scholarly journals Extracellular Vesicles, the Road toward the Improvement of ART Outcomes

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2171
Author(s):  
Maria G. Gervasi ◽  
Ana J. Soler ◽  
Lauro González-Fernández ◽  
Marco G. Alves ◽  
Pedro F. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Vitro Fertilization

Nowadays, farm animal industries use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) as a tool to manage herds’ reproductive outcomes, for a fast dissemination of genetic improvement as well as to bypass subfertility issues. ART comprise at least one of the following procedures: collection and handling of oocytes, sperm, and embryos in in vitro conditions. Therefore, in these conditions, the interaction with the oviductal environment of gametes and early embryos during fertilization and the first stages of embryo development is lost. As a result, embryos obtained in in vitro fertilization (IVF) have less quality in comparison with those obtained in vivo, and have lower chances to implant and develop into viable offspring. In addition, media currently used for IVF are very similar to those empirically developed more than five decades ago. Recently, the importance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the fertility process has flourished. EVs are recognized as effective intercellular vehicles for communication as they deliver their cargo of proteins, lipids, and genetic material. Thus, during their transit through the female reproductive tract both gametes, oocyte and spermatozoa (that previously encountered EVs produced by male reproductive tract) interact with EVs produced by the female reproductive tract, passing them important information that contributes to a successful fertilization and embryo development. This fact highlights that the reproductive tract EVs cargo has an important role in reproductive events, which is missing in current ART media. This review aims to recapitulate recent advances in EVs functions on the fertilization process, highlighting the latest proposals with an applied approach to enhance ART outcome through EV utilization as an additive to the media of current ART procedures.

scholarly journals CatSperζ regulates the structural continuity of sperm Ca2+ signaling domains and is required for normal fertility

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Ju Chung ◽  
Kiyoshi Miki ◽  
Doory Kim ◽  
Sang-Hee Shim ◽  
Huanan F Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Targeted Disruption ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Male Subfertility ◽  
Epididymal Spermatozoa ◽  
Mammalian Female ◽  
Signaling Domains

We report that the Gm7068 (CatSpere) and Tex40 (CatSperz) genes encode novel subunits of a 9-subunit CatSper ion channel complex. Targeted disruption of CatSperz reduces CatSper current and sperm rheotactic efficiency in mice, resulting in severe male subfertility. Normally distributed in linear quadrilateral nanodomains along the flagellum, the complex lacking CatSperζ is disrupted at ~0.8 μm intervals along the flagellum. This disruption renders the proximal flagellum inflexible and alters the 3D flagellar envelope, thus preventing sperm from reorienting against fluid flow in vitro and efficiently migrating in vivo. Ejaculated CatSperz-null sperm cells retrieved from the mated female uterus partially rescue in vitro fertilization (IVF) that failed with epididymal spermatozoa alone. Human CatSperε is quadrilaterally arranged along the flagella, similar to the CatSper complex in mouse sperm. We speculate that the newly identified CatSperζ subunit is a late evolutionary adaptation to maximize fertilization inside the mammalian female reproductive tract.

scholarly journals Microphysiologic systems in female reproductive biology

2017 ◽  
Vol 242 (17) ◽  
pp. 1690-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandria N Young ◽  
Georgette Moyle-Heyrman ◽  
J Julie Kim ◽  
Joanna E Burdette
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
The Body ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Organ Systems

Microphysiologic systems (MPS), including new organ-on-a-chip technologies, recapitulate tissue microenvironments by employing specially designed tissue or cell culturing techniques and microfluidic flow. Such systems are designed to incorporate physiologic factors that conventional 2D or even 3D systems cannot, such as the multicellular dynamics of a tissue–tissue interface or physical forces like fluid sheer stress. The female reproductive system is a series of interconnected organs that are necessary to produce eggs, support embryo development and female health, and impact the functioning of non-reproductive tissues throughout the body. Despite its importance, the human reproductive tract has received less attention than other organ systems, such as the liver and kidney, in terms of modeling with MPS. In this review, we discuss current gaps in the field and areas for technological advancement through the application of MPS. We explore current MPS research in female reproductive biology, including fertilization, pregnancy, and female reproductive tract diseases, with a focus on their clinical applications. Impact statement This review discusses existing microphysiologic systems technology that may be applied to study of the female reproductive tract, and those currently in development to specifically investigate gametes, fertilization, embryo development, pregnancy, and diseases of the female reproductive tract. We focus on the clinical applicability of these new technologies in fields such as assisted reproductive technologies, drug testing, disease diagnostics, and personalized medicine.

Capacitation mechanisms, and the role of capacitation as seen in eutherian mammals

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Functional Heterogeneity ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Range Of Functions

Capacitation, the process whereby spermatozoa are rendered capable of interacting with and fertilizing the egg, was discovered more than 40 years ago. However, our understanding of it is still far from satisfactory. Several factors conspire to obfuscate studies of capacitation mechanisms: the inherent functional heterogeneity of sperm populations, the range of functions used as parameters of capacitation (whence the endpoint of the process has become conceptually uncertain), and the several profound differences between model in vitro fertilization (IVF) systems and the situation in vivo in the female reproductive tract. Recent investigations in the author's laboratory have shown that bicarbonate/CO2, an essential component for successful IVF, causes rapid changes in lipid architecture of the sperm plasma membrane and slower changes in surface coating. These changes are accompanied by membrane destabilization and cell death. Evidence suggests that bicarbonate's actions are mediated through cyclic nucleotide signalling. Of particular note is the heterogeneity in rate of response to bicarbonate shown by individual cells in the sperm populations. Taken together with other observations, the findings suggest that capacitation is a series of positive destabilizing events that eventually lead to cell death. The 'capacitated' state would then be a window of destabilization within which spermatozoa can undergo a zona-induced acrosome reaction and display hyperactivated motility. Further along the destabilization pathway, spontaneous acrosome reactions would occur before total membrane degeneration. In vivo, capacitation would be a conflict between destabilization and sperm survival. Concentrations of bicarbonate are maintained low in the cauda epididymidis, where sperm survive for long periods, and one may speculate that hormonal control of local bicarbonate/CO2 in oviducal 'storage' sites in the female tract could allow 'safe' sequestering of live spermatozoa until around the time of ovulation; the environment may then change to produce a 'capacitating' effect, whence, due to the inherent functional heterogeneity of the sequestered population, small numbers of capacitated spermatozoa are released sequentially. In this way, a succession of spermatozoa in the correct physiological state may be provided for the freshly ovulated egg.

scholarly journals In vivo measurement of pH and CO2 levels in the uterus of sows through the estrous cycle and after insemination

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio López-Albors ◽  
Pedro José Llamas-López ◽  
Joaquín Ángel Ortuño ◽  
Rafael Latorre ◽  
Francisco Alberto García-Vázquez
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Invasive Approach ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Physiological Values

AbstractThe pH–CO2–HCO3− system is a ubiquitous biological regulator with important functional implications for reproduction. Knowledge of the physiological values of its components is relevant for reproductive biology and the optimization of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs). However, in situ measurements of these parameters in the uterus are scarce or null. This study describes a non-invasive method for in situ time-lapse recording of pH and CO2 within the uterus of non-anesthetized sows. Animals were at three different reproductive conditions, estrous with no insemination and two hours after insemination, and diestrous. From pH and CO2 data, HCO3− concentration was estimated. The non-invasive approach to the porcine uterus with novel optical probes allowed the obtaining of in situ physiological values of pH, CO2, and HCO3−. Variable oscillatory patterns of pH, CO2 and HCO3− were found independently of the estrous condition. Insemination did not immediately change the levels of uterine pH, CO2 (%) and HCO3− concentration, but all the values were affected by the estrous cycle decreasing significantly at diestrous condition. This study contributes to a better understanding of the in vivo regulation of the pH-CO2-HCO3− system in the uterus and may help to optimize the protocols of sperm treatment for in vitro fertilization.

scholarly journals Ram seminal plasma and its functional proteomic assessment

Reproduction ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (6) ◽  
pp. R243-R256 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Leahy ◽  
J P Rickard ◽  
N C Bernecic ◽  
X Druart ◽  
S P de Graaf
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Plasma Proteins ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Seminal Plasma Proteins ◽  
Ram Sperm

Ejaculation results in the confluence of epididymal spermatozoa with secretions of the accessory sex glands. This interaction is not a prerequisite for fertilisation success, but seminal factors do play a crucial role in prolonging the survival of spermatozoa bothin vitroandin vivoby affording protection from handling induced stress and some selective mechanisms of the female reproductive tract. Reproductive biologists have long sought to identify specific factors in seminal plasma that influence sperm function and fertility in these contexts. Many seminal plasma proteins have been identified as diagnostic predictors of sperm function and have been isolated and appliedin vitroto prevent sperm damage associated with the application of artificial reproductive technologies. Proteomic assessment of the spermatozoon, and its surroundings, has provided considerable advances towards these goals and allowed for greater understanding of their physiological function. In this review, the importance of seminal plasma will be examined through a proteomic lens to provide comprehensive analysis of the ram seminal proteome and detail the use of proteomic studies that correlate seminal plasma proteins with ram sperm function and preservation ability.

Assisted reproductive technologies and monozygous twins: implications for future study and clinical practice

Twin Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Scott Sills ◽  
Michael J Tucker ◽  
Gianpiero D Palermo
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Assisted Hatching ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Culture Techniques ◽  
Medical Hypothesis ◽  
Mz Twins

AbstractThat the zona pellucida (ZP) plays a prominent role in the physiology of some human twinning is an attractive, albeit incompletely proven, medical hypothesis. Indeed, an association has been proposed between manipulation of the ZP and/or native ZP microarchitecture and monozygotic (MZ) twins. Ovulation induction also has been theoretically linked to in vivo ZP alterations facilitating MZ twin development. In vitro fertilization (IVF) relies on necessary (and, in some cases extended) embryo culture techniques potentially creating subtle ZP changes and subsequent MZ twinning. With growing experience in the assisted reproductive technologies and particularly IVF, some preliminary reports have noted an increased frequency of MZ twins after procedures that artificially breach the ZP (i.e., intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], or ‘assisted hatching’). Such ZP manipulations ostensibly enhance oocyte fertilization or facilitate blastocyst hatching, thus improving pregnancy rates for couples undergoing fertility treatment. Evidence exists both to challenge and support the connection between these phenomena and MZ twins. This report outlines the fundamental embryological processes believed responsible for these conflicting observations; the current literature on the subject of human ZP micro-manipulation and MZ twins is also discussed. Twin Research (2000) 3, 217–223.

scholarly journals Extracellular Vesicles in the Oviduct: Progress, Challenges and Implications for the Reproductive Success

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almiñana ◽  
Bauersachs
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Reproductive Events

The oviduct is the anatomical part of the female reproductive tract where the early reproductive events take place, from gamete transport, fertilization and early embryo development to the delivery of a competent embryo to the uterus, which can implant and develop to term. The success of all these events rely upon a two-way dialogue between the oviduct (lining epithelium and secretions) and the gametes/embryo(s). Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been identified as major components of oviductal secretions and pointed to as mediators of the gamete/embryo-maternal interactions. EVs, comprising exosomes and microvesicles, have emerged as important agents of cell-to-cell communication by the transfer of biomolecules (i.e., mRNAs, miRNAs, proteins) that can modulate the activities of recipient cells. Here, we provide the current knowledge of EVs in the oviductal environment, from isolation to characterization, and a description of the EVs molecular content and associated functional aspects in different species. The potential role of oviductal EVs (oEVs) as modulators of gamete/embryo-oviduct interactions and their implications in the success of early reproductive events is addressed. Lastly, we discuss current challenges and future directions towards the potential application of oEVs as therapeutic vectors to improve pregnancy disorders, infertility problems and increase the success of assisted reproductive technologies.

scholarly journals Quadrupling efficiency in production of genetically modified pigs through improved oocyte maturation

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (29) ◽  
pp. E5796-E5804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Yuan ◽  
Lee D. Spate ◽  
Bethany K. Redel ◽  
Yuchen Tian ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Fourfold Increase

Assisted reproductive technologies in all mammals are critically dependent on the quality of the oocytes used to produce embryos. For reasons not fully clear, oocytes matured in vitro tend to be much less competent to become fertilized, advance to the blastocyst stage, and give rise to live young than their in vivo-produced counterparts, particularly if they are derived from immature females. Here we show that a chemically defined maturation medium supplemented with three cytokines (FGF2, LIF, and IGF1) in combination, so-called “FLI medium,” improves nuclear maturation of oocytes in cumulus–oocyte complexes derived from immature pig ovaries and provides a twofold increase in the efficiency of blastocyst production after in vitro fertilization. Transfer of such blastocysts to recipient females doubles mean litter size to about nine piglets per litter. Maturation of oocytes in FLI medium, therefore, effectively provides a fourfold increase in piglets born per oocyte collected. As they progress in culture, the FLI-matured cumulus–oocyte complexes display distinctly different kinetics of MAPK activation in the cumulus cells, much increased cumulus cell expansion, and an accelerated severance of cytoplasmic projections between the cumulus cells outside the zona pellucida and the oocyte within. These events likely underpin the improvement in oocyte quality achieved by using the FLI medium.

scholarly journals Using time lapse monitoring of embryo development (TLMED) in reproductive biotechnology

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sharan ◽  
S. Shalovylo ◽  
C. Grymak
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Animal Reproduction

An increasing interest in assisted reproductive technologies and their applications in biotechnology of animal reproduction is currently observed. The development of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has led to the emergence of new techniques as ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Iniection), 1MSI (Morphologically Selected Intracytoplasmic Sperm Iniection) and PGS (Pre–Implantation Genetic Screening). Recently a new technology TLMED (Time Lapse Monitoring of Embryo Development), which allows to observe dynamics of embryo development is being introduced to practice. The application of this technique allows to determine the morphokinetics parameters of normal embryos and to observe its development more accurately. Currently, there are four systems in the market based on this technique: Primo Vision (Vitrolife, Sweden), EEVA (Auxogyn, USA), Embryoscope (Vitrolife, Sweden), MIRI (Esco, Denmark), which conducting the morphokinetics analysis of embryos, which ensures selection of the best embryos and increases the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization. The first positive results of the use of system TLMED in agriculture biotechnology on the example of the Biomedical Research Center of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences predicts its introduction into the everyday practice of veterinary clinics. The aim of this paper is to present each system and review the existing information about the possible application of TLMED and the usefulness in animal reproductive biotechnology.

scholarly journals The Mare: A Pertinent Model for Human Assisted Reproductive Technologies?

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2304
Author(s):  
Achraf Benammar ◽  
Emilie Derisoud ◽  
François Vialard ◽  
Eric Palmer ◽  
Jean Marc Ayoubi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Stimulation ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Reproductive Anatomy ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
Follicular Dynamics

Although there are large differences between horses and humans for reproductive anatomy, follicular dynamics, mono-ovulation, and embryo development kinetics until the blastocyst stage are similar. In contrast to humans, however, horses are seasonal animals and do not have a menstrual cycle. Moreover, horse implantation takes place 30 days later than in humans. In terms of artificial reproduction techniques (ART), oocytes are generally matured in vitro in horses because ovarian stimulation remains inefficient. This allows the collection of oocytes without hormonal treatments. In humans, in vivo matured oocytes are collected after ovarian stimulation. Subsequently, only intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is performed in horses to produce embryos, whereas both in vitro fertilization and ICSI are applied in humans. Embryos are transferred only as blastocysts in horses. In contrast, four cells to blastocyst stage embryos are transferred in humans. Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation has been mastered in humans, but not completely in horses. Finally, both species share infertility concerns due to ageing and obesity. Thus, reciprocal knowledge could be gained through the comparative study of ART and infertility treatments both in woman and mare, even though the horse could not be used as a single model for human ART.

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