Effect of permeable cryoprotectant‐free vitrification on DNA fragmentation of equine oocyte–cumulus cells

DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells could be used as an indicator of oocyte vitrification success as an indirect indicator of the quality of the oocyte. This study was designed to compare the DNA fragmentation of post‐mortem equine cumulus cells before or after vitrification in the absence of permeable cryoprotectant agents. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs; n = 56) were recovered from slaughterhouse ovaries and subjected to in vitro maturation (42 hr/38.2°C/5%CO₂) before (control group) or after a permeable cryoprotectant‐free vitrification method using 1 M sucrose (vitrification group). After in vitro maturation, COCs were denuded, and cumulus cells were washed and stored at ?80°C until thawing. Cumulus cell samples were processed with the chromatin dispersion test (Ovoselect, Halotech DNA, Spain). Low, high and total DNA fragmentation percentages of cumulus cells were recorded and compared between the two groups by Student's t test. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. The vitrified group resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.05) percentages for low (16.81 ± 1.62 vs. 6.63 ± 0.77) and total (21.14 ± 1.84 vs. 12.76 ± 1.48) DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells. There were no significant differences between groups for high DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells. In conclusion, permeable cryoprotectant‐free vitrification of equine oocytes increased the total DNA fragmentation rate of cumulus cells but protected them against high DNA fragmentation rates. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells and the developmental competence of equine oocytes.     

猪体细胞核移植胚体外发育初步研究

采用胞质内注射法进行猪体细胞核移植，对去核、激活和培养等关键技术过程进行研究。结果表明：（1）点压法、挤压法对卵母细胞的去核率明显高于盲吸法（三者分别为62．5％、64．6％、50．7％，P〈0．05）。对早成熟的卵母细胞（36-44h）进行去核可明显提高去核效率（P〈0．05），在36-38h、39-41h、42-44h去核率分别为60．9％、67．8％、64．3％，而45-48h为48．4％。（2）体细胞预激活有助于提高核移胚卵裂率（28．0％、20．1％，P〈0．05）。钙离子载体A23187单独或与6-二甲基氨基嘌呤（6-DMAP）联合作用能使猪体细胞核移胚激活继续发育。（3）核移胚以胚胎培养液NCSU23及卵丘单层共培养体系进行分别培养，核移胚卵裂率无明显差异（30．06％、31．5％，P〉0．05）。但NCSU23培养4细胞后发育能力更高（13．5％、3．9％，P〈0.05）。     

Relationship among ovarian follicular status,developmental competence of oocytes,and anti‐Müllerian hormone levels: A comparative study in Japanese wild boar crossbred gilts and Large White gilts

The aim of this study was to investigate the ovarian follicular development, developmental competence of oocytes, and plasma anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels of Japanese wild boar crossbred (wild hybrid) gilts, whose litter size is inferior to that of European breeds. Ovary and plasma samples were collected from two different breeds of gilts (wild hybrid and Large White breeds). The ovaries from the wild hybrid gilts had a lower average numbers of secondary follicles and vesicular follicles in ovarian cross‐sections and of good quality oocytes collected from ovarian follicles as compared with those from Large White gilts (p < 0.05). The development rate to the blastocyst stage of good quality oocytes after in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture was also lower (p < 0.05) in wild hybrid gilts than in Large White gilts. Plasma AMH levels with >0.16 ng/ml were detected in 8.3% of the examined wild hybrid gilts and 33% of the Large White gilts. These results indicate that the low reproductive performance of wild hybrid breed may result in part from low numbers of vesicular follicles and good quality oocytes, and low developmental competence of oocytes. Moreover, plasma AMH levels may support low number of vesicular follicles in ovaries of wild hybrid gilts.     

母鸡抑制素的产生

母鸡抑制素主要是由排卵前卵泡颗粒细胞产生的,肾上腺是又一来源,ＬＨ在刺激体外颗料细胞产生抑制素方面的比ＦＳＨ有效。去除排卵前卵泡后,血浆免疫活性抑制素显著降低,而血浆ＦＳＨ急剧升高。卵泡颗粒层中,抑制素α亚基比β（Ａ）亚基表达充分。α亚基是由近似１．７ｋｂ的ｍＲＮＡ编码,主要的８．４ｋｂβ（Ａ）－ｍＲＮＡ带在排卵前卵泡的颗粒层中表达。     

VEGF对绵羊卵泡颗粒细胞FSHR、E2R表达的影响

血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)可以促进颗粒细胞的增殖,但是否影响同样分布于颗粒细胞上的FSHR、E2R表达效果尚属未知.因此,通过Western blotting和荧光定量PCR分别对添加0、5、10、15、20、25 μg/L VEGF卵泡颗粒细胞中FSHR、E2R表达量及FSHR mRNA、E2R mRNA表达量进行检测.Western blotting蛋白检测结果表明,空白对照组和各个不同质量浓度VEGF处理组的颗粒细胞上均有FSHR和E2R蛋白表达,FSHR相对分子质量为75 000,E2R相对分子质量为56 000;荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,添加VEGF的各个处理组中FSHR mR-NA、E2R mRNA表达量均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),各处理组间的FSHR mRNA之间差异不显著(P＞0.05),而VEGF添加量20、25 μg/L组的E2R mRNA表达量显著高于其他3个处理组(P＜0.05),并且这2个组间则差异不显著(P＞0.05),其余3个处理组间亦差异不显著(P＞0.05).     

谷胱甘肽对哺乳动物卵母细胞的影响

谷胱甘肽与哺乳动物卵母细胞之间关系密切,谷胱甘肽具有一种还原能力。谷胱甘肽参与保护雌性配子细胞免受氧化物的伤害,还参与维持卵母细胞减数分裂纺锤体形态。卵母细胞中谷胱甘肽浓度可以作为衡量哺乳动物卵母细胞质和核成熟程度的标志。它对于受精后雄原核形成起了积极的作用,并且还有助于早期胚胎发育。卵丘细胞对卵母细胞内的谷胱甘肽合成起重要作用。不同种类的低分子量硫醇复合物可以诱导卵母细胞中谷胱甘肽的合成。     

Effects of cumulus cells on rabbit oocyte in vitro maturation

Cumulus cells (CCs) are of great importance in oocyte development and maturation in many species, but detailed influence of CCs has not been extensively examined, especially on rabbit. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of CCs and the elongation of in vitro maturation (IVM) time on rabbit oocyte nuclear and ooplasmic maturation and survival. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) and naked oocytes (NOs) were recovered directly from rabbits super-ovulated with eCG. Corona-enclosed oocytes (COs) and denuded oocytes (DOs) were obtained from COCs after removing a part or whole of CCs. The oocytes were cultured in the following seven groups. (i) Cumulus cell enclosed oocytes (CEOs) were cultured alone (CEOs); (ii) COs were cultured alone (COs); (iii) DOs were cultured alone (DOs); (iv) NOs were cultured alone; (v) DOs were co-cultured with COCs [DOs(COCs)]; (vi) DOs were co-cultured with CCs [DOs(CCs)]; (vii) NOs were co-cultured with CCs [NOs(CCs)]. After the oocytes were cultured for 24 and 30 h, the nuclear maturation was evaluated by first polar body (PB1) extrusion while the ooplasmic maturation was evaluated by the cleavage rate after parthenogenetic activation. The results showed that the nuclear maturation rate of CEOs, COs, DOs(COCs) and DOs(CCs) after 24 h incubation were significantly different from each other (p < or = 0.05), the rate of DOs(CCs) was similar to that of DOs (p > or = 0.05). The cleavage rates in the first two groups were significantly higher than those of the others (p < 0.05). For oocytes cultured for 30 h, the nuclear maturation rates were significantly different for each culture model (p < 0.05). The cleavage rates in first two groups were significantly higher than those of others (p < 0.05). Both the nuclear and cleavage rates significantly increased when the culture time of DOs(COCs) was prolonged from 24 to 30 h. DOs(CCs) nuclear maturation was significantly improved when the culture time was prolonged from 24 to 30 h, but the ooplasmic maturation was not. Few NOs incubated with or without CCs accomplished nuclear maturation (approximately 2% both), even when the culture time was prolonged from 24 to 30 h. The oocyte degeneration rates were significantly different for each culture model after both 24 and 30 h incubation (p < or = 0.05). There was no significant difference in oocyte degeneration in the same groups between 24 and 30 h incubation (p > 0.05). The results suggest that rabbit CCs affect oocyte nuclear and ooplasmic maturation, and their survival. The prolongation of the culture time of rabbit oocyte from 24 to 30 h improves the nuclear and ooplasmic maturation differently in the present system. Rabbit oocytes free of CCs, especially NOs, show weak meiotic resumption potential and compromised viability, which cannot be improved by co-culture with dispersed CCs. The degeneration mostly happens at early time of IVM.     

卵泡大小和颗粒细胞对山羊卵泡卵母细胞体外成熟和体外受精的影响

用切割法采集卵泡液,收集卵丘一卵母细胞复合体（Cumulus oocytes comlexs,COCs）和自然裸卵,将部分COCs去除卵丘细胞获得机械裸卵,COCs放入体外成熟培养液中培养为成熟卵母细胞,加入获能的精子液,进行体外受精。结果表明：卵母细胞的体外成熟率和卵裂率与卵泡直径密切相关,大卵泡（80．95％,P〈0．01）和中等卵泡（75．50％,P〈0．05）的卵母细胞成熟率高于小卵泡（50．27％）;犬卯泡（53．53％）和中等卵泡（47．13％）的卵裂率显著高于小卵泡的32．26％（P〈0．05）。COCs、机械裸卵和自然裸卵的体外成熟率分别为75．0％、54．2％和10．5％,差异极显著（P〈0．01）,卵裂率分别为53．8％、10．8％和0％,差异极显著（P〈0．01）。对照组和1×10^5、1×10^6个／mL颗粒细胞组卵母细胞体外成熟率分别为68．6％、69．6％和67．8％,无显著差异（P〉0．05）,但均显著高于1×10^7个／mL（51．5％,P〈0．05）和1×10^10个／mL（35．5％,P〈0．05）颗粒细胞组,但各组间的体外受精率无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结果提示,大卵泡和中卵泡的卵母细胞的体外成熟率和卵裂率显著高于小卵泡,体外成熟培养液中添加高浓度的颗粒细胞能显著抑制卵母细胞的体外成熟。     

Inhibition of PSMD4 alters ZP1 ubiquitination state and sperm–oocyte‐binding ability in pigs

The aim of this study was to determine how the duration of culture affects the ubiquitination of zona pellucida (ZP) proteins (ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3) during porcine oocyte maturation in vitro. We analysed the changes in ZP protein ubiquitination under three conditions: (i) during oocyte maturation from stage GV to MII; (ii) in oocytes cultured for different periods of time; and (iii) in oocytes treated with an antibody against PSMD4. Our results show that ZP1 and ZP2 are ubiquitinated at the GV stage, while ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 are ubiquitinated at the MII stage, and band intensities for these proteins were significantly different between the GV and MII stages (p < .05). We also found that ubiquitination occurs in ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 after cultured for 46, 52, 58 and 64 hr, and that the level of ubiquitinated ZP1 was significantly different in oocytes that were cultured for different time periods. Finally, treatment with an antibody against PSMD4 resulted in a significant decrease in ZP1 ubiquitination (p < .05), without affecting ZP2 or ZP3. The number of attached sperms per oocyte was also significantly different between control and anti‐PSMD4‐treated groups. Thus, we concluded that ZP1 and ZP2 are ubiquitinated at the GV stage, and ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 are ubiquitinated at the MII stage. As the duration of culture increases, the ubiquitination levels of ZP proteins decrease. We also found that PSMD4 improves ZP1 ubiquitination during in vitro culture of porcine oocytes and effectively inhibits sperm–oocyte binding.     

牛有腔卵泡卵母细胞体外成熟的研究

试验从屠宰场收集了 4 8头青年黄牛、34头青年水牛的卵巢共 16 4个 ,共回收可用卵母细胞 86 4枚。水牛平均每个卵巢可回收 3.2 2枚可用卵母细胞 ,相当于黄牛 (6 .72枚 )的一半。试验结果表明 :水牛卵巢生长卵泡少 ,卵母细胞产量少、质量差 ;3种采集黄牛卵泡卵母细胞的方法 ,用抽吸加切割法平均从每个卵巢回收的可用卵数 (7.71枚 )都极显著高于抽吸法 (6 .19枚 )和切割法 (6 .4 4枚 ) (P <0 .0 1) ,但是该法手续繁杂 ,适于一次且只能收集少量卵巢时使用 ;在黄牛和水牛卵母细胞成熟培养液中用 0 .3%PVP代替 10 %FBS ,牛卵母细胞的体外成熟率无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。     

Changes of serum anti‐Müllerian hormone in a mare with granulosa cell tumour following surgery and reinitiation of follicular activity

Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been reported to be elevated in mares with granulosa cell tumour (GCT). An 8‐year‐old Thoroughbred mare was presented for not being observed in oestrus after the beginning of the breeding season. Rectal palpation and ultrasonography revealed enlargement and cystic appearance of the left ovary while the right ovary was small with an anoestrous‐like appearance. The AMH concentration was 694.9 ng/ml. Presumptively diagnosed with GCT, the mare was subjected to tumour removal. Histopathology confirmed GCT. To evaluate changes of AMH concentration following surgery, blood samples were collected immediately prior to surgery, and on Days 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 after surgery. Thereafter, blood samples were collected monthly and also at the time the mare was observed in oestrus (148 days after tumour removal). The AMH concentrations decreased over the first 2 months after surgery (from 721.2 ng/ml to 0.1 ng/ml). Subsequently, AMH concentration increased and peaked at the time of oestrus expression (0.7 ng/ml). The mare then became anoestrous, and AMH concentration decreased and reached 0.2 ng/ml, which was not significantly different from the mean concentration of AMH in normal anoestrous mares (n = 5; 0.26 ± 0.07 ng/ml). In conclusion, the present report implies the potential use of AMH for determination of the time of follicular resumption in mares after GCT removal.     

牛体外受精胚胎培养技术研究

在COCs体外培养过程中添加共培养物质和采用不同体积的液滴进行培养,以探讨牛卵母细胞的体外培养效果。结果表明,卵丘细胞、卵丘细胞+bFF共培养系统对胚胎发育均有促进作用,其中以卵丘细胞+bFF共培养系统对桑椹胚和囊胚的发育最好,其囊胚率为10.63%,显著高于对照组的7.23%(P<0.05),高于卵丘细胞组的8.50%(P>0.05)。用培养皿微滴培养(50μL)和用4孔板大体积培养(500μL)的试验表明,大体积培养比微滴培养有优势,桑椹胚和囊胚率均较高,其中囊胚率为10.23%,显著高于培养皿微滴培养的9.07%(P<0.01)。     

Mouse embryo co‐culture with autologous cumulus cells and fetal development post‐embryo transfer

This study was conducted to examine the potential for implantation and sustainable fetal development of mouse embryos cultured from the pronuclear to blastocyst stage. Pronuclear embryos from ICR mice (Harlan Sprague‐Dawley) were cultured in Sydney IVF sequential media (Cook) to the blastocyst stage in medium only or co‐cultured with autologous cumulus cells. We also experimented with co‐culture in 100 µL drops. Drop co‐culture produced blastocyst formation rates with a mean of 47.0%, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to embryos cultured in identical culture conditions except without cumulus cells at 27.3%. Blastocysts obtained in vitro in Cook medium only and co‐cultured in Cook medium with cumulus cells were transferred to pseudopregnant females of ICR strain. The day of blastocyst transfer into surrogate females was designated as post‐transfer of blastocyst day 1 (PT 1). The implantation and fetal development was compared to embryo transfer of in vivo derived blastocysts, which served as controls. There were no statistical differences for implantation and fetal development rates for blastocysts cultured in vitro in either Cook medium only or co‐culture in Cook medium with cumulus cells compared to in vivo‐derived blastocysts. The advantage of the co‐culture system is in generating more blastocysts available for transfer.     

卵泡FSH受体mRNA的表达及其对卵母细胞体外培养成熟率的影响

本研究采用RT-PCR技术检测了猪大、中、小卵泡颗粒细胞中FSH受体(FSHR)mRNA的表达差异,比较和分析了受体表达差异及其对卵母细胞体外成熟培养的影响。结果表明大、中、小卵泡中颗粒细胞都有FSHR mRNA表达,大卵泡的颗粒细胞与小、中卵泡的颗粒细胞FSHR mRNA相对表达量有显著差异(P<0.05),中、小卵泡的颗粒细胞FSHR mRNA相对表达量之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。不同大小卵泡卵母细胞体外成熟培养结果表明,小卵泡与大、中卵泡比较,卵丘细胞扩展率和第一极体排出率差异显著(P<0.05)。这表明猪不同大小卵泡颗粒细胞FSHR mRNA的表达量与其卵母细胞体外培养成熟率呈相关性,进一步证实FSHR在猪卵泡及卵母细胞发育中起着重要作用。     

水牛健康与闭锁优势卵泡中颗粒细胞凋亡的生物学特征

采用组织学苏木精伊红(HE)染色与光镜检查、荧光显微镜检查和DNA电泳技术,检查了水牛健康优势卵泡(HDF)和闭锁优势卵泡(ADF)中颗粒细胞(GCs)凋亡的生物学特征。此外还应用孕酮处理早期的ADF,应用流式细胞术(FCM)方法检查该激素诱发GCs凋亡的情况。HE染色和荧光显微镜检查结果显示,HDF和ADF都含有凋亡的GCs,只是ADF中凋亡的GCs较多。凋亡GCs的HE染色表现细胞体积缩小,染色浓黑,荧光原位检测发现核浓缩。DNA电泳分析表明,在HDF中未发现GCs的DNA降解,而在ADF中因闭锁程度不同而表现不同程度的DNA降解,出现典型的"拖尾"带,但均未出现具有细胞凋亡特征的DNA"Ladder"。FCM检查结果见到早期的ADF存在着DNA的降解,孕酮处理使DNA降解碎片显著增加。上述结果提示,在水牛的HDF中,GCs的凋亡很少,在ADF中GCs的凋亡较多。水牛ADF中GCs的死亡,少量是以凋亡方式发生的,而坏死是主要方式。     

Co-culture model reveals the characteristics of theca cells and the effect of granulosa cells on theca cells at different stages of follicular development

Theca cells (TCs) play an important role in follicular development, which cannot be separated from granulosa cells (GCs). However, compared with mammals, the TCs and the effects of GCs on TCs at different follicular development stages (FDSs) have specific characteristics in avian species, but none of them have been clearly defined. In this study, we established an in vitro co-culture (with GC at the corresponding stage) model of goose TCs at different FDSs (pre-hierarchical, hierarchical and F1) by using a transwell system. The properties of TCs in co-culture at the three FDSs, including cell morphology, activity and intracellular lipid content, as well as the expression of key genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, steroidogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis, were examined and defined. We further compared the mono-culture and co-culture groups. After co-culture, the activity of TCs showed significant (p < .01) increases in all stages; moreover, in pre-hierarchical TCs, the expression levels of FAS, SREBP, 3β-HSD and CCND1 were promoted, and PPARγ, CYP19, BCL2 and CAS3 were inhibited (p < .05); in the hierarchical TCs, the expression levels of PPARγ, FAS, CYP19, CCND1 and BCL2 were promoted, and SREBP, STAR, 3β-HSD and CAS3 were inhibited (p < .05), whereas in the F1 TCs, the expression levels of PPARγ, FAS, 3β-HSD, CYP19 and CCND1 were promoted, and STAR and CAS3 were inhibited (p < .05). These results suggested that GCs at the three FDSs have dynamic and complex influences on the physiological characteristics of TCs, and the influences on TCs at the three FDSs were varied.     

Effect of cumulus cell removal and sperm pre‐incubation with progesterone on in vitro fertilization of equine gametes in the presence of oviductal fluid or cells

In spite of many attempts to establish an in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique in the equine, no efficient conventional IVF technique is available. The presence of oviductal fluid or oviductal cells during IVF helps to improve embryo production in vitro but is not sufficient to reach high fertilization rates. Thus, our aim was to perform equine IVF either after sperm pre‐incubation with oviductal fluid or in the presence of oviductal cells, and to evaluate the effect of cumulus removal from the oocyte or sperm pre‐incubation with progesterone. In experiments 1 and 2, IVF was performed in the presence of porcine oviduct epithelial cells. The removal of cumulus cells from equine oocytes after in vitro maturation tended to increase the percentage of fertilization when fresh sperm was used (1/33 vs. 4/31, p > 0.05) but had no effect when frozen sperm was used (1/32 vs. 1/32). Equine sperm pre‐incubation with progesterone did not significantly influence the fertilization rate when fresh or frozen sperm was used (2/14 vs. 2/18 for fresh, 1/29 vs. 1/25 for frozen). In experiments 3 and 4, IVF was performed after pre‐incubation of sperm with porcine oviductal fluid. The removal of cumulus cells tended to increase the percentage of fertilization when fresh sperm was used (1/24 vs. 3/26, p > 0.05). Sperm pre‐incubation with progesterone did not significantly influence the fertilization rate when fresh or frozen sperm was used (2/39 vs. 2/36 for fresh, 2/37 vs. 1/46 for frozen), but two 3–4 cell stage zygotes were obtained with fresh sperm pre‐incubated with progesterone. This is an encouraging result for the setting up of an efficient IVF procedure in equine.     

猪不同直径卵泡内卵母细胞胞质成熟及体外发育潜力差异原因的初探

试验根据直径将猪卵泡分为2组:G1组(4~7 mm)和G2组(2~4 mm),对2组卵泡内获取的卵母细胞体外成熟率和发育潜能进行了比较,利用相对定量PCR检测了卵丘细胞中卵丘扩展相关基因Has2、Ptgs2、Ptx31及Pgr的表达水平,应用绝对定量PCR检测了成熟培养前后卵母细胞线粒体拷贝数,并利用5,5'-二巯基-2-硝基苯酸(DTNB)酶循环法检测了体外成熟培养过程中卵母细胞谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量。结果显示,G1组和G2组卵母细胞体外成熟率分别为95.06%和68.19%,G1和G2组排出第一极体的成熟卵母细胞孤雌激活后的囊胚率分别为51.47%和29.44%,2组卵母细胞在体外成熟率和孤雌发育率上均差异显著(P<0.05)。G1组卵丘细胞在体外成熟培养过程中的扩展程度明显高于G2组,G1组卵母细胞对应的卵丘细胞扩展相关基因Has2、Ptgs2、Ptx31、Pgr的表达水平高于G2组(Has2基因在卵母细胞成熟培养0、24 h除外);G1组卵母细胞线粒体数、谷胱甘肽含量均高于G2组。以上结果表明,大卵泡来源的卵母细胞体外成熟能力和发育潜力优于小卵泡来源的卵母细胞,这可能与卵母细胞成熟过程中卵丘扩展程度、卵丘扩展相关基因表达激活情况、卵胞质内谷胱甘肽含量和线粒体拷贝数有关。     

The serine protease inhibitors and SERPINE1/2 disrupt prostaglandin E2 production and hyaluronic acid retention in FSH‐stimulated pig cumulus–oocyte complexes

The serine proteases, tissue‐ and urokinase‐type plasminogen activators (PLAT and PLAU) and their inhibitors SERPINE1/2 are regulators of plasminogen to plasmin conversion. They are widely expressed in ovarian tissues, including granulosa and cumulus cells, and their expression is regulated by gonadotropins. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of serine protease inhibitors (aprotinin and AEBSF) and SERPINE1/2 on FSH‐induced cumulus cell expansion, the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and retention of hyaluronic acid (HA) in expanding cumulus. The serine protease activity proved to be essential for the production of PGE2 and also for the retention of HA; the inhibition of plasminogen activators by SERPINE1/2 had the same effect. Collectively, these data indicate that plasmin is required for proper function of expanding cumulus cells in vitro and presumably also in vivo in the pre‐ovulatory follicles.