花䱻卵母细胞发育的组织学和超微结构观察

2015年7月至2017年10月在河南省驻马店宿鸭湖水库采集花?(Hemibarbus maculatus Bleeker)雌鱼样本190尾,体长7.12～32.21 cm,体重10.55～330.22 g,采用组织学和扫描电子显微镜技术观察了花?卵母细胞发育各时期的特征。结果表明,花?卵母细胞发育可分为5个时相,第I时相卵母细胞处于卵原细胞增殖阶段;第Ⅱ时相卵母细胞处于初级生长阶段,出现滤泡膜;第Ⅲ时相卵母细胞出现皮质液泡,细胞质膜之间形成放射带;第Ⅳ时相卵母细胞处于大生长后期,卵黄颗粒增多。电镜下观察发现放射带表面形成微孔状结构,核仁外排,可能与卵母细胞内营养物质积累有关;第Ⅴ时相卵母细胞中细胞核消失,卵母细胞发育为成熟卵子,与卵膜脱离,准备排卵。繁殖季节,花?卵巢成熟系数达到13.78%～17.04%。研究结果可为花?人工繁殖和育种工作提供参考。     

The effects analysis of two neonicotinoid insecticides on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes using hanging drop monoculture method

Acetamiprid (ACE) and imidacroprid (IMI) are known neonicotinoid insecticides with strong affinities for the insect-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These provide insect control by hyperstimulating insect nerves and are used for agricultural pest management. However, it has also been reported that ACE and IMI affect mammalian reproductive function. We determined the effects of ACE and IMI on the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. Significant decreases in nuclear maturation rates were observed in the ACE or IMI-exposed groups. Also, in matured oocytes from the ACE or IMI-exposed groups, irregular chromosomes were observed. Our results suggest that ACE and IMI exposure was detrimental to porcine oocytes and the extent of the effects depends on the concentration of exposure.     

No effect of exogenous melatonin on development of cryopreserved metaphase II oocytes in mouse

Background

This study was conducted to investigate effect of exogenous melatonin on the development of mouse mature oocytes after cryopreservation.

Results

First, mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes were vitrified in the open-pulled straws (OPS). After warming, they were cultured for 1 h in M₂ medium containing melatonin at different concentrations (0, 10⁻⁹, 10⁻⁷, 10⁻⁵, 10⁻³ mol/L). Then the oocytes were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels (fluorescence microscopy), and the developmental potential after parthenogenetic activation. The experimental results showed that the ROS level and cleavage rate in 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin group was significantly lower than that in melatonin-free group (control). The GSH levels and blastocyst rates in all melatonin-treated groups were similar to that in control. Based on the above results, we detected the expression of gene Hsp90aa1, Hsf1, Hspa1b, Nrf2 and Bcl-x1 with qRT-PCR in oocytes treated with 10⁻⁷, or 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin and untreated control. After warming and culture for 1 h, the oocytes showed higher Hsp90aa1 expression in 10⁻⁷ mol/L melatonin-treated group than in the control (P < 0.05); the Hsf1, Hsp90aa1 and Bcl-x1 expression were significantly decreased in 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin-treated group when compared to the control. Based on the above results and previous research, we detected the development of vitrified-warmed oocytes treated with either 10⁻⁷ or 0 mol/L melatonin by in vitro fertilization. No difference was observed between them.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the supplementation of melatonin (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻³ mol/L) in culture medium and incubation for 1 h did not improve the subsequent developmental potential of vitrified-warmed mouse MII oocytes, even if there were alteration in gene expression.     

A computer vision system for oocyte counting using images captured by smartphone

This work proposes a computer vision procedure for counting Twospot astyanax (Astyanax bimaculatus) oocytes in Petri dishes using images captured by smartphone. First, the proposed procedure uses simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) to divide the images into groups of pixels (superpixels). Then, based on their color and space characteristics, the images are classified into light background, dark background, dirt, or oocyte by a machine learning algorithm. Five different types of machine learning algorithms were tested: support vector machines (SVM), decision trees using the algorithm J48 and random forest, k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and Naive Bayes. To train the algorithms, 8.578 superpixels were classified by an expert into oocyte (n = 354), dirtiness (n = 651), dark background (n = 3.622), and light background (n = 3.951). Of the five learning algorithms, SVM obtained the best result with 97% correct oocyte recognition. Given the wide availability of smartphones, we therefore conclude that the presented procedure can be a valuable tool in future experiments and studies on fertilization and hatching success in Twospot astyanax.     

亮甲酚蓝染色对水牛卵母细胞体外受精和孤雌激活胚胎发育的影响

[目的]探讨亮甲酚蓝（BCB）染色对水牛卵母细胞体外受精及孤雌激活胚胎发育的影响。[方法]卵丘卵母细胞复合体（COCs）在体外成熟培养前用浓度26μmol/L的亮甲酚蓝染色90 min,然后根据卵母细胞胞质蓝色的有无分为阳性（BCB＋,蓝色）和阴性组（BCB-,不着色）。以未经染色处理的COCs为对照组,控制对照组卵母细胞在含0.4%牛血清白蛋白（BSA）的杜氏磷酸盐缓冲液（DPBS）中孵育90 min。体外成熟培养后统计各组的成熟率、体外受精和孤雌激活后的发育率。[结果]BCB＋组的成熟率（65.70%）显著高于对照组（59.86%）、控制对照组（58.42%）和BCB-组（48.86%）。在体外受精后的囊胚发育率方面,BCB＋组（27.08%）和对照组（25.49%）差异不显著,但显著高于控制对照组（20.50%）和BCB-组（8.45%）。在孤雌激活后的囊胚发育率方面,BCB-组显著低于其他各组,但BCB＋组、对照组以及控制对照组之间无显著差异。[结论]亮甲酚蓝染色筛选出的阳性卵母细胞具有较好的核成熟发育潜能,但并不能显著提高卵母细胞体外受精及孤雌激活后的胚胎发育率。     

异色瓢虫卵巢发育及卵子发生过程观察

为明确异色瓢虫卵巢发育和卵子发生过程,采用内部解剖和石蜡切片技术,分别对异色瓢虫卵巢形态和卵母细胞组织结构进行系统观察,并对其发育阶段进行了划分。结果表明:异色瓢虫雌性内生殖器官主要由1对卵巢、1对侧输卵管、1根中输卵管、受精囊、受精囊附腺、交配囊和黏腺组成;根据有无卵室和卵黄沉积情况将其卵巢发育划分为未分化期、生长发育初期、卵黄沉积期和成熟待产期4个等级;根据卵母细胞所在位置、体积和细胞核的变化,滋养细胞和滤泡细胞的形态变化以及卵黄沉积情况,将异色瓢虫卵子发生划分为卵母细胞分化期、卵母细胞营养期和卵黄形成期3个时期7个阶段。本研究首次对异色瓢虫的卵子发生进行了观察,并初步划分了异色瓢虫卵巢发育的分级标准。     

Effects of UCHL1 Inhibition on Porcine Oocyte Matuation in vitro,Zona Pellucida Ubiquitination and Polyspermy

This study was aimed to examine the effects of UCHL1 inhibition on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, zona pellucida (ZP) ubiquitination and polyspermy. DAPI staining, Hoechst staining and SDS-PAGE methods were used to detect the matuation rate of porcine oocytes in vitro, the level of ubiquitination of zona pellucida (ZP) and polyspermy. The results showed that after different concentrations UCHL1 inhibitor (10, 20, 25 and 30 μmol/L, DMSO and control group) were added into maturation medium for culturing 46 h in vitro, the mature rate of control group was 86.22%, while the maturation rate of 30 μmol/L group was 15.30%, and the maturation rate of every treatment group had significant difference (P<0.05). Western blotting result showed that every group generated ubiquitin markers of ZP were about 61, 80 and 106 ku in different degree. According to the analysis of gray value, the result had significant difference (P<0.05). Conducting fertilization in vitro, the number of sperm adhered on oocyte ZP in control group was the most, the number of sperm running into oocyte was fewer, the number of sperm adhered on oocyte ZP with 30 μmol/L UCHL1 inhibitor was the fewest, and there was almost no sperm running into the oocyte. The results showed that UCHL1 inhibitor had an impact on maturation of porcine oocytes in vitro. With the higher concentration of UCHL1, the lower degree of ZP protein ubiquitinated, UCHL1 could regulate sperm attachment and polyspermy.     

Conversion of Goat Fibroblasts into Lineage‐Specific Cells Using a Direct Reprogramming Strategy

Direct reprogramming is an efficient strategy to convert one cell type to another. In this study, due to the failure of maintaining the undifferentiated state of goat embryotic stem‐ and induced pluripotent stem‐like cells in vitro, we explored an alternative way to directly convert goat fibroblasts to lineage‐specific cells. The ‘Yamanaka factors’ was ectopically expressed in fibroblasts for a short term to situate cells in a metastable state. By culturing with lineage‐specific media for 1–2 weeks, the cardiomyocyte‐like cells and neurocyte‐like cells were generated and confirmed by the quantitative RT‐PCR and immunocytochemical staining. The metastable‐state cells could also be converted into oocyte‐like cells (OLCs) after culturing in media with retinoic acid (RA) and bovine follicular fluid (bFF) for 2–3 weeks. The generated OLCs were surrounded by cumulus granulosa cell‐like cells and formed a structure resembling goat cumulus‐oocyte complex from ovaries. This primary follicular structure could be developed further in oocyte mature medium and expressed germ cell‐specific markers. In addition, we found that the induction efficiency was higher and OLC cell size was bigger in bFF than in RA treatment. Altogether, the direct reprogramming of goat fibroblasts into lineage‐specific cells can facilitate stem cell research in domestic animals.     

Effects of polyethylene glycol and a synthetic ice blocker during vitrification of immature porcine oocytes on survival and subsequent embryo development

We evaluated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Supercool X‐1000 (SC) as supplements during the vitrification of immature cumulus‐enclosed porcine oocytes in a solution based on 17.5% ethylene glycol + 17.5% propylene glycol. After warming, the oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture. In Experiment 1, equilibration and vitrification solutions were supplemented with or without 2% (w/v) PEG (PEG+ and PEG‐, respectively). The survival rate, cleavage and blastocyst development were similar between PEG+ and PEG‐ groups; however, all values were lower than those in the non‐vitrified control. In Experiment 2, vitrification solution was supplemented with or without 1% (v/v) SC (SC+ and SC‐, respectively). The percentages of survival and blastocyst development were similar between SC+ and SC‐ groups but lower than those in the non‐vitrified control. The percentage of cleavage in the SC‐ group was significantly lower than the control and the SC+ groups, which were in turn similar to one another. In both experiments, the cell numbers in blastocysts were not significantly different among the non‐vitrified and vitrified groups. In conclusion, PEG did not improve oocyte survival and embryo development, whereas SC improved the ability of surviving oocytes to cleave but not to develop into blastocysts.     

Effects of melatonin on maturation,histone acetylation,autophagy of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development

Melatonin (MLT) is an endogenous hormone with roles in animal germ cell development. However, the effect of MLT on porcine oocyte maturation and its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous MLT on oocyte maturation, histone acetylation, autophagy and subsequent embryonic development. We found that 1 nmol/L MLT supplemented in maturation medium was the optimal concentration to promote porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent developmental competence and quality of parthenogenetic embryos. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of 1 nmol/L MLT treatment on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development were mainly attributed to the first half period of in vitro maturation. Simultaneously, MLT treatment could also improve maturation of small follicle‐derived oocytes, morphologically poor (cumulus cell layer ≤1) and even artificially denuded oocytes and their subsequent embryo development. Furthermore, MLT treatment not only could decrease the levels of H3K27ac and H4K16ac in metaphase II (MII) oocytes, but also could increase the expression abundances of genes associated with cumulus cell expansion, meiotic maturation, histone acetylation and autophagy in cumulus cells or MII oocytes. These results indicate that MLT treatment can facilitate porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development probably, through improvements in histone acetylation and autophagy in oocytes.