Altered retinoid signaling compromises decidualization in human endometriotic stromal cells
Decidualization alters multiple molecular pathways in endometrium to permit successful embryo implantation. We have reported that paracrine factors, including retinoids, secreted from progesterone-treated endometrial stromal cells, act on nearby epithelial cells to induce the estradiol metabolizing enzyme HSD17B2. This same induction is not seen in endometriotic stromal cells. We have also shown significant differences in retinoid uptake, metabolism and action in endometriotic tissue and stromal cells compared to normal endometrium. Here, we characterize retinoid signaling during decidualization in these cells. Endometrial...
Source: Reproduction - July 10, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Pavone, M. E., Malpani, S., Dyson, M., Bulun, S. E. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Effect of vitrification on in vitro development and imprinted gene Grb10 in mouse embryos
Vitrification of embryos is a routine procedure in IVF (in vitro fertilization) laboratories. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of vitrification on mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro, and effect on the epigenetic status of imprinted gene Grb10 in mouse embryos. The blastocyst formation rate for vitrified 8-cell embryos was similar to the non-vitrified 8-cell embryos, whereas the blastocyst hatching rate was lower than that of the non-vitrified group. The expression level of Grb10 major-type transcript decreased significantly in vitrified blastocysts compared with non-vitrified and in v...
Source: Reproduction - July 10, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Yao, J., Geng, L., Huang, R., Peng, W., Chen, X., Jiang, X., Yu, M., Li, M., Huang, Y., Yang, X. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Trivial role for NSMCE2 during in vitro proliferation and differentiation of male germline stem cells
Spermatogenesis, starting with spermatogonial differentiation, is characterized by ongoing and dramatic alterations in composition and function of chromatin. Failure to maintain proper chromatin dynamics during spermatogenesis may lead to mutations, chromosomal aberrations or aneuploidies. When transmitted to the offspring, these can cause infertility or congenital malformations. The structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) 5/6 protein complex has recently been described to function in chromatin modeling and genomic integrity maintenance during spermatogonial differentiation and meiosis. Among the subunits of the SMC5/6...
Source: Reproduction - July 10, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Zheng, Y., Jongejan, A., Mulder, C. L., Mastenbroek, S., Repping, S., Wang, Y., Li, J., Hamer, G. Tags: Research Source Type: research
The histone codes for meiosis
Meiosis is a specialized process that produces haploid gametes from diploid cells by a single round of DNA replication followed by two successive cell divisions. It contains many special events, such as programmed DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation, homologous recombination, crossover formation and resolution. These events are associated with dynamically regulated chromosomal structures, the dynamic transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling are mainly modulated by histone modifications, termed ‘histone codes’. The purpose of this review is to summarize the histone codes that are required for meio...
Source: Reproduction - July 10, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Wang, L., Xu, Z., Khawar, M. B., Liu, C., Li, W. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Oviductal microvesicles and their effect on in vitro maturation of canine oocytes
In conclusion, the oviductal MVs could be involved in cellular trafficking during oocyte maturation and their possible use in vitro could facilitate the exploitment of canine reproductive biotechnologies. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Lange-Consiglio, A., Perrini, C., Albini, G., Modina, S., Lodde, V., Orsini, E., Esposti, P., Cremonesi, F. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Prenatal exposure to paracetamol/acetaminophen and precursor aniline impairs masculinisation of male brain and behaviour
Paracetamol/acetaminophen (N-Acetyl-p-Aminophenol; APAP) is the preferred analgesic for pain relief and fever during pregnancy. It has therefore caused concern that several studies have reported that prenatal exposure to APAP results in developmental alterations in both the reproductive tract and the brain. Genitals and nervous system of male mammals are actively masculinised during foetal development and early postnatal life by the combined actions of prostaglandins and androgens, resulting in the male-typical reproductive behaviour seen in adulthood. Both androgens and prostaglandins are known to be inhibited by APAP. Th...
Source: Reproduction - June 21, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Hay-Schmidt, A., Finkielman, O. T. E., Jensen, B. A. H., Hogsbro, C. F., Bak Holm, J., Johansen, K. H., Jensen, T. K., Andrade, A. M., Swan, S. H., Bornehag, C.-G., Brunak, S., Jegou, B., Kristiansen, K., Kristensen, D. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
A low-fat diet enriched in fish oil increased lipogenesis and fetal outcome of C57BL/6 mice
There is clear evidence that nutritional strategy employed during pregnancy has profound influence on the offspring health outcomes. However, the effect of the quality and the quantity of maternal fat intake on maternal metabolic profile during different stages of pregnancy and its impact on pregnancy sustainability is not known. Female C57BL/6 mice (7 weeks old) were fed diets varying in the quantity of fat (5% vs 11%) for two weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. The 5% fat diet was enriched with longer chain omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from fish oil. Maternal plasma and tissues were collecte...
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Akerele, O. A., Cheema, S. K. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Spermatogonial deubiquitinase USP9X is essential for proper spermatogenesis in mice
USP9X (ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9, X chromosome) is the mammalian orthologue of Drosophila deubiquitinase fat facets that was previously shown to regulate the maintenance of the germ cell lineage partially through stabilizing Vasa, one of the widely conserved factors crucial for gametogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that USP9X is expressed in the gonocytes and spermatogonia in mouse testes from newborn to adult stages. By using Vasa-Cre mice, germ cell-specific conditional deletion of Usp9x from the embryonic stage showed no abnormality in the developing testes by 1 week and no appreciable defects in the undifferentiated...
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Kishi, K., Uchida, A., Takase, H. M., Suzuki, H., Kurohmaru, M., Tsunekawa, N., Kanai-Azuma, M., Wood, S. A., Kanai, Y. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Very low doses of heavy oxygen ion radiation induce premature ovarian failure
In conclusion, oxygen charged particles are even more potent inducers of ovarian follicle depletion than charged iron particles, raising concern for premature ovarian failure in astronauts exposed to both particles during space travel. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Mishra, B., Ripperdan, R., Ortiz, L., Luderer, U. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Effects of NRF1 on steroidogenesis and apoptosis in goat luteinized granulosa cells
In this study, we investigated the effects of NRF1 on steroidogenesis and cell apoptosis by overexpressing or silencing it in goat luteinized granulosa cells (LGCs). Results showed that knockdown of NRF1 expression significantly inhibited the expression of STAR and CYP19A1, which are involved in sex steroid hormones synthesis, and led to lower estrogen levels. Knockdown of NRF1 resulted in an increased percentage of apoptosis, probably due to the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, accompanied by upregulating mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-related markers BAX, caspase 3 and caspase 9. These data indicate that ...
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Zhang, G.-M., Deng, M.-T., Lei, Z.-H., Wan, Y.-J., Nie, H.-T., Wang, Z.-Y., Fan, Y.-X., Wang, F., Zhang, Y.-L. Tags: Research Source Type: research
DHEA protects mitochondria against dual modes of apoptosis and necroptosis in human granulosa HO23 cells
Because ovarian granulosa cells are essential for oocyte maturation and development, we validated human granulosa HO23 cells to evaluate the ability of the DHEA to prevent cell death after starvation. The present study was aimed to investigate whether DHEA could protect against starvation-induced apoptosis and necroptosis in human oocyte granulosa HO23 cells. The starvation was induced by treatment of serum-free (SF) medium for 4 h in vitro. Starvation-induced mitochondrial depolarization, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation were largely prevented by DHEA in HO23 cells. We found that treatment with DHEA can resto...
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tsui, K.-H., Wang, P.-H., Lin, L.-T., Li, C.-J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
A revised Asingle model to explain stem cell dynamics in the mouse male germline
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and progenitor spermatogonia encompass the undifferentiated spermatogonial pool in mammalian testes. In rodents, this population is comprised of Asingle, Apaired and chains of 4–16 Aaligned spermatogonia. Although traditional models propose that the entire Asingle pool represents SSCs, and formation of an Apaired syncytium symbolizes irreversible entry to a progenitor state destined for differentiation; recent models have emerged that suggest that the Asingle pool is heterogeneous, and Apaired/Aaligned can fragment to produce new SSCs. In this review, we explore evidence from the lite...
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Lord, T., Oatley, J. M. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Time-lapse imaging of cleavage divisions in embryo quality assessment
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most important procedures for treating infertility. As several embryos are usually produced in a single IVF cycle, it is crucial to select only the most viable ones for transfer to the patient. Morphokinetics, i.e. analysis of the dynamics of cleavage divisions and processes such as compaction and cavitation, has provided both biologists and clinicians with a new set of data regarding embryonic behaviour during preimplantation development and its association with embryo quality. In the current review, we focus on biological significance of morphokinetic parameters and show how the...
Source: Reproduction - June 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Milewski, R., Ajduk, A. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
High-throughput mRNA sequencing of stromal cells from endometriomas and endometrium
In conclusion, the use of isolated stromal cells enables to determine gene expression levels without the background interference of other cell types. In the future, a new standard design studying all cell types from endometriotic lesions separately should be applied to reveal novel mechanisms behind endometriosis pathogenesis. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - June 8, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Rekker, K., Saare, M., Eriste, E., Tasa, T., Kukuškina, V., Roost, A. M., Anderson, K., Samuel, K., Karro, H., Salumets, A., Peters, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Different macrophages equally induce EMT in endometria of adenomyosis and normal
Endometrial cells and microenvironment are two important factors in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Our previous study demonstrated that macrophages can induce eutopic epithelial cells of adenomyosis to suffer from epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The aim of this study is to detect whether macrophages interacting with epithelial cells equally induce the EMT process in normal and eutopic endometria of healthy and adenomyotic patients; and whether macrophages parallelly polarize to M2. We investigated the expression levels of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), neural cadherin (N-cadherin), cytokeratin7 (CK7), v...
Source: Reproduction - June 7, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: An, M., Li, D., Yuan, M., Li, Q., Zhang, L., Wang, G. Tags: Research Source Type: research
