were analysed by 2 × 2 factorial designs and Student’s t-test was used to separate the mean. There was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) between the media and incubators on the stage of murine embryo development. The overall fertilization rate was 94 to 99%. The incubator straws with Ham’s F10 (80.5%) had the highest rate of embryos that reached the blastocyst stage, followed by incubator straws with TCM-199 (77.0%), and vaginal straws with Ham’s F10 (60.0%) had the lowest rate of embryos that reached the blastocyst stage. The overall mean number of blastomeres in the blastocyst stage of the embryos ranged from 85 ± 9 to 90 ± 9 cells in all receptacles and incubators. It was concluded that the fertilization and culturing of murine embryos are possible in straws incubated in a bi-gas incubator and in the goat vagina as an alternative method of fertilizing oocytes and culturing murine embryos. In addition, Ham’s F10 and TCM-199 can both be used to fertilize oocytes and culture murine embryos until blastocyst formation embryo in vitro, incubated in a bi-gas incubator or in the vagina.

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