The Female Reproductive Tract and Early Embryo Development

2018 ◽  
pp. 99-108
Author(s):  
Henry J. Leese ◽  
Daniel R. Brison
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Early Embryo Development

scholarly journals Which Low-Abundance Proteins are Present in the Human Milieu of Gamete/Embryo Maternal Interaction?

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 5305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Canha-Gouveia ◽  
Paradela ◽  
Ramos-Fernández ◽  
Prieto-Sánchez ◽  
Sánchez-Ferrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
High Throughput Analysis ◽  
Maternal Interaction ◽  
Oviductal Fluid ◽  
Abundance Proteins

The improvement of the embryo culture media is of high relevance due to its influence on successful implantation rates, pregnancy, neonatal outcomes, and potential effects in adult life. The ideal conditions for embryo development are those naturally occurring in the female reproductive tract, i.e., the oviductal and uterine fluids. To shed light on the differences between chemical and natural media, we performed the first comparative study of the low abundance proteins in plasma, uterine, and oviductal fluid collected, simultaneously, from healthy and fertile women that underwent a salpingectomy. The rationale for this design derives from the fact that high-abundant proteins in these fluids are usually those coming from blood serum and frequently mask the detection of low abundant proteins with a potentially significant role in specific processes related to the embryo–maternal interaction. The proteomic analysis by 1D-nano LC ESI-MSMS detected several proteins in higher amounts in oviductal fluid when compared to uterine and plasma samples (RL3, GSTA1, EZRI, DPYSL3, GARS, HSP90A). Such oviductal fluid proteins could be a target to improve fertilization rates and early embryo development if used in the culture media. In conclusion, this study presents a high-throughput analysis of female reproductive tract fluids and contributes to the knowledge of oviductal and uterine secretome.

scholarly journals Adipokines Expression and Effects in Oocyte Maturation, Fertilization and Early Embryo Development: Lessons from Mammals and Birds

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3581
Author(s):  
Anthony Estienne ◽  
Adeline Brossaud ◽  
Maxime Reverchon ◽  
Christelle Ramé ◽  
Pascal Froment ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Early Embryo Development ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Physiological Processes

Some evidence shows that body mass index in humans and extreme weights in animal models, including avian species, are associated with low in vitro fertilization, bad oocyte quality, and embryo development failures. Adipokines are hormones mainly produced and released by white adipose tissue. They play a key role in the regulation of energy metabolism. However, they are also involved in many other physiological processes including reproductive functions. Indeed, leptin and adiponectin, the most studied adipokines, but also novel adipokines including visfatin and chemerin, are expressed within the reproductive tract and modulate female fertility. Much of the literature has focused on the physiological and pathological roles of these adipokines in ovary, placenta, and uterine functions. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the involvement of leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, and chemerin in the oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development in both mammals and birds.

86 EFFECT OF LACTATION ON EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN DAIRY COWS

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Maillo ◽  
U. Besenfelder ◽  
V. Havlicek ◽  
M. Garrett ◽  
A. K. Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Metabolic Profile ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Early Embryo Development ◽  
Lactating Cows

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of lactation and associated metabolic profiles on the ability of the reproductive tract of postpartum dairy cows to support early embryo development. Twenty-one age-matched primiparous Holstein cows were used. Immediately after calving, half of the cows were dried off while the remainder were milked twice daily. To characterise the metabolic profile of the cows, jugular blood samples were taken twice weekly starting 15 days before calving until Day 100 postpartum. At the same time, bodyweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded. In Experiment 1, around Day 60 postpartum, the oestrous cycles of all cows were synchronized and sixty-five 2- to 4-cell in vitro-produced embryos were endoscopically transferred on Day 2 (Day 0 = oestrus) to the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. On Day 7, the oviduct and uterus were flushed endoscopically and the number of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage was recorded. In Experiment 2, around Day 95 postpartum, cows were re-synchronized and 15 to 20 in vitro-produced blastocysts were transferred to the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. On Day 14, conceptuses were recovered by flushing the reproductive tract at slaughter and were measured. Jugular blood samples were taken daily from Day 0 to 7 (Exp. 1) or 14 (Exp. 2) to measure serum concentrations of progesterone. Data were analysed by ANOVA. Concentrations of NEFA and β-HB were higher (P ≤ 0.05) and glucose, insulin and IGF-1 were lower (P ≤ 0.05) in lactating compared with dry cows. BW and BCS were significantly higher in the non-lactating cows throughout the postpartum period. Recovery rates in both experiments were similar between groups (Exp. 1: 63.9 ± 7.2 vs 65.6 ± 8.6 and Exp 2: 33.3 ± 9.6 vs 39.8 ± 9.6 for dry and milking cows, respectively). In Exp. 1, of the structures recovered, significantly more developed to the blastocyst stage in the dry than in lactating cows (49.3 ± 3.8 vs 32.6.3 ± 4.4, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). Progesterone concentrations did not differ between groups. In Exp. 2, no differences were observed in terms of conceptus dimensions on Day 14 (n = 152). Progesterone concentrations were higher in lactating cows from Day 9 to 14 (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, this study provides evidence that at 60 days postpartum, the reproductive tract of lactating cows is compromised in its ability to support early embryo development compared with age-matched parous non-lactating cows; however, by 95 days postpartum there was no apparent difference in conceptus development, consistent with less metabolic stress as indicated by the metabolic profile. Funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI/07/SRC/B1156) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2009-11810). VM was supported by an STSM award from the COST Action FAO7O2.

scholarly journals Oviduct: roles in fertilization and early embryo development

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Li ◽  
Wipawee Winuthayanon
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Fluid Composition ◽  
Fallopian Tubes ◽  
Physiological Conditions ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Oviductal Fluid ◽  
Insight Into

Animal oviducts and human Fallopian tubes are a part of the female reproductive tract that hosts fertilization and pre-implantation development of the embryo. With an increasing understanding of roles of the oviduct at the cellular and molecular levels, current research signifies the importance of the oviduct on naturally conceived fertilization and pre-implantation embryo development. This review highlights the physiological conditions within the oviduct during fertilization, environmental regulation, oviductal fluid composition and its role in protecting embryos and supplying nutrients. Finally, the review compares different aspects of naturally occurring fertilization and assisted reproductive technology (ART)-achieved fertilization and embryo development, giving insight into potential areas for improvement in this technology.

Minor Splicing Factors Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 Essential for Gametogenesis, Early Embryo Development and Conversion of Stem Cells into 2C-Like

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Gómez-Redondo ◽  
Priscila Ramos-Ibeas ◽  
Eva Pericuesta ◽  
Benjamín Planells ◽  
Raul Fernández-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Splicing Factors ◽  
Early Embryo Development

scholarly journals LIN28 coordinately promotes nucleolar/ribosomal functions and represses the 2C-like transcriptional program in pluripotent stem cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Sun ◽  
Hua Yu ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Tianyu Tan ◽  
Hongru Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Transcriptional Program ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Early Embryo Development ◽  
Nucleolar Stress

AbstractLIN28 is an RNA binding protein with important roles in early embryo development, stem cell differentiation/reprogramming, tumorigenesis and metabolism. Previous studies have focused mainly on its role in the cytosol where it interacts with Let-7 microRNA precursors or mRNAs, and few have addressed LIN28’s role within the nucleus. Here, we show that LIN28 displays dynamic temporal and spatial expression during murine embryo development. Maternal LIN28 expression drops upon exit from the 2-cell stage, and zygotic LIN28 protein is induced at the forming nucleolus during 4-cell to blastocyst stage development, to become dominantly expressed in the cytosol after implantation. In cultured pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), loss of LIN28 led to nucleolar stress and activation of a 2-cell/4-cell-like transcriptional program characterized by the expression of endogenous retrovirus genes. Mechanistically, LIN28 binds to small nucleolar RNAs and rRNA to maintain nucleolar integrity, and its loss leads to nucleolar phase separation defects, ribosomal stress and activation of P53 which in turn binds to and activates 2C transcription factor Dux. LIN28 also resides in a complex containing the nucleolar factor Nucleolin (NCL) and the transcriptional repressor TRIM28, and LIN28 loss leads to reduced occupancy of the NCL/TRIM28 complex on the Dux and rDNA loci, and thus de-repressed Dux and reduced rRNA expression. Lin28 knockout cells with nucleolar stress are more likely to assume a slowly cycling, translationally inert and anabolically inactive state, which is a part of previously unappreciated 2C-like transcriptional program. These findings elucidate novel roles for nucleolar LIN28 in PSCs, and a new mechanism linking 2C program and nucleolar functions in PSCs and early embryo development.

scholarly journals Geminin deletion in mouse oocytes results in impaired embryo development and reduced fertility

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 768-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue-Shan Ma ◽  
Fei Lin ◽  
Zhong-Wei Wang ◽  
Meng-Wen Hu ◽  
Lin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Early Embryo Development ◽  
Damage Repair ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Oocyte Meiotic Maturation ◽  
Zygote Stage

Geminin controls proper centrosome duplication, cell division, and differentiation. We investigated the function of geminin in oogenesis, fertilization, and early embryo development by deleting the geminin gene in oocytes from the primordial follicle stage. Oocyte-specific disruption of geminin results in low fertility in mice. Even though there was no evident anomaly of oogenesis, oocyte meiotic maturation, natural ovulation, or fertilization, early embryo development and implantation were impaired. The fertilized eggs derived from mutant mice showed developmental delay, and many were blocked at the late zygote stage. Cdt1 protein was decreased, whereas Chk1 and H2AX phosphorylation was increased, in fertilized eggs after geminin depletion. Our results suggest that disruption of maternal geminin may decrease Cdt1 expression and cause DNA rereplication, which then activates the cell cycle checkpoint and DNA damage repair and thus impairs early embryo development.

scholarly journals The Potential Roles of the G1LEA and G3LEA Proteins in Early Embryo Development and in Response to Low Temperature and High Salinity in Artemia sinica

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e0162272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhao ◽  
Feng Yao ◽  
Mengchen Zhang ◽  
Ting Jing ◽  
Shuang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Artemia Sinica ◽  
Early Embryo Development
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