Effect of mSOF and G1.1/G2.2 Media on the Developmental Competence of SCNT‐Derived Bovine Embryos

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two culture media: modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF) and G1.2/G2.2, on the developmental competence of bovine somatic cell–cloned embryos. Cloned embryos were produced by transferring adult skin fibroblasts into enucleated MII oocytes. After activation, the reconstructed embryos were randomly allotted to either mSOF or G1.2/G2.2 for culture (the embryos were transferred from G1.2 to G2.2 on days 3 of culture). The development competence of cloned embryos in these two culture systems was compared in terms of cleavage rate, blastocyst formation rate and apoptosis cell number in day 7 blastocyts. To investigate the in vivo developmental competence of cloned embryos in the two culture systems, a total of 87 and 104 blastocysts derived from mSOF and G1.2/G2.2 medium groups were transferred individually to recipient Angus cows, respectively. No differences were observed in terms of cleavage rate, day 7 blastocyst rate and blastocyst cell number between these two culture systems. However, the day 6 blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher in G1.2/G2.2 than that in mSOF. In addition, blastocysts cultured in mSOF have a higher percentage of apoptotic blastomeres compared to those in G1.2/G2.2 (8.5 ± 1.2 vs 16.8 ± 1.5, p < 0.05). Although difference in pregnancy rate was not observed 40 days after embryo transfer, significantly higher pregnancy rate was observed in G1.2/G2.2 group after 90 days of embryo transfer (12.4% vs 37.5%, p < 0.05). Moreover, calving rate was significantly improved in G1.2/G2.2 group compared to mSOF group (27.9% vs 6.7%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results indicate that G1.2/G2.2 can improve developmental competence of bovine SCNT embryos both in vitro and in vivo, which is more suitable for culture of bovine SCNT embryos than mSOF medium.     

Quality and Developmental Ability of Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) Embryos Obtained by IVM/IVF, In Vivo Matured/IVF or In Vivo Matured/Fertilized Oocytes

The effect of source of cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs), maturation and fertilization conditions on developmental competence of dromedary embryos was examined. Thirty-six adult females were superovulated with equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) injection (3500 IU, IM) and divided in three groups of 12 females each. Group 1 provided 138 COC's collected from follicles >or= 5 mm 10 days after stimulation prior hCG treatment and matured in vitro for 30 h. Group 2 provided 120 in vivo matured oocytes which were aspirated from their follicles 20 h after hCG (3000 IU, IV) given on day 10 follow eCG injection. Group 3 provided 65 in vivo matured/fertilized oocytes. Females in Group 3 received hCG on day 10 following eCG treatment and then were mated 24 h later. Fertilized oocytes were collected from the oviducts of females 48-h post-mating. Quality of the oocytes was assessed after in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro culture (IVC) of COCs. All cultures were performed in three replicates (n = 3) at 38.5 degrees C, under 5% CO(2) and high humidity (>95%). Only COCs with cumulus and homogenous (dark) cytoplasm were used. Nuclear maturation rate for Groups 1 and 2 was determined by epifluorescence microscopy in a sample of COCs (n = 30) denuded, fixed and stained with Hoechst 33342. To study the viability of obtained embryos, hatched blastocysts from each group were transferred to recipients followed by pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasonography at 15, 60 and 90 days. The percentage of COCs reaching metaphase II (MII) after 30 h of maturation was slightly but not significantly higher for in vivo matured oocytes (28/30; 93%) than those in vitro matured (25/30; 84%). The total rate of cleavage (2 cells to blastocyst stage) was not different for the three groups. However, significantly (p < 0.05) more blastocyst and hatched blastocysts were obtained from in vivo matured and in vivo fertilized oocytes (Group 3; 52% and 73%) than from in vitro fertilized oocytes whether they were matured in vitro (Group 1; 35% and 32%) or in vivo (Group 2; 32% and 45%). Pregnancy rates were not significantly different amongst all groups for the three first months following embryo transfer. All pregnancies were lost after day 90 follow transfer except for in vivo matured and in vivo matured/fertilized groups. Only in vivo matured/in vitro fertilized and in vivo matured/fertilized produced embryos continued normal development until term and resulted in the birth of normal and healthy live calves. Six claves (29%; 6/21) were born from Group 3 and one (8%; 1/13) calf was born from Group 2. This study shows that the IVC system used is able to support camel embryo development. However, developmental competence and viability of dromedary embryos may be directly related to the intrinsic quality (cytoplasmic maturation) of oocytes.     

前列腺素E2受体激动剂和雌激素对奶牛输卵管上皮细胞中转化生长因子β3表达的影响

本试验旨在观察前列腺素E₂受体激动剂(布他前列腺素(butaprost))与雌激素对奶牛输卵管上皮细胞中转化生长因子β₃(TGFβ₃)表达的影响,阐明butaprost和雌激素对奶牛输卵管上皮细胞TGFβ₃有无协同调控作用.采用胰酶消化法及机械法分离培养奶牛输卵管上皮细胞,分别将butaprost和雌激素作用于体外培养的奶牛输卵管上皮细胞,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测butaprost和雌激素对奶牛输卵管上皮细胞中TGFβ₃ mRNA表达的影响.结果显示,与0 h作用组相比,雌激素作用16、24和48 h时对奶牛输卵管上皮细胞TGFβ₃的表达量均极显著升高(P< 0.01),4 h的表达量极显著降低(P< 0.01);且受体激动剂butaprost和雌激素有协同调控TGFβ₃的效应;加入吲哚美辛后能有效抑制内源性前列腺素对TGFβ₃表达的作用.结果表明,butaprost和雌激素可调控奶牛输卵管上皮细胞TGFβ₃ mRNA 的表达.     

奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞氧化应激模型的建立及奶牛脂肪间充质干细胞对其迁移的影响

【目的】探讨奶牛脂肪间充质干细胞(bovine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, bAD-MSCs)对氧化应激条件下奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞迁移能力的影响。【方法】使用0、5、25、50、100、200μmol/L H₂O₂处理奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞2、4、6、8、12 h后,通过MTT试验检测细胞存活率、流式细胞术检测细胞内活性氧(ROS)水平来筛选H₂O₂诱导奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞氧化应激模型的最佳条件。在细胞划痕试验中设立对照组、H₂O₂组、bAD-MSCs共培养组(1∶0.5)、bAD-MSCs共培养组(1∶1)、奶牛乳腺上皮细胞(MACT)共培养组(1∶0.5)和MACT共培养组(1∶1)共6组,分析奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞迁移能力,并利用Western blotting检测细胞外蛋白调节激酶(Erk)和磷酸化细胞外蛋白调节激酶(pErk)蛋白的表达水平。【结果】MTT试验结果显示,4～12 h内50μmol/L...     

无血清培养基IVD101和G1/G2在牛体细胞核移植中的应用研究

通过考察牛体细胞核移植重构胚在无血清培养基（IVD101、G1／G2）条件下培养的囊胚发育率及其质量,从而评估无血清培养基支持牛体细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的能力。采用IVD101和G1／G2对牛体细胞核移植胚胎进行体外培养,并以CR1aa＋5％FBS作为对照组。无血清培养基IVD101和G1／G2的囊胚发育率与对照组无显著性差异（41．2％&#177;9．1％、42．2％&#177;10．8％,48．0％&#177;9．2％,P〉0．05）。通过囊胚差异染色和冷冻／解冻胚胎存活率分析胚胎质量,发现无血清培养基ICM／Total略低于对照组（31．8％&#177;10．5％、29．5％&#177;11．9％vs ．33．0％&#177;14．8％）,但无显著性差异（P〉0．05）;3个组别的囊胚经程序化冷冻／解冻后无血清培养基的存活率（IVD101、G1／G2）略高于对照组,但差异不显著（84．8％、80．4％＇US．77．3％,P〉0．05）。结果证明无血清培养基（IVD101、G1／G2）可以支持体细胞核移植重构胚的体外发育,且其对程序化冷冻的耐受性与添加血清组（CR1aa＋5％FBS）相似。     

Effects of Co‐culture of Cumulus Oocyte Complexes with Denuded Oocytes During In Vitro Maturation on the Developmental Competence of Cloned Bovine Embryos

This study evaluated the effects of co‐culture of immature cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) with denuded immature oocytes (DO) during in vitro maturation on the developmental competence and quality of cloned bovine embryos. We demonstrated that developmental competence, judged by the blastocyst formation rate, was significantly higher in the co‐cultured somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT+DO, 37.1 ± 1.1%) group than that in the non‐co‐cultured somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT‐DO, 25.1 ± 0.9%) group and was very similar to that in the control IVF (IVF, 38.8 ± 2.8%) group. Moreover, the total cell number per blastocyst in the SCNT+DO group (101.7 ± 6.2) was higher than that in the SCNT‐DO group (81.7 ± 4.3), while still less than that in the IVF group (133.3 ± 6.0). Furthermore, our data showed that mRNA levels of the methylation‐related genes DNMT1 and DNMT3a in the SCNT+DO group were similar to that in the IVF group, while they were significantly higher in the SCNT‐DO group. Similarly, while the mRNA levels of the deacetylation‐related genes HDAC2 and HDAC3 were significantly higher in the SCNT‐DO group, they were comparable between the IVF and SCNT+DO groups. However, the mRNA levels of HDAC1 and DNMT3B were significantly higher in the SCNT+DO group than in the other groups. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that co‐culture of COCs with DO improves the in vitro developmental competence and quality of cloned embryos, as evidenced by increased total cell number.     

Ameliorative Effects of Melatonin against Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress on Boar Sperm Characteristics and Subsequent In Vitro Embryo Development

Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vivo and in vitro, indicating that melatonin is a potent function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on sperm characteristics (motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and mitochondria activity) and also to examine the developmental rates to the blastocysts stage of porcine oocytes fertilized in vitro with semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ). The sperm were treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h at 37°C and then analysed for the sperm characteristics. The porcine embryos were produced by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF) using semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ) for 6 h. The semen characteristics, including motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity and mitochondria activity, were higher in the groups that were treated with melatonin in comparison to other groups, irrespective of incubation periods. Malondialdehyde levels in control, melatonin and melatonin + H₂O₂ groups were lower than H₂O₂ only group. A positive correlation was shown among motility, viability, survival rate and membrane integrity, but a negative correlation was observed between LPO and the other evaluation methods. The developmental rates to blastocysts of IVM/IVF porcine oocytes fertilized by semen treated with melatonin were significantly increased compared with any other groups, with the cell number of blastocysts shown to have a similar trend to the developmental rates. These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the semen characteristics during in vitro storage and support the developmental ability of IVM/IVF embryos in pigs.     

Effects of Different Oocyte Activation Procedures on Development and Gene Expression of Porcine Pre‐Implantation Embryos

Among the factors that affect the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pigs, the activation protocol is the most variable among the current SCNT procedures. The aim of this study is focused on defining an efficient activation treatment of porcine oocytes. In Experiment 1, we studied the effects of nine different oocyte activation procedures (including chemical‐ and electrical‐based treatments) on parthenogenetic embryo development. In Experiment 2, we studied the effect of the more efficient activation procedures on the gene expression profile of Oct4 and Igf2r in parthenogenetic blastocysts. In conclusion, ionomycin as a first calcium stimulus is not able to activate porcine oocytes efficiently in comparison with electric procedures. Electrical treatments with 6‐DMAP significantly increased the level of Oct4 expression, whereas the single and double pulse treatments alone maintained the same profile as the IVF group.     

Effects of Superovulation with oFSH and Norgestomet/GnRH‐Controlled Release of the LH Surge on Hormone Concentrations,and Yield of Oocytes and Embryos at Specific Developmental Stages

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new superovulation procedure with oFSH after temporary suppression of the endogenous LH surge by norgestomet followed by administration of GnRH, to collect bovine oocytes and embryos at specific developmental stages. Since 1999, our research group applies this superovulation procedure with controlled release of the endogenous LH surge. The objective of this study is to verify if this procedure is reliable for collection of oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development and if it produces a sufficient number of both oocytes and embryos of good quality. This procedure was validated regarding to hormonal characteristics, superovulatory response and both oocyte and embryo yield at different times of in vivo development. The results demonstrate that the procedure used to control the occurrence of the pre‐ovulatory LH surge was effective in 92% of the animals (n = 238) and even in 99% of the animals the oocytes and embryos were collected at the intended stage of development. The superovulatory response and both oocyte, embryo yield and quality were similar to the average yield in Europe reported by Association Européenne de transfert embryonnaire (AETE). In conclusion, this superovulation procedure provides a valid tool to collect oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development.