scholarly journals Urokinase-type plasminogen activator does not affect in vitro bovine embryo development and quality

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fotini Krania ◽  
Eleni Dovolou ◽  
Constantinos A. Rekkas ◽  
Sonia Heras ◽  
Ioannis Pappas ◽  
...  

The effects of modification of the in vitro embryo culture media (IVC) with the addition of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) on the yield and/or quality of bovine embryos were examined in two experiments. In Experiment 1, denuded embryos were cultured in semi-defined synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) for seven days, while in Experiment 2 embryos were co-cultured with cumulus cell monolayer in a serum-containing SOF medium. Plasminogen activator activity (PAA) and plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) were determined in all spent IVC media. At the activity used (5 IU/ml), u-PA had no effect either on in vitro embryo production rates or on embryo quality as revealed by gene expression analysis of 10 important mRNA transcripts related to apoptosis, oxidation, implantation and metabolism. PAA and PAI analysis indicated the need for wellbalanced plasminogen activators and inhibitors as a culture environment for embryo development. However, more research is needed to unveil the mechanism by which u-PA is involved in in vitro embryo production systems.

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
E. A. Ordoñez-Leon ◽  
G. Cancino ◽  
J. Hernandez-Ceron ◽  
J. A. Medrano ◽  
Y. C. Ducolomb ◽  
...  

Bovine embryo development in vitro can be affected by many factors, including protein source, which can cause embryo development failure. The use of in vitro culture media supplemented with serum-free compounds could allow a better understanding of embryo requirements during the preimplantation stages by eliminating a highly variable and undefined compound such as serum. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3 different protein supplements used during IVM, IVF, and IVC on embryo production. Ovaries were collected from slaughtered cows and then aspirated to obtain oocytes for in vitro embryo production procedures. A total of 2056 oocytes were used, from which 685 were processed with maturation medium supplemented with 10% serum replacement (SR) (Gibco Knockout Serum Replacement, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA), a defined serum-free formulation (TCM-199 + SR), fertilization medium with SR (TALP + SR), and culture medium with SR (SOF + SR). These were compared with 675 and 696 oocytes processed with the same IVM, IVF, and IVC media, but supplemented with 10% FCS or 10% heat-inactivated estrous cow serum (ECS), respectively. Data obtained from the variables studied were processed by analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey’s test. The percentages of embryos produced with FCS (52.4%) and ECS (52.7%) were significantly higher compared with the percentage obtained with SR (41.5%) (P < 0.05). The percentages of morulae were similar in the groups supplemented with FCS (36.5%) and SR (36.7%), but significantly higher than the percentage in the ECS group (26.9%) (P < 0.05). For blastocysts, the percentages of embryos developed with FCS (35.2%) and ECS (35.6%) were significantly higher than that obtained with SR (29.2%) (P < 0.05). When evaluating expanded blastocysts, the percentage obtained in the FCS (45.9%) group was significantly higher than that in the ECS group (33.2%), and this was significantly higher than that obtained in SR (21%), with all these differences being significant (P < 0.05). It is concluded that it is possible to produce bovine embryos in vitro using FCS, ECS, or SR as supplements in IVM, IVF, and IVC media. Significant differences were found in different embryo stages, with the highest proportion of embryos developing with the addition of FCS, whereas supplementation with SR only improved the production of morulae. We thank Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT-Mexico) for the graduate student’s scholarship.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Papanikolaou ◽  
Georgios S. Amiridis ◽  
Ioannis Dimitriadis ◽  
Emmanuel Vainas ◽  
Constantinos A. Rekkas

In the present study, four experiments were conducted to investigate the possible effects of plasminogen activators (urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)), plasmin, and a plasmin inhibitor (epsilon-aminocaproic acid (ϵ-ACA)) on different stages of bovine in vitro embryo production (IVP). The concentrations of these modifiers in IVP media were conditioned according to the plasminogen activator activity of bovine preovulatory follicular fluid. Media were modified in a single phase of IVP with an 18 h or 24 h incubation for in vitro maturation (IVM) and a 24 h or 48 h incubation for the IVF or in vitro culture (IVC), respectively. After IVM the oocytes were either fixed and stained or underwent IVF and IVC. The main findings were: (1) plasmin added to the 18 h IVM medium increased maturation rate without affecting fertilisation or embryo development rates; (2) t-PA added to the IVF medium significantly increased cleavage; (3) u-PA added to the IVC medium significantly increased embryo development rates; (4) the efficiency of all phases of IVP was reduced after the addition of ϵ-ACA; and (5) plasminogen addition had no effect in any IVP phase tested. We conclude that the members of the plasminogen activator–plasmin system contribute in different ways to bovine IVM, IVF and IVC.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Stassen ◽  
D Collen

t-PA and scu-PA, in molar ratios between 1:4 and 4:1 do not act synergically in vitro (Thromb. Haemost. 56,35,1986) but display marked synergism in a rabbit model (Circulation 74, 838, 1986) and in man (Am. Heart J. 112, 1083, 1986). To investigate the mechanism of in vivo synergism in the rabbit model (J. Clin. Invest. 71, 368, 1983), t-PA and scu-PA were infused 1) simultaneously over 4 hrs, 2) t-PA over 1 hr, then 15 min later scu-PA over 2 hrs and 3) scu-PA over 1 hr, then 15 min later t-PA over 2 hrs.Significant synergism on thrombolysis is observed when t-PA and scu-PA are infused simultaneously or when t-PA is followed by scu-PA but not when scu-PA is followed by t-PA. These results suggest that low dose t-PA induces some plasminogen activation, sufficient to partially degrade fibrin, exposing COOH-terminal lysines with high affinity for plasminogen (Eur. J. Biochem. 140, 513, 1984). scu-PA might then activate surface-bound Glu-pla-minogen more efficiently.Sequential therapy with t-PA (or any other agent which "predigests" the thrombus), followed by scu-PA might constitute an alternative to simultaneous infusion of synergistic thrombolytic agents.


2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (08) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prameet Sheth ◽  
Walter Kahr ◽  
Anwar Haq ◽  
Dragoslava Veljkovic ◽  
Georges Rivard ◽  
...  

SummaryThe Quebec Platelet Disorder (QPD) is an unusual bleeding disorder associated with increased platelet stores of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and proteolysis of platelet α–granule proteins. The increased u-PA and proteolyzed plasmino-gen in QPD platelets led us to investigate possible contributions of intracellular plasmin generation to QPD α-granule proteolysis. ELISA indicated there were normal amounts of plasminogen and plasmin-α2-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes in QPD plasmas. Like normal platelets, QPD platelets contained only a small proportion of the blood plasminogen, however, they contained an increased amount of PAP complexes compared to normal platelets (P < 0.005). The quantities of plasminogen stored in platelets were important to induce QPD-like proteolysis of normal α-granule proteins by two chain u-PA (tcu-PA) in vitro. Moreover, adding supplemental plasminogen to QPD, but not to control, platelet lysates, triggered further α-granule protein proteolysis to forms that comigrated with plasmin degraded proteins. These data suggest the generation of increased but limiting amounts of plasmin within platelets is involved in producing the unique phenotypic changes to α-granule proteins in QPD platelets. The QPD is the only known bleeding disorder associated with chronic, intracellular activation of the fibrinolytic cascade.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roldán-Olarte Mariela ◽  
Maillo Verónica ◽  
Sánchez-Calabuig María Jesús ◽  
Beltrán-Breña Paula ◽  
Rizos Dimitrios ◽  
...  

This study examines the impacts of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on thein vitromaturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes. Cumulus–oocyte complexes in IVM medium were treated with uPA, amiloride (an uPA inhibitor), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or left untreated (control group). After 24 h of IVM, oocytes were recovered for testing or werein vitrofertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage. The factors examined in all groups were: (i) oocyte nuclear maturation (Hoëscht staining); (ii) oocyte cytoplasmic maturation (cortical granules, CGs, distribution assessed by LCA-FITC); (iii) oocyte and cumulus cell (CC) gene expression (RT-qPCR); and (iv) embryo development (cleavage rate and blastocyst yield). Oocytes subjected to uPA treatment showed rates of nuclear maturation and CG distribution patterns similar to controls (P > 0.05), whereas lower rates of oocyte maturation were recorded in the amiloride group (P < 0.05). Both in oocytes and CC, treatment with uPA did not affect the transcription of genes related to apoptosis, cell junctions, cell cycle or serpin protease inhibitors. In contrast, amiloride altered the expression of genes associated with cell junctions, cell cycle, oxidative stress and CC serpins. No differences were observed between the control and uPA group in cleavage rate or in blastocyst yield recorded on Days 7, 8 or 9 post-insemination. However, amiloride led to drastically reduced cleavage rate (28.5% vs 83.2%) and Day 9 embryo production (6.0% vs 21.0%) over the rates recorded for DMSO. These results indicate that the proteolytic activity of uPA is needed for successful oocyte maturation in bovine.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Dimitriadis ◽  
E. A. Rekka ◽  
E. Vainas ◽  
G. S. Amiridis ◽  
C. A. Rekkas

The substrates used in in vitro embryo production (IVP) mimic the in vivo fluids in which oocytes mature, oocytes are fertilized, and the early embryos develop (follicular and oviductal fluid). It is well established that oxidative stress negatively affects in vitro culture (IVC) outcomes. Guaiazulene (G) is a component of chamomile species oil with known antioxidant properties. In the present study, all IVP media were modified by the addition of G solutions so that the former exhibited a total protection against induced lipid peroxidation (TPaLP) similar to that of the respective in vivo environment. The IVP outcomes were then compared between G-processed and control oocytes. Bovine preovulatory follicular (BF) and oviductal (BO) fluid samples were collected from 10 Holstein 4- to 5-year-old cows in estrus. TPaLP was assessed according to the samples&apos; ability to inhibit rat hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation, by determination of the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive material. TPaLP (mean % � SEM) of the BF and BO were 70.63 � 10.03 and 16.33 � 4.33, respectively, whereas those of the IVP [in vitro-matured (IVM), in vitro-fertilized (IVF), and IVC] media were lower (17.94 � 1.66, -1.82 � 0.78, and 14.57 � 1.26, respectively). TPaLP of the 0.1 mM G-modified IVP medium increased to 67.2 � 5.85, 19.98 � 2.49, and 69.19 � 6.22, respectively. A total of 2041 class A oocytes were used. The proportion of cleavage, early embryo development (embryos with more than 4 cells), or both after IVP (18 h IVM–5% CO2 in air, and 18 h IVF, 48 h IVC–5% CO2, 10% O2, 85% N) in the presence of G (n = 1237) during each of the IVP phases or any possible combination of IVP phases was compared with the respective control (C, n = 804). Statistical analysis was performed by a chi-squared test; P &lt; 0.05 was considered significant. G improved cleavage and embryo development rates when present during IVM (79.4 and 57.8% vs. 64.5 and 38.2% for C) or both IVM and IVC (78.0 and 60.7% vs. 57.8 and 36.5%, respectively). When present only during 18 h of IVF, G had no effect on embryo production. However, an increased embryo development rate resulted from the combined exposure to G during IVF and IVM (56.4 vs. 29.6%), during IVF and IVC (55.3 vs. 35.5%), or at all IVP phases (56.6 vs. 34.9%). The latter effect resembled the one obtained after G addition only to the IVC medium (62.5 vs. 39.7%, respectively). We concluded that the addition of G to IVP substrates, at concentrations that mimic the in vivo TPaLP conditions, could promote bovine IVP efficiency.


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