scholarly journals Sperm and seminal plasma RNAs: what roles do they play beyond fertilization?

Reproduction ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 158 (4) ◽  
pp. R113-R123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meritxell Jodar
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development ◽  
The Impact

The paternal contribution to the new individual is not just limited to half the diploid genome. Recent findings have shown that sperm delivers to the oocyte several components, including a complex population of RNAs, which may influence early embryo development and the long-term phenotype of the offspring. Although the majority of sperm RNAs may only represent spermatogenic leftovers with no further function, the male gamete provides a specific set of RNAs to the oocyte that is able to modulate gene expression in the preimplantation embryo. Those sperm transcripts include coding and non-coding RNAs that might either be translated by the oocyte machinery or directly regulate embryo gene expression at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Interestingly, some sperm RNAs seem to be acquired during post-testicular maturation through active communication between sperm and epididymal and seminal exosomes released by the epididymis and the male accessory sex glands, respectively. Exosomes contained in the seminal plasma seem to not only interact with the spermatozoa but also with cells from the female reproductive tract, modulating their gene expression and influencing female immune response triggered by the semen. This review also considers the findings that indicate the role of semen RNAs in preimplantation embryo development and offspring phenotypes. In this regard, different studies supporting the hypothesis of paternal epigenetic inheritance of altered metabolic phenotypes associated with environmental exposures are discussed. Lastly, potential mechanisms that could explain the impact of semen RNAs to both early embryogenesis and paternal epigenetic inheritance are suggested.

scholarly journals Deadly decisions: the role of genes regulating programmed cell death in human preimplantation embryo development

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Jurisicova ◽  
Beth M Acton
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development

Human preimplantation embryo development is prone to high rates of early embryo wastage, particularly under currentin vitroculture conditions. There are many possible underlying causes for embryo demise, including DNA damage, poor embryo metabolism and the effect of suboptimal culture media, all of which could result in an imbalance in gene expression and the failed execution of basic embryonic decisions. In view of the complex interactions involved in embryo development, a thorough understanding of these parameters is essential to improving embryo quality. An increasing body of evidence indicates that cell fate (i.e. survival/differentiation or death) is determined by the outcome of specific intracellular interactions between pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, many of which are expressed during oocyte and preimplantation embryo development. The recent availability of mutant mice lacking expression of various genes involved in the regulation of cell survival has enabled rapid progress towards identifying those molecules that are functionally important for normal oocyte and preimplantation embryo development. In this review we will discuss the current understanding of the regulation of cell death gene expression during preimplantation embryo development, with a focus on human embryology and a discussion of animal models where appropriate.

64 Culture of bovine oocytes and embryos with metabolic hormones concentrations associated with equine metabolic syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
D. Bresnahan ◽  
E. Carnevale
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Early Embryo Development ◽  
Metabolic Hormones ◽  
Equine Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Maternal metabolic status could affect fertility and early embryo development due to altered concentrations of metabolic hormones. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a condition in horses associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Equine metabolic syndrome is accompanied by increased concentrations of insulin and leptin and decreased concentrations of adiponectin, in ovarian follicular fluid (FF) and in systemic circulation (SYST). We sought to determine how altered concentrations of insulin, leptin, and adiponectin (ILA), consistent with those in mares with EMS (EMS) or normal mares (normal), would affect blastocyst formation rates, blastocyst gene expression for metabolism and inner cell mass formation (OCT4, SOX2, COX2, DNMT3a1, HK2, LDH, PDH, and GLUT1), and metabolite uptake from culture media. Because equine oocytes are not available for large-scale study, a bovine model was used in this preliminary study to determine the impact of altered ILA on oocytes and embryos. Bovine ovaries were obtained from an abattoir and embryos produced as previously described using chemically defined media (CDM; Barcelo-Fimbres and Seidel 2007Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74, 1406-1418). Briefly, oocytes were cultured in in vitro maturation medium (IVM), fertilized in FCDM, presumptive zygotes were placed into CDM-1 for ~56h. Cleavage rates were assessed, and embryos were moved to CDM-2 for ~122 additional hours. Treatments consisted of 5 groups: (1) standard oocyte IVM, FCDM and embryo production (EP) system (control), (2) IVM with normal FF ILA and control FCDM and EP, (3) IVM with normal FF ILA and FCDM and EP with normal SYST ILA, (4) IVM with EMS FF ILA and control FCDM and EP, and (5) IVM with EMS FF ILA and FCDM and EP with EMS SYST ILA. Seven days after fertilization, blastocysts were pooled in groups of 5 and placed into 50mL of CDM-2 for 24h. Embryos were removed, and medium was frozen and stored at −80°C to determine metabolite usage via gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Pooled embryos were washed and placed into RNA lysis solution for relative quantitative PCR. Statistical comparisons were performed using ANOVA with a post-hoc Tukey test. Blastocyst formation rates and gene expression of viability markers were not significantly different among groups. However, aspartate was lower (P=0.02) in spent media from Group 3 (normal FF and SYST ILA) and tended (P=0.09) to be lower in media from Group 5 (EMS FF and SYST ILA) when compared with controls (Group 1). The ILA during early embryo development but not oocyte maturation appeared to be associated with increased uptake of aspartate, a nonessential amino acid, thought to be involved in osmoregulation, cellular signalling, and in mouse embryos, facilitate the metabolism of lactate. In conclusion, the addition of ILA in concentrations observed in normal horses and EMS horses did not affect blastocyst formation rates or markers of embryo viability, although embryo metabolism could have been altered.

scholarly journals ROMO1 is required for mitochondrial metabolism during preimplantation embryo development in pigs

Cell Division ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongjie Zhou ◽  
Ming-Hong Sun ◽  
Song-Hee Lee ◽  
Xiang-Shun Cui
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development ◽  
Induced Defects ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulator 1 (ROMO1) is a mitochondrial membrane protein that is essential for the regulation of mitochondrial ROS production and redox sensing. ROMO1 regulates ROS generation within cells and is involved in cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, senescence, and death. Our purpose is to investigates the impact of ROMO1 on the mitochondria during porcine embryogenesis. Results We found that high expression of ROMO1 was associated with porcine preimplantation embryo development, indicating that ROMO1 may contribute to the progression of embryogenesis. Knockdown of ROMO1 disrupted porcine embryo development and blastocyst quality, thereby inducing ROS production and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential. Knockdown of ROMO1 induced mitochondrial dysfunction by disrupting the balance of OPA1 isoforms to release cytochrome c, reduce ATP, and induce apoptosis. Meanwhile, ROMO1 overexpression showed similar effects as ROMO1 KD on the embryos. Overexpression of ROMO1 rescued the ROMO1 KD-induced defects in embryo development, mitochondrial fragmentation, and apoptosis. Conclusions ROMO1 plays a critical role in embryo development by regulating mitochondrial morphology, function, and apoptosis in pigs.

Novel Insights on the Role of the Human Sperm Proteome

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1181-1185
Author(s):  
Rossella Cannarella ◽  
Rosita A. Condorelli ◽  
Aldo E. Calogero ◽  
Sandro La Vignera
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Male Gamete ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development ◽  
Targeted Analysis ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
Infertile Patients

: The spermatozoon has classically been seen only as a paternal DNA transporter into the oocyte, thus underestimating the entire contribution of the male gamete to the embryo development. The advancement of the research supports that not only the sperm genome, but the entire sperm transcriptome and proteome carry crucial information for fertilization and embryo development. : Altogether, 6871 proteins have been reported in spermatozoa so far. Their functional analysis has recently addressed to the sperm proteome a role in fertilization, preimplantation embryo development and paternal epigenetic inheritance. Targeted analysis of human spermatozoa is warranted to compile an evidence-based list of sperm-carried molecular targets in infertile patients.

scholarly journals Maternal Underweight Does Not Adversely Affect The Outcomes of IVF/ICSI and Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycles or Early Embryo Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Hoffman ◽  
Yael Kalma ◽  
Nivin Samara ◽  
Einat Haikin Herzberger ◽  
Sagi Levi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Oocyte Maturity ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development

Abstract Purpose To compare assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes and preimplantation embryo development between underweight and normal weight women. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 26 underweight women (body mass index [BMI] < 18.50 kg/m2) and 104 normal weight women (BMI > 20 and < 24.9 kg/m2) who underwent a total of 204 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles and 358 fresh/frozen embryo transfers (ET) in our institution between January 2016 and December 2018. Statistical analyses compared selected ART outcomes (ovarian stimulation, fertilization, and pregnancy) between both weight groups. Morphokinetic and morphological parameters were also compared between 346 and 1467 embryos of underweight and normal weight women, respectively. Results The mean ± standard deviation age of the underweight and normal weight women was similar (31.6 ± 4.17 vs 32.4 ± 3.59 years; p = 0.323). There were no differences in the peak estradiol levels, the number of retrieved oocytes, the number of metaphase II oocytes, and the oocyte maturity rates between the two groups. The IVF/ICSI fertilization rates and the number of embryos suitable for transfer or cryopreservation were similar for both groups. All morphokinetic parameters that were evaluated by means of time-lapse imaging as well as the morphological characteristics were comparable between low and normal BMI categories. There were no significant differences in pregnancy achievement, clinical pregnancy, live births, and miscarriage rates between the suboptimal and optimal weight women. Conclusion Underweight status has no adverse impacts on the outcomes of IVF/ICSI with either fresh or frozen ET or on preimplantation embryo development and quality.

scholarly journals Global transcriptome analysis of different stages of preimplantation embryo development in river buffalo

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e8185
Author(s):  
Chun-Ying Pang ◽  
Ming-Zhou Bai ◽  
Chi Zhang ◽  
Junhui Chen ◽  
Xing-Rong Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
River Buffalo ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development ◽  
Expression Levels

Background Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are divided into river buffalo and swamp buffalo subspecies and are essential livestock for agriculture and the local economy. Studies on buffalo reproduction have primarily focused on optimal fertility and embryonic mortality. There is currently limited knowledge on buffalo embryonic development, especially during the preimplantation period. Assembly of the river buffalo genome offers a reference for omics studies and facilitates transcriptomic analysis of preimplantation embryo development (PED). Methods We revealed transcriptomic profile of four stages (2-cell, 8-cell, Morula and Blastocyst) of PED via RNA-seq (Illumina HiSeq4000). Each stage comprised three biological replicates. The data were analyzed according to the basic RNA-seq analysis process. Ingenuity analysis of cell lineage control, especially transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks, was also performed. Results A total of 21,519 expressed genes and 67,298 transcripts were predicted from approximately 81.94 Gb of raw data. Analysis of transcriptome-wide expression, gene coexpression networks, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) allowed for the characterization of gene-specific expression levels and relationships for each stage. The expression patterns of TFs, such as POU5F1, TEAD4, CDX4 and GATAs, were elucidated across diverse time series; most TF expression levels were increased during the blastocyst stage, during which time cell differentiation is initiated. All of these TFs were involved in the composition of the regulatory networks that precisely specify cell fate. These findings offer a deeper understanding of PED at the transcriptional level in the river buffalo.

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