Oviduct fluid extracellular vesicles regulate polyspermy during porcine in vitro fertilisation

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Alcântara-Neto ◽  
M. Fernandez-Rufete ◽  
E. Corbin ◽  
G. Tsikis ◽  
R. Uzbekov ◽  
...  

High polyspermy is one of the major limitations of porcine invitro fertilisation (IVF). The addition of oviductal fluid (OF) during IVF reduces polyspermy without decreasing the fertilisation rate. Because extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been described as important OF components, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of porcine oviductal EVs (poEVs) on IVF efficiency compared with porcine OF (fresh and lyophilised). OF was collected from abattoir oviducts by phosphate-buffered saline flush, and poEVs were isolated by serial ultracentrifugation. Four IVF treatments were conducted: poEVs (0.2mgmL–1), OF (10%), lyophilized and reconstituted pure OF (LOF; 1%) and IVF without supplementation (control). Penetration, monospermy and IVF efficiency were evaluated. Transmission electron microscopy showed an EVs population primarily composed of exosomes (83%; 30–150nm). Supplementation with poEVs during IVF increased monospermy compared with control (44% vs 17%) while maintaining an acceptable penetration rate (61% vs 78% respectively) in a similar way to OF and LOF. Western blotting revealed poEVs proteins involved in early reproductive events, including zona pellucida hardening. In conclusion, our finding show that poEVs are key components of porcine OF and may play roles in porcine fertilisation and polyspermy regulation, suggesting that supplementation with poEVs is a reliable strategy to decrease porcine polyspermy and improve invitro embryo production outcomes.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Sergio Navarro-Serna ◽  
Evelyne París-Oller ◽  
Ondrej Simonik ◽  
Raquel Romar ◽  
Joaquín Gadea

More suitable and efficient methods to protect gametes from external harmful effects during in vitro handling can be achieved by adding preovulatory porcine oviductal fluid (pOF) to in vitro culture media. The objective of this study was to assess the swim-up procedure’s suitability as a sperm selection method using a medium supplemented with 1mg/mL BSA, 1% preovulatory pOF (v/v), 1% v/v pOF plus 1mg/mL BSA, and 5mg/mL BSA. After selection, various sperm parameters were studied, such as sperm recovery rate, sperm morphology, motility (by CASA), vitality, acrosome status and intracellular calcium (by flow cytometry) and ability to penetrate oocytes in vitro. Around 2% of sperm were recovered after swim-up, and the replacement of BSA by pOF showed a beneficial reduction of motility parameters calcium concentration, resulting in an increased penetration rate. The combination of albumin and oviductal fluid in the medium did not improve the sperm parameters results, whereas a high concentration of BSA increased sperm morphological abnormalities, motility, and acrosome damage, with a reduction of calcium concentration and penetration rate. In conclusion, the replacement of albumin by preovulatory oviductal fluid in the swim-up sperm preparation method modifies boar sperm parameters and improves the in vitro penetration of oocytes.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e051058
Author(s):  
Sine Berntsen ◽  
Bugge Nøhr ◽  
Marie Louise Grøndahl ◽  
Morten Rønn Petersen ◽  
Lars Franch Andersen ◽  
...  

IntroductionOver the last decades, the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has increased, even among patients without male factor infertility. The increase has happened even though there is no evidence to support that ICSI results in higher live birth rates compared with conventional in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in cases with nonmale factor infertility. The lack of robust evidence on an advantage of using ICSI over conventional IVF in these patients is problematic since ICSI is more invasive, complex and requires additional resources, time and effort. Therefore, the primary objective of the IVF versus ICSI (INVICSI) study is to determine whether ICSI is superior to standard IVF in patients without severe male factor infertility. The primary outcome measure is first live birth from fresh and frozen-thawed transfers after one stimulated cycle. Secondary outcomes include fertilisation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, birth weight and congenital anomalies.Methods and analysisThis is a two-armed, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial. In total, 824 couples/women with infertility without severe male factor will be recruited and allocated randomly into two groups (IVF or ICSI) in a 1:1 ratio. Participants will be randomised in variable block sizes and stratified by trial site and age. The main inclusion criteria are (1) no prior IVF/ICSI treatment, (2) male partner sperm with an expected count of minimum 2 million progressive motile spermatozoa following density gradient purification on the day of oocyte pick up and (3) age of the woman between 18 and 42 years.Ethics and disseminationThe study will be performed in accordance with the ethical principles in the Helsinki Declaration. The study is approved by the Scientific Ethical Committee of the Capital Region of Denmark. Study findings will be presented, irrespectively of results at international conferences and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT04128904. Pre-results.


Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (5) ◽  
pp. 725-735
Author(s):  
Julieta Gabriela Hamze ◽  
María Jiménez-Movilla ◽  
Raquel Romar

The role of specific zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins in gamete interaction has not yet been elucidated in many species. A recently developed 3D model based on magnetic sepharose beads (B) conjugated to recombinant ZP glycoproteins (BZP) and cumulus cells (CBZP) allows the study of isolated ZP proteins in gamete recognition studies. The objective of this work was to study the role of porcine ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 proteins in sperm binding, cumulus cell adhesion and acrosome reaction triggering. ZP protein-bound beads were incubated with fresh ejaculated boar spermatozoa and isolated cumulus cells for 24 h. The number of sperm bound to the beads, the acrosomal shrouds (presence of acrosomal content) on the bead’s surface, and the acrosome integrity (by means of PNA-FITC lectin) in bound and unbound sperm were studied. Finally, in vitro matured porcine oocytes mixed with BZP2 were inseminated in vitro using fresh sperm and fertilisation results evaluated. Over 60% of beads had at least one sperm bound after 2 h of coincubation. ZP2-beads (BZP2) and cumulus-ZP2-bead complexes (CBZP2) reached the highest number of sperm per bead, whereas BZP3 and BZP4 models showed the highest number of unbound reacted sperm cells and acrosomal shrouds. Fertilisation efficiency and monospermy rate increased when oocytes were fertilised in the presence of BZP2. We, therefore, conclude that in pigs, it is mainly ZP2 that is involved in sperm-ZP binding whereas ZP3 and ZP4 induce acrosome reaction. Using magnetic sepharose ZP2-bound beads might be a valuable tool to improve the fertilisation rate in pigs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Starowicz ◽  
Jerzy Galas ◽  
Małgorzata Duda ◽  
Zbigniew Tabarowski ◽  
Maria Szołtys

The main objective of these studies was to determine the in vitro effects of prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) on steroidogenic function in post-ovulatory cumuli oophori containing unfertilised (ufCOCs) or fertilised (fCOCs) oocytes and to determine the differences between ufCOCs and fCOCs. In vivo, progesterone (P4) content was distinctly higher in isolated ampullae containing ufCOCs than in those containing fCOCs. Moreover, the expression of androgen (ARs) and prolactin (PRL-Rs) receptors was distinctly higher in ufCOCs than in fCOCs. Also, in vitro P4 profiles were generally higher in incubated ufCOCs, which had very high secretion rates of this steroid, especially after treatment with PRL+T. Testosterone significantly increased P4 levels only in incubated fCOCs, while the anti-androgen dihydroxyflutamide (2-Hf) markedly decreased P4 levels in both ufCOCs and fCOCs. Among post-incubation ufCOCs fertilised in vitro, the highest fertilisation rate was observed for oocytes in ufCOCs exposed to PRL+T, while those incubated with 2-Hf or T+2-Hf were not fertilisable. These studies establish differences in steroidogenic function and expression of ARs and PRL-Rs between post-ovulatory ufCOCs and fCOCs, with higher concentrations of P4 being observed in the microenvironment of ufCOCs. PRL+T stimulated P4 production by ufCOCs and increased in vitro fertilisation rate.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
M. K. Jena ◽  
D. Malakar ◽  
A. K. De ◽  
S. Garg ◽  
Y. S. Akshey

The present study was carried out to see the developmental efficiency of zona-free and with zona parthenogenetic goat embryos cultured in Research Vitro Cleave from Cook Australia (RVCL), Embryo Development Media (EDM), modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF), and modified Charles Rosenkrans media (mCR2a). Zona-free embryos were cultured in 4 media, whereas with zona embryos were cultured in 3 media except mCR2a. Ovaries were collected from slaughterhouse and oocytes were isolated by puncturing the follicles in medium containing Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline, 3% BSA, and 50 μg mL-1 gentamicin. Oocytes were matured in maturation medium containing TCM-199 (HEPES modified), 0.05 mg mL-1 Na pyruvate, 0.003 mg mL-1 L-glutamine, 5.5 mg mL-1 glucose, 3 mg mL-1 BSA, 5 μg mL-1 FSH, 10 μg mL-1 LH, 1 μg mL-1 estradiol-17β, 50 μg mL-1 gentamicin, and 10% FBS in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. The COC (15 to 20 oocytes) were placed in 100-μL droplets of maturation medium and incubated in a CO2 incubator (5% CO2 in air) with maximum humidity at 38.5°C for 27 h. Matured oocytes were made cumulus free by treatment with hyaluronidase (0.5 mg mL-1) and zona-free by pronase (2 mg mL-1) in zona-free parthenogenesis. Then the oocytes were activated by 5 μM Ca ionophore for 5 min in a CO2 incubator and then treated with 2 mM 6-DMAP for 4 h. Activation was also done by electrical activation with DC 1.78 kV cm-1, 20 μs, and 2 pulses. Then the zona-free oocytes were kept for in vitro culture in 4 types of media such as RVCL, EDM, mSOF, andm CR2a for 7 days in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. The cleavage rate andmorulae formation were observed in RVCL 40.95%, 13.95%, in EDM 46.92%, 14.75%, in mCR2a 56.66%, 5.88%, and in mSOF 48.23%, 14.63%, respectively. The cleavage rate and morulae formation were also found 55.9%, 14.63% during chemical activation and 32%, 12.5% in electrical activation. Hence, better result was found in chemical activation than electrical activation. For with zona parthenogenesis, the matured oocytes were chemically activated by 5 μM Ca ionophore for 5 min and 2 mM 6-DMAP for 4 h. Then the oocytes were cultured in RVCL, EDM, and mSOF in 100-μL micro-drops media for 7 days. The cleavage, morulae, and early blastocyst production rate were as follows: cleavage rate 75.68%, 72.03%, and 57.11%; morulae 44.61%, 30.29%, and 40.22%; and early blastocyst 17.49%, 11.88%, and 25.01% in RVCL, EDM, and mSOF, respectively. Hatched blastocyst formation rate was 6.75%, 5.48%, and 1.15% in RVCL, EDM, and mSOF, respectively. It could be concluded that zona-free parthenogenetic embryos were produced better in EDM medium and with chemical activation. With zona parthenogenetic embryo development was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in RVCL and EDM media.


Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1338
Author(s):  
Kamila Pachnowska ◽  
Krzysztof Cendrowski ◽  
Xymena Stachurska ◽  
Paweł Nawrotek ◽  
Adrian Augustyniak ◽  
...  

The emerging trend towards the reduction of SO2 in winemaking has created a need to look for alternative methods to ensure the protection of wine against the growth of undesired species of microorganisms and to safely remove wine microorganisms. This study describes the possible application of silica nanospheres as a wine stabilisation agent, with Oenococcus oeni (DSM7008) as a model strain. The experiment was conducted firstly on model solutions of phosphate-buffered saline and 1% glucose. Their neutralising effect was tested under stirring with the addition of SiO2 (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/mL). Overall, the highest concentration of nanospheres under continuous stirring resulted in the greatest decrease in cell counts. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed extensive damage to the bacterial cells after stirring with silica nanomaterials. Then, the neutralising effect of 0.5 mg/mL SiO2 was tested in young red wine under stirring, where cell counts were reduced by over 50%. The obtained results suggest that silica nanospheres can serve as an alternative way to reduce or substitute the use of sulphur dioxide in the microbial stabilisation of wine. In addition, further aspects of following investigations should focus on the protection against enzymatic and chemical oxidation of wine.


Zygote ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalantha R. Abeydeera ◽  
Hiroaki Funahashi ◽  
Nam-Hyung Kim ◽  
Billy N. Day

SummaryPorcine oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured in bovine serum albumin(BSA)-free North Carolina State University (NCSU)23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (10%), cysteine (0.1 mg/ml)and hormonal supplements (eCG and hCG: 10IU/ml each) for 22h. They were then cultured in the same medium but without hormonal supplements for an additional 22h. After culture, cumulus cells were removed and oocytes were co-incubated with frozen-thawed ejaculated boar spermatozoa in tissue culture medium (TCM)199 containing caffeine (5mM), fetal calf serum (FCS; 10%) and varying concentrations (26–56 mM)of NaHCO3 for 9h(experiment 1). In experiment 2, chlortetracycline (CTC) was used to assess the functional state of spermatozoa incubated under different NaHCO3 concentrations. Experiment 3 examined the effect of FCS (1% and 10%)and NaHCO3 (26 and 46 mM) on fertilisation parameters. Compared with 26 mM, penetration rate was significantly higher (p<0.05)at 36–56mM NaHCO3. Polyspermy showed a similar pattern although no difference was observed between 26 and 36 mM. At 46mM NaHCO3, the mean number of spermatozoa (MNS) penetrated per oocyte increased significantly (p< 0.05). A significantly higher proportion of spermatozoa were capacitated and acrosome reacted at 46 and 56mM NaHCO3, respectively. The fertilisation medium containing 46mM NaHCO3 and 1% FCS showed a higher penetration rate (84%)with a relatively low incidence of polyspermy (39%). The results indicate that NaHCO3 stimulates capacitation and/or the acrosome reaction of boar spermatozoa in a dose-dependent manner and thus affects fertilisation parameters.


Zygote ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mayor ◽  
M. López-Béjar ◽  
E. Rodríguez-González ◽  
M.T. Paramio

Glutathione (γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine; GSH) is a ubiquitous intracellular free thiol that improves development of the male pronucleus at fertilisation and has also been implicated in promoting the development of preimplantation embryos. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding GSH or cysteine to the in vitro maturation medium on intracellular GSH amounts after in vitro maturation and fertilisation of prepubertal goat oocytes. Oocytes were matured in TCM199 medium supplemented with 10% bovine fetal serum, 1 mg/ml 17β-estradiol, 10 μg/ml o-FSH, 10 μg/ml LH and 50 mg/ml gentamicin. In vitro maturation medium was completed with two independent treatments: GSH at different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mM) and L-cysteine at different concentrations (0, 150, 300, 600 and 900 μM). After 27 h of culture at 38.5 °C in 5% CO2 in air, the nuclear stage was evaluated. Simultaneously, another sample of oocytes was frozen and the intracellular GSH level was evaluated with spectrophotometric methodology. Oocytes were inseminated with fresh semen (2-3 × 106 sperm/ml) in TALP medium supplemented with 1 mg/ml hypotaurine. Oocytes were fixed at 20 h post-insemination to evaluate the in vitro fertilisation. Oocytes matured in 1.00 mM GSH-supplemented medium exhibited higher amounts of intracellular GSH (3.23 pmol per oocyte). The percentage of normal fertilisation (17-27%) was similar for the treatment groups. In conclusion, the addition of 1.00 mM GSH to the maturation medium could be a useful method for increasing the intracellular GSH levels of prepubertal goat oocytes. However, this increase was not associated with a higher normal fertilisation rate of prepubertal goat oocytes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Banliat ◽  
Daniel Le Bourhis ◽  
Ophélie Bernardi ◽  
Daniel Tomas ◽  
Valérie Labas ◽  
...  

Oviduct fluid extracellular vesicles (oEVs) have been proposed as bringing key molecules to the early developing embryo. In order to evaluate the changes induced by oEVs on embryo phospholipids, fresh bovine blastocysts developed in vitro in the presence or absence of oEVs were analyzed by intact cell MALDI-TOF (Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization—Time of flight) mass spectrometry (ICM-MS). The development rates, cryotolerance, and total cell number of blastocysts were also evaluated. The exposure to oEVs did not affect blastocyst yield or cryotolerance but modified the phospholipid content of blastocysts with specific changes before and after blastocoel expansion. The annotation of differential peaks due to oEV exposure evidenced a shift of embryo phospholipids toward more abundant phosphatidylcholines (PC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), and sphingomyelins (SM) with long-chain fatty acids. The lipidomic profiling of oEVs showed that 100% and 33% of the overabundant masses in blastocysts and expanded blastocysts, respectively, were also present in oEVs. In conclusion, this study provides the first analysis of the embryo lipidome regulated by oEVs. Exposure to oEVs induced significant changes in the phospholipid composition of resulting embryos, probably mediated by the incorporation of oEV-phospholipids into embryo membranes and by the modulation of the embryonic lipid metabolism by oEV molecular cargos.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-610
Author(s):  
F. Bonyadi ◽  
S. Hasanzadeh ◽  
H. Malekinejad ◽  
G. Najafi

The presence of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) as a mycotoxin has been reported in feed and foodstuffs. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of CPA on reproductive functions of male mice. In this experiment, 40 mature male mice were randomly assigned into five groups (n=8): control, control-sham, CPA (0.03 mg/kg, body weight (BW)), CPA (0.06 mg/kg, BW) and CPA (0.12 mg/kg, BW). Following 28 days exposure to CPA, sperm quality parameters, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) capacity of sperms, serum testosterone level, Leydig cells number and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were analysed. The results revealed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in sperm count, sperm viability, sperm motility, chromatin quality of sperm, sperms with intact DNA, IVF rate, testosterone level, Leydig cell distribution and TAC in comparison to the control group. The most prominent detrimental effects of CPA were found at the highest given dose level. Our results suggest that CPA at higher dose levels exerts detrimental effects on the male reproductive system. Moreover, these descriptive warrant further investigations into the specific mechanisms of action and the effects of CPA on spermatogenesis.


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