Potential sperm contributions to the murine zygote predicted by in silico analysis
Paternal contributions to the zygote are thought to extend beyond delivery of the genome and paternal RNAs have been linked to epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in different species. In addition, sperm–egg fusion activates several downstream processes that contribute to zygote formation, including PLC zeta-mediated egg activation and maternal RNA clearance. Since a third of the preimplantation developmental period in the mouse occurs prior to the first cleavage stage, there is ample time for paternal RNAs or their encoded proteins potentially to interact and participate in early zygotic activities. To investig...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Ntostis, P., Carter, D., Iles, D., Huntriss, J., Tzetis, M., Miller, D. Tags: Research Source Type: research
E-cadherin and ZEB2 modulate trophoblast cell differentiation during placental development in pigs
This study showed that all the trophoblast cells were of similar shape between Yorkshire and Chinese Meishan pigs on day 26 of gestation; thereafter, the trophoblast cells located at the top of the placental folds became high columnar, while those cells at the base of the placental folds were cuboidal on day 50 of gestation. Additionally, on day 95 of gestation, all the trophoblast cells in Meishan pigs became cuboidal, but the trophoblast cells located at the top of the placental folds in Yorkshire pigs still remained columnar. The membranous E-cadherin and β-catenin were strongly co-expressed by the high columnar tr...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Hong, L., Han, K., Wu, K., Liu, R., Huang, J., Lunney, J. K., Zhao, S., Yu, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Regulation of AMH by oocyte-specific growth factors in human primary cumulus cells
The regulation of AMH production by follicular cells is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the oocyte-secreted factors, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), on AMH production in primary human cumulus cells. Cumulus cells from IVF patients were cultured with a combination of GDF9, BMP15, recombinant FSH and specific signaling inhibitors. Stimulation with GDF9 or BMP15 separately had no significant effect on AMH mRNA levels. In contrast, simultaneous stimulation with GDF9 and BMP15 (G + B) resulted in a significant increase in AMH mRNA expres...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Convissar, S., Armouti, M., Fierro, M. A., Winston, N. J., Scoccia, H., Zamah, A. M., Stocco, C. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Calcitriol regulates immune genes CD14 and CD180 to modulate LPS responses in human trophoblasts
We assessed the response of primary cultures of placental villous mononucleated trophoblasts and multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast to calcitriol, the most biologically active form of vitamin D. Whole-genome microarray data showed that calcitriol modulates the expression of many genes in trophoblasts within 6 hours of exposure and RT-qPCR revealed similar responses in cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts and villous explants. Both cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts expressed genes for the vitamin D receptor, for LRP2 and CUBN that mediate internalization of calcidiol, for CYP27B1 that encodes the enzyme that conve...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Longtine, M. S., Cvitic, S., Colvin, B. N., Chen, B., Desoye, G., Nelson, D. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
KH-type splicing regulatory protein is a new component of chromatoid body
In this study, we showed that KSRP partly localizes in CB, as a component of CB. KSRP interacts with proteins (mouse VASA homolog (MVH), polyadenylate-binding protein 1 (PABP1) and polyadenylate-binding protein 2 (PABP2)), mRNAs (Tnp2 and Odf1) and microRNAs (microRNA-182) in mouse CB. Moreover, KSRP may regulate the integrity of CB via DDX5-miRNA-182 pathway. In addition, we found abnormal expressions of CB component in testes of Ksrp-knockout mice and of patients with hypospermatogenesis. Thus, our results provide mechanistic insight into the role of KSRP in spermatogenesis. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Zhang, H., Wang, G., Liu, L., Liang, X., Lin, Y., Lin, Y.-Y., Chou, C.-F., Liu, M.-F., Huang, H., Sun, F. Tags: Research Source Type: research
NLRPs, the subcortical maternal complex and genomic imprinting
Before activation of the embryonic genome, the oocyte provides many of the RNAs and proteins required for the epigenetic reprogramming and the transition to a totipotent state. Targeted disruption of a subset of oocyte-derived transcripts in mice results in early embryonic lethality and cleavage-stage embryonic arrest as highlighted by the members of the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC). Maternal-effect recessive mutations of NLRP7, KHDC3L and NLRP5 in humans are associated with variable reproductive outcomes, biparental hydatidiform moles (BiHM) and widespread multi-locus imprinting disturbances. The precise mechanism ...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Monk, D., Sanchez-Delgado, M., Fisher, R. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Stress and sex: does cortisol mediate sex change in fish?
Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid (GC) in fish and the hormone most directly associated with stress. Recent research suggests that this hormone may act as a key factor linking social environmental stimuli and the onset of sex change by initiating a shift in steroidogenesis from estrogens to androgens. For many teleost fish, sex change occurs as a usual part of the life cycle. Changing sex is known to enhance the lifetime reproductive success of these fish and the modifications involved (behavioral, gonadal and morphological) are well studied. However, the exact mechanism behind the transduction of the environmental signa...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Goikoetxea, A., Todd, E. V., Gemmell, N. J. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
The safety of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and long-term outcomes
The pioneering of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) approximately 25 years ago revolutionized the treatment of infertile couples. Today, ICSI remains an indispensable part of assisted reproductive treatments (ART) and has resulted in the birth of millions of babies. The 25th anniversary of ICSI marks a chronologic landmark in its evolving history. This landmark also serves as an opportunity to thoroughly appraise the safety of ICSI and analyze the long-term outcomes of ICSI-conceived children. In this review, we collate and analyze salient data accrued over the past 25 years pertaining to the long-term safety of ICSI...
Source: Reproduction - October 31, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Pereira, N., ONeill, C., Lu, V., Rosenwaks, Z., Palermo, G. D. Tags: Anniversary Review Source Type: research
Role of FSH glycan structure in the regulation of Sertoli cell inhibin production
Variations in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) carbohydrate composition and structure are associated with important structural and functional changes in Sertoli cells (SCs) during sexual maturation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of FSH oligosaccharide structure and its interaction with gonadal factors on the regulation of monomeric and dimeric inhibin production at different maturation stages of the SC. Recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) glycosylation variants were isolated according to their sialylation degree (AC and BA) and complexity of oligosaccharides (CO and HY). Native rhFSH stimulated inh...
Source: Reproduction - October 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Andreone, L., Ambao, V., Pellizzari, E. H., Loreti, N., Cigorraga, S. B., Campo, S. Tags: Research Source Type: research
30 years on from the molecular cloning of interferon-tau
(Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - October 12, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Roberts, R. M. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Different co-culture systems have the same impact on bovine embryo transcriptome
During the last few years, several co-culture systems using either BOEC or VERO feeder cells have been developed to improve bovine embryo development and these systems give better results at high oxygen concentration (20%). In parallel, the SOF medium, used at 5% O2, has been developed to mimic the oviduct fluid. Since 2010s, the SOF medium has become popular in improving bovine embryo development and authors have started to associate this medium to co-culture systems. Nevertheless, little is known about the putative benefit of this association on early development. To address this question, we have compared embryo transcr...
Source: Reproduction - October 5, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Carvalho, A. V., Canon, E., Jouneau, L., Archilla, C., Laffont, L., Moroldo, M., Ruffini, S., Corbin, E., Mermillod, P., Duranthon, V. Tags: Research Source Type: research
[Mg2+]o/[Ca2+]o determines Ca2+ response at fertilization: tuning of adult phenotype?
Alteration of the postnatal phenotype has sparked great concern about the developmental impact of culture media used at fertilization. However, the mechanisms and compounds involved are yet to be determined. Here, we used the Ca2+ responses from mouse eggs fertilized by ICSI as a dynamic and quantitative marker to understand the role of compounds in egg functioning and establish possible correlations with adult phenotypes. We computed 134 Ca2+ responses from the first to the last oscillation in media with specific formulations. Analyses demonstrate that eggs generated two times as many Ca2+ oscillations in KSOM as in M16 m...
Source: Reproduction - October 5, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Ozil, J.-P., Sainte-Beuve, T., Banrezes, B. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Protein phosphorylation in spermatozoa motility of Acipenser ruthenus and Cyprinus carpio
Spermatozoa of externally fertilizing freshwater fish possess several different modes of motility activation. Spermatozoa of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) are activated by hypoosmolality, whereas spermatozoa of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) require Ca2+ and low concentration of K+ for motility activation. Intracellular signaling differs between these two species as well, particularly in terms of utilization of secondary messengers (cAMP and Ca2+), and kinase activities. The current study was performed in order to determine the importance of protein phosphorylation and protein kinases for activation of sperm motility in c...
Source: Reproduction - October 5, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Gazo, I., Dietrich, M. A., Pruliere, G., Shaliutina-Kolešova, A., Shaliutina, O., Cosson, J., Chenevert, J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Steroidogenesis during postnatal testicular development of Galea spixii
The androgen/estrogen balance is essential for normal sexual development and reproduction in mammals. Studies performed herein investigated the potential for estrogen synthesis in cells of the testes of a hystricomorph rodent, Galea spixii. The study characterized the expression of the key enzymes responsible for estrogen and androgen synthesis, cytochromes P450 aromatase (P450arom), 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450c17) respectively, as well as the redox partner NADPH cytochrome P450 oxido-reductase (CPR) required to support electron transfer and catalysis of these P450s, by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitati...
Source: Reproduction - October 5, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Santos, P. R. S., Oliveira, F. D., Arroyo, M. A. M., Oliveira, M. F., Castelucci, P., Conley, A. J., Assis Neto, A. C. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Single-cell gene expression of the bovine blastocyst
The first two differentiation events in the embryo result in three cell types – epiblast, trophectoderm (TE) and hypoblast. The purpose here was to identify molecular markers for each cell type in the bovine and evaluate the differences in gene expression among individual cells of each lineage. The cDNA from 67 individual cells of dissociated blastocysts was used to determine transcript abundance for 93 genes implicated as cell lineage markers in other species or potentially involved in developmental processes. Clustering analysis indicated that the cells belonged to two major populations (clades A and B) with two su...
Source: Reproduction - October 5, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Negron-Perez, V. M., Zhang, Y., Hansen, P. J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
