自噬调节因子Atg5和Beclin1在不同来源小鼠胚胎早期发育过程中的表达分析

旨在探究自噬调节因子Atg5和Beclin1在胚胎早期发育过程中的表达模式及胚胎的不同生产方式对两种因子表达的影响。本研究将6~8周龄雌性小鼠进行超数排卵,分为2组,一组收集小鼠卵母细胞,孤雌激活处理后进行体外培养;另一组超排小鼠与公鼠1：1合笼,第2天收集小鼠受精卵进行体外培养;分别在2细胞期、4~8细胞期、桑葚胚期和囊胚期收集不同阶段小鼠孤雌激活胚胎和自然受精胚胎。提取RNA和蛋白,通过实时荧光定量PCR、Western blot等方法检测自噬关键因子Atg5和Beclin1的表达,通过间接免疫荧光法检测Atg5和Beclin1在小鼠囊胚中的表达定位。结果显示,小鼠自然受精和孤雌激活胚胎在发育各时期均可表达Atg5和Beclin1,表达量在胚胎发育的早期呈现出较高的水平,其中二者的表达在小鼠自然受精胚胎中从2细胞期起逐渐降低,而在孤雌激活胚胎的4~8细胞阶段表达量最高,与同期自然受精胚胎差异极显著（P<0.01）;从4细胞期开始,各时期孤雌激活胚胎中Atg5和Beclin1蛋白表达水平均高于自然受精胚胎,差异极显著（P<0.01）;在囊胚中,滋养层细胞和内细胞团中均可检测到Atg5和Beclin1蛋白的荧光,但内细胞团中的荧光强度高于滋养层细胞,且Beclin1蛋白在孤雌激活胚胎囊胚内细胞团中荧光强度高于自然受精胚胎。自噬关键因子Atg5和Beclin1在不同来源小鼠胚胎早期发育各时期均有不同程度的表达,提示自噬对早期胚胎发育的调控作用与胚胎的生产方式存在一定关联,研究结果为进一步探索细胞自噬参与哺乳动物胚胎发育的生理调控提供理论依据。     

TET介导的DNA主动去甲基化的机制与功能研究进展

TET蛋白是一种α-酮戊二酸/Fe²⁺依赖的双加氧酶家族，可以氧化5-甲基胞嘧啶（5mC）产生5-羟基甲基胞嘧啶（5hmC）、5-甲酰基胞嘧啶（5fC）和5-羧基胞嘧啶（5caC）。TET蛋白在DNA去甲基化过程中发挥关键作用，并参与哺乳动物早期发育过程。现在被广泛认可的一种途径是TET蛋白氧化5mC，接着由胸腺嘧啶糖苷酶（thymine DNA glycosylase，TDG）氧化5fC、5caC，且TDG更易切割5caC，最后经过碱基切除修复得到未被修饰的胞嘧啶，达到去甲基化的目的。去甲基化过程中调控方式主要包括调节TET蛋白水平和调节代谢产物及辅助因子。作者主要对胚胎发育前后去甲基化的作用进行了阐述。     

玻璃化冷冻后小鼠卵母细胞及其早期胚胎中DNA甲基转移酶的表达模式

卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻导致的胚胎发育阻滞与其DNA甲基化模式的异常密切相关。本研究以小鼠为模型,旨在探讨玻璃化冷冻对卵母细胞及其形成的早期胚胎中DNA甲基转移酶(DNMTs)表达模式的影响。采用免疫荧光染色结合激光共聚焦显微成像技术检测了DNMT1、DNMT3A和DNMT3B在新鲜和冷冻卵母细胞及其形成的各阶段早期胚胎中的表达与分布,结果表明:在卵母细胞及受精后的合子中冷冻组3种DNMTs的表达均出现了异常。采用实时定量PCR技术检测了新鲜和冷冻卵母细胞及其形成的囊胚中,Dnmt1、Dnmt3a和Dnmt3b的m RNA表达水平,显示在冷冻卵母细胞中3种Dnmts的表达水平均显著下降,至囊胚阶段Dnmt3b的表达水平仍然很低(P0.05)。研究结果表明卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻导致了小鼠早期胚胎发育过程中DNMTs表达模式的异常,这可能是DNA甲基化异常的重要原因之一。     

KDM2B在小鼠卵母细胞及早期胚胎发育过程中的表达分析

本研究旨在分析KDM2B在小鼠卵母细胞和早期胚胎中的表达规律,为KDM2B在卵母细胞减数分裂及胚胎发育过程中的生物学作用奠定基础。选择20只6～8周龄小鼠为试验动物,收集GV期、MⅡ期卵母细胞、2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞、囊胚各阶段胚胎,根据GenBank上已公布的小鼠(Mus musculus)KDM2B序列设计引物,采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测KDM2B在胚胎各阶段mRNA的表达水平;通过免疫荧光染色定位KDM2B蛋白在胚胎各阶段的分布。结果显示,GV期卵母细胞KDM2B mRNA的表达量极显著高于MⅡ期(P<0.01);在2-细胞、4-细胞和8-细胞mRNA表达量较低,囊胚期其表达量极显著升高(P<0.01);卵母细胞成熟过程中,KDM2B在GV期主要表达于细胞核中,MⅡ期卵母细胞核中的荧光信号极显著减弱(P<0.01),早期胚胎发育过程中,KDM2B蛋白在2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞胚胎中均不表达,囊胚期重新表达于细胞核。综上表明,本研究成功建立KDM2B在小鼠卵母细胞及胚胎细胞中的时空及时序表达模式,关于KDM2B参与调控减数分裂与胚胎发育过程具体的作用机制有待进一步研究。     

HT-2毒素对小鼠MII期卵母生殖细胞甲基化基因及DNA甲基化的影响

为研究HT-2毒素对小鼠MII期卵母细胞甲基化基因及DNA甲基化的影响,试验将24只小鼠随机分为4组,根据饲料标准设置HT-2毒素浓度分别为1、1.5、2 mg/kg及空白对照组。连续灌胃16 d后进行超排,测定小鼠卵巢的重量,采集小鼠MII期卵母细胞,通过使用实时荧光定量PCR和激光共聚焦的方法对小鼠卵母细胞Tet1、Tet2、Tet3甲基化基因表达及DNA甲基化进行研究。结果表明:(1)2 mg/kg组小鼠卵巢重量较对照组极显著降低(P 0.01);2 mg/kg组较1、1.5 mg/kg组显著降低(P 0.05);其他各组间差异不显著(P 0.05)。(2)Tet1、Tet2基因表达水平试验组和对照组相比差异不显著(P 0.05);2 mg/kg组Tet3基因表达水平较对照组极显著降低(P 0.01);2 mg/kg组较1、1.5 mg/kg组显著降低(P 0.05);其他各组差异不显著(P 0.05)。(3)在激光共聚焦试验中,5-甲基胞嘧啶(5-mC)的荧光平均光密度(AO值)中,1.5、2 mg/kg组较对照组和1 mg/kg两组极显著提高(P 0.01);1.5 mg/kg组与2 mg/kg组差异极显著(P 0.01);其他组别间无显著差异(P 0.05)。5-羟甲基胞嘧啶(5-hmC)的AO值中,1.5、2 mg/kg组较对照组和1 mg/kg组极显著提高(P 0.01);其他各组差异不显著(P 0.05)。各梯度中5-mC和5-hmC平均光密度值间差异极显著(P 0.01)。综上所述,HT-2毒素可通过降低小鼠MII期卵母细胞Tet3基因的表达水平从而提高DNA甲基化水平。     

TET去甲基化酶对猪卵母细胞发育的影响

【目的】研究TET(ten-eleven translocation)去甲基化酶对猪卵母细胞发育的影响。【方法】将收集的猪卵丘-卵母细胞复合体(COCs)置于不同浓度(0(对照组)、100、200和400μmol/L)Bobcat339抑制剂的体外成熟培养液中培养42 h,测量卵丘扩展直径,统计成熟率,确定最小有效浓度。在体外成熟培养液中培养27 h后,利用免疫荧光(IF)检测5-甲基胞嘧啶(5mC)与5-羟甲基胞嘧啶(5hmC)信号强度以及纺锤体组装情况;利用DCFH-DA染料检测卵母细胞活性氧(ROS)水平;利用JC-1染色法检测线粒体膜电位水平(MMP);利用ATP检测试剂检测卵母细胞ATP水平;利用实时荧光定量PCR检测42 h时COCs卵丘扩展相关基因表达水平和27 h时卵母细胞抗氧化相关基因表达水平。【结果】与对照组相比,100、200和400μmol/L组卵丘细胞扩展水平均极显著降低(P<0.01),100、200和400μmol/L组成熟率显著或极显著降低(P<0.05;P<0.01),确定最小有效浓度为100μmol/L,后续试验均用该浓度。IF检测...     

绵羊卵母细胞超低温冷冻对四跨膜蛋白CD9表达的影响

试验旨在探讨不同发育时期卵泡上四跨膜蛋白CD9的表达,以及体外成熟和超低温冷冻对绵羊卵母细胞CD9的影响。采用免疫组织化学技术检测CD9蛋白在卵泡上的表达部位,实时荧光定量PCR技术检测CD9 mRNA的表达量,Western blotting技术检测CD9蛋白的含量。免疫组织化学结果发现,在绵羊原始卵泡上就开始检测到CD9荧光信号,且随着卵泡的成熟荧光信号逐渐增强,成熟卵泡时荧光信号达到最强;实时荧光定量PCR检测新鲜MⅡ期卵母细胞中CD9 mRNA的表达量显著增高（P<0.05）,冷冻GV期卵母细胞CD9 mRNA的表达量最少;Western blotting检测得出新鲜MⅡ期卵母细胞中CD9蛋白表达最多,冷冻GV期卵母细胞上表达最少,与实时荧光定量PCR结果一致。卵母细胞的冷冻保存要比胚胎保存应用前景广泛,而四跨膜蛋白CD9在精卵融合中更有着重要的作用,以上结果均显示,冷冻保存降低卵母细胞四跨膜蛋白CD9含量,而CD9的损伤是受精率下降的重要原因之一。     

DNA甲基化酶抑制剂5-Aza-CdR对多能基因及甲基化相关基因在徒手克隆胚胎中表达模式的影响

本试验通过实时荧光定量PCR方法对多能基因Oct4和Nanog及DNA甲基化相关基因Dnmt1和Tets在徒手克隆（handmade cloning,HMC）胚胎中的表达模式进行初步研究,并探讨5-Aza-CdR处理重构胚对这些基因表达模式的影响。结果显示,Oct4、Nanog和Tet3的表达在2细胞时期达到顶峰,Dnmt1和Tet2基因的表达随HMC胚胎发育而下降,而Tet1基因随HMC胚胎发育表达上升。使用5-Aza-CdR处理重构胚没有改变Oct4、Tet1和Tet3基因的表达模式,使Nanog基因在胚胎发育初期表达增加,Dnmt1和Tet2基因在胚胎发育初期表达降低。研究初步确立了Oct4、Nanog、Dnmt1和Tets基因在HMC胚胎的表达模式,5-Aza-CdR对重构胚的处理可对HMC胚胎的甲基化模式产生影响。     

肌肉生长抑制素在小鼠不同发育阶段心肌组织中的表达

本试验旨在探究肌肉生长抑制素（myostatin，MSTN）基因在小鼠不同发育阶段心肌组织中的表达情况，分别选取幼年（7日龄）、性成熟（21~28日龄）、体成熟（42~56日龄）和老年（84日龄以上）4个发育阶段的健康小鼠（各3只）为研究对象，采用实时荧光定量PCR、HE染色、免疫组织化学等方法研究小鼠不同发育时期MSTN基因在心肌组织中的表达及不同时期心肌组织的发育。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示，MSTN基因在小鼠不同发育阶段心肌组织中均有表达，且其在小鼠老年时期的表达量最高，体成熟时期的表达量最低；幼年小鼠和性成熟小鼠心肌组织中MSTN基因表达水平显著低于老年小鼠（P<0.05），而体成熟小鼠则极显著性低于老年小鼠（P<0.01）。HE染色结果显示，小鼠心肌细胞核及肌纤维的生长在不同发育时期明显不同，其中幼年时期的细胞核最多，肌纤维排列相对较紧密，而在性成熟、体成熟、老年时期心肌的发育指标依次降低。免疫组织化学结果显示，MSTN基因主要在心肌细胞核中表达，其各个时期表达量与实时荧光定量PCR的结果相符合。     

Development of mouse embryonic nuclei transferred to enucleated oocytes and zygotes.

The present study was conducted to examine the development of nuclear transplant embryos produced by transplanting nuclei to either oocytes or zygotes in the mouse. Metaphase II oocytes and one-cell zygotes were enucleated and fused with transferred nuclei from late two-, four- and eight-cell stage embryos. Enucleation of metaphase oocytes was achieved using the interference microscope without staining. Fusion and oocyte activation were performed by means of electric fields. Similar development rates to the blastocyst stage were obtained from enucleated oocytes (28.0%) and zygotes (30.9%) reconstituted with nuclei from late two-cell embryos. Cleavage and blastocoele formation of reconstituted embryos occurred at around the same time as observed in the control embryos, with some exceptions. After transfer to recipient females, live young were obtained from both reconstituted oocytes (9.1%) and zygotes (11.5%) that received a nucleus from late two-cell embryos. The results indicate that enucleated zygotes as well as oocytes can support development to term of nuclei introduced from late two-cell embryos in which activation of the embryonic genome has occurred, which may be a result of the reprogramming of the donor nucleus.     

G蛋白偶联受体50在牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟过程中的表达与亚细胞定位研究

试验旨在研究G蛋白偶联受体50（G protein-coupled receptor 50,GPR50）在牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟过程中的表达与定位规律,为进一步解析卵母细胞成熟的分子机制及理解牦牛繁殖的特异性提供依据。通过牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟培养,利用免疫荧光染色监测不同时间点（0~24 h）纺锤丝形态和核相的变化,确定牦牛卵母细胞减数分裂4个时期,包括生发泡期（germinal vesicle,GV）、生发泡破裂期（germinal vesicle break down,GVBD）、第一次减数分裂中期（metaphase Ⅰ,MⅠ）与第二次减数分裂中期（metaphase Ⅱ,MⅡ）的时间点。在此基础上,通过实时荧光定量PCR检测GPR50基因在牦牛卵母细胞成熟过程中的动态表达量,免疫荧光染色检测GPR50蛋白在卵母细胞成熟过程中的的亚细胞动态定位情况。结果表明,牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟0 h时90%处于GV期,6 h时94%处于GVBD期,16 h时92%细胞处于MⅠ期,24 h时94%处于MⅡ期。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,GPR50基因在牦牛卵母细胞GV期即有表达,并在GVBD、MⅠ、MⅡ期成熟过程中逐渐升高,在MⅡ期达到顶峰,且极显著高于GV与GVBD期（P<0.01）。GPR50蛋白在牦牛卵母细胞GV期时集中在膜上表达,并随着成熟进程的发展在细胞质和细胞膜均大量表达,在MⅡ期高亮度弥散表达。以上结果表明,GPR50基因参与牦牛卵母细胞减数分裂过程并发挥重要作用,为研究GPR50在牦牛卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用及机制提供了依据。     

Changes of HCO3-/Cl- exchanger activity during meiotic maturation in Balb/c strain mouse oocytes and zygotes

Intracellular pH-regulatory mechanisms are acquired by growing mouse oocytes with meiotic competence, and these mechanisms become fully active when the oocytes develop to the germinal vesicle (GV) stage as shown in CF1 and Balb/c strains mice. On the other hand, there is some evidence showing that intracellular pH-regulatory mechanisms are inhibited at the stages of Metaphase I (MI) and II (MII) oocytes in the CF1 strain mouse and hamster. Since it has been shown that the intracellular pH regulatory mechanism can be functionally different among mouse strains (e.g., CF1, Balb/c), the aim of this study was to investigate the activity of HCO3-/Cl- exchanger (anion exchanger, AE), which protects cells against alkalosis during the meiotic maturation process, in the GV oocyte up to the pronuclear (PN) zygote derived from the Balb/c strain mouse. Intracellular pH (pHi) was recorded using a microspectrofluorometric technique during meiotic maturation stages. KSOM-based solutions were used as culture and recording solutions. AE activity was determined using a Cl- removal assay and was reported as the change in pHi per minute. AE activity was high in GV stage oocytes but was significantly inhibited at the MI and MII stages. AE activity was higher in the PN zygote stage. This activity was significantly inhibited in all oocyte and zygote stages by 4,4'-Diisocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid disodium salt. After alkalosis induction, the pHi of MI and MII stage oocytes did not completely recover; however, almost complete recovery occurred in the GV stage oocytes and PN zygotes. These results suggest that AE is inhibited during the meiotic maturation process in the Balb/c strain mouse.     

Development of interspecies cloned monkey embryos reconstructed with bovine enucleated oocytes

This study was carried out to determine whether culture media reconstructed with bovine enucleated oocytes and the expression pattern of Oct-4 could support dedifferentiaton of monkey fibroblasts in interspecies cloned monkey embryos. In this study, monkey and bovine skin fibroblasts were used as donor cells for reconstruction with bovine enucleated oocytes. The reconstructed monkey interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) embryos were then cultured under six different culture conditions with modifications of the embryo culture media and normal bovine and monkey specifications. The Oct-4 expression patterns of the embryos were examined at the two-cell to blastocyst stages using immunocytochemistry. The monkey iSCNT embryos showed similar cleavage rates to those of bovine SCNT and bovine parthenogenetic activation (PA). However, the monkey iSCNT embryos were not able to develop beyond the 16-cell stage under any of the culture conditions. In monkey and bovine SCNT embryos, Oct-4 could be detected from the two-cell to blastocyst stage, and in bovine PA embryos, Oct-4 was detectable from the morula to blastocyst stage. These results suggested that bovine ooplasm could support dedifferentiation of monkey somatic cell nuclei but could not support embryo development to either the compact morula or blastocyst stage. In conclusion, we found that the culture conditions that tend to enhance monkey iSCNT embryo development and the expression pattern of Oct-4 in cloned embryos (monkey iSCNT and bovine SCNT) are different than in bovine PA embryos.     

A B-cell targeting virus disrupts potentially protective genomic methylation patterns in lymphoid tissue by increasing global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels

The mechanisms by which viruses modulate the immune system include changes in host genomic methylation. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is the catalytic product of the Tet (Ten-11 translocation) family of enzymes and may serve as an intermediate of DNA demethylation. Recent reports suggest that 5hmC may confer consequences on cellular events including the pathogenesis of disease; in order to explore this possibility further we investigated both 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5hmC levels in healthy and diseased chicken bursas of Fabricius. We discovered that embryonic B-cells have high 5mC content while 5hmC decreases during bursa development. We propose that a high 5mC level protects from the mutagenic activity of the B-cell antibody diversifying enzyme activation induced deaminase (AID). In support of this view, AID mRNA increases significantly within the developing bursa from embryonic to post hatch stages while mRNAs that encode Tet family members 1 and 2 reduce over the same period. Moreover, our data revealed that infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) disrupts this genomic methylation pattern causing a global increase in 5hmC levels in a mechanism that may involve increased Tet 1 and 2 mRNAs. To our knowledge this is the first time that a viral infection has been observed to cause global increases in genomic 5hmC within infected host tissues, underlining a mechanism that may involve the induction of B-cell genomic instability and cell death to facilitate viral egress.     

Effect of DNA Methylation Inhibitor 5-Aza-CdR on Patterns of Pluripotent-related Genes and Methylation Genes in Handmade Cloning Embryo

The expression pattern of pluripotent gene Oct4 and Nanog,and methylation related genes Dnmt1 and Tets of handmade cloning (HMC) embryos were studied by Real-time quantitative PCR assay.The effect of genes expression pattern by 5-Aza-CdR on HMC reconstructed embryos was also explored. The results showed that the expression of Oct4,Nanog and Tet3 genes reached peak on 2-cell stage,the expression of Dnmt1 and Tet2 genes declined with the embryo development,while the expression of Tet1 gene increased.The use of 5-Aza-CdR didn't change the expression pattern of Oct4,Tet1 and Tet3 genes,but increased the expression of Nanog gene at the beginning of embryo development,while decreased the expression of Dnmt1 and Tet2 genes.The expression pattern of Oct4,Nanog,Dnmt1 and Tets genes in the development of HMC embryo was established,the use of 5-Aza-CdR could influence the methylation process of HMC embryo.     

Effect of centrifugation treatment before vitrification on the viability of porcine mature oocytes and zygotes produced in vitro

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of centrifugation pretreatment on the viability and nuclear status of porcine in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes and on the developmental competence of in vitro fertilized (IVF) oocytes (zygotes) after cryopreservation by vitrification (Solid Surface Vitrification; SSV). Mature oocytes having the first polar body after IVM and zygotes having the second polar body at 10 h after IVF were centrifuged at 10,000 x g at 37 C for 20 min and then subjected to SSV. Their viability was evaluated by morphological appearance and fluorescein diacetate staining. The nuclear status of oocytes was evaluated 6 h after vitrification. The developmental ability to the blastocyst stage of vitrified zygotes was evaluated after 6 days of in vitro culture. Although centrifugation did not damage the oocytes directly, it drastically reduced the rate of live oocytes after SSV. The rates of vitrification-induced parthenogenetic activation were similar in both centrifuged and non-centrifuged oocytes (42.4 and 47.4%, respectively). Centrifugation had no significant effects on the viability of pronuclear oocytes. The development of vitrified zygotes to the blastocyst stage was significantly lower than that of the control irrespective of centrifugation pretreatment. There was no difference in the cleavage and blastocyst rates between the control and centrifuged zygotes after vitrification. There was also no difference in the total cell numbers of blastocysts between the control and centrifuged zygotes irrespective of vitrification. These results reveal that, in IVM porcine oocytes, centrifugation pretreatment is highly detrimental to cryotolerance; however, in zygotes, it has only a slight effect on viability and does not alter the developmental competence of surviving zygotes.     

水牛卵母细胞和体外受精早期胚胎端粒酶活性测定

为了解水牛卵母细胞和体外受精（IVF）胚胎早期发育过程中端粒酶的活性变化,本研究利用端粒重复序列扩增法（TRAP）进行了水牛未成熟卵母细胞,成熟卵母细胞和2～4细胞,8～16细胞,桑椹胚以及囊胚各阶段的早期胚胎端粒酶活性的测定。依据电泳条带在成像系统下的光密度值,计算端粒酶的相对活性（RTA）。结果发现,未成熟卵母细胞端粒酶活性比成熟卵母细胞高（P〈0.05）,受精后2～4和8～16细胞胚胎端粒酶活性相对较低,桑椹胚端粒酶活性明显升高（P〈0.05）,囊胚阶段达到最高水平。通过对水牛不同发育阶段胚胎细胞数计数及单细胞相对端粒酶活性的分析比较结果显示,卵母细胞的单细胞端粒酶活性最高,囊胚阶段的最低。单细胞端粒酶活性从未成熟卵母细胞到IVF囊胚阶段呈逐渐降低的趋势。这些结果表明,水牛卵母细胞及早期胚胎的端粒酶活性变化与其成熟、发育阻断及全能性的逐步降低有关。     

Nuclear transplantation in bovine embryos

This study was conducted to develop a method for transplanting nuclei in bovine embryos and to test the development of several stages of donor nuclei transplanted to enucleated pronuclear recipient embryos. Pronuclear embryos were centrifuged to reveal nuclei. Nuclei were removed without penetrating the plasma membrane as membrane-bound karyoplasts, and were inserted into enucleated zygotes by electrically induced cell fusion. The highest rate of fusion (79%) occurred in Zimmerman Cell Fusion medium at 100 V for 20 to 40 microseconds with the fusion membranes oriented parallel to the electrodes. The effect of nuclear transplantation on development was tested in pronuclear embryos in which nuclei were removed and reinserted and the embryos were then transferred to sheep oviducts for 5 d. Of the intact nuclear transplant embryos recovered, 5/29 (17%) developed to morulae or blastocysts compared with 11/30 (37%) of the non-manipulated embryos. Two nuclear transplant embryos were transferred to a recipient cow, and both developed to normal offspring. When nuclei from two-, four-, or eight-cell embryos were transplanted to pronuclear recipient embryos, no development was observed.