Comparison of persistence of seven bovine viruses on bovine embryos following in vitro exposure

The ability of seven cytopathic strains of bovine viruses to adhere to the zona pellucida of six-to-eight day-old bovine embryos were compared. Embryos were exposed to virus by placing them either in virus suspensions or by culturing them on infected bovine turbinate cultures for 18-24 h. After exposure to bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBV), bluetongue virus (BTV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), parainfluenza 3 virus (PI3), or bovine enterovirus virus (BEV), the embryos were tested for virus by culture in bovine turbinate cells and by morphological examination using electron microscopy (EM). A special technique to minimize loss of embryos processed for EM was developed. More embryos had viral particles on the surface of the zona pellucida after exposure to 18-24 hour infected cell cultures than did embryos exposed to viral culture suspensions. The most dramatic finding was that BTV adhered in large numbers to the surface of the zona pellucida of exposed embryos. IBRV, PRV, and VSV comprised an intermediate group, with virions occasionally detected on the surface of exposed embryos after 5 washes. Therefore, extensive washing is required. The PI3 and BEV were easily removed from embryo-exposed virus by washing. BVD was difficult to identify morphologically, making assessment by EM unreliable. There was no evidence that any one of the seven viruses penetrated the intact zona pellucida. Using a micromanipulator, 42 embryos were also directly inoculated through the zona pellucida with +/- 50 picoliters of virus inoculum or medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Embryo transfer: a discussion on its potential for infectious disease control based on a review of studies on infection of gametes and early embryos by various agents

Studies on laboratory animals have shown that viruses vary as to whether or not they are transmissible by the gametes or are capable of passing through the zona pellucida and infecting the embryo.

Methods of studying early embryos for the presence of infectious agents include electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and cell cultivation.

Determination that early bovine embryos do not become infected by certain agents might allow for easing of restrictions in the current import and export regulations for cattle embryos.

Embryo transfer could be used as a means of controlling or eliminating disease in a herd or flock if the causal agent does not infect the early embryo via the gametes or by penetrating the zona pellucida.

     

腺病毒介导的高效生产水牛转基因胚胎条件的摸索

试验旨在探究腺病毒感染水牛颗粒细胞和胚胎的最佳条件,以提高转基因水牛胚胎的生产效率。以水牛颗粒细胞和体外发育的胚胎为研究对象,分别用0、1×10~0、1×10^-1、1×10^-2、1×10^-3、1×10^-4、1×10^-5 GFU/mL腺病毒感染水牛颗粒细胞,获得最佳感染浓度后,在最佳浓度条件下分别感染24、48、72、96 h,摸索最佳感染时间,用倒置荧光显微镜观察试验结果。利用腺病毒感染水牛颗粒细胞的最佳浓度和时间分别感染2细胞和4细胞期胚胎,对胚胎的最佳感染条件进行摸索,分析胚胎分裂率、囊胚率和转染囊胚率。结果显示,1×10^-2 GFU/mL浓度和48 h感染时间可获得水牛颗粒细胞的最佳腺病毒感染效率。腺病毒感染2细胞和4细胞期无透明带和非完整透明带胚胎后胚胎发绿光,而感染完整透明带胚胎后不发光,2细胞期胚胎感染后停止发育,4细胞期开始感染的非完整透明带胚胎可继续发育至囊胚。于4细胞期分别感染完整透明带组、非完整透明带组和无透明带组水牛胚胎,结果显示,非完整透明带转染组在囊胚率和囊胚转染效率上均优于其他组。综上,非完整透明带,1×10^-2 GFU/mL和48 h为感染浓度和时间,4细胞期为感染起始期的腺病毒介导的水牛转基因胚胎生产方法能够实现目标基因在水牛胚胎中的高效表达,从而达到提高转基因水牛胚胎生产效率的目的。     

Prospects for the use of embryos in the control of disease and the transport of genotypes

Transfer and low temperature storage of embryos are now proven techniques for a number of mammalian species. These techniques are useful in control of disease and in saving genotypes from infected animals. The place of embryos in the epidemiology of disease depends upon whether the causative organism can gain entry to the oocyte before or at fertilisation and on whether the young embryo can be invaded by organisms in the uterine environment. There is little evidence that important live-stock diseases are transmitted via gametes. The zona pellucida surrounding the embryo is an effective barrier against a number of important disease organisms; in some cases the embryo is susceptible once it has hatched from the zona pellucida. It is important therefore in considering the use of embryos in disease control, to ensure that virus is not attached to the surface of the zona pellucida from where it can infect the recipient and/or the embryo after hatching. Washing procedures have been devised together with the use of enzymes and antisera to remove virus from the surface of embryos. Some viruses enter pores and sperm tracks in the zona and removal of these may present a problem. African swine fever virus has been shown to resist removal by treatment with enzymes. There are no guidelines as to the likely interaction between a certain virus and embryos. Therefore each virus of interest must be tested to determine whether it can be transmitted via washed embryos. Nevertheless there are numerous instances of the use of embryo transfer to eradicate a specific disease or to save valuable genetic material from infected animals without transmitting disease.     

Adherence of bovine viral diarrhea virus to bovine oocytes and embryos with a hardened zona pellucida cultured in vitro

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adherence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) to bovine mature, or immature, cumulus-free oocytes and to in vitro fertilized embryos, maintained in vitro in a ligated bovine oviduct to allow for the hardening of the zona pellucida. Incubation of the oocytes and embryos in the oviduct for 5 h caused hardening of the zona pellucida as measured by resistance to pronase digestion (which increased from approximately 3 min to 7 h; P >0.001). However, there was no difference between the number of infected oocytes and embryos (n = 965 in 193 samples) following experimental exposure to BVDV regardless of whether or not they were previously incubated in the oviduct (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the modification of the proteolytic resistance properties of the zona pellucida during in vitro oviductal incubation did not influence the adherence of BVDV to zona pellucida of oocytes or in vitro fertilized embryos.     

Transfer of bovine demi-embryos with and without the zona pellucida

Bisected bovine embryos with or without the zona pellucida were transferred to recipients nonsurgically in five field trials. Embryos were collected from superovulated donors 6.5 to 7.5 d after estrus; only embryos of good and excellent quality were bisected. Demi-embryos were transferred either within a zona pellucida, without a zona pellucida, without a zona pellucida, or in the third and fourth trials, without a zona but embedded in 7% gelatin. Pregnancies were diagnosed at 44 to 68 d of gestation. In a preliminary trial, 9/29 zona pellucida-intact demi-embryos developed into fetuses compared with 1/10 zona pellucida-free demi-embryos (P greater than .1). The proportion of zona-free demi-embryos developing to fetuses was not significantly different from the zona-intact group in the second trial either, 24/49 and 5/19, respectively. In trial 3, the proportion of zona pellucida-free demi-embryos developing was 8/25; of zona-enclosed embryos, 29/88; and of zona-free demi-embryos embedded in gelatin, 8/22 (P greater than .1). Similarly, in the fourth trial the rate of development of zona-free demi-embryos to fetuses was 5/12, that of zona-enclosed embryos was 32/81, and that of zona-free demi-embryos embedded in gelatin was 3/12 (P greater than .1). In trial 5, survival of zona-enclosed demi-embryos to fetuses was 40/105, and of zona-free demi-embryos, 46/109 (P greater than .1). Except for trial 2, half of the demi-embryos were twinned, one to each uterine horn; twinning did not significantly affect the proportion developing to fetuses for any of the demi-embryo groups. It is concluded that placing post-compaction demi-embryos into the zona pellucida for transfer does not improve pregnancy rates significantly.     

Transfer of Bisected Cattle Embryos within the Same Zona Pellucida*

Cattle embryos at the compact morula and blastocyst stages were bisected by two different methods. In some embryos the embryo bisection was performed outside of the zona pellucida and both halves were replaced into it. Other embryos were bisected within the zona pellucida and no pipetting of the halves was required. They were transferred to synchronized recipient cows and the pregnancy rates and twinning rates were evaluated.     

小鼠卵母细胞透明带的切割

透明带的切割是哺乳动物早期胚胎显微操作技术中的一个重要环节，本文以小鼠为例介绍一种新的透明带切割方法。     

Protein A gold identification of ureaplasmas on the bovine zona pellucida.

The object of this study was to develop a prefixation protein A gold labelling technique for Ureaplasma diversum and to apply this to bovine embryos. Sixteen hour cultures of Ureaplasma diversum strain 2312 were incubated with either specific antiserum or nonimmune serum, followed by exposure to protein A gold and negative staining. The ureaplasmas which were incubated with specific antiserum were labelled with gold particles while those ureaplasmas which were incubated with nonimmune serum were not labelled. Twenty-three unhatched, day 7 bovine embryos were then incubated in either embryo culture medium (ECM) alone, ECM with sterile ureaplasma broth added or ECM with 1.7 X 10(6) colony forming units of Ureaplasma diversum strain 2312 per embryo. After 16 hours, the embryos were washed twice and incubated with either specific antiserum or nonimmune serum. The embryos were then incubated with medium containing protein A gold and examined by electron microscopy. No ureaplasmas were identified on the zona pellucida of the control embryos. Ureaplasmas were identified on the outer surface of the zona pellucida of 13 of the 17 embryos which had been exposed to the organism. Of these, the embryos which were incubated with specific antiserum had labelled ureaplasmas while the embryos which were incubated with nonimmune serum had unlabelled ureaplasmas on the zona pellucida. It was concluded that the protein A gold method was a suitable technique for the identification of ureaplasmas in EM preparations. The presence of ureaplasmas on the outer surface of the bovine zona pellucida following in vitro exposure to the organism was confirmed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Structural and Functional Events on the Porcine Zona Pellucida During Maturation, Fertilization and Embryonic Development: a Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis

Porcine oocytes and pre-implantation embryos from the same, as well as from different animals, have an extremely heterogeneous morphology of the zona pellucida (ZP) surface, as shown by scanning electron microscopy. For years, it has been believed that this heterogeneous morphology plays an important role in the sperm-oocyte interaction. The aim of this study was to analyse the zona morphology and sperm-binding patterns on the porcine ZP. Oocytes were divided into four categories: immature, matured in vivo, or matured in vitro over a time period of 24 or 48 h. The zona morphology of early embryos grown in vivo or in vitro was also investigated. Four different types of zona morphology were detectable. They ranged from a porous, net-like structure to a nearly smooth and compact surface. No correlation could be established between the different kinds of maturation in terms of these zona types. All oocytes exhibited extremely heterogeneous zona morphologies, with no clear trend. During subsequent in vivo embryo development, the zona surface changes from a porous structure to one with a compact surface, while the morphology of in vitro embryos remained compact at all stages of development. The analysis of the number and distribution patterns of spermatozoa trapped in the ZP revealed extremely variable patterns, regardless of the zona morphology. Differences were only present if sorted or unsorted spermatozoa were used for insemination. Regardless of the number of inseminated spermatozoa after sorting, only a few (1-2) could be detected on the ZP. Whether oocytes were matured in vivo or in vitro was not a relevant factor. Unsorted spermatozoa bound in higher numbers than sorted ones. The number was directly dependent on the number of spermatozoa used for insemination.     

Systemic Immunosuppression by Methylprednisolone and Pregnancy Rates in Goats Undergoing the Transfer of Cloned Embryos

The presence of the zona pellucida has been perceived as a requirement for the oviductal transfer of cloned embryos at early stages of development while protecting the embryo from an immune system response. We hypothesized that steroid hormone therapy could reduce a potential cellular immune response after the transfer of zona‐free cloned embryos into the oviduct of recipient female goats. In Experiment 1, seven does were used to study the systemic immunosuppressant effect of the methylprednisolone administration (for 3 days) on blood cell counts. Whole blood was collected prior to treatment with methyprednisolone and then on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the first dose of methylprednisolone for the analysis of haematological parameters. Methylprednisolone treatment significantly reduced circulating white blood cells and neutrophils in comparison with pre‐treatment levels, demonstrating a systemic immunosuppressant effect. In Experiment 2, a group of 58 does were used as recipient females to study the effect of administration of methylprednisolone for 3 days on the establishment of pregnancies after the transfer of zona‐free cloned embryos into the oviducts. No effects on pregnancy rates on Day 30 were observed regarding the distinct treatment groups (control vs. methylprednisolone), the source of oocytes (in vivo‐ vs in vitro‐matured) or the presence or absence of the zona pellucida in embryos. In summary, methylprednisolone was effective at inducing a systemic immunosuppressed state in goats, but the treatment prior to embryo transfer did not affect pregnancy rates. Moreover, pregnancy rates were similar between zona‐free and zona‐intact goat cloned embryos.     

Relationship between plasminogen activator production and bovine embryo development in vitro

The relationship of plasminogen activator (PA) production to cell stage, cell number and changes in overall diameter and zona pellucida thickness for bovine embryos developing in vitro was determined. Late morulae to blastocysts (n = 80) were collected nonsurgically from naturally mated, estrous-synchronized, superovulated crossbred beef cows. Embryos were cultured, one embryo per 25-microliters microdrop, for 6 d. At 24-h intervals, embryos were evaluated for stage of development and transferred to fresh microdrops; media were recovered for PA analysis. In addition, embryo diameter and zona pellucida thickness were measured with an ocular micrometer. Plasminogen activator production was determined using a caseinolytic assay with urokinase as the standard. Changes in diameter, zona pellucida thickness and PA production per 24-h interval for each embryo were plotted, and the graphs were cut out and weighed. Sixty-one embryos (76%) completed the hatching process. Total PA production was correlated positively (P less than .005) to embryonic size (r = .40), developmental stage (r = .35) and cell number (r = .35) and negatively, but weakly, correlated to zona pellucida thickness (r = -.13; P = .267). Hatched embryos produced more total PA than embryos that did not hatch (.140 +/- .011 vs .070 +/- .019 g; P less than .01). These results suggest that as embryonic size and cell number increase and development progresses, bovine embryos liberate more PA.     

显微受精研究进展

显微受精技术是体外受精与显微操作技术相结合的一项胚胎工程技术，使得由透明带和卵质膜所形成的生理受精障碍得以排除。本文综述了国内外显微受精研究近况，探讨了显微受精过程中的精卵互作机理，对卵龄、精子获能、注射针参数、操作技术和显微注射方法等影响显微受精的因素以及显微受精卵的超微结构进行了分析。     

Interaction of bluetongue virus with preimplantation embryos from mice and cattle

Preimplantation embryos from mice and cattle were exposed to bluetongue virus in vitro to determine whether the virus would replicate in these early embryos and, if so, what pathologic consequences would ensue. A high proportion of zona pellucida-free, 2-cell embryos and morulae from mice, and morulae from cattle became infected. The infection was rapidly cytopathic in embryos from both species. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to demonstrate accumulation of virus antigen in the blastomeres of these embryos. The zona pellucida of both murine and bovine embryos provided effective protection from virus present in culture fluid.     

Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus in Relation to Embryos Fertilized In Vitro

The association of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) with embryos derived by in vitro fertilization from oocytes of experimentally infected heifers or oocytes/embryos exposed to the virus in vitro was investigated. Using a nested-PCR assay, proviral DNA of BIV was not detected in follicular fluid or in embryos derived from BIV-infected donors. In vitro exposure of oocytes to BIV during maturation or insemination with BIV-infected semen resulted in zona pellucida-intact embryos testing negative for BIV provirus. However, exposure of zona pellucida-free day-7 embryos to the virus resulted in a positive BIV assay for 28% of the batches of embryos, suggesting that the zona pellucida has a role in protecting against BIV infection. The presence of BIV in the IVF system had no apparent effect on the development of bovine embryos to the blastocyst stage.     

Morphology and size of embryos recovered from superovulated cows.

A total of 691 normal embryos were recovered from 183 superovulated donor cows on the 5th and 6th days after the first insemination, and were examined for their morphology and size in relation to their developmental stage. There was no significant difference in the thickness of the zona pellucida, the diameter of the cell mass, and the overall diameter of the embryos among zygotes, 2-, 4-, 8- and 16-cell embryos, and morulae. In the blastocyst stage, however, the diameter of the cell mass and the overall embryo diameter were significantly greater and the zona pellucida was significantly thinner than in the earlier-stage embryos. The volume of the blastomere significantly decreased from zygote to morula in proportion to the increase in the number of blastomeres. The volume of the cell mass of 2-cell embryos was decreased by about 30% compared with that of zygotes and no increase in the volume of the cell mass was observed during the progression from 2-cell stage to morula. The diameter of the cell mass and the overall diameter of morulae recovered on the 6th day after the first insemination were significantly greater than those of morulae recovered on the 5th day.     

Resistance of preimplantation bovine embryos to infection with Brucella abortus

Preimplantation bovine embryos were exposed in vitro to Brucella abortus to determine if the bacteria would adhere to zona pellucida (ZP)-intact embryos or adhere to or infect ZP-free embryos. Brucella abortus was not isolated from ZP-intact or ZP-free groups of embryos after 10 sequential antibiotic-free washings. Brucella abortus was isolated from all groups containing ZP-defective embryos after the exposure period and washing. Detrimental effects on healthy in vitro development of embryos were not observed.     

水牛活体采卵和无透明带胚胎培养体系的优化

本研究旨在探索哺乳动物体外受精（IVF）胚胎单独或少量培养时发育效率低、无透明带胚胎的体外发育潜能受阻的问题,以期建立提高水牛活体采卵（ovum-pick-up,OPU）和徒手克隆（handmade clone,HMC）胚胎发育潜能高效稳定的体外生产体系。研究首先比较了单个微滴内共培养的胚胎数量（1、3、5、10和20枚）对胚胎发育效果的影响;而后采用微穴体系（well-of-the-well,WOW）和辅助共培养体系（培养微滴中添加包埋IVF胚胎的琼脂糖小块）培养OPU-IVF胚胎,并用WOW体系培养无透明带的徒手克隆重构胚,与传统的微滴培养体系比较其体外发育效果。结果表明：单个微滴内培养的胚胎数量为1、3和5枚时,囊胚发育率极显著低于10枚和20枚组（P<0.01）;与微滴培养体系相比,辅助共培养和WOW体系均极显著提高OPU-IVF胚胎的囊胚率（P<0.01）,且WOW培养体系极显著促进HMC重构胚的卵裂率和囊胚率（P<0.01）。综上所述,胚胎群体培养有助于胚胎发育,在保证系谱明确的前提下琼脂糖包埋辅助胚胎共培养体系和WOW体系提高了OPU-IVF体外胚胎发育效率,且WOW体系还可用于无透明带胚胎的高效培养。     

Optimization of in vitro Culture System for Embryos Derived from Ovum-pick-up and Zona-free Embryos in Buffalos

The purpose of this study was to explore the problems of low development efficiency of small amounts in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos and limited development potential of zona pellucida-free embryos when cultured in vitro of mammals,to establish an efficient and stable in vitro production system for improving the developmental potential of living ovum-pick-up (OPU) and handmade clone (HMC) embryos in buffalos.The study first compared the effect of the number of fertilized eggs (1,3,5,10 and 20) co-cultured within a single microdroplet on the embryonic development effect.Then,OPU-IVF embryos were cultured using the well-of-the-well (WOW) system and the auxiliary co-culture system (adding agarosaccharide fragments of embedded in in vitro fertilization (IVF) fertilized egg in the cultivation of microdroplets).Furthermore,the embryos without zona pellucida were cloned and reconstructed by using the WOW system and compared with the traditional microdroplet system in vitro.The results showed that the blastocyst development rates of the 10 and 20 embryos groups were significantly higher than that of the 1,3 and 5 embryos groups.Compared with the microdroplet system,the assisted co-culture system and the WOW system significantly improved the blastocyst rate of OPU-IVF embryos(P<0.01).Moreover,the WOW culture system significantly promoted the cleavage rate and blastocyst rate of HMC reconstructed embryos(P<0.01).To sum up,embryo mass culture contributed to embryo development,and under the premise of ensuring a clear pedigree,the agar-sugar embedding assisted embryo co-culture system and the WOW system improved the in vitro development efficiency of OPU-IVF embryos,the WOW system would also be applied to the high-efficient culture of zona pellucida free embryos.     

Association between embryonic loss and damage to the zona pellucida by invasive micromanipulation during oviductal transfer of early-stage embryos in pigs

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of zona pellucida damage, which might arise during somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), on the development and survival of transferred embryos. The zonae pellucidae of in vitro matured oocytes were either punctured with 8- to 10-microm square-ended nuclear injection pipettes and piezo pulses or slit with 35- to 40-microm enucleation pipettes. Intact oocytes were used as controls. These oocytes were electroactivated to induce parthenogenesis and transferred to the oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts. After 5 to 7 days, the recipient uteri were flushed to collect embryos, and embryonic development (morula-blastocyst stage embryos/collected embryos) and survival (viable embryos/collected embryos) were determined. In total, 221 zona-punctured, 129 zona-slitted and 57 intact embryos were transplanted into four, two and two gilts, respectively. The efficiency of embryo recovery was similar in all groups (64.3 to 79.1%). However, the zona-penetrated and incised embryos exhibited unstable development and survival compared with the controls; development and survival of the control embryos were 94.7 and 87.7%, whereas those of the zona-punctured embryos were 69.0 and 47.9% (P<0.01) and those of the zona-slit embryos were 64.7 and 50.0% (P<0.01). Cells with large foci that appeared to be macrophage giant cells were observed at the surface or inside the degenerated zona-damaged embryos. These results indicate that the recipient's immune response to damage to the zona pellucida may impair embryonic development after transplantation to the oviduct. This may be one of the factors causing the reduced efficiency of live progeny production by SCNT.