scholarly journals TERRA: A Novel Biomarker of Embryo Quality and Art Outcome

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 475
Author(s):  
Maria Santa Rocca ◽  
Ludovica Dusi ◽  
Andrea Di Nisio ◽  
Erminia Alviggi ◽  
Benedetta Iussig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Biological Clock ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Non Coding Rna ◽  
First Time

Telomeres are considered to be an internal biological clock, and their progressive shortening has been associated with the risk of age-related diseases and reproductive alterations. Over recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the association between telomere length and fertility, identifying sperm telomere length (STL) as a novel biomarker of male fertility. Although typically considered to be repeated DNA sequences, telomeres have recently been shown to also include a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) known as TERRA (telomeric repeat-containing RNAs). Interestingly, males with idiopathic infertility show reduced testicular TERRA expression, suggesting a link between TERRA and male fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of seminal TERRA expression in embryo quality. To this end, STL and TERRA expression were quantified by Real Time qPCR in the semen of 35 men who underwent assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and 30 fertile men. We found that TERRA expression in semen and STL was reduced in patients that underwent ART (both p < 0.001). Interestingly, TERRA and STL expressions were positively correlated (p = 0.010), and TERRA expression was positively associated with embryo quality (p < 0.001). These preliminary findings suggest a role for TERRA in the maintenance of sperm telomere integrity during gametogenesis, and for the first time, TERRA expression was found as a predictive factor for embryo quality in the setting of assisted reproduction.

scholarly journals The Biological Clock: Age, Risk, and the Biopolitics of Reproductive Time

Sex Roles ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Yopo Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Biological Clock ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Time Reproduction ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Women’S Views

Abstract The present article explores the social and subjective dimensions of the biological clock and its implications for reproductive time through a qualitative study based on 40 life story interviews of women from Santiago de Chile. Although the narrative of the biological clock has become a prevalent frame for addressing reproductive time in the context of late childbearing, age-related infertility, and the use of assisted reproductive technologies, few studies engage in an in-depth analysis of the biological clock—its boundaries, dynamics, and the particular ways in which it shapes women’s views and experiences of reproductive time. The present article aims to advance current knowledge on the intersection of time, reproduction, and biopolitics by arguing that the biological clock regulates reproductive time by shaping the boundaries and dynamics of female fertility through the clock. By determining reproductive time as quantitative, standardised, linear, and irreversible and by outlining the passing of time through pressure, risk, and burden, the biological clock determines when it is possible and desirable to have children and regulates reproduction, gender, and the female life course. These findings highlight the importance of critically addressing the narrative of the biological clock and its implications for women’s views and experiences of reproductive time.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for Increased Vulnerability of the Ageing Oocyte to Oxidative Damage

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina P. Mihalas ◽  
Kate A. Redgrove ◽  
Eileen A. McLaughlin ◽  
Brett Nixon
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Damage ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Protein Repair ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Pronounced Increase ◽  
Age Related

In their midthirties, women experience a decline in fertility, coupled to a pronounced increase in the risk of aneuploidy, miscarriage, and birth defects. Although the aetiology of such pathologies are complex, a causative relationship between the age-related decline in oocyte quality and oxidative stress (OS) is now well established. What remains less certain are the molecular mechanisms governing the increased vulnerability of the aged oocyte to oxidative damage. In this review, we explore the reduced capacity of the ageing oocyte to mitigate macromolecular damage arising from oxidative insults and highlight the dramatic consequences for oocyte quality and female fertility. Indeed, while oocytes are typically endowed with a comprehensive suite of molecular mechanisms to moderate oxidative damage and thus ensure the fidelity of the germline, there is increasing recognition that the efficacy of such protective mechanisms undergoes an age-related decline. For instance, impaired reactive oxygen species metabolism, decreased DNA repair, reduced sensitivity of the spindle assembly checkpoint, and decreased capacity for protein repair and degradation collectively render the aged oocyte acutely vulnerable to OS and limits their capacity to recover from exposure to such insults. We also highlight the inadequacies of our current armoury of assisted reproductive technologies to combat age-related female infertility, emphasising the need for further research into mechanisms underpinning the functional deterioration of the ageing oocyte.

Superovulation Influences Methylation Reprogramming and Delays Onset of DNA Replication in Both Pronuclei of Mouse Zygotes

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elif Diken ◽  
Matthias Linke ◽  
Jan Baumgart ◽  
Leonid Eshkind ◽  
Dennis Strand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mouse Embryos ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Independent Replication ◽  
Mouse Zygotes ◽  
Pn Stage ◽  
Significant Expression ◽  
First Time

Although an essential component of assisted reproductive technologies, ovarian stimulation, or superovulation, may interfere with the epigenetic reprogramming machinery during early embryogenesis and gametogenesis. To investigate the possible impact of superovulation particularly on the methylation reprogramming process directly after fertilization, we performed immunofluorescence staining of pronuclear (PN) stage embryos with antibodies against 5mC and 5hmC. PN stage embryos obtained by superovulation displayed an increased incidence of abnormal methylation and hydroxymethylation patterns in both maternal and paternal pronuclear DNA. Subsequent single-cell RT-qPCR analyses of the Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3 genes revealed no significant expression differences between PN stage embryos from spontaneously and superovulated matings that could be causative for the abnormal methylation and hydroxymethylation patterns. To analyze the possible contribution of TET-independent replication-associated demethylation mechanisms, we then determined the 5mC and 5hmC levels of PN stage mouse embryos using immunofluorescence analyses after inhibition of DNA replication with aphidicolin. Inhibition of DNA replication had no effect on abnormal methylation and hydroxymethylation patterns that still persisted in the superovulated group. Interestingly, the onset of DNA replication, which was also analyzed in these experiments, was remarkably delayed in the superovulated group. Our findings imply an impact of superovulation on both replication-dependent and -independent or yet unknown demethylation mechanisms in PN stage mouse embryos. In addition, they reveal for the first time a negative effect of superovulation on the initiation of DNA replication in PN stage mouse embryos.

scholarly journals Selection for bull fertility: a review

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 423-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madison L Butler ◽  
Jennifer M Bormann ◽  
Robert L Weaber ◽  
David M Grieger ◽  
Megan M Rolf
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Conception Rates ◽  
Beef Bull ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Fertility Traits

Abstract Fertility is a critically important factor in cattle production because it directly relates to the ability to produce the offspring necessary to offset costs in production systems. Female fertility has received much attention and has been enhanced through assisted reproductive technologies, as well as genetic selection; however, improving bull fertility has been largely ignored. Improvements in bull reproductive performance are necessary to optimize the efficiency of cattle production. Selection and management to improve bull fertility not only have the potential to increase conception rates but also have the capacity to improve other economically relevant production traits. Bull fertility has reportedly been genetically correlated with traits such as average daily gain, heifer pregnancy, and calving interval. Published studies show that bull fertility traits are low to moderately heritable, indicating that improvements in bull fertility can be realized through selection. Although female fertility has continued to progress according to increasing conception rates, the reported correlation between male and female fertility is low, indicating that male fertility cannot be improved by selection for female fertility. Correlations between several bull fertility traits, such as concentration, number of spermatozoa, motility, and number of spermatozoa abnormalities, vary among studies. Using male fertility traits in selection indices would provide producers with more advanced selection tools. The objective of this review was to discuss current beef bull fertility measurements and to discuss the future of genetic evaluation of beef bull fertility and potential genetic improvement strategies.

The influence of disordered fat metabolism on male fertility at the reproductive age and the effectiveness of the ECF programs

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 34-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina I Vityazeva ◽  
Mariya V Altashina ◽  
Ekaterina A Troshina
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Fat Metabolism ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Excessive Body Weight ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
The Developed Countries

The excessive body weight and obesity in the men of the reproductive age exert the negative influence on their reproductive system and can promote the development of infertility. The high prevalence of obesity and the reduction of the birth rate in the developed countries stimulate the extensive investigations into the mechanisms by which the excess adipose tissue affects male fertility. The authors overview the literature publications concerning the hormonal profile and the adipokine level, as well as disturbance of spermatogenesis in the men with disordered fat metabolism with special reference to the peculiarities of the management of infertility with the application of the assisted reproductive technologies.

scholarly journals Paternal knee height, but not smoking or psychosocial stressors, predict offspring telomere length in a cohort in the Philippines

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Eisenberg ◽  
Peter H Rej ◽  
Paulita Duazo ◽  
Delia Carba ◽  
M. Geoffrey Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Paternal Age ◽  
Psychosocial Stressors ◽  
Early Life Adversity ◽  
Biomarkers Of Aging ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Model Research ◽  
Knee Height

Telomeres are repeating DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes, which are typically shortened with each cell replication and are considered biomarkers of aging. Contrary to the shortening of telomeres that occurs with age in most human tissues, spermatocyte telomere length (TL) increases with age. These age-related changes in TL appear to be heritable, as offspring of older fathers tend to have longer TL. Animal model research suggests that smoking, inflammation, DNA damage, and environmental stressors may shorten sperm TL, raising questions about the potential for intergenerational effects of paternal experience on human offspring TL. Using multigenerational data from a longitudinal cohort study in the Philippines, we tested if smoking, psychosocial stressors, or shorter knee height (an anthropometric measure of early life adversity) predict shorter offspring TL. While we did not find the predicted associations, we observed a trend towards fathers with shorter knee height and taller non-knee height having offspring with longer TL. In addition, we found that knee height interacted with paternal age at conception to predict offspring TL – i.e. fathers with shorter knee heights showed a stronger positive effect of paternal age at conception on offspring TL. While the reasons for these associations remain uncertain, shorter relative knee height and taller relative non-knee height are characteristics of earlier puberty. Since sperm TL increases with the division of spermatocytes, we speculate that individuals who begin puberty earlier may have had more time to accumulate longer sperm telomeres with age, which are then passed on to offspring.

scholarly journals Label-free assessment of pre-implantation embryo quality by the Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM)-phasor approach

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Ma ◽  
Nabora Reyes de Mochel ◽  
Paula Duyen Anh Pham ◽  
Tae Yeon Yoo ◽  
Ken WY. Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescence Lifetime ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
List Type ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Embryo Viability ◽  
Invasive Approach ◽  
Non Invasive

AbstractDevelopment of quantitative, safe and rapid techniques for assessing embryo quality provides significant advances in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). We apply the phasor-FLIM method to capture endogenous fluorescent biomarkers of pre-implantation embryos as a non-morphological caliber for embryo quality. Here, we identify the developmental, or “D-trajectory”, that consists of fluorescence lifetime from different stages of mouse pre-implantation embryos. The D-trajectory correlates with intrinsic fluorescent species from a distinctive energy metabolism and oxidized lipids, as seen with Third Harmonic Generation (THG) that changes over time. In addition, we have defined an Embryo Viability Index (EVI) to distinguish pre-implantation embryo quality using the Distance Analysis, a machine learning algorithm to process the fluorescence lifetime distribution patterns. We show that the phasor-FLIM approach provides a much-needed non-invasive quantitative technology for identifying healthy embryos at the early compaction stage with 86% accuracy. This may increase embryo implantation success for in vitro fertilization clinics.HighlightsA label-free method of tracking metabolic trajectories during pre-implantation mouse embryo development.A non-invasive approach for assessing embryo quality and viability by a phasor-FLIM analysis.

Anti-Mullerian hormone and its predictive value for assessing oocyte quality

GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Natalia V. Aleksandrova
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Laboratory Markers ◽  
Diagnostic Capabilities ◽  
First Time

The article systematizes information on the diagnostic capabilities of modern clinical and laboratory markers of ovarian reserve. The diagnostic capabilities of anti-Mllerian hormone (AMH) as a marker of ovarian reserve are discussed, which make it possible to adjust the dose of hormonal drugs and predict the response of the ovary to stimulation in programs of assisted reproductive technologies. This paper discusses for the first time the role of AMH in assessing the quality of oocytes and subsequent embryos. Despite insufficient literature data, further study of AMH, as well as full-scale research in this direction, seems to be extremely promising.

scholarly journals Impact of myo-inositol treatment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome in assisted reproductive technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Merviel ◽  
Pandora James ◽  
Sarah Bouée ◽  
Mathilde Le Guillou ◽  
Camille Rince ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is marked in 30 to 40% by insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. Myo-inositol (MI) increases insulin sensitivity, decreases hyperandrogenism and improves the menstrual cycle. Its effect during assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has been studied by many authors. We conducted a review of the literature on the impact of MI administration in PCOS women in assisted reproductive technologies. Myo-inositol is effective in normalizing ovarian function, improving oocyte and embryo quality in PCOS, however further evaluations by large multicentre randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in ART.

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