纳米化聚酰胺-胺型树枝状聚合物对猪精子介导基因转移效率的影响

为优化猪精子介导的基因转移(SMGT)技术,提高转基因效率,本试验利用纳米化聚酰胺-胺型树枝状聚合物(PAMAM-D)为载体介导猪精子转染外源DNA,经原位杂交检测其阳性率,体外受精(IVF)分析外源基因的表达.结果显示,0.5 μg线状质粒DNA中加入PAMAM-D(质量比20∶1)阳性率最高(P＜0.05)；孵育时间为90、120min时,阳性率显著高于30、60 min组(19.94％、18.57％与8.50％、13.87％；P＜0.05)；以此条件处理精子,阳性率显著高于无载体和脂质体处理组(23.93％与7.25％0、13.25％；P＜0.05).各处理精子经IVF后,PAMAM-D组EGFP表达率显著高于其他2组(9.19％与4.81％、3.43％;P＜0.05),各组绿色荧光胚胎经基因组PCR分析均能检测到EGFP基因.结果表明,PAMAM-D可有效介导猪精子转染外源DNA,并通过体外受精将外源基因导入胚胎中.     

影响猪精子介导基因转移效果的因素研究

为优化猪精子载体法技术参数,利用荧光定量PCR、荧光显微镜检测和精液常规检测方法,分析不同DNA转染剂、不同孵育温度和不同形态DNA对猪精子转染外源DNA的影响。结果表明,PEI和TransFast转染剂能极显著提高猪精子转染效果,且PEI优于TransFast,而NanoFect转染剂包裹DNA不能转染精子。随着转染温度的升高,精子的活力和活率均明显下降,而转染率和内化外源DNA量基本保持稳定,而吸附外源DNA量呈下降趋势。环状DNA和线性化DNA在与精子共孵育后,两者的精子活力、活率、转染率和内化外源DNA量差异均不显著,精子吸附线性化DNA量极显著高于环状DNA量。综合分析表明,外源DNA形态对猪精子转染效果无显著影响;PEI和TransFast能够显著提高猪精子转染效果;共孵育温度以17℃为最佳,本结果为开展精子载体法制备转基因猪研究提供了基础试验依据。     

精子结合与内化外源DNA的分子机制研究进展

精子具有主动结合、转运、整合外源DNA的能力,并能在受精时导入卵母细胞,获得转基因动物。精子介导基因转移(sperm-mediated gene transfer,SMGT)是目前获得转基因动物简单而高效的方法之一,但该方法存在着极大的随机性和不确定性。研究精子结合与内化外源DNA的分子机制、外源DNA进入精子后的定位及命运,对提高利用SMGT方法生产转基因动物效率和稳定性是十分重要的。精子与外源DNA的结合、内化和整合是受到严格调控的一种现象。     

精子介导法制备GHRH转基因猪的研究

以eGFP为报告基因,生长激素释放激素(GHRH)为目的基因,利用精子介导的基因转移方法,将构建慢病毒载体质粒LV-EGFP-GHRH直接和猪精子孵育,再通过体外人工受精建立GHRH转基因猪模型.经PCR检 测,52头后代中发现7头阳性个体,转基因效率为7.42%.本研究探索了应用精子介导的转基因方法将GHRH转移到动物体内,为猪的转基因育种提供了新的依据.     

获能处理对山羊精子结合外源DNA能力的影响

鲜精离心洗涤除去精浆,然后用0.4 μmol/L钙离子载体(IA组)作用10 min或用10 mg/L肝素(HE组)作用90 min获能后,与DNA孵育,再用地高锌(DIG)末端标记的线形外源DNA进行转染,用免疫组化的方法分别检测它们的转染效率;用透射电镜观察精子获能前后的超微结构变化,并用碘化丙锭和羟化荧光素双探针检测获能对精子质膜完整性的影响,探讨精子获能影响精子结合及内化外源DNA变化的原因.结果显示,获能处理降低了精子结合和内化外源DNA能力,IA组和HE组结合率分别为(17.41±4.69)%和(15.00±4.36)%,都极显著低于未经获能处理的精子(32.97±4.58)%(P<0.01).IA组、HE组和对照组(未获能)内化率分别为(12.09±2.50)%、(8.93±1.79)%和(25.52±2.57)%,IA组、HE组均极差异小于对照组(P<0.01).超微结构观察和双荧光探针检测都发现精子获能后质膜完整性降低.用IA或HE获能后的精子质膜完整率是分别是(33.16±6.46)%和(33.90±4.14)%,与对照组差异极显著(P<0.01).结果表明,精子结合及内化外源DNA不是纯粹的分子渗透现象,而是受严格的分子调控的.     

碱处理精子进行家兔ICSI介导转基因的初步研究

采用10 mmol/L NaOH碱处理家兔精子使精子破膜后,和外源基因共同孵育,然后通过ICSI技术导入卵母细胞。另设无碱处理无质粒孵育组和碱处理后精子无质粒孵育空白组,观察并比较胚胎的发育情况。结果:精子碱处理与质粒孵育对胚胎的发育无显著影响(P>0.05),ICSI介导转基因后观察囊胚出现绿色荧光,占总囊胚数的34.78%,外源性DNA的转入率为19.51%。试验初步建立了用碱处理精子结合家兔ICSI的转基因方法。     

影响猪ICSI转基因技术效率的主要因素研究

以猪体外成熟卵子和冷冻解冻的死精子为材料,以pEGFP-N1为模式基因,探讨注射台温度、激活后6-DMAP的处理和精子与PEGFP-N1孵育液添加BSA(牛血清白蛋白)对精子胞质内注射(ICSI)转基因效率的影响。结果表明:注射台温度为30℃时的阳性率为40.07%,而38.5℃时为20.97%,差异极显著(P<0.01)。添加BSA的囊胚转基因率为55.56%,对照组为33.33%,差异极显著(P<0.01)。6-DMAP处理组与对照组的转基因率分别为52.53%和26.25%,差异极显著(P<0.01);而且6-DMAP处理组的囊胚率(9.96%)显著高于(P<0.05)对照组(2.30%)。研究表明注射台温度对转基因效率有明显影响,温度高转基因率低;精子与PEGFP-N1孵育液添加BSA对转基因胚胎发育有一定促进和保护作用,有利于提高囊胚转基因率;激活后用6-DMAP处理能提高转基因率和囊胚率。     

精子载体法获得转人her2基因猪

将带有外源基因的载体酶切纯化后与去精清的猪新鲜精液按比例混合，17℃静置处理使外源DNA进入精子头部，通过人工授精使受体母猪怀孕后产下20头仔猪，经PCR特异性片段扩增，特异片段序列测定和比对，共4头PCR结果为阳性。初步证明人her2基因已在猪染色体上整合，其整合率约为20％。本研究利用精子载体法成功获得了转基因阳性猪，为大动物的转基因研究提供了理论与实践的参考。     

单精注射法生产转GFP基因猪胚胎的研究

卵胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)的出现为治疗人类男性不育提供了新的途径。作为一种家畜胚胎工程新技术，ICSI可以解决猪的多精子受精问题。本研究用冷冻/解冻的猪精子与GFP基因孵育后对猪IVM卵母细胞进行ICSI，通过对猪ICSI卵母细胞发育能力和基因表达效率的分析，初步研究以精子为载体的转基因与卵细胞质内单精注射相结合的技术(SMGT-ICSI)生产转基因猪胚胎的技术路线的可行性。用GFP基因转染的精子注射后化学激活的ICSI卵母细胞基因表达率显著高于电激活处理的ICSI卵母细胞的基因表达率。用精子头部注射的猪卵母细胞和用完整精子注射的猪卵母细胞总基因表达效率无显著差异(P>0.05)。结果表明，用冷冻/解冻后的猪精子或精子头部与外源DNA孵育后通过ICSI方法生产转基因胚胎是可行的。     

家蚕精子介导转基因技术体系的优化

为了构建高效的家蚕转基因技术,对采用piggyBac转座载体的家蚕精子介导转基因的主要技术参数进行优化,结果表明外源DNA的稀释剂和注射方式对导入效率影响较大,G0代未整合的外源DNA在5龄期前基本被降解破坏。推荐的家蚕精子介导基因转移技术方案为:处女蛾交尾囊注射6～8μL以0.1×TE稀释的2 g/Lpig-gyBac转座子载体DNA后正常交配产卵,根据G0代5龄期及蛾期PCR检测标记基因为阳性的蛾区自交,G1代阳性个体自交以获得纯合后代。     

Factors affecting porcine sperm mediated gene transfer

“Sperm mediated gene transfer” (SMGT) is based on the ability of sperm cells to bind exogenous DNA. The main objective of this study was to improve the production of transgenic pigs by SMGT. Taking into account that there is a lack of repeatability in studies of SMGT and that the mechanism of binding and internalization of exogenous DNA is a question that has not been solved, different factors involved in the production of transgenic animals by SMGT method were evaluated. Here we set out to: (1) evaluate the sperm capacity to bind exogenous DNA after DMSO treatment; (2) determine the location of the transgene–spermatozoa interaction; and (3) evaluate the efficiency of production of transgenic piglets by deep intrauterine artificial insemination (AI) with sperm incubated with DNA. The percentage of DNA binding was higher than 30% after 2 h of co-culture, but it was not affected by sperm treatment with DMSO (0.3% or 3%). The integrity of the sperm plasma membrane plays a critical role in DNA interaction, and altered plasma membranes facilitate interactions with exogenous DNA. DNA bound mainly to spermatozoa with reduced viability. DNA molecules were found to be mainly associated to the post-acrosomal region (61.9%). After deep intrauterine AI a total of 29 piglets were obtained, but none of them integrated the transgene. In conclusion, although it has been confirmed that DNA can associate with boar spermatozoa, the efficiency of producing transgenic pigs by AI was not confirmed by the present experiments, mainly due to a reduced DNA binding to functional spermatozoa.     

Factors affecting porcine sperm mediated gene transfer

“Sperm mediated gene transfer” (SMGT) is based on the ability of sperm cells to bind exogenous DNA. The main objective of this study was to improve the production of transgenic pigs by SMGT. Taking into account that there is a lack of repeatability in studies of SMGT and that the mechanism of binding and internalization of exogenous DNA is a question that has not been solved, different factors involved in the production of transgenic animals by SMGT method were evaluated. Here we set out to: (1) evaluate the sperm capacity to bind exogenous DNA after DMSO treatment; (2) determine the location of the transgene–spermatozoa interaction; and (3) evaluate the efficiency of production of transgenic piglets by deep intrauterine artificial insemination (AI) with sperm incubated with DNA. The percentage of DNA binding was higher than 30% after 2 h of co-culture, but it was not affected by sperm treatment with DMSO (0.3% or 3%). The integrity of the sperm plasma membrane plays a critical role in DNA interaction, and altered plasma membranes facilitate interactions with exogenous DNA. DNA bound mainly to spermatozoa with reduced viability. DNA molecules were found to be mainly associated to the post-acrosomal region (61.9%). After deep intrauterine AI a total of 29 piglets were obtained, but none of them integrated the transgene. In conclusion, although it has been confirmed that DNA can associate with boar spermatozoa, the efficiency of producing transgenic pigs by AI was not confirmed by the present experiments, mainly due to a reduced DNA binding to functional spermatozoa.     

Liposome-mediated uptake of exogenous DNA by equine spermatozoa and applications in sperm-mediated gene transfer

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Sperm-mediated gene transfer has been reported as a method for production of transgenic animals in a variety of species, and this technique represents a possible method for production of transgenic equids. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the uptake of exogenous DNA (enhanced green fluorescent protein; pEGFP) by equine spermatozoa and to assess the ability of transfected spermatozoa to introduce this transgene into early equine embryos. METHODS: To evaluate incorporation of pEGFP into equine spermatozoa, washed spermatozoa were incubated with 32P-pEGFP, with or without lipofection. Spermatozoa were also transfected with fluorescently-labelled DNA (Alexa647-pEGFP) and changes in sperm viability and DNA uptake were assessed. Mares were inseminated with pEGFP-transfected spermatozoa and embryos recovered. Expression of pEGFP was assessed by epifluorescence microscopy of embryos, and the presence of pEGFP DNA and mRNA was assessed by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Liposome-mediated transfection increased the incorporation of 32P-pEGFP into spermatozoa compared to controls. Flow cytometric evaluation of spermatozoa after transfection with Alexa647-pEGFP revealed a linear increase in the proportion of live, Alexa647+ spermatozoa with increasing DNA concentrations. After insemination with transfected spermatozoa, 8 embryos were recovered. There was no evidence of EGFP expression in the recovered embryos; however, PCR analysis revealed evidence of the pEGFP transgene in 2 of 5 embryos analysed. CONCLUSIONS: The incorporation of exogenous DNA by equine spermatozoa was enhanced by liposome-mediated transfection and this did not adversely affect sperm viability, acrosomal integrity or fertility. Although the EGFP transgene was detected in a proportion of Day 7-10 embryos, there was no evidence of expression of EGFP in these embryos. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Sperm-mediated gene transfer offers a potential technique for the generation of transgenic equids.     

Exogenous DNA internalisation by sperm cells is improved by combining lipofection and restriction enzyme mediated integration

1. Three types of exogenous DNA inserts, i.e. complete linearised pVIVO2-GFP/LacZ vector (9620 bp), the LacZ gene (5317 bp) and the GFP gene (2152 bp) were used to transfect chicken spermatozoa through simple incubation of sperm cells with insert. 2. PCR assay, Dot Blot hybridisation and Southern hybridisation showed the successful internalisation of exogenous DNA by chicken sperm cells. 3. Lipofection and Restriction Enzyme Mediated Integration (REMI) were used to improve the rate of internalisation of exogenous DNA by sperm cells. 4. Results from dot blot as well as Southern hybridisation were semi-quantified and improved exogenous DNA uptake by sperm cells through lipofection and REMI. Stronger signals were observed from hybridisation of LacZ as well as GFP specific probe with the DNA from lipofected exogenous DNA transfected sperm DNA in comparison with those transfected with nude exogenous DNA.     

Efficiency of sperm-mediated gene transfer in the ovine by laparoscopic insemination, in vitro fertilization and ICSI

Transgenesis constitutes an important tool for pharmacological protein production and livestock improvement. We evaluated the potential of laparoscopic insemination (LI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to produce egfp-expressing ovine embryos, using spermatozoa previously exposed to pCX-EGFP plasmid in two different sperm/DNA incubation treatments: "Long Incubation" (2 h at 17 C) and "Short Incubation" (5 min at 5 C). For LI, Merino sheep were superovulated and inseminated with treated fresh semen from Merino rams. The embryos were recovered by flushing the uterine horns. For IVF and ICSI, slaughterhouse oocytes were fertilized with DNA-treated frozen/thawed sperm. All recovered embryos were exposed to blue light (488 nm) to determine green fluorescent morulae and blastocysts rates. High cleavage and morulae/blastocysts rates accompanied the LI and IVF procedures, but no egfp-expressing embryos resulted. In contrast, regardless of the sperm/plasmid incubation treatment, egfp-expressing morulae and blastocysts were always obtained by ICSI, and the highest transgenesis rate (91.6%) was achieved with Short Incubation. In addition, following the incubation of labeled plasmid DNA, after Long or Short exposure treatments, with fresh or frozen/thawed spermatozoa, only non-motile fresh spermatozoa could maintain an attached plasmid after washing procedures. No amplification product could be detected following PCR treatment of LI embryos whose zonae pellucidae (ZP) had been removed. In order to establish conditions for transgenic ICSI in the ovine, we compared three different activation treatments, and over 60% of the obtained blastocysts expressed the transgene. For ICSI embryos, FISH analysis found possible signals compatible with integration events. In conclusion, our results show that in the ovine, under the conditions studied, ICSI is the only method capable of producing exogenous gene-expressing embryos using spermatozoa as vectors.     

Optimization of a protocol for cryopreservation of mouse spermatozoa using cryotubes

The rapid increase in the number of genetically modified mouse strains has produced a high demand for their frozen spermatozoa from laboratories and mouse banking facilities. Historically, plastic straws have been used preferentially as containers for frozen mammalian spermatozoa because spermatozoa frozen in plastic straws have a high survival rate after thawing. However, plastic straws are more fragile and are used less often than the cryotubes used for conventional cell freezing. In this study, we sought to develop a new protocol for sperm freezing using cryotubes as the container to increase the accessibility of mouse sperm cryopreservation. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected from mature ICR or C57BL/6J (B6) males and were suspended in 18% raffinose and 3% skim milk solution. We then optimized the following conditions using the sperm survival rate as an index: 1) distance of cryotubes from the surface of the liquid nitrogen at freezing, 2) volume of the sperm suspension in the cryotube and 3) temperature of warming sperm during thawing. The best result was obtained when cryotubes containing 10 μl of sperm suspension were immersed 1 cm below the surface of the liquid nitrogen and then thawed at 50 C. The fertilization rates using spermatozoa frozen and thawed using this method were 63.1% in ICR mice and 28.2% in B6 mice. The latter rate was increased to 62.3% by adding reduced glutathione to the fertilization medium. After embryo transfer, 68% and 62% of the fertilized oocytes developed into normal offspring in the ICR and B6 strains, respectively. These results show that cryotubes can be used for cryopreservation of mouse spermatozoa under optimized conditions. This protocol is easy and reproducible, and it may be used in laboratories that do not specialize in sperm cryopreservation.     

Interaction of Intact Porcine Spermatozoa with Epithelial Cells and Neutrophilic Granulocytes during Uterine Passage

New insemination techniques allow a tremendous sperm reduction for successful artificial insemination (AI) if highly diluted semen is deposited in the tip of the uterine horn and close to the utero‐tubal junction. High sperm losses are known to occur during uterine passage and it was the general question whether specific binding mechanisms are involved. Upon arrival in the uterus, spermatozoa are confronted with mainly two different cell types: uterine epithelial cells (UEC) and neutrophilic granulocytes (polymorphonuclear neutrophil, PMN). As cell–sperm interactions can hardly be observed in vivo, an ex vivo system was established to study the interaction between spermatozoa and the UEC. Uterine segments (10 cm) from freshly slaughtered synchronized juvenile gilts were inseminated for 60 min at 38°C. Thereafter spermatozoa were recovered, counted flow cytometrically and examined for changes in viability and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Significantly less spermatozoa with a functioning MMP and intact plasma membranes could be retrieved (55 ± 7%), while the number of damaged spermatozoa hardly changed (93 ± 12%), indicating retention of viable sperm cells in the uterine lumen. The interactions between porcine PMN and spermatozoa (motile, immotile, membrane‐damaged) were studied in coincubation assays in vitro. The binding of membrane‐damaged sperm cells to PMN was virtually non‐existent (3 ± 2%). Viable and motile spermatozoa attached to PMN without being phagocytosed within 60 min (45 ± 3%), whereas binding to sodium fluoride (NaF)‐immobilized spermatozoa was reduced to 20 ± 2%. The binding of viable sperm to PMN is most likely not lectin‐dependent; although both viable cell types were shown to express a broad range of different lectin‐binding sugar residues, none of the lectins tested was able to selectively block PMN‐sperm binding significantly. The results of the study suggest that viable spermatozoa are already subject to selective processes within the uterus before further selection is initiated at the utero‐tubal junction and in the oviductal isthmus.     

冷冻速率和解冻温度对猪精液冷冻效果的影响

为优化冷冻和解冻方法,提高冷冻效果,本试验比较了不同冷冻速率(-100 ℃ 10 min、-120 ℃ 10 min、-140 ℃ 10 min)和不同解冻温度(37 ℃ 30 s、45 ℃ 30 s、52 ℃ 30 s、60 ℃ 30 s)对猪精液冷冻效果的影响。结果表明,采用-120 ℃熏蒸10 min,解冻后精子活力为0.36,质膜完整率和顶体完整率也优于其他2组,且差异显著(P<0.05)。采用37 ℃ 30 s方法解冻,精子活力、质膜完整率显著高于其他3组,顶体完整率也高于其他3组,但差异不显著(P>0.05),其畸形率最低和60 ℃ 30 s组差异明显(P<0.05),但与45 ℃ 30 s组和52 ℃ 30 s组差异不显著(P>0.05)。因此,采用-120 ℃平衡10 min冷冻,37 ℃ 30 s水浴解冻方法更为适合0.25 mL细管猪冻精解冻。     

A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study of Frozen / Thawed Dog Sperm During In Vitro Gamete Interaction

The aim of this work was to study the effects of cryopreservation on the binding and penetration of dog spermatozoa to the zona pellucida (ZP) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sperm-rich fraction of six ejaculates from five dogs was divided into two aliquots and washed by centrifugation. One aliquot was processed as fresh control sample and the other aliquot frozen in Tris-fructose extender. Gamete interaction was assessed using in vitro matured bitch oocytes, which were co-incubated for up to 3 h. At hourly intervals after the start of co-incubation, in vitro fertilized (IVF) oocytes were processed by SEM. The results were analysed statistically using the anova test. Differences in binding and penetration of the spermatozoa to the ZP occurred; a lower proportion of oocytes with spermatozoa bound to ZP was observed using frozen sperm (p < 0.05) than with fresh sperm (61%, 57% and 53% vs 42%, 40% and 44% at 1, 2 and 3 h, respectively). The percentage of ZP penetration by fresh sperm was directly proportional to the time of co-incubation (9%, 25% and 34%; p < 0.05); in contrast, no differences were observed in the penetration rate with frozen-thawed sperm (21%, 17% and 21%). More acrosome reacted sperm were observed in frozen sperm than in fresh sperm on the surface of the ZP. The differences in the percentage of binding and penetration between fresh and frozen sperm during the co-culture could indicate that the time course of penetration is faster in frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa than in fresh sperm, but that fresh spermatozoa can penetrate more oocytes over a given period of time, which may be related to their reacted or non-reacted initial status.