Effects of bovine Herpesvirus Type 5 on development of in vitro-produced bovine embryos

Bovine (Bos indicus) herpesviruses have been associated with reproductive disease. Type 1, the most studied species, is best known for its reproductive and respiratory effects. Type 5 (BoHV-5) has been detected in bull semen and aborted fetuses but not in oocytes and embryos. This study consisted of three experiments that evaluated (1) BoHV-5-infected oocytes matured in medium with fetal bovine serum (BoHV-FBS) or polyvinyl alcohol (BoHV-PVA) and fertilized by noninfected sperm; (2) noninfected oocytes fertilized by BoHV-5-infected sperm; and (3) infection of presumptive zygotes by BoHV-5. Each treatment involved nine drops of 15 to 20 oocytes. Infection with BoHV-5 was detected by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization assay, and fertilization capacity and embryonic development were assessed using in vitro culture. Experimentally induced infection was obtained in all experiments, and vertical transmission of BoHV-5 by gametes was confirmed. The cleavage rate was reduced (P = 0.0201) in BoHV-FBS (80.4 ± 8.9%; mean ± SD) compared with that of noninfected oocytes (89.9 ± 6.5%); neither differed from BoHV-PVA (87.3 ± 7.1%), and the resulting embryo production rate was not significantly different among groups. Rates of cleavage (87.5 ± 7.5% vs. 92.2 ± 5.5%, control vs. infected) and development of embryos (41.7 ± 9.9% vs. 44.3 ± 7.7% to morula/blastocyst/expanded blastocyst [M/B/EB] and 39.6 ± 10.3% vs. 40.8 ± 9.2% to blastocyst/expanded blastocyst/hatching blastocyst [B/EB/HB] stages) were not compromised by infected sperm (P = 0.1462, P = 0.5402, and P = 0.8074, respectively). However, presumptive zygotes directly infected 1 d after fertilization produced a lower number (P = 0.0140 to M/B/EB and P = 0.002 to B/EB/HB stages) of in vitro-produced embryos (31.6 ± 4.6 vs. 25.0 ± 5.5 and 31.6 ± 4.6 vs. 20.2 ± 5.4; control vs. infected). In conclusion, BoHV-5 infected gametes and was transmissible to the embryo during in vitro development. As zygotes infected 1 d after fertilization had compromised development, BoHV-5 has the potential to be a pathogen with economic consequences.     

DNA methylation pattern in pig in vivo produced embryos

DNA methylation/demethylation pattern, determined by 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC) immunostaining, was evaluated in porcine “in vivo” produced embryos from zygote up to the blastocyst stage. In one-cell stage embryos, only the maternal pronucleus showed a positive labeling whilst the paternal pronucleus showed almost no labeling. The intensity of labeling is high until the late morula stage. Blastocysts containing less than 100 cells showed the same intensity of labeling in both the inner cell mass (ICM) nuclei and the trophectodermal (TE) cell nuclei. Interestingly, with further cell multiplication, cells of the ICM became more intensively labeled when compared to TE cells. This distinct methylation pattern is even more profound in blastocysts containing about 200–300 cells and is not caused by the difference in the cell volume of ICM and TE cells.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Exogenous progesterone enhances ova and embryo quality following superstimulation of the first follicular wave in Nelore (Bos indicus) donors

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of exogenous progesterone on superovulatory response and ova/embryo quality in Bos indicus donors superstimulated during the first follicular wave (FFW). We hypothesized that exogenous progesterone during gonadotropin treatments would improve ova and embryo quality. In Experiment 1, 18 Nelore cows were randomly allocated to three groups: (1) FFW; (2) FFW plus a progesterone-releasing device (FFW+P4); and (3) control (E2+P4). Cows in the FFW groups were superstimulated beginning at synchronized ovulation, whereas cows in the control group were superstimulated after synchronization of follicular wave emergence with estradiol plus progesterone (E2+P4). There were no differences in mean (± SD) numbers of transferable embryos between FFW+P4 (8.0 ± 4.5) and control (6.7 ± 4.8) groups, but both were higher (P = 0.006) than the FFW group (0.2 ± 0.4). In Experiment 2, FFW and FFW+P4 were compared in 20 Nelore donors; exogenous progesterone increased the number of transferable embryos (3.9 ± 3.4 vs. 1.3 ± 4.1, P = 0.003). In Experiment 3, FFW and FFW+P4 were compared in 10 Nelore donors except that cows were slaughtered 12 h after pLH (Lutropin-V^®, Bioniche Animal Health, Belleville, ON, Canada) treatment. More mature cumulus oocyte complex (COC) (expanded cumulus cell layers) were collected in the FFW+P4 group than in the FFW group (21.8 ± 13.1 vs. 10.8±14.7; P = 0.003). In summary, superovulatory response was satisfactory when FSH (Folltropin-V^®, Bioniche Animal Health) treatment was initiated at emergence of the first follicular wave in Nelore (Bos indicus) donors, and the hypothesis that administration of exogenous progesterone during the treatment will improve oocyte and embryo quality was supported.     

抗肿瘤药物对小鼠早期胚胎发育的影响

表观遗传修饰在基因表达和克隆胚胎的早期发育方面有重要作用.表现遗传修饰至少发生在两个关键时期--配子形成期和植入前胚胎,如果在此期间发生异常,则会导致胚胎的死亡及出生后各种疾病的发生.其中DNA的甲基化是最重要的一种表观遗传修饰类型,DNA甲基化在哺乳动物发育过程中起关键作用.综述几种类型抗肿瘤药物作用机制——其使胚胎的DNA甲基化降低,引起转录活性降低,进而导致胚胎发育停滞.     

First steps towards Echinometra lucunter embryo cryopreservation

We have studied the sensitivity to cryoprotecting agents of different embryos of the local sea urchin, Echinometra lucunter which is the species used for embryo-larval bioassays in Brazil. We have located significant differences between both species sensitivity to cryoprotecting agents; while for P. lividus propylene glycol was the less toxic compound for most development stages, whereas for E. lucunter is was the most toxic and the least toxic was Dimethyl sulfoxide. There is a significant difference between development stages as well; in the case of P. lividus, the blastula embryo was the most resistant to the cryoprotecting agents, meanwhile for E. lucunter, it was the fertilized oocyte. This is a very promising result, a really early embryo that is not extremely sensitive to Me₂SO. Our next aim is to develop a cryopreservation protocol for E. lucunter early embryos and test them in an embryo-larval bioassay.     

Involvement of phytohormones in germination of dormant and non-dormant oat (Avena sativa L.) seeds

Oat seeds are susceptible to high temperature dormancy. Dormant grainsdo not germinate at 30 °C unless afterripened, dry, for severalweeks. Isolated embryos of dormant grains do germinate, especially ifGA₃ is added to the germination medium. ABA inhibits germinationproportionally to the concentration applied and GA₃ can overcome theABA inhibitory effect. Measurements of endogenous ABA and several GAs revealedthat the initial levels of ABA in dormant and non-dormant grains were quitesimilar. But, endogenous ABA in non-dormant seeds almost disappeared within thefirst 16 h of imbibition, while the amount in dormant grains haddecreased by less than 24%. The level of GA₁₉ in non-dormant seedswas higher, and GA₁₉ appears to be converted to GA₂₀ within the first 16h. The GA₂₀ was converted to GA₁ at leastduring the first 48 h of the germination process. Bothphytohormones thus appear to be involved in the germination process ofnon-dormant seeds. ABA first declines, while GA₁ is producedduring the first 16 h of imbibition to allow proper germination.Indormant grains the level of ABA remained high enough to prevent germinationduring at least a week and precursor GAs were not converted to GA₁.     

系统低温生物学技术在实验小鼠资源保存中的建立与应用

目的建立小鼠胚胎与配子冷冻库,以安全、有效地保存小鼠资源。方法选择不同遗传背景（近交系、远交群、免疫缺陷、疾病模型和基因改变等）的实验小鼠,系统进行了超数排卵、体外受精（IVF）率、胚胎与精子的冷冻复苏效果、卵巢冷冻与移植、辅助体外受精等比较研究。结果①小鼠年龄和遗传背景的不同,其超数排卵的结果也不同（P〈0．01）。三个日龄段中,28日龄最好,其次为112日龄,56日龄最差;不同遗传背景小鼠的超数排卵结果显示,封闭群和大部分近交系小鼠优于转基因小鼠（P〈0．05）,自发性疾病小鼠和基因剔除小鼠的结果最差;②不同品系小鼠的新鲜精子和冻融精子的体外受精率差异有显著性（P〈0．05）,特别是C57BL／6J小鼠冻融精子的IVF率（10．3±4．2％）与新鲜精子（89．8±4.8％）相比,差异极显著（P〈0．01）;③不同品系小鼠的胚胎复苏率,除MRL／mp小鼠的复苏率略低外,其他小鼠品系均有较高的冷冻胚胎复苏率（58．2％～83．9％）,表明,不同遗传背景小鼠之间差异有显著性（P〈0．05）,但均可以达到有效保存小鼠资源的目的。④小鼠的遗传背景、年龄等对小鼠精子的冷冻效果都有影响,采用改良的FERTIUP冷冻保护剂和细胞质内单精注射（ICSI）技术可有效提高以C57BL／6J为背景的基因改变小鼠的精子冷冻复苏率。⑤卵巢冷冻保存可以改善雌性小鼠的繁殖困难或不孕。结论小鼠资源的安全保存,除了长期连续繁殖保种外,最好的或最保险的方法是低温保存。通过将胚胎、配子、卵巢等长期保存在液氮（-196℃）中避免遗传性状的改变,并在将来复苏后获得正常的小鼠后代,以用于生物学和医学等研究。     

昆明小鼠精子冷冻的研究(简报)

胚胎工程技术是动物品种、品系培育,种质资源保存及转基因动物制备、保种的重要手段。配子的冷冻保存技术目前广泛应用于胚胎工程。和胚胎冷冻相比小鼠精子冷冻技术方便、高效尤其适用于转基因及突变系小鼠的保种。成功的精子冷冻要求复苏后通过体外受精(IVF)获得胚胎,再移植入受体,生长发育并产出幼仔。胚胎体外培养获得足够的晚桑葚胚和早期囊胚是胚胎干细胞建立与制备嵌合体小鼠的成功关键,暂时不用的胚胎应仍能耐受冷冻保存,待复苏移植,建立新的繁殖群。但小鼠精子冷冻研究在我国开展的十分有限,缺乏相关资料数据。本实验对不同周龄SPF级昆明(KM)小鼠进行精子冷冻及冻融精子IVF,并将IVF获得的2-细胞胚胎分别进行胚胎移植、体外培养、胚胎冷冻及复苏后移植,应用冻融小鼠精子进行胚胎工程实践。     

Endosperm culture: a novel method for triploid plant production

Triploid nature of endosperm is the characteristic feature of angiosperms and is formed as a result of triple fusion. Present review discusses the morphogenic response and production of triploid plantlets by endosperm culture. Both mature and immature endosperm used for culture initiation responded differently in cultures. A key factor for the induction of cell divisions in mature endosperm cultures is the initial association of embryo but immature endosperms proliferate independent of embryo. In almost all the parasitic angiosperms, endosperm shows a tendency of direct differentiation of organs without prior callusing, whereas in autotrophic taxa the endosperm usually forms callus tissue followed by differentiation of shoot buds, roots or embryos. The endosperm tissue often shows a high degree of chromosomal variations and polyploidy. Mitotic irregularities, chromosome bridges and laggards are the other important characteristics of endosperm tissues. Triploids are usually seed sterile and is undesirable for plants where seeds are commercially useful. However, in cases where seedlessness is employed to improve the quality of fruits as in banana, apple, citrus, grapes, papaya etc. the induction of triploid plants would be of immense use. Triploid plants have more vigorous vegetative growth than their diploid counterparts. Hence, in plants where the vegetative parts are economically useful, triploids are of good use. This review focuses on the progress achieved so far in endosperm culture to obtain triploid plants.