胎牛血清在猪孤雌囊胚玻璃化冷冻后恢复培养中的作用研究

【目的】研究胎牛血清(fetal bovine serum, FBS)在猪孤雌囊胚玻璃化冷冻后恢复培养中的作用。【方法】本试验以体外培养第5天的猪孤雌激活囊胚为材料,将新鲜和冷冻囊胚分别在含10%FBS(V/V)的胚胎培养液中继续培养48 h,即分为新鲜组(Fresh)、新鲜+FBS组(Fresh+FBS)、冷冻组(Vitrified)、冷冻+FBS组(Vitrified+FBS)。观察各组囊胚的扩张和孵化能力,检测胚胎的细胞膜损伤、凋亡细胞数目、总细胞数目、胞内活性氧(ROS)水平、线粒体活性以及发育相关基因的表达水平。【结果】与Fresh和Vitrified组相比,Fresh+FBS和Vitrified+FBS组的完全扩张率、孵化率和囊胚细胞总数均显著提高(P<0.05),细胞膜损伤率和细胞凋亡率均显著降低(P<0.05)。与Fresh组相比,Vitrified组ROS水平显著升高(P<0.05),Fresh+FBS和Vitrified+FBS组ROS水平均显著降低(P<0.05)。Vitrified+FBS组的线粒体活性显著高于Vitrified组(P&l...     

Effects of resveratrol on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes and subsequent early embryonic development following somatic cell nuclear transfer

As a natural plant‐derived antitoxin, resveratrol possesses several pharmacological activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol addition on nuclear maturation, oocyte quality during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and subsequent early embryonic development following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Our experiments showed that the treatment of porcine oocytes with 5 µM resveratrol during IVM resulted in the highest rate of the first polar body extrusion. Treatment of oocytes with resveratrol had no influence on cytoskeletal dynamics, whereas it significantly increased glucose uptake ability compared to the control oocytes. Oocytes matured with 5 μM resveratrol displayed significantly lower intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and higher relative mRNA expression levels of the genes encoding such antioxidant enzymes as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). In addition, resveratrol also prevented onset and progression of programmed cell death in porcine oocytes, which was confirmed by significant upregulation of the anti‐apoptotic B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCL‐2) gene and significant downregulation of the pro‐apoptotic BCL2‐associated X (BAX) gene. Furthermore, the blastocyst rates and the blastocyst cell numbers in cloned embryos derived from the oocytes that had matured in the presence of 5 μM resveratrol were significantly increased. In conclusion, supplementation of IVM medium with 5 μM resveratrol improves the quality of porcine oocytes by protecting them from oxidative damage and apoptosis, which leads to the production of meiotically matured oocytes exhibiting enhanced developmental potential following SCNT.     

Investigation into developmental potential and nuclear/mitochondrial function in early wood and plains bison hybrid embryos

Studies to date have shown that bison embryo development in vitro is compromised with few embryos developing to the blastocyst stage. The aim of this study was to use bison-cattle hybrid embryos, an interspecific cross that is known to result in live offspring in vivo, as a model for assessing species-specific differences in embryo development in vitro. Cattle oocytes fertilized with cattle, plains bison and wood bison sperm were assessed for various developmental parameters associated with embryo quality, including cell number, apoptosis and ATP content. Decreased development to the blastocyst stage was observed in hybrid wood bison embryos compared with the other treatment groups. Although both wood bison and plains bison hybrid blastocysts had significantly lower cell numbers than cattle blastocysts, only wood bison hybrid blastocysts had a greater incidence of apoptosis than cattle blastocysts. Among the treatment groups, ATP levels and expression profiles of NRF1, TFAM, MT-CYB, BAX and BCL2 were not significantly different in both 8- to 16-cell stage and blastocyst stage embryos. These data provide evidence of decreased developmental competence in the wood bison hybrid embryos, owing to inadequate culture conditions that have increased apoptotic events.     

Requirement for nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein mRNA expression in bovine preimplantation development

Nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (NASP) is associated with DNA replication, cell proliferation, and cell cycle progression through its specific binding to histones. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of NASP in bovine preimplantation embryonic development. Using NASP gene knockdown (KD), we confirmed the reduction of NASP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression during preimplantation development. NASP KD did not affect cleavage but significantly decreased development of embryos into the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, blastocyst hatching was significantly decreased in NASP KD embryos. Cell numbers in the inner cell mass of NASP KD blastocysts were also decreased compared to those of controls. These results suggest that NASP mRNA expression is required for preimplantation development into the blastocyst stage in cattle.     

Ascorbic acid–cyclodextrin complex alters the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in bovine in vitro produced embryos

Ascorbic acid (AC) used as antioxidant in embryo culture is very sensitive and degrades unavoidably in aqueous solution. Methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (CD) improved the stability of AC in solution to elevated temperature, light, humidity and oxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the complex AC‐CD during in vitro maturation (IVM) or in vitro culture (IVC) on oocyte developmental competence and subsequent embryo development and quality. AC‐CD (100 µM) was added to IVM media, and maturation level and embryo development were examined. Matured oocytes, their cumulus cells and produced blastocysts were snap‐frozen for gene expression analysis by RT‐qPCR. Besides, in vitro‐produced zygotes were cultured with 100 µM of AC‐CD and blastocysts were as well snap‐frozen for gene expression analysis. A group without AC‐CD (control^?) and other with CD (control⁺) were included. No differences were found on maturation, cleavage or blastocyst rates. However, in matured oocytes, AC‐CD downregulated BAX, GPX1 and BMP15. In cumulus cells, AC‐CD downregulated BAX/BCL2 and GSTA4 while upregulated BCL2 and CYP51A1. The expression of SL2A1, FADS1, PNPLA and MTORC1 was downregulated in blastocysts derived from oocytes matured with AC‐CD, while in blastocysts derived from zygote cultured with AC‐CD, CYP51A1 and IGF2R were downregulated and PNPLA2 was upregulated. In conclusion, AC‐CD in both IVM and IVC media may reduce accumulated fat by increasing lipolysis and suppressing lipogenesis in blastocysts derived from both oocytes and zygotes cultured with AC‐CD, suggesting that CD improves the quality of embryos and bioavailability of AC during IVM and IVC.     

Lipid-rich bovine serum albumin improves the viability and hatching ability of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro

The effects of lipid-rich bovine serum albumin (LR-BSA) on the development of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro were examined. Addition of 0.5 to 5 mg/ml LR-BSA to porcine blastocyst medium (PBM) from Day 5 (Day 0 = in vitro fertilization) significantly increased the hatching rates of blastocysts on Day 7 and the total cell numbers in Day-7 blastocysts. When Day-5 blastocysts were cultured with PBM alone, PBM containing LR-BSA, recombinant human serum albumin or fatty acid-free BSA, addition of LR-BSA significantly enhanced hatching rates and the cell number in blastocysts that survived compared with other treatments. The diameter, ATP content and numbers of both inner cell mass and total cells in Day-6 and Day-7 blastocysts cultured with PBM containing LR-BSA were significantly higher than in blastocysts cultured with PBM alone, whereas LR-BSA had no effect on mitochondrial membrane potential. The mRNA levels of enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism and β-oxidation (ACSL1, ACSL3, CPT1, CPT2 and KAT) in Day-7 blastocysts were significantly upregulated by the addition of LR-BSA. The results indicated that LR-BSA enhanced hatching ability and quality of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro, as determined by ATP content, blastocyst diameter and expression levels of the specific genes, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of LR-BSA arise from lipids bound to albumin.     

In vitro culture conditions using chemically defined media for in vitro matured and intracytoplasmically inseminated porcine oocytes

The present study investigated in vitro culture methods [droplet and Well of the Well (WOW)] using semi-defined and defined media [modified porcine zygote medium (mPZM)] and the additional effects of insulin on in vitro matured and intracytoplasmically inseminated porcine oocytes. In Experiment 1, in vitro matured and intracytoplasmically inseminated porcine oocytes were cultured for 6 days in the following four groups: 1) mPZM-3 (containing bovine serum albumin) + droplet (30 mul), 2) mPZM-3 + WOW, 3) mPZM-4 (containing polyvinyl alcohol) + droplet, and 4) mPZM-4+ WOW. The culture media (mPZM-3 and mPZM-4) and methods (droplet and WOW) did not significantly affect the cleavage rate, but the blastocyst rate of the oocytes cultured in mPZM-3 was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that of mPZM-4 (20.1 and 9.4%, respectively). The blastocyst rates as percentages of the cleaved oocytes (51.8 and 16.9%) and the hatched blastocyst rate as percentages of the number of blastocysts (12.3 and 2.2%) were also significantly (P<0.01) higher in mPZM-3 compared with those in mPZM-4. There was significant interaction (P<0.05) between the two main factors; the effects of the culture media and methods on the rate of hatched blasyocysts as percentages of the blastocysts produced and, the hatched blastocyst rate (20.3%) as percentages of the number of blastocysts produced in mPZM-3 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the other groups. In Experiment 2, the additional effects of insulin (100 ng/ml) in mPZM-3 and mPZM-4 media was investigated in the WOW culture system. Insulin addition did not improve cleavage, blastocyst formation, or the number of cells in blastocysts. However, as in Experiment 1, mPZM-3 resulted in a significantly higher blastocyst rate as percentages of the cleaved oocytes than mPZM-4 (33.9 and 18.4%). These results indicate that a chemically defined medium (mPZM-4) needs to be improved to provide more suitable culture conditions for in vitro development of in vitro matured and intracytoplasmically inseminated porcine oocytes. However, the WOW system may be a useful IVC method for blastocyst development of in vitro matured porcine oocytes following ICSI when a semi-defined medium (mPZM-3) is used.     

The blastocyst production rate and incidence of chromosomal abnormalities by developmental stage in in vitro produced porcine embryos

The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between embryonic development speed at different stages (the cleaved stage at 52 h and the blastocyst stage at 6 days post insemination) and incidences of chromosome abnormalities in in vitro produced porcine embryos. Porcine oocytes were collected from 3-6-mm ovarian follicles obtained at a slaughterhouse and matured in modified NCSU-37 medium for 44-46 h. Following in vitro fertilization with a final concentration of 1 x 10(5) sperm/ml for 3 h, all oocytes were cultured in vitro for 52 h. Day-2 (52 h after insemination) embryos were classified according to their cleaved stages into 2-cell, 3- to 4-cell, 5- to 8-cell, and >8-cell stages; these were cultured separately for additional 4 days (Day 6). The resultant Day-6 blastocysts were classified according to the morphological diameter into 3 grades: Grade A, expanded blastocysts; Grade B, expanding blastocysts; and Grade C, early blastocysts. They were then analyzed chromosomally. The 3- to 4-cell and 5- to 8-cell embryos had significantly high blastocyst development rates (46.1 and 36.9%, respectively), and these blastocysts contained significantly more cells (40.2 and 42.4 cells, respectively) than those derived from 2-cell embryos and >8-cell embryos (28.6 and 26.5 cells, respectively). The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was significantly higher in the blastocysts derived from 2-cell and >8-cell stage embryos than in the blastocysts derived from the other stage embryos. Furthermore, the grade A blastocysts had the lowest incidence of chromosomal abnormalities (35.3%) and contained the most cells (48.7 cells). Porcine in vitro production (IVP) yielded a high blastocyst rate and an excellent embryo quality when 3- to 4-cell and 5- to 8-cell stage embryos were selected on Day 2 after insemination. The same criteria yielded a higher quality of expanded blastocysts based on the stage of embryo development and morphology.     

绵羊磷脂酶C-γ1对绵羊卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

卵母细胞成熟率可作为衡量体外培养卵母细胞质量和发育能力的指标。本研究旨在探讨PLC-γ1是否参与了绵羊卵母细胞的体外成熟及其影响。将绵羊卵母细胞在含有不同浓度的U73122（PLC抑制剂））及m-3M3FBS （PLC激活剂）的成熟培养液中进行培养,每个浓度150个细胞,重复试验3次,统计细胞成熟率、卵裂率及桑葚胚率以供筛选出PLC-γ1的最佳抑制及促进浓度。qPCR检测0.5 μmol·L^-1 U73122及0.5 μmol·L^-1 m-3M3FBS处理后48 h的卵母细胞中PLC-γ1、BAK、BAX、CASP3、CASP8、P53、BCL6基因mRNA水平表达情况,Western blot检测0.5 μmol·L^-1 U73122及0.5 μmol·L^-1 m-3M3FBS处理后48 h的卵母细胞中PLC-γ1、BAK、BAX、CASP3、CASP8、P53、BCL6蛋白的表达情况。每个浓度150个细胞,重复试验3次。在绵羊卵母细胞中,0.5 μmol·L^-1 U73122是促进成熟的最佳浓度,0.5 μmol·L^-1 m-3M3FBS是抑制成熟的最佳浓度。0.5 μmol·L^-1 U73122处理组卵裂率和囊胚率均显著低于对照组。0.5 μmol·L^-1 m-3M3FBS处理组卵裂率和囊胚率均显著高于对照组。通过qPCR检测结果显示,与对照组相比,U73122组中BAK、BAX、CASP3、CASP8、P53基因mRNA表达量显著上升,PLC-γ1、BCL6基因mRNA表达量显著下降;m-3M3FBS组则与之相反。Western blot结果显示,与对照组相比,U73122组中BAK、BAX、CASP8蛋白表达量显著增多,PLC-γ1、BCL6蛋白表达量显著减少,P53和CASP3蛋白表达量无明显变化。m-3M3FBS组中PLC-γ1、BCL6蛋白表达量显著增多,BAX、CASP3、P53蛋白表达量显著减少,BAK、CASP8蛋白表达量无明显变化。综上所述,本研究表明PLC-γ1在绵羊卵母细胞的体外成熟培养中发挥重要作用,其可调节卵母细胞的成熟以及早期胚胎的发育能力。     

Recruit of porcine oocytes excluded from nuclear transfer program for the production of embryos following parthenogenetic activation

To evaluate whether oocytes excluded from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) could be utilized for embryo production by parthenogenetic activation (PA), porcine oocytes with poor morphology after maturation culture were excluded from SCNT and subsequently used for PA with different stimuli. In the first set of experiment, either electric pulse of different strengths (1.75, 2.0 or 2.25 kV/cm for 30 microsec each) or chemicals with different treatment durations [7% ethanol for 5 min followed by exposure to 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 0, 2, 3 or 4 hr] was employed. Development to the 8-cell and morula stages was significantly (P<0.05) improved by electric stimulation of 2.0 kV/cm, while blastocyst formation was enhanced by chemical treatment of ethanol and 6-DMAP for 4 hr. Subsequently, oocytes were parthenogenetically activated by one of four stimuli; 1) optimal electric (2.0 kV/cm for 30 microsec), 2) optimal chemical (ethanol followed by 6-DMAP for 4 hr), 3) electric then chemical and 4) vice versa. On the other hand, oocytes with normal morphology were subjected to the same experimental treatments for the control. Regardless of oocyte type, a combination of electric and chemical stimulations did not further stimulate preimplantation development, compared with electric activation only. However, combinational treatment greatly increased the cell number of blastocysts in SCNT-excluded oocytes (21.9 to 22.9 vs. 16.9 cells/blastocyst), while such effect was not found in normal oocytes (22.2 to 23.3 cells/blastocyst). In conclusion, porcine oocytes excluded from SCNT still have a potential to develop blastocysts after PA and this might contribute to increasing the efficiency of SCNT for various purposes. A combined activation by electricity and chemical yielded the best rate of preimplantation development with increasing the quality of blastocyst.     

猪植入前胚胎体外培养条件的优化

探讨了更换胚胎培养液及添加FBS、高渗透压和不同浓度VE对猪卵母细胞体外受精(IVF)和孤雌激活(PA)胚胎体外发育的影响,进一步优化了猪植入前胚胎体外培养体系。试验一：在第2天、第4天更换新的培养液(换液组),在换液基础上第4天更换为添加10%FBS的培养液(FBS组)。试验二：胚胎分别在0.05 mol/L蔗糖(蔗糖组)和138 mmol/L氯化钠(氯化钠组)的PZM-3(300～320 mOsmol)中培养2 d后移至PZM-3(288 mOsmol)中培养5 d。试验三：在培养液中分别添加50、100和200 μmol/L VE。对照组均在PZM-3(288 mOsmol)中培养7 d。结果表明：试验一,IVF和PA胚胎FBS组囊胚率显著高于对照组和换液组(P<0.05);试验二,IVF胚胎氯化钠组卵裂率、囊胚率均显著高于对照组与蔗糖组(P<0.05);试验三,IVF胚胎添加100 μmol/L VE组囊胚率显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。结果提示,在换液的基础上添加FBS有利于猪IVF和PA胚胎的体外发育;氯化钠调节的高渗透压可以促进猪IVF胚胎的早期发育;添加100 μmol/L VE可以改善猪IVF胚胎的体外发育体系。     

Insulin‐like growth factor I enhances the developmental competence of yak embryos by modulating aquaporin 3

The objective of our present study was to determine the effects of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) on the development of yak (Bos grunniens) embryos after cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) vitrification and warming followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF). In Experiment 1, the yak COCs underwent vitrification and then IVF. Embryos were incubated in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with four concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml) of IGF‐I, while the yak COCs without vitrification or IGF‐I supplementation acted as the control group; the BAX, BCL‐2, AQP3mRNA and aquaporin 3 (AQP3) protein expression levels in the five groups of blastocysts were evaluated using quantitative real‐time PCR and immunofluorescence analyses. In Experiment 2, the groups described above were fertilized and incubated. The cleavage rate, blastocyst rate, total cell count per blastocyst and the rate of growth of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) were evaluated. The results were as follows: (1) the AQP3 gene expression and protein expression in the control and 100 ng/ml IGF‐I treatment groups were the highest. (2) The BAX gene expression was the lowest and the BCL‐2 gene expression was the highest in the control and 100 ng/ml IGF‐I treatment groups. (3) The rates of cleavage and blastocysts in the control and 100 ng/ml IGF‐I groups were higher than those in the other three groups. The total cell count per blastocyst in the vitrified and warmed 100 ng/ml IGF‐I group (106.7 ± 4.9) and the control group (107.3 ± 4.2) was higher than that in the vitrified and warmed 0 ng/ml IGF‐I (91.2 ± 3.1), 50 ng/ml IGF‐I (92.3 ± 3.7) and 200 ng/ml IGF‐I (92.4 ± 3.7) groups. Therefore, we conclude that IGF‐I can improve yak blastocyst developmental ability, cytomembrane permeability and formation of the blastocyst cavity after COC vitrification by improving the BAX, BCL‐2 and AQP3 expression levels.     

Relationship between group II caspase activity of bovine preimplantation embryos and capacity for hatching

The occurrence of apoptosis in a fraction of blastomeres in the preimplantation embryo is well known but the consequences of this phenomenon for the developmental potential of the blastocyst has not been well established. Here we demonstrate that blastocysts with low amounts of activated group II caspase activity have increased potential for development to the hatched blastocyst stage. Bovine blastocysts produced in vitro were assayed using a non-invasive fluoregenic substrate that is cleaved by activated group II caspases (i.e., caspase-2, -3 and -7). Subsequently, blastocysts were cultured until Day 10 post-insemination and the proportion undergoing hatching determined. In Experiment 1, blastocysts were cultured without respect to stage of development (expanded or non-expanded); blastocysts classified as having low caspase activity had higher hatching rates than blastocysts with medium or high caspase activity. In Experiment 2, embryos were categorized as nonexpanded or expanded blastocysts. Caspase activity was lower and hatching rate higher for expanded blastocysts than for nonexpanded blastocysts. For nonexpanded blastocysts, embryos classified as having low caspase activity had higher hatching rates as compared to embryos with medium or high caspase activity. In conclusion, the capacity for blastocysts to undergo further development is related to degree of group II caspase activity. Conditions that enhance the incidence of apoptosis in blastocysts may reduce developmental competence. In addition, determination of caspase activity may be useful for selection of embryos for transfer into recipients.     

The effects of canthaxanthin on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development in vitro after parthenogenetic activation and somatic cell nuclear transfer

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of canthaxanthin (Cx) treatment during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes on embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), on intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in mature oocytes, and on gene expression in both PA‐ and SCNT‐derived blastocysts. To determine the optimal effective concentration of Cx, porcine oocytes were cultured in IVM medium supplemented with various concentrations (0, 20, 40 and 80 μM) of Cx for 22 hr. Compared to other groups, supplementation with 40 μM Cx significantly improved blastocyst formation rates after PA (p < .05), but no significant differences were observed among groups in total blastocyst cell numbers. Subsequently, oocytes were cultured in IVM medium supplemented with or without 40 μM Cx. Oocytes treated with 40 μM Cx showed significantly increased cleavage and blastocyst formation rates after SCNT compared to the control group (p < .05). Moreover, significantly increased intracellular GSH and reduced ROS levels were observed in the Cx‐treated group (p < .05). In addition, both PA‐ and SCNT‐derived blastocysts from the 40 μM Cx‐treated group showed significantly increased mRNA expression of Bcl2 and Oct4 and decreased Caspase3 expression level (p < .05), when compared with the control group. PA‐derived blastocysts from the 40 μM Cx‐treated group also exhibited significantly decreased expression of Bax (p < .05). Our results demonstrated that treatment with 40 μM Cx during IVM improves the developmental competence of PA and SCNT embryos. Improvement of embryo development by Cx is most likely due to increased intracellular GSH synthesis, which reduces ROS levels in oocytes, and it may also positively regulate apoptosis‐ and development‐related genes.     

Effects of complement component 3 derivatives on pig oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryo development in vitro

Complement component 3 (C3) has well-established roles within immune system, but its roles outside of immune system are less characterized. The extensive presence of C3 throughout the female reproductive tract, and its temporal, and gamete-specific regulation of expression suggest a potential role for C3 in reproduction. In the present investigation, the effects of C3, C3b and iC3b on porcine oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryonic development were examined. We identified the ability of iC3b to positively influence oocyte maturation. No effects on fertilization efficiency, penetration rates, polyspermy and blastocyst formation were observed. However, C3, C3b and iC3b presence in embryo culture medium resulted in fewer total cells in test blastocysts compared to control blastocysts. The results of this study indicate a potential function for iC3b in oocyte maturation. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the presence of either C3, C3b or iC3b has a negative influence on early embryonic development in the porcine species.     

Delay in Cleavage of Porcine Embryos after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Shows Poorer Embryonic Development

In pigs, the embryonic developmental ability after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is inferior to that resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF). We evaluated the timing of cell division up to blastocyst formation on embryonic development after ICSI using either whole sperm (w-ICSI) or the sperm head alone (h-ICSI) and IVF as a control. At 10 h after ICSI or IVF, we selected only zygotes, and each of the zygotes/embryos was evaluated for cleavage every 24 h until 168 h. We then observed a delay in the 1st and 2nd cleavages of h-ICSI embryos and also in blastocoele formation by w-ICSI embryos in comparison with IVF embryos. The rate of blastocyst formation and the quality of blastocysts in both ICSI groups were inferior to those in the IVF group. In conclusion, the delay in cleavage of porcine ICSI embryos shows poorer embryonic development.     

Effects of sera and steroid hormones on development of bovine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro and co-cultured with bovine oviduct epithelial cells

The present experiment was designed to identify possible effects of sera and steroid hormones added to a co-culture with bovine oviduct epithelial cells on embryonic development in vitro. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24 h and then fertilized in vitro using swim-up and heparin-treated, frozen-thawed spermatozoa. At 18 and 20 h after insemination, oocytes were cultured for 3 or 7 d in a co-culture system with bovine oviduct epithelial cells containing either fetal calf serum (FCS) or estrous cow serum (ECS) and one of six hormonal additions (none, 1 or 10 micrograms/ml estradiol [E]; 1 microgram/ml progesterone [P]; 1 microgram/ml E + P; and 10 micrograms/ml E + P). A total of 2,666 oocytes were cultured for 3 d and examined for cleavage. Of those, 2,280 oocytes were cultured up to 7 d for development to the late morula or blastocyst stage. Greatest cleavage rates for 2- to 8-cell and 8-cell stages were observed in FCS (71 and 24%) and ECS (66 and 23%) without steroid addition. For development into blastocysts, no serum effect was observed. Greatest rates for development into blastocysts were observed in FCS (14%) and ECS (16%) without steroid addition. These results indicate that addition of E and P at the doses and combinations tested did not enhance developmental capacity of in vitro fertilized bovine oocytes. Compared with FCS, ECS tended to increase cleavage rates and development into blastocysts.     

Stress exposure during the preimplantation period affects blastocyst lineages and offspring development

We found retardation of preimplantation embryo growth after exposure to maternal restraint stress during the preimplantation period in our previous study. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of preimplantation maternal restraint stress on the distribution of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in mouse blastocysts, and its possible effect on physiological development of offspring. We exposed spontaneously ovulating female mice to restraint stress for 30 min three times a day during the preimplantation period, and this treatment caused a significant increase in blood serum corticosterone concentration. Microscopic evaluation of embryos showed that restraint stress significantly decreased cell counts per blastocyst. Comparing the effect of restraint stress on the two blastocyst cell lineages, we found that the reduction in TE cells was more substantial than the reduction in ICM cells, which resulted in an increased ICM/TE ratio in blastocysts isolated from stressed dams compared with controls. Restraint stress reduced the number of implantation sites in uteri, significantly delayed eye opening in delivered mice, and altered their behavior in terms of two parameters (scratching on the base of an open field test apparatus, time spent in central zone) as well. Moreover, prenatally stressed offspring had significantly lower body weights and in 5-week old females delivered from stressed dams, fat deposits were significantly lower. Our results indicate that exposure to stress during very early pregnancy can have a negative impact on embryonic development with consequences reaching into postnatal life.