scholarly journals Developmental and molecular correlates of bovine preimplantation embryos

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 895-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakan Sagirkaya ◽  
Muge Misirlioglu ◽  
Abdullah Kaya ◽  
Neal L First ◽  
John J Parrish ◽  
...  

Expression of embryonic genes is altered in different culture conditions, which influence developmental potential both during preimplantation and fetal development. The objective of this study was to define the effects of culture conditions on: bovine embryonic development to blastocyst stage, blastocyst cell number, apoptosis and expression patterns of a panel of developmentally important genes. Bovine embryos were culturedin vitroin three culture media containing amino acids, namely potassium simplex optimization medium (KSOMaa), Charles Rosenkrans 1 (CR1aa) and synthetic oviductal fluid (SOFaa). Apoptosis in blastocysts was determined by TUNEL assay and expression profiles of developmentally important genes were assayed by real-time PCR.In vivo-produced bovine blastocysts were used as controls for experiments determining gene expression patterns. While the cleavage rates did not differ, embryos cultured in SOFaa had higher rates of development to blastocyst stage (P< 0.05). Mean cell numbers and percentages of apoptotic cells per blastocyst did not differ among the groups. Expression of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) gene was significantly up-regulated in both CR1aa and KSOMaa when compared with SOFaa (P< 0.001). DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a) expression was higher in embryos cultured in CR1aa than in those cultured in SOFaa (P< 0.001). Expression of interferon tau (IF-τ) and insulin-like growth factor II receptor (Igf-2r) genes was significantly up-regulated in KSOMaa when compared with CR1aa (P< 0.001). Gene expression did not differ betweenin vivo-derived blastocysts and theirin vitro-derived counterparts. In conclusion, SOFaa supports higher development to blastocyst stage than KSOMaa and CR1aa, and the culture conditions influence gene expression.

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Loughman ◽  
Michael Caparon

ABSTRACT For a pathogen such as Streptococcus pyogenes, ecological success is determined by its ability to sense the environment and mount an appropriate adaptive transcriptional response. Thus, determining conditions for analyses of gene expression in vitro that are representative of the in vivo environment is critical for understanding the contributions of transcriptional response pathways to pathogenesis. In this study, we determined that the gene encoding the SpeB cysteine protease is up-regulated over the course of infection in a murine soft-tissue model. Conditions were identified, including growth phase, acidic pH, and an NaCl concentration of <0.1 M, that were required for expression of speB in vitro. Analysis of global expression profiles in response to these conditions in vitro identified a set of coregulated genes whose expression patterns showed a significant correlation with that of speB when examined during infection of murine soft tissues. This analysis revealed that a culture medium that promotes high levels of SpeB expression in vitro produced an expression profile that showed significant correlation to the profile observed in vivo. Taken together, these studies establish culture conditions that mimic in vivo expression patterns; that growth phase, pH, and NaCl may mimic relevant cues sensed by S. pyogenes during infection; and that identification of other environmental cues that alter expression of speB in vitro may provide insight into the signals that direct global patterns of gene expression in vivo.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
D. M. Kohl ◽  
R. L. Monson ◽  
L. E. Enwall ◽  
J. J. Rutledge

Assessment of morphological stage grade is a subjective procedure. Stage grade is of vital importance to, among other things, recipient synchrony for the purpose of establishing successful pregnancies. Asynchronous embryo transfer has led to decreases in pregnancy rates (Farin et al. 1995 Biol. Reprod. 52, 676–682) and has been implicated in contributing to large offspring syndrome (Young et al. 1996 Theriogenology 45, 231). Differences in embryo kinetics based on culture conditions have been well documented (Mello et al. 2005 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 17, 221 abst). Whether such differences are the result of species, breed, metabolic stress, sire effects, or separation from an in vivo environment has yet to be determined. The correlation between oxygen respiration rates and embryo morphology as well as embryo diameter in bovine embryos produced in vitro has shown promise in the development of a more objective predictor of embryo quality and perhaps pregnancy initiation (Lopes et al. 2005 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 17, 151 abst). As well, recent examination of gene expression patterns of in vitro-derived bovine embryos seems to indicate that longer periods of in vitro culture are associated with lower rates of embryo survival (Lonergan et al. 2006 Theriogenology 65, 137–152). We hypothesize that differences do exist in the number, rate, and morphological appearance of blastocysts and that these parameters are in large part based on culture conditions in vitro. The objective of this experiment was to determine the timing and distribution of blastocyst formation of in vitro-produced bovine embryos cultured in SOF8, CR18AA, and KSOM8, under a standard incubation environment. Bovine ovaries from a local abattoir were aspirated and matured for 18-22. Oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed Percoll-separated semen from a Holstein bull. Presumptive zygotes were vortexed to remove cumulus cells and placed into 3 different culture media in a highly humidified atmosphere containing 20% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide, and compressed air at 38.5�C. Embryos were evaluated specifically at 168 h post-insemination (Day 7) and assigned a morphological stage grade (IETS) to determine fixed time point differences. A total of 6 complete replicates were performed. Only embryos exhibiting the presence of a blastocoel at this time were documented (early blast, mid-blast, expanded blast). At 168 h post-insemination, there were no significant differences in the total number of embryos reaching early or mid-blast stage in any of the media. However, chi-square analysis revealed an increase in the number of expanded blastocysts in SOF (n = 813) and CR1 (n = 838) treatments compared to KSOM (n = 824; P &lt; 0.0001). Expanded blastocysts in SOF were also greater in number than in CR1 (P &lt; 0.05). Embryo selection based on development to the expanded blastocyst stage on Day 7 may prove useful in increasing pregnancy rates, and may validate qualitative correlations based on oxygen consumption and gene expression profiles for embryos produced in vitro.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
W. J. Son ◽  
M. K. B. ◽  
Y. J. Jeong ◽  
S. Balasubramanian ◽  
S. Y. Choe ◽  
...  

Various factors are known to influence the survival and development of in vitro-produced embryos, including co-culture with somatic cells, antioxidants, and O2 tension. Studies in several species report that embryo development and quality were enhanced at low O2 concentrations. This study compared the effects of 2 O2 concentrations on IVP embryo development, embryo quality, and gene expression to those of in vivo counterparts. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were matured in vitro in TCM-199 with hormones and 10% FCS, and inseminated in TALP medium. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in SOF medium under either 5% or 20% O2 in air. In triplicate, sets of 5 embryos at the 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 16-cell, morula, and Day 7 blastocyst stages were used for analyzing the expression patterns of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl2), metabolism (Glut-1 and Glut-5), stress (Sox, Hsp70, and G6PDH), compaction (Cx43), oxidation (PRDX5, NADH, and MnSOD), and implantation (VEGF and IFN-tau) genes using real-time quantitative PCR. The expression of each gene was normalized to that of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Statistical analysis was performed with Bonferroni and Duncan tests by ANOVA (P &lt; 0.05). Cleavage rates did not differ among groups. Blastocyst and hatched blastocyst development in 5% O2 was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than in 20% O2. Total cell number of in vivo blastocysts was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than that of IVP blastocysts. ICM ratio and apoptosis of in vivo blastocysts were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower than for IVP blastocysts. The relative abundances (RAs) of Glut-1, Glut-5, MnSOD, NADH, PRDX5, Cx43, Bcl2, and IFN-τ were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher in in vivo embryos, whereas the RAs of Sox, G6PDH, Hsp70, Bax, and VEGF were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower than for IVP counterparts. In conclusion, culture at 5% O2 concentration resulted in higher rates of development to the blastocyst stage, higher total cell numbers, and decreased apoptosis. Furthermore, differences in expression of genes including Glut-1, Glut-5, Sox, G6PDH, Hsp70, Bax, Bcl2, Cx43, PRDX5, NADH, MnSOD, VEGF, and IFN-τ may prove useful in determining optimal culture conditions. This work was supported by ARPC (204119-03-SB010), Republic of Korea.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 254 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gad ◽  
U. Besenfelder ◽  
V. Havlicek ◽  
M. Hölker ◽  
M. U. Cinar ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro culture conditions at specific phases of early embryonic development on the transcriptome profile of bovine blastocysts. Simmental heifers were superovulated and artificially inseminated 2 times with the same frozen–thawed commercial bull semen. Using nonsurgical endoscopic oviductal flushing technology (Besenfelder et al. 2001 Theriogenology 55, 837–845), 6 different blastocyst groups were flushed out at different time points (2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, 32-cell and morula). After flushing, embryos cultured under in vitro conditions until the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts from each group were collected and pooled in groups of 10. Complete in vivo blastocysts were produced and used as control. A unique custom microarray (Agilent) containing 42 242 oligo probes (60-mers) was used over 6 replicates of each group v. the in vivo control group to examine the transcriptome profile of blastocysts. A clear difference in terms of the number of differentially expressed genes (DEG, fold change ≥2, false discovery rate ≤0.05) has been found between groups flushed out at 2-, 4-, and 8-cell (1714, 1918, 1292 DEG, respectively) and those flushed out at 16-, 32-cell and morula stages and cultured in vitro until blastocyst stage (311, 437, 773 DEG, respectively) compared with the complete vivo group. Ontological classification of DEG showed cell death to be the most significant function in all groups. However, the longer time embryos spent under in vitro conditions, the more the percentage of DEG involved in cell death and apoptosis processes are represented in those groups. In addition, genes related to post-translational modification and gene expression processes were significantly dysregulated in all groups. Pathway analysis revealed that protein ubiquitination pathway was the dominant pathway in the groups flushed out at 2-, 4-, and 8-cells but not in the other groups flushed at later stages compared with the in vivo control group. Moreover, retinoic acid receptor activation and apoptosis signalling pathways followed the same pattern. Embryos flushed out before the time of embryonic genome activation and subsequently cultured in vitro were highly affected by culture conditions. Overall, the results of the present study showed that despite the fact that embryos originated from the same source, in vitro culture condition affected embryo quality, measured in terms of gene expression, in a stage-specific manner.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
A. Velasquez ◽  
D. Veraguas ◽  
F. O. Castro ◽  
J. F. Cox ◽  
L. l. Rodriguez-Alvarez

It is known that embryos produced in vitro are less competent than their in vivo-derived counterparts. When embryos are produced or manipulated in vitro, their developmental potential decreases significantly, which impinges upon the production of viable offspring. In bovines, embryos that will be transferred to a surrogate mother are selected at the blastocysts stage using noninvasive methods, such as their morphological features. However, many of those embryos are not able to implant or to maintain a normal pregnancy because embryo morphology does not reflect its developmental potential and a correct gene expression pattern that support a normal development. It seems that the ideal method for embryo selection would be based on the screening of gene markers that correlate with successful pregnancy after embryo transfer. In that sense, we have proposed an approach to characterise gene expression pattern of early (Day 7) bovine blastocysts and to correlate this gene expression with further developmental potential in vivo, i.e. upon elongation until Day 17. For that, it was established an efficient method to produce identical and viable hemi-embryos by splitting IVF bovine blastocysts in order to set the expression profile of certain genes in one hemi-embryo at blastocyst stage, while the counterpart embryo elongates in vivo for 10 days. A total of 129 blastocysts were split. Six groups of blastocysts were used for splitting and the results compared: 1) Day-7 early blastocysts (n = 20); 2) Day-7 expanded blastocysts (n = 25); 3) Day-7 hatched blastocysts (n = 17); 4) Day-8 early blastocysts (n = 10); 5) Day-8 expanded blastocysts (n = 12); and 6) Day-8 hatched blastocysts (n = 45). Hemi-embryos derived from day-8 grade I and well expanded blastocysts had the greatest survival rate, in vitro re-expansion (67.7%; P < 0.05) and both hemi-embryos conserved a normal morphology with a total cell number over 80 after 6 h in culture. Also both hemi-embryos at blastocyst stage showed homogeneous expression pattern of the genes OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, CDX2, ACTB, and GAPDH (P < 0.05). Finally, the in vivo survival of hemi-embryos was assessed and compared with nonsplit embryos (control) by transferring to recipient cow and collecting at Day 17 of development. For this, hemi-embryos derived from Day-8 hatched blastocyst were used. From 14 transferred hemi-embryos, 5 (35.7%) were collected, and 9 elongated from 17 controls were recovered (52.9%). Also the elongation rate was significantly lower in hemi-embryos than in control; the length of hemi-embryos had a range between 1 and 5 cm, whereas 60% of the control embryos were longer than 10 cm. Our results provide an initial approach to study the correlation among the gene expression characteristics of early bovine embryos with their further development. However, it seems that embryo splitting hampers their elongation in vivo. It might be possible that the development of split embryos is retarded because of manipulation. This work was partially supported by Fondecyt grant no. 11100082 from the Ministry of Education of Chile.


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoko Koyano-Nakagawa ◽  
James Dutton ◽  
Mary G Garry ◽  
Daniel J Garry

The use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has tremendous potential for regenerative medicine by providing an unlimited source of personalized cells. A number of protocols have been established for efficient differentiation of hiPSCs to the desired lineage in vitro, such as cardiomyocytes and blood. However, the field lacks an in vivo system to evaluate the differentiation potential and quality of hiPSCs. Developmental potential of stem cells derived from experimental animals can be readily assessed by generating blastocyst chimeras and examination of the contribution to the embryos, or by the potential of teratoma formation. However, this is not possible in the case of humans. As a potential solution for this issue, we examined whether porcine parthenotes could be used as an experimental model to test the developmental potential of the hiPSCs. Parthenotes are generated by electrical activation of the oocytes collected at the abattoir and will develop up to gestational day 53 if transferred to a pseudo-pregnant sow. The embryonic culture conditions have also been established and the zygotes can develop normally to the expanded blastocyst stage (day 7 post fertilization/activation), in vitro. We took advantage of this in vitro system and examined the ability of hiPSCs to proliferate and integrate into the parthenogenetic embryos. Parthenogenetic embryos were injected with ten undifferentiated hiPSCs at day 4 (8 cell ~ morula stage) and cultured up to 72 hours. During this period, parthenotes underwent blastocoel cavity formation and hatching. Cell tracing experiments demonstrated that hiPSCs proliferated and integrated into the parthenotes. They retained pluripotency marker expression during this period. hiPSCs and their derivatives were found both in trophoectoderm and embryo proper. We further observed that the hiPSCs underwent cellular proliferation and promoted developmental progression of the parthenote in vitro. In summary, the porcine parthenote model system is an efficient high throughput system to examine the developmental capacity of human stem cell populations.


Zygote ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Milena Bernal ◽  
Julia Heinzmann ◽  
Doris Herrmann ◽  
Bernd Timmermann ◽  
Ulrich Baulain ◽  
...  

SummaryCyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) modulators have been used to avoid spontaneous oocyte maturation and concomitantly improve oocyte developmental competence. The current work evaluated the effects of the addition of cAMP modulators forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and cilostamide during in vitro maturation on the quality and yields of blastocysts. The following experimental groups were evaluated: (i) slicing or (ii) aspiration and maturation in tissue culture medium (TCM)199 for 24 h (TCM24slicing and TCM24aspiration, respectively), (iii) aspiration and maturation in the presence of cAMP modulators for 30 h (cAMP30aspiration) and in vivo-produced blastocysts. In vitro-matured oocytes were fertilized and presumptive zygotes were cultured in vitro to assess embryo development. Cleavage, blastocyst formation, blastocyst cell number, mRNA abundance of selected genes and global methylation profiles were evaluated. Blastocyst rate/zygotes for the TCM24aspiration protocol was improved (32.2 ± 2.1%) compared with TCM24slicing and cAMP30aspiration (23.4 ± 1.2% and 23.3 ± 2.0%, respectively, P<0.05). No statistical differences were found for blastocyst cell numbers. The mRNA expression for the EGR1 gene was down-regulated eight-fold in blastocysts that had been produced in vitro compared with their in vivo counterparts. Gene expression profiles for IGF2R, SLC2A8, COX2, DNMT3B and PCK2 did not differ among experimental groups. Bovine testis satellite I and Bos taurus alpha satellite methylation profiles from cAMP30aspiration protocol-derived blastocysts were similar to patterns that were observed in their in vivo equivalents (P > 0.05), while those from the other groups were significantly elevated. It is concluded that retrieval, collection systems and addition of cAMP modulators can affect oocyte developmental competence, which is reflected not only in blastocyst rates but also in global DNA methylation and gene expression patterns.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 240
Author(s):  
H. Sagirkaya ◽  
M. Misirlioglu ◽  
A. Kaya ◽  
H. Odaman ◽  
N. First ◽  
...  

Dramatic reprogramming of gene expression occurs during embryonic genome activation (EGA), an essential event initiating as early as the 1-cell zygotic stage in the bovine and increasing gradually as embryonic development advances. It is this reprogramming of gene expression that sets the stage for later development. Expression of embryonic genes is altered in different culture conditions and this may influence developmental potential both during pre-implantation and during fetal development. The objective of this study was to define some most commonly used embryo culture media (KSOMaa, CR1aa, and SOFaa) based on their ability to support embryonic development to the blastocyst stage, mean cell number, percentages of apoptotic cells, and the expression patterns of a panel of developmentally important genes. Oocytes with several layers of cumulus cells obtained from an abattoir were matured in TCM 199 (supplemented with 0.25 mM pyruvate, 0.5 μg/mL FSH, 5 μg/mL LH, 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, and 10% FCS) for 24 h and in vitro-fertilized (Day 0) using frozen bull semen. Presumptive zygotes were transferred into three different media (KSOMaa, CR1aa, and SOFaa) 16–18 h post-insemination, supplemented with 10% FCS on Day 4, and cultured until Day 8 at which time they were fixed or frozen for further analysis. Mean cell numbers and percentages of apoptotic cells in blastocysts were determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to assess gene transcripts of glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1), heat shock protein 70.1 (Hsp70), interferon-tau (IF-tau), insulin-like growth factor II receptor (Igf-2r), desmosomal glycoprotein desmocollin III (DcIII), and DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a). Gene expression data were analyzed relative to transcripts of housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh). In three separate trials, a total of 538, 518, and 503 oocytes were used for KSOMaa, CR1aa, and SOFaa groups, respectively. Cleavage rates were 79.2%, 77.5%, and 80.2%; and rates of development to the blastocyst stage were 22.2%, 23.4%, and 32.9% for KSOMaa, CR1aa, and SOFaa groups, respectively. The blastocyst rate of the SOFaa group was significantly higher than those of the KSOMaa and CR1aa groups (P < 0.05). Mean cell numbers were 109.3, 101.0, and 114.0; and the percentages of apoptotic cell numbers per blastocyst were 1.25, 1.91, and 1.87 for KSOMaa, CR1aa, and SOFaa groups, respectively. There was no difference among groups in terms of mean cell numbers and percentages of apoptotic cells per blastocyst. The expressions of Glut-1 and DcIII genes did not differ among the groups. However, expressions of Hsp70, IF-tau, and Dnmt3a genes were all significantly up-regulated in the CR1aa group as compared to the SOFaa and KSOMaa groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, SOFaa supports higher development to the blastocyst stage than KSOMaa and CR1aa, and culture conditions influence gene expression.


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gibence Rose Winnie Henderson ◽  
Sambasiva Rao Brahmasani ◽  
Uma Mahesh Yelisetti ◽  
Suman Konijeti ◽  
Venu Charan Katari ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus J. Sudano ◽  
Ester S. Caixeta ◽  
Daniela M. Paschoal ◽  
Alicio Martins ◽  
Rui Machado ◽  
...  

In a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design, embryo development, cryotolerance and global gene expression of Nellore (Bos taurus indicus) and Simmental (Bos taurus taurus) blastocysts produced in vitro (IVP) and in vivo (multiple ovulation derived embryo, MODE) were assessed. Blastocyst production was higher in Nellore than in Simmental (47.7 ± 2.0% vs 27.0 ± 2.0%) cows. The total numbers of ova or embryos recovered (5.5 ± 0.9 vs 3.7 ± 0.8) and transferable embryos (3.8 ± 1.0 vs 2.3 ± 0.8) per cow were not different between breeds. Simmental and MODE (34.6% and 38.5%, n = 75 and 70) blastocysts had higher survival rates after cryopreservation compared with Nellore and IVP (20.2% and 18.1%, n = 89 and 94) embryos, respectively. Differences between transcriptomes were addressed by principal-component analysis, which indicated that gene expression was affected by subspecies (158 genes), origin (532 genes) and interaction between both subspecies and origin (53 genes). Several functional processes and pathways relevant to lipid metabolism and embryo viability involving differentially expressed genes were identified. The lipid metabolism-related genes were upregulated in Simmental (AUH and ELOVL6) and IVP (ACSL3 and ACSL6) blastocysts. The expression profiles of genes related to mitochondrial metabolism (ATP5B), oxidative stress (GPX4), apoptosis (DAD1, DAP, PRDX2), heat shock (HSPA5), pregnancy (IFNT2, PAG2) and cell differentiation (KRT18) varied between experimental groups.


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