scholarly journals Does Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Improve Human Oocyte Quality?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9541
Author(s):  
Cristina Rodríguez-Varela ◽  
Elena Labarta
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Oocyte ◽  
Coq10 Supplementation ◽  
The Impact

Acquiring oocyte competence requires optimal mitochondrial function and adequate ATP levels. In this context, CoQ10 supplementation may improve human oocyte quality and subsequent reproductive performance given its role in ATP synthesis and mitochondrial protection from ROS oxidative damage. In infertility treatments, CoQ10 therapy can be orally supplied to promote a more favorable environment for oocyte development in vivo or by its addition to culture media in an attempt to improve its quality in vitro. Human clinical studies evaluating the impact of CoQ10 on reproductive performance are summarized in this review, although the available data do not clearly prove its ability to improve human oocyte quality. The main objective is to provide readers with a complete overview of this topic’s current status as well as the keys for potential future research lines that may help to take this therapy to clinical practice. Indeed, further clinical trials are needed to confirm these results along with molecular studies to evaluate the impact of CoQ10 supplementation on oxidative stress status and mitochondrial function in human gametes.

scholarly journals Reproductive fluids, used for the in vitro production of pig embryos, result in healthy offspring and avoid aberrant placental expression of PEG3 and LUM.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelynne Paris-Oller ◽  
Sergio Navarro-Serna ◽  
Cristina Soriano-Úbeda ◽  
Jordana Sena Lopes ◽  
Carmen Matas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
In Vitro Production ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: In vitro embryo production (IVP) and embryo transfer (ET) are two very common assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in human and cattle. However, in pig, the combination of either procedures, or even their use separately, is still considered suboptimal due to the low efficiency of IVP plus the difficulty of performing ET in the long and contorted uterus of the sow. In addition, the potential impact of these two ART on the health of the offspring is unknown. We investigated here if the use of a modified IVP system, with natural reproductive fluids (RF) as supplements to the culture media, combined with a minimally invasive surgery to perform ET, affects the output of the own IVP system as well as the reproductive performance of the mother and placental molecular traits.Results: The blastocyst rates obtained by both in vitro systems, conventional (C-IVP) and modified (RF-IVP), were similar. Pregnancy and farrowing rates were also similar. However, when compared to in vivo control (artificial insemination, AI), litter sizes of both IVP groups were lower, while placental efficiency was higher in AI than in RF-IVP. Gene expression studies revealed aberrant expression levels for PEG3 and LUM in placental tissue for C-IVP group when compared to AI, but not for RF-IVP group.Conclusions: The use of reproductive fluids as additives for the culture media in pig IVP does not improve reproductive performance of recipient mothers but could mitigate the impact of artificial procedures in the offspring.

scholarly journals Reproductive fluids, used for the in vitro production of pig embryos, result in healthy offspring and avoid aberrant placental expression of PEG3 and LUM

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. París-Oller ◽  
S. Navarro-Serna ◽  
C. Soriano-Úbeda ◽  
J. S. Lopes ◽  
C. Matás ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
In Vitro Production ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In vitro embryo production (IVP) and embryo transfer (ET) are two very common assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in human and cattle. However, in pig, the combination of either procedures, or even their use separately, is still considered suboptimal due to the low efficiency of IVP plus the difficulty of performing ET in the long and contorted uterus of the sow. In addition, the potential impact of these two ART on the health of the offspring is unknown. We investigated here if the use of a modified IVP system, with natural reproductive fluids (RF) as supplements to the culture media, combined with a minimally invasive surgery to perform ET, affects the output of the own IVP system as well as the reproductive performance of the mother and placental molecular traits. Results The blastocyst rates obtained by both in vitro systems, conventional (C-IVP) and modified (RF-IVP), were similar. Pregnancy and farrowing rates were also similar. However, when compared to in vivo control (artificial insemination, AI), litter sizes of both IVP groups were lower, while placental efficiency was higher in AI than in RF-IVP. Gene expression studies revealed aberrant expression levels for PEG3 and LUM in placental tissue for C-IVP group when compared to AI, but not for RF-IVP group. Conclusions The use of reproductive fluids as additives for the culture media in pig IVP does not improve reproductive performance of recipient mothers but could mitigate the impact of artificial procedures in the offspring.

scholarly journals Reproductive fluids, used for the in vitro production of pig embryos, result in healthy offspring and avoid aberrant placental expression of PEG3 and LUM.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelynne Paris-Oller ◽  
Sergio Navarro-Serna ◽  
Cristina Soriano-Úbeda ◽  
Jordana Sena Lopes ◽  
Carmen Matas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
In Vitro Production ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: In vitro embryo production (IVP) and embryo transfer (ET) are two very common assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in human and cattle. However, in pig, the combination of either procedures, or even their use separately, is still considered suboptimal due to the low efficiency of IVP plus the difficulty of performing ET in the long and contorted uterus of the sow. In addition, the potential impact of these two ART on the health of the offspring is unknown. We investigated here if the use of an improved IVP system, with natural reproductive fluids (RF) as supplements to the culture media, combined with a minimal invasive surgery to perform ET, affects the output of the own IVP system as well as the reproductive performance of the mother and placental molecular traits.Results: The blastocyst rates obtained by both in vitro systems, conventional (C-IVP) and improved (RF-IVP), were similar. Pregnancy and farrowing rates were also similar. However, when compared to in vivo control (artificial insemination, AI), litter sizes of both IVP groups were lower, while placental efficiency was higher in AI than in RF-IVP. Gene expression studies revealed aberrant expression levels for PEG3 and LUM in placental tissue for C-IVP group when compared to AI, but not for RF-IVP group. Conclusions: The use of reproductive fluids as additives for the culture media in pig IVP does not improve reproductive performance of recipient mothers but can mitigate the impact of artificial procedures in the offspring.

Reversing complete mechanical transzonal projections disruption during mouse in vitro follicle culture with unaltered oocyte competence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamaria-Cristina Herta ◽  
Nazli Akin ◽  
Katy Billooye ◽  
Laura Saucedo-Cuevas ◽  
Francesca Lolicato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Mature Oocyte ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Human Oocyte ◽  
Oocyte Growth ◽  
Follicle Culture ◽  
Oocyte Competence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In vitro oocyte growth is widely studied as an alternative fertility preservation approach. Several animal models are used to generate extensive information on this complex process regulated by the constant and dynamic interaction between the oocyte and its somatic compartment throughout follicle growth and maturation. A 2-dimensional (2D) attachment mouse secondary follicle culture system was used to assess the oocyte’s capacity to overcome disconnection from its somatic companions at different developmental stages for final competence acquisition. To test this, complete mechanical denudation of oocytes from preantral and early antral follicles was performed. Established endpoints were the oocyte’s potential to reconnect with somatic cells and the impact of connectivity disruption on mature oocyte quality. This study proves that oocytes from preantral and early antral cultured mouse follicles can overcome complete denudation, restoring likely functional transzonal projections (TZPs) with no significant differences in meiotic and developmental competence compared to those from intact cultured follicles. These novel findings constitute good premises for developing successful strategies to rescue human oocyte competence in the context of in vitro culture approaches such as non-hCG triggered in vitro maturation (IVM).

scholarly journals Testing Strategies of the In Vitro Micronucleus Assay for the Genotoxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials in BEAS-2B Cells

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1929
Author(s):  
Tereza Cervena ◽  
Andrea Rossnerova ◽  
Tana Zavodna ◽  
Jitka Sikorova ◽  
Kristyna Vrbova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytochalasin B ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Micronucleus Assay ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
In Vitro Toxicity ◽  
Testing Strategies ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
The Impact

The evaluation of the frequency of micronuclei (MN) is a broadly utilised approach in in vitro toxicity testing. Nevertheless, the specific properties of nanomaterials (NMs) give rise to concerns regarding the optimal methodological variants of the MN assay. In bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B), we tested the genotoxicity of five types of NMs (TiO2: NM101, NM103; SiO2: NM200; Ag: NM300K, NM302) using four variants of MN protocols, differing in the time of exposure and the application of cytochalasin-B combined with the simultaneous and delayed co-treatment with NMs. Using transmission electron microscopy, we evaluated the impact of cytochalasin-B on the transport of NMs into the cells. To assess the behaviour of NMs in a culture media for individual testing conditions, we used dynamic light scattering measurement. The presence of NMs in the cells, their intracellular aggregation and dispersion properties were comparable when tests with or without cytochalasin-B were performed. The genotoxic potential of various TiO2 and Ag particles differed (NM101 < NM103 and NM302 < NM300K, respectively). The application of cytochalasin-B tended to increase the percentage of aberrant cells. In conclusion, the comparison of the testing strategies revealed that the level of DNA damage induced by NMs is affected by the selected methodological approach. This fact should be considered in the interpretation of the results of genotoxicity tests.

Tourism research for the GCC region: Current status and future research directions

2021 ◽  
pp. 135481662199996
Author(s):  
Ali Salman Saleh ◽  
Charbel Bassil ◽  
Arsalan Safari
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Regional Tourism ◽  
Research Theme ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Impact

Tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has recently been considered by policymakers as a new avenue for economic diversification. Despite the considerable literature concerning the impact of tourism worldwide, only a limited number of studies have looked at the tourism sector in the GCC region or analyzed its economic, sociocultural, and environmental impacts. This article therefore conducts a systematic review of the state of the literature related to tourism in the GCC region. It provides effective insights about the current status, gaps, and challenges and proposes future research directions in this area for academics, practitioners, and policymakers with an interest in regional tourism development. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses approach was used to identify and select the papers. Some 23 papers were identified and analyzed. The majority of these studies focused on the United Arab Emirates, specifically the Dubai emirate. We found the most dominant research theme to be tourism planning.

67 Current Status and Future Prospective of the Use of Plant Bioactive Compounds in Dairy and Beef Cattle

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 132-132
Author(s):  
Sergio Calsamiglia ◽  
Maria Rodriguez-Prado ◽  
Gonzalo Fernandez-Turren ◽  
Lorena Castillejos
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Current Status ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In the last 20 years there has been extensive in vitro research on the effects of plant extracts and essential oils on rumen microbial fermentation. The main objectives have been to improve energy metabolism through a reduction in methane emissions and an increase in propionate production; and to improve protein metabolism by reducing proteolysis and deamination. While the positive results from in vitro studies has stimulated the release of commercial products based on blends of essential oils, there is limited in vivo evidence on the rumen fermentation and production performance effects. A literature search was conducted to select in vivo studies where information on rumen fermentation and animal performance was reported. For dairy cattle, we identified 37 studies of which 21 were adequate to test production performance. Ten studies reported increases and 3 decreases in milk yield. For beef cattle, we identified 20 studies with rumen fermentation profile and 22 with performance data. Average daily gain improved in 7 and decreased in 1 study. Only 1 out of 16 studies reported an improvement in feed efficiency. Data indicate that out of more than 500 products tested in vitro, only around 20 have been tested in vivo in different mixtures and doses. The use of statistical approaches will allow to describe the conditions, doses and responses in dairy and beef cattle performance. The search for postruminal effects offers another alternative use. Evidence for effects on the intestinal and systemic effects on the immune system and antioxidant status (i.e., capsicum, garlic, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde curcuma, catechins, anethol or pinene), and in the modulation of metabolic regulation (capsicum, cinnamaldehyde, curcuma or garlic) may open the opportunity for future applications. However, stability of the product in the GI tract, description of the mechanisms of action and the impact of these changes on performance needs to be further demonstrated.

scholarly journals Dryland Food Security in Ethiopia: Current Status, Opportunities, and a Roadmap for the Future

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6503
Author(s):  
Yu Peng ◽  
Hubert Hirwa ◽  
Qiuying Zhang ◽  
Guoqin Wang ◽  
Fadong Li
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Security Issue ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Zero Hunger ◽  
The Impact

Given the impact of COVID-19 and the desert locust plague, the Ethiopian food security issue has once again received widespread attention. Its food crisis requires comprehensive and systematic research to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger. This review discusses the current situation and the causes of food security in Ethiopia. We focus on the challenges in the food security assessment field. The article lists seven typical causes of food insecurity and three roots of food security in Ethiopia. Long-term food security assessment and a comprehensive understanding and manageability for food security causes are considered as the main existing research challenges. Climate-resilient management, water management, and long-term ecosystem network monitoring and data mining are suggested as potential roadmap for future research.

The Impact of Two Embryo Culture Media, SOF and Commercial BO, on Pre- and Post-Implantation Development of Cloned Sannen Goat Embryos

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Hajian ◽  
Farnoosh Jafarpour ◽  
Sayed Morteza Aghamiri ◽  
Shiva Rouhollahi Varnosfaderani ◽  
Mohsen Rahimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Culture ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Major Drawback ◽  
Animal Cloning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Implantation

Abstract Background: The ingredients of embryo culture media developed by different companies are disclosed. Thus, it is impossible to determine which ingredients might be responsible for differences in pre-and post-implantation embryo development. To address this gap, we performed an experiment to compare two embryo culture media, namely, SOF and commercial BO, on pre- and post-implantation development of cloned Sannen goat embryos. Cumulus oocyte complexes derived from slaughterhouse ovaries were used for in vitro embryo production . In vitro development of IVF, parthenogenetic and SCNT embryos were assessed in both BO and SOF media. The expression of 16 genes, including AKT , OCT4 , SOX2 , BMPR1 , FGFR4 , CDC25 , CDX2 , GCN5 , PCAF , FOXD3 , SMAD5 , FZD , LIFR1 , CTNNB , ERK1 , and IFNT , belonging to 7 important pathways, i.e. pluripotency, FGF, TGFβ, cell cycle and proliferation, histone transferase, trophectoderm, and WNT, were examined in the goat SCNT and IVF blastocysts from both BO and SOF media. Results: The blastocyst rate in BO medium was significantly higher than that of the SOF medium in SCNT embryos ( P < 0.05). All of the genes examined showed increased expression levels in SCNT embryos compared to IVF embryos. In the IVF group, OCT4 , BMPR1 , and GCN5 showed significantly higher expression in the SOF medium compared to the BO medium. In this group, AKT , FGFR4 , SOX2 showed significantly lower expression in the SOF medium compared to the BO medium. In the SCNT group, FGFR4 , GCN5 , FZD , CTNNB , BMPR1 , and FGFR4 showed significantly higher expression in SOF medium compared to BO medium. In vivo development did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: Based on these results, we concluded that the limited information available on the allocations of ICM and TE cells in SCNT embryos and embryo-specific gene expression may be the major drawback IVC medium and an impediment to successful animal cloning.

scholarly journals The impact of thermal pasteurization on viral load and detectable live viruses in human milk and other matrices: a rapid review

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Pitino ◽  
Deborah L. O’Connor ◽  
Allison J. McGeer ◽  
Sharon Unger
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
C 30 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Thermal Pasteurization

Holder pasteurization (62.5 °C, 30 min) of human milk is thought to reduce the risk of transmitting viruses to an infant. Some viruses may be secreted into milk – others may be contaminants. The effect of thermal pasteurization on viruses in human milk has yet to be rigorously reviewed. The objective of this study is to characterize the effect of common pasteurization techniques on viruses in human milk and non-human milk matrices. Databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science) were searched from inception to April 20th, 2020, for primary research articles assessing the impact of pasteurization on viral load or detection of live virus. Reviews were excluded, as were studies lacking quantitative measurements or those assessing pasteurization as a component of a larger process. Overall, of 65 131 reports identified, 109 studies were included. Pasteurization of human milk at a minimum temperature of 56−60 °C is effective at reducing detectable live virus. In cell culture media or plasma, coronaviruses (e.g., SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV) are highly susceptible to heating at ≥56 °C. Although pasteurization parameters and matrices reported vary, all viruses studied, except parvoviruses, were susceptible to thermal killing. Future research important for the study of novel viruses should standardize pasteurization protocols and should test inactivation in human milk. Novelty In all matrices, including human milk, pasteurization at 62.5 °C was generally sufficient to reduce surviving viral load by several logs or to below the limit of detection. Holder pasteurization (62.5 °C, 30 min) of human milk should be sufficient to inactivate nonheat resistant viruses, including coronaviruses, if present.

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