Gene expression profile of rat ovarian tissue following xenotransplantation into immune-deficient mice

Immune-compromised mice have been used as gonadal tissue recipients to develop gametes of various mammalian species. The aim of this research was to determine gene expression differences between fresh and frozen–thawed rat xenotransplanted (XT) ovaries as well the gene expression differences between XT and sexually mature rat ovaries that were non-transplanted (NT). Ovaries from sexually immature female rats were transplanted under the kidney capsule of ovariectomized athymic nude mice either fresh or after freezing. The XT ovaries were collected ∼10–12 weeks after xenografting for microarray analysis. The NT ovaries were collected from sexually mature rats. Gene expression was very similar between fresh and cryopreserved XT ovaries: 125 genes were twofold up- or downregulated, but level of regulation was not statistically significant. Overall patterns of gene expression between XT and NT ovaries were very different indicated by the absence of diagonal relationship between XT and NT ovary gene expression. More than 3000 genes were significantly (P<0.01) up- or downregulated between XT and NT ovaries. Genes involved in metabolic processes, lipid metabolism, and growth were downregulated in XT ovaries, whereas genes involved in immune and inflammatory response were upregulated in XT ovaries. The results showed that ovarian tissue xenografting significantly alters genes responsible for ovarian metabolism and function and leads to an upregulation of genes responsible for graft rejection.

Metabolic behaviour and cleavage capacity in the amphibian egg

During the winter season the full grown Bufo arenarum oocyte shows the metabolic behaviour characteristic of differentiated tissues of the same species. Due to seasonal variations, uring the amplexus period, it acquires the metabolic behaviour of the segmenting egg. Short-time-induced ovulations (5–6 h) determine germinal vesicle breakdown immediately before the expulsion of the oocyte, without modifying the ovarian metabolism of the same. The incidence of the operative type of metabolism upon their capacity to cleave after insemination and needle pricking, has been studied in coelomic oocytes, which have attained nuclear maturation and have not experienced oviducal secretion effects. The results obtained indicate that the segmenting capacity of the egg is attained only when, through biochemical modifications, the oocyte acquires the metabolic behaviour characterizing embryonic cells. It is postulated that the metabolic changes observed in the oocyte constitute a fundamental aspect of cytoplasmic maturation.