小鼠孤雌胚、体外培养胚与体内胚H3K9乙酰化模式的比较

孤雌胚胎的发育率比体内体外生成胚胎的发育率要慢,为研究小鼠孤雌胚、体外培养胚H3K9乙酰化(H3K9ac)模式与体内自然胚之间的差异、曲古抑菌素A(Trichostatin,TSA)对孤雌胚H3K9乙酰化模式的影响及表观遗传模式对孤雌胚、体外培养胚发育的影响,文章采用间接免疫荧光法对小鼠植入前各时期孤雌胚、体外培养胚及体内自然胚基因组组蛋白的H3K9乙酰化水平进行检测。结果显示,植入前各时期孤雌胚H3K9乙酰化模式与体内组变化趋势基本一致,但平均荧光强度较体内组普遍偏高;经TSA处理后孤雌胚H3K9乙酰化水平有所提高,原核期至8-细胞期差异显著(P0.05)。体外培养胚H3K9乙酰化荧光强度与体内组变化趋势也基本一致,但平均荧光强度较体内组普遍偏低。以上结果表明,小鼠孤雌胚H3K9乙酰化水平高于体内胚,使植入前胚胎发育过程中本应沉默的基因启动子发生超乙酰化,进而抑制胚胎发育,这可能是造成孤雌胚胎发育能力较差的重要原因之一;TSA处理可以部分弥补体外培养环境对胚胎发育带来的伤害,但TSA提高孤雌胚的发育能力可能并不完全是通过改变H3K9乙酰化水平来实现的。     

H3K27乙酰化模式在孤雌胚与正常胚中的差异及其对胚胎发育的影响

目的考察小鼠孤雌胚胎H3K27乙酰化模式与体内胚胎的差异,探究表观遗传模式对孤雌胚发育的影响。方法利用SrCl2激活卵母细胞,获得植入前各时期孤雌胚胎,并统计胚胎发育率;小鼠注射孕马血清激素(Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin,PMSG)和人绒毛膜促性腺激素(Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,hCG)超排后合笼,在不同发育时间采用体内冲胚的方法获得体内各时期胚胎;将获得的各期各类胚胎用H3K27乙酰化抗体与特异性位点结合,与连接有FITC荧光基团的二抗共同孵育,利用激光共聚焦显微镜检测荧光强度,获得小鼠植入前各时期孤雌胚和体内胚组蛋白H3K27乙酰化模式。结果用SrCl2激活成熟卵母细胞得到的孤雌胚的激活率和囊胚率分别为96.39%和69.54%,处于正常发育水平;孤雌胚H3K27乙酰化荧光强度从原核期相对较高的水平逐渐降低,2-细胞、4-细胞和8-细胞时期荧光强度都处于较低水平,到桑葚胚时期又突然升高,总体变化趋势和体内组先降低后升高的整体趋势一样,且原核期至8-细胞时期的荧光值孤雌胚高于体内胚,桑囊胚时期则相反;两组的H3K27乙酰化荧光强度值在原核期和桑葚胚时期差异不显著(P>0.05),在2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞和囊胚期差异显著(P<0.01)。结论本研究表明小鼠孤雌胚H3K27乙酰化模式与体内胚的模式存在差异,可能是影响孤雌胚发育能力的重要原因之一。进一步的深入研究将对纠正小鼠孤雌胚乙酰化模式和提高孤雌胚发育能力具有重要意义。     

Oct4基因在猪孤雌激活和体外受精早期胚胎中的表达特征

目的研究植入前胚胎发育重要基因Oct4在猪孤雌和体外受精胚胎中的表达特征。方法收集成熟卵母细胞、孤雌和体外受精2细胞、4细胞、8细胞胚胎和囊胚,做荧光即时定量PCR检测,以体外成熟的猪卵母细胞做对照分析相对表达量。结果孤雌组和体外受精组胚胎在8细胞期Oct4表达量均最高(P<0.05),在孤雌和体外受精组囊胚相对于其他时期Oct4表达量最低(P<0.05)。在同一时期孤雌和体外受精胚胎上Oct4表达并没有差异。结论多能性基因Oct4在卵裂发育时期表达量动态变化,孤雌胚胎在一定程度上可作为体外胚胎基因表达的模型,且不同的胚胎培养条件可能导致基因表达的差异。     

小鼠孤雌激活来源囊胚线粒体基因表达

为了探索孤雌胚胎和正常体外受精胚胎线粒体基因表达的差异,本研究用ICR小鼠孤雌和正常受精胚胎为研究对象。孤雌和正常受精的胚胎分别发育至2-细胞期和囊胚期的比率,用q PCR方法检测囊胚线粒体基因Cox2、tom40、tim23和cytochrome C,以及多能性囊胚质量相关基因Oct4、Sox2和nanog的表达水平。结果发现孤雌激活不影响小鼠卵母细胞的卵裂(95%vs 97.6%,p0.05),但影响胚胎发育到囊胚(39.4%vs 75%,p0.05),孤雌囊胚细胞线粒体Cyto C和Cox2显著高于体外受精组(p0.05);正常受精囊胚多能性基因Oct4和nanog表达水平显著高于孤雌组(p0.05),但Sox2表达水平显著低于孤雌组(p0.05)。本研究表明孤雌激活可影响胚胎线粒体和细胞基因表达水平。     

小鼠四倍体早期胚胎基因组甲基化模式

利用小鼠抗5-甲基胞嘧啶(5MeC)单克隆抗体检测了体外培养小鼠四倍体早期胚胎的基因组甲基化模式。结果表明: 利用电融合方法制备的小鼠四倍体胚胎在体外培养体系中经历细胞质融合、细胞核融合及细胞继续分裂发育直到囊胚期的过程, 在细胞质融合的时候胚胎卵裂球同体内体外培养二倍体胚胎一样, 呈现高度甲基化状态; 在细胞核开始融合的时候, 甲基化水平急速下降, 在细胞核完全融合的时候甲基化水平达到最低点; 随着胚胎继续分裂, 胚胎甲基化水平逐渐增加, 在桑葚胚期甲基化水平最高; 但是囊胚期四倍体胚胎内细胞团同滋养层细胞甲基化荧光信号没有差别, 这与体内体外培养二倍体囊胚内细胞团细胞甲基化荧光强度高于滋养层细胞甲基化荧光强度不同。因此, 小鼠体外培养四倍体胚胎的甲基化模式是不正常的, 这可能是四倍体小鼠难以发育到妊娠足月的原因之一。这是对小鼠四倍体早期胚胎基因组甲基化模式的首次报道。     

两种激活处理促进小鼠孤雌胚胎原核形成

不同人工处理方法激活哺乳动物卵母细胞的机理相似,但其激活效率存在差异。本研究以昆明(KM)、129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1雌鼠来源的卵母细胞为对象,利用氯化锶(SrCl2,Sr2+)联合细胞松弛素B(cytochalasin B,CB)(Sr2++CB)和离子霉素(ionomycin,Ion)联合6-二甲胺基嘌呤(6-dimethylaminopurine,6-DMAP)(Ion+6-DMAP)两种激活方法处理下对比分析不同品系小鼠卵母细胞的激活效率,并以卵母细胞原核形成率、原核数量和孤雌胚胎体外发育来评价两种激活剂的激活效率。研究结果表明,Ion+6-DMAP激活卵的1原核比率显著高于2原核(p0.05),Sr2++CB激活卵的2原核比率显著高于1原核(p0.05);KM、129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1各组孤雌胚胎卵裂率和激活率没有显著差异(P0.05),但129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1囊胚发育率显著高于KM组(p0.05)。3种小鼠品系的卵母细胞用Sr2++CB处理的孤雌胚胎发育率显著高于Ion+6-DMAP。结果证明,Sr2++CB处理小鼠卵母细胞的激活效率明显优于Ion+6-DMAP;129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1的孤雌胚胎体外发育率显著高于KM小鼠,为研究小鼠遗传背景影响孤雌胚胎发育的机理提供参考。     

曲古抑菌素A对体外培养牛成纤维细胞组蛋白乙酰化和甲基化的影响

Trichostatin A(TSA)是一种特异的组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂。研究显示,TSA可以特异地抑制组蛋白去乙酰化酶活性,提高细胞的组蛋白乙酰化水平,激活基因的表达。但是,目前还不是很清楚TSA处理是否对组蛋白甲基化产生影响。本研究以成纤维细胞为研究对象,利用免疫细胞化学技术及激光共聚焦显微镜,探讨了TSA处理体细胞对其组蛋白乙酰化及甲基化修饰的影响。结果显示,随TSA浓度增加,体细胞形态发生明显的改变,细胞变得扁平且核区较大,处理后组蛋白H4K8位点的乙酰化水平随着TSA浓度的增加明显提高。检测组蛋白H3上两个甲基化位点发现,随组蛋白乙酰化水平的增加,H3K4位点的三甲基化（H3K4me3）水平也显著提高。但是,对于H3K9的二甲基化水平（H3K9me2）则没有明显变化。以上结果显示,TSA的处理不仅可以提高体细胞的组蛋白乙酰化水平,同时也增加了与基因表达激活相关组蛋白修饰位点的甲基化水平,但是对于与沉默基因相关的组蛋白修饰位点则没有明显的影响。     

过表达组蛋白H3K9me3去甲基化酶对猪克隆胚胎发育的影响

组蛋白异常修饰是克隆胚胎发育的重要制约因素，组蛋白H3K9me3去甲基化酶KDM4家族的过表达可以有效提高克隆胚胎的发育效率。为探究过表达H3K9me3去甲基化酶对猪克隆胚胎发育的影响，本研究在猪克隆胚胎1-细胞期和2-细胞期分别注射KDM4A mRNA和KDM4D mRNA检测胚胎的囊胚率；收集1-细胞期注射KDM4A mRNA和胚胎注射水(对照组)的2-细胞期克隆胚胎检测H3K9me3表达水平；此外，收集1-细胞期注射KDM4A mRNA和胚胎注射水的4-细胞期克隆胚胎进行单细胞转录组测序，并对测序数据进行GO与KEGG富集分析。结果显示：在1-细胞期注射KDM4A mRNA的猪克隆胚胎囊胚率显著高于对照组(25.32±0.74%vs14.78±0.87%)，注射KDM4D mRNA对猪克隆胚胎囊胚率无明显作用(16.27±0.77%vs 14.78±0.87%)；在2-细胞期注射KDM4A mRNA和KDM4D mRNA的克隆胚胎囊胚率与对照组相比均无显著差异(32.18±1.67%、30.04±0.91%vs 31.22±1.40%)。在1-细胞期注射KDM4A mRNA的克隆...     

影响小鼠孤雌胚胎干细胞的建系效率因素初探

目的检测孤雌胚胎干细胞系的建系效率与小鼠品系以及培养体系的关系。方法将小鼠MⅡ期卵子孤雌激活发育至囊胚,然后从囊胚内细胞团分离孤雌胚胎干细胞。结果杂交和近交系小鼠的建系效率没有显著差异,建系的培养体系中加入ERK抑制剂或者采用血清替代品KSR时,建系效率显著提高。结论小鼠孤雌胚胎干细胞的建系效率与小鼠的遗传背景并没有直接关系,而与分离内细胞团的培养体系密切相关。     

小鼠体内外受精植入前胚胎全基因组甲基化模式比较

为考察体外受精、操作及培养环境对体外受精的小鼠植入前胚胎全基因组DNA甲基化模式的影响,本研究以体内受精的植入前胚胎作为对照,采用间接免疫荧光法检测小鼠体内外受精植入前胚胎基因组DNA甲基化模式.实验结果表明,体外受精各期植入前胚胎呈现出与之相应时期的体内受精植入前胚胎不同的DNA甲基化模式和水平,原核期甲基化水平较高,2-4-、8-细胞期明显降低,而桑葚胚和囊胚期又略有升高.各期体外受精植入前胚胎的基因组DNA甲基化水平都比同时期体内受精胚胎的甲基化水平低.本实验结果部分显示了体外受精、操作及培养环境可能对正常的DNA甲基化模式产生影响,造成体外受精植入前胚胎甲基化模式异常.     

Changes in tri-methylation profile of lysines 4 and 27 of histone H3 in bovine blastocysts after cryopreservation

Pregnancy rates from cryopreserved embryos remain lower than non-cryopreserved counterparts, even though these embryos appear morphologically normal. How epigenetic events, such as histone modifications, are affected by cryopreservation of embryos remains unknown. The current study evaluated the effect of conventional freezing/thawing of in vitro produced bovine blastocyst embryos on histone modifications, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. At day 7 of in vitro culture, blastocyst stage embryos were either frozen by conventional freezing method (−0.5 °C/min in 1.5 M ethylene glycol; F/T group) or remained in culture for an additional 18 h (Ctrl). Frozen embryos were stored in liquid N₂ for 14 days, thawed and placed in culture for 36 h for recovery. Control and re-expanded frozen-thawed blastocysts from both groups were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and stored in PBS +0.1% triton-X at 4 °C. Immunofluorescence, utilizing antibodies against H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, was conducted and staining intensity was analyzed as percentage of total DNA. Day 7 blastocyst development rate was 35.55% (352/990) with blastocyst recovery at 54.23% (77/142) 36 h post-thawing. Total cell numbers per blastocyst were not different amongst groups (117.8 ± 12.49 and 116.1 ± 14.69, F/T and Ctrl groups respectively). Global staining for the active mark, H3K4me3, was lower in F/T blastocysts compared to Ctrl (17.24 ± 2.80% vs. 34.95 ± 3.77%; P < 0.01). However, staining for the inhibitory mark, H3K27me3, was nearly 2-fold higher in F/T blastocysts (40.41 ± 3.83% vs. 21.29 ± 3.92%; P < 0.01). These results suggest that bovine blastocysts, subjected to conventional freezing methods, have altered histone modifications that may play a role in poor pregnancy rates.     

Oxygen tension affects histone remodeling of in vitro–produced embryos in a bovine model

In vitro production of bovine embryos is a biotechnology of great economic impact. Epigenetic processes, such as histone remodeling, control gene expression and are essential for proper embryo development. Given the importance of IVP as a reproductive biotechnology, the role of epigenetic processes during embryo development, and the important correlation between culture conditions and epigenetic patterns, the present study was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial to investigate the influence of varying oxygen tensions (O₂; 5% and 20%) and concentrations of fetal bovine serum (0% and 2.5%), during IVC, in the epigenetic remodeling of H3K9me2 (repressive) and H3K4me2 (permissive) in bovine embryos. Bovine oocytes were used for IVP of embryos, cleavage and blastocyst rates were evaluated, and expanded blastocysts were used for evaluation of the histone marks H3K9me2 and H3K4me2. Morulae and expanded blastocysts were also used to evaluate the expression of remodeling enzymes, specific to the aforementioned marks, by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Embryos produced in the presence of fetal bovine serum (2.5%) had a 10% higher rate of blastocyst formation. Global staining for the residues H3K9me2 and H3K4me2 was not affected significantly by the presence of serum. Notwithstanding, the main effect of oxygen tension was significant for both histone marks, with both repressive and permissive marks being higher in embryos cultured at the higher oxygen tension; however, expression of the remodeling enzymes did not differ in morulae or blastocysts in response to the varying oxygen tension. These results suggest that the use of serum during IVC of embryos increases blastocyst rate without affecting the evaluated histone marks and that oxygen tension has an important effect on the histone marks H3K9me2 and H3K4me2 in bovine blastocysts.     

The histone deacetylase inhibitor Scriptaid improves in vitro developmental competence of ovine somatic cell nuclear transferred embryos

Although the success rate of sheep cloning remains extremely low, using a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor to increase histone acetylation in SCNT embryos has significantly enhanced developmental competence in several species. The objective was to determine whether HDAC inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and the novel inhibitor Scriptaid enhance cloning efficiency in sheep cumulus cell (passage 2) reconstructed embryos. In this study, 0.2 μmol/L Scriptaid yielded a high blastocyst development rate, almost twice that of the untreated group (25/103 [24.3%] vs. 12/101 [11.9%]; P < 0.05). Furthermore, 0.2 μmol/L Scriptaid was more effective than 0.05 μmol/L TSA in terms of the blastocyst percentage for cloned ovine embryos in vitro (17/66 [25.7%] vs. 11/65 [16.8%]; P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with Scriptaid increased acetylation (compared with the Control, P < 0.05) at lysine residue 12 of histone H4 (acH4K12) and lysine residue 9 of histone H3 (acH3K9) in one-, two-, four-, and eight-cell stages, as well as blastocyst stages, in cloned embryos. In conclusion, Scriptaid was more effective than TSA to enhance in vitro developmental competence in ovine SCNT embryos; furthermore, Scriptaid improved epigenetic status.     

Haploidy but not parthenogenetic activation leads to increased incidence of apoptosis in mouse embryos.

Aneuploidy underlies failed development and possibly apoptosis of some preimplantation embryos. We employed a haploid model in the mouse to study the effects of aneuploidy on apoptosis in preimplantation embryos. Mouse metaphase II oocytes that were activated with strontium formed haploid parthenogenetic embryos with 1 pronucleus, whereas activation of oocytes with strontium plus cytochalasin D produced diploid parthenogenetic embryo controls with 2 pronuclei. Strontium induced calcium transients that mimic sperm-induced calcium oscillations, and ploidy was confirmed by chromosomal analysis. Rates of development and apoptosis were compared between haploid and diploid parthenogenetic embryos (parthenotes) and control embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF). Haploid mouse parthenotes cleaved at a slower rate, and most arrested before the blastocyst stage, in contrast to diploid parthenotes or IVF embryos. Developmentally retarded haploid parthenotes exhibited apoptosis at a significantly higher frequency than did diploid parthenotes or IVF embryos. However, diploid parthenotes exhibited rates of preimplantation development and apoptosis similar to those of IVF embryos, indicating that parthenogenetic activation itself does not initiate apoptosis during preimplantation development. These results suggest that haploidy can lead to an increased incidence of apoptosis. Moreover, the initiation of apoptosis during preimplantation development does not require the paternal genome.     

Changes in H3K79 methylation during preimplantation development in mice

The gene expression pattern of differentiated oocytes is reprogrammed into that of totipotent preimplantation embryos before and/or after fertilization. To elucidate the mechanisms of genome reprogramming, we investigated histone H3 lysine 79 dimethylation (H3K79me2) and trimethylation (H3K79me3) in oocytes and preimplantation embryos via immunocytochemistry. In somatic cells and oocytes, H3K79me2 was observed throughout the genome, whereas H3K79me3 was localized in the pericentromeric heterochromatin regions in which there are no active genes. Because H3K79me2 is considered an active gene marker, H3K79 methylation seems to have differing functions depending on the number of methyl groups added on the same residues. Both H3K79me2 and H3K79me3 decreased soon after fertilization, and the hypomethylated state was maintained at interphase (before the blastocyst stage), except for a transient increase in H3K79me2 at mitosis (M phase). H3K79me3 was not detected throughout preimplantation, even at M phase. To investigate the involvement of H3K79me2 in genome reprogramming, somatic nuclei were transplanted into enucleated oocytes. H3K79me2 in these nuclei was demethylated following parthenogenetic activation. However, the nuclei that had been transplanted into the parthenogenetic embryos 7 h after activation were not demethylated. This suggests that the elimination of H3K79 methylation after fertilization is involved in genomic reprogramming.