Vitrification of Mouse Embryos at Various Stages by Open-Pulled Straw (OPS) Method

This study was performed to pursue the optimal condition for the cryopreservation of mouse morulae by a two-step OPS method and to investigate the feasibility of the optimal condition for vitrification of embryos at other developmental stages. First, the mouse morulae were vitrified in OPS using one-step procedure—that is, embryos were vitrified after direct exposure to EDFS30 (15% ethylene glycol (EG), 15% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Ficoll and sucrose), or two-step method—that is, embryos were first pretreated in 10%E+10%D (10% EG and 10% DMSO in mPBS) for 30 sec, then exposed to EDFS30 for 15 to 60 sec, respectively. After vitrification and warming, the embryos were morphologically evaluated and assessed by their development to blastocysts, expanded/hatched blastocysts, or to term after transfer. The result showed that all the vitrified-warmed morulae had similar blastocyst rate compared to that of control (91.7% vs. 100%), and the highest developmental rate to expanded blastocysts (100%) or hatched blastocysts (62.3%) was observed when the morulae were pretreated with 10%E+10%D for 0.5 min, exposed to EDFS30 for 25 sec before vitrification and warming in 0.5 M sucrose for 5 min. After transfer, the survival rate (33.1%) in vivo of the vitrified morulae was higher (P > 0.05) than that of the fresh embryos (24.6%). Secondly, embryos at different stages were cryopreserved and thawed following the above program. Most (93.4 to 100%) of the embryos recovered after vitrification were morphologically normal at all the developmental stages. The blastocyst rates of the vitrified one-cell (52.5 to 66.7%) and the two-cell (63.3 to 68.9%) embryos were lower (P < 0.05) than those of the vitrified four-cell embryos (81.7 to 86.4%), the eight-cell embryos (90.0 to 93.3%), morulae (96.7 to 100%), and the expanded blastocysts rate (98.3 to 100.0%) of the vitrified early blastocysts. The highest survival rate in vivo of vitrified embryos were from the early blastocysts (40.4%), which was similar to that of fresh embryos (48.6%). The data demonstrate that the optimal protocol for the cryopreservation of morulae was suitable for the four-cell embryos to early blastocyst stages and that the early blastocyst stage is the most feasible stage for mouse embryo cryopreservation under our experimental conditions.     

自制载体冷冻小鼠原核期胚胎效果分析

目的探讨自制冷冻载体冷冻保存昆明小鼠体内原核期胚胎的可行性。方法首先,比较了两种流行的商业化载体:开放式拉长麦管(open pulled straw,OPS)和冷冻帽(cryotop)开展小鼠原核胚玻璃化冷冻保存效果。其次,以cryotop为对照,利用自制简易载体(cryotip)开展小鼠原核期胚胎的玻璃化冷冻保存。之后,利用ANOVA对各组胚胎在复苏后的体外培养卵裂率、囊胚率进行统计分析。结果 OPS和cryotop两组之间,胚胎在玻璃化冷冻/复苏后发育的2-细胞率、4-细胞率和囊胚率差异均无显著性(P0.05),但cryotop冷冻效果更接近对照组;cryotip玻璃化冷冻载体与cryotop相比,胚胎复苏后各组差异均无显著性(P0.05),数值上除了2-细胞发育率外,cryotip其他几项结果都稍微高于cryotop组。结论 OPS,cryotop,cryotip冷冻保存昆明小鼠体内原核期胚胎均是可行的;cryotop在冷冻效果上要优于OPS,笔者自制的cryotip因其成本低,制作简单,操作安全可靠,在实验中替代昂贵的商业化载体OPS和cryotop是可行的。     

多能性转录因子OCT4和SOX2在体外发育的小鼠2-细胞胚胎的表达与定位

为探讨多能性转录因子OCT4和SOX2在昆明小鼠(Mus musculus)2-细胞胚胎发育过程中与2-细胞胚胎阻滞发生的相关性,本研究应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了小鼠卵母细胞及在M16培养液中培养的不同发育阶段体外受精胚Oct4和Sox2基因的表达,并利用实时荧光定量PCR和免疫荧光技术比较了2-细胞胚、2-细胞阻滞胚和4-细胞胚的OCT4和SOX2的表达与定位。采用ANOVA对实验所得的数据进行分析,P0.05被认为是具有显著性差异。研究结果显示,2-细胞胚只有24.8%发育成4-细胞胚,75.2%的2-细胞胚发生了阻滞。Sox2和Oct4的m RNA在MⅡ期卵母细胞、原核胚、2-细胞胚、4-细胞胚、桑椹胚和囊胚中都有表达。Oct4 m RNA的表达水平在4-细胞胚显著高于2-细胞胚和2-细胞阻滞胚(P0.05),Sox2 m RNA的表达水平在2-细胞胚显著高于2-细胞阻滞胚和4-细胞胚(P0.05),而后两者之间没有差异(P0.05)。OCT4蛋白在2-细胞胚和4-细胞胚中与核共定位,但在2-细胞阻滞胚中弥散存在于胞质中。SOX2蛋白在以上3类胚胎中始终定位于细胞核。上述结果提示,转录因子OCT4和SOX2的表达和定位与小鼠2-细胞胚胎发育阻滞相关,母源性SOX2表达的维持对胚胎合子基因组激活(ZGA)的发生具有重要作用,母源性OCT4的异常定位可能影响了合子基因组激活相关基因的激活,而合子中Oct4的表达影响合子基因组激活后胚胎的发育。     

Conventional freezing, straw, and open-pulled straw vitrification of mouse two pronuclear (2-PN) stage embryos

Little is known on the cryopreservation of mouse pronuclear (PN) stage embryos. In the present experiment the mouse 2-PN stage embryos were cryopreserved by conventional freezing, straw, or open-pulled straw (OPS) vitrificaiton methods. The conventional freezing solution was 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG), and vitrification solutions were EFS30 (30% EG, Ficoll, and sucrose), EFS40 (40% EG, Ficoll, and sucrose), EDFS30 (15% EG, 15%dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], Ficoll, and sucrose), or EDFS40 (20% EG, 20%DMSO, Ficoll, and sucrose). The blastocyst rate of 2-PN stage embryos cryopreserved by conventional method (30.4%) was lower than those vitrified by straw method with EDFS (56.9% to 69.1%), by OPS method (66.0% to 85.7%), and that of control (80.8%) (P < 0.05). With a given vitrificaiton solution EFS30, EFS40, EDFS30, or EDFS40, the blastocyst rate of embryos vitrified by the OPS method (66.7%, 66.0%, 85.7%, or 76.9%) was higher than that of those vitrified by the straw method (46.8%, 43.8%, 69.1%, or 56.9%) (P < 0.05). When mouse 2-PN-stage embryos were vitrified with EDFS30 by straw or OPS method, the highest blastocyst rate was achieved (69.1% or 85.7%) and was similar to that of the control, respectively. The embryos transfer results revealed that the full-term development of blastocysts derived from 2-PN stage embryos vitrified by OPS method with EDFS30 (19.9%) was similar to that of the control (23.5%), and higher than that of those cryopreserved by conventional freezing (9.3%) (P < 0.05). The present research demonstrates that the OPS method, especially with EDFS30, is more effective in cryopreserving mouse 2-PN embryos.     

Vitrification of human laser treated blastocysts within cut standard straws (CSS): novel aseptic packaging and reduced concentrations of cryoprotectants

Vitrification of laser treated human blastocysts using reduced concentrations of permeable cryoprotectants was carried out by submerging cut standard straws (CSS) into liquid nitrogen. The CSS were made by cutting a standard 0.25 ml straw at an angle of approximately 45 degrees . After laser assisted hatching, 6 day blastocysts (n=250) were loaded into droplets of approximately 0.75 microl in the CSS and were either plunged directly into liquid nitrogen or first encased in a standard 0.5 ml straw (aseptic technique) before being vitrified. Permeable cryoprotectants (ethylene glycol+Me(2)SO) at concentrations of 15% and 20% v:v were tested for their effect on post warming re-expansion and post transfer pregnancy rates. Our results indicate that the use of reduced concentrations of cryoprotectants and aseptic packaging of blastocysts did not have any statistically significant impact on the study outcomes.     

Mouse Mesenchyme forkhead 2 (Mf2): expression, DNA binding and induction by sonic hedgehog during somitogenesis

Cloning and sequencing of mouse Mf2 (mesoderm/mesenchyme forkhead 2) cDNAs revealed an open reading frame encoding a putative protein of 492 amino acids which, after in vitro translation, binds to a DNA consensus sequence. Mf2 is expressed at high levels in the ventral region of newly formed somites, in sclerotomal derivatives, in lateral plate and cephalic mesoderm and in the first and second branchial arches. Other regions of mesodermal expression include the developing tongue, meninges, nose, whiskers, kidney, genital tubercule and limb joints. In the nervous system Mf2 is transcribed in restricted regions of the mid- and forebrain. In several tissues, including the early somite, Mf2 is expressed in cell populations adjacent to regions expressing sonic hedgehog (Shh) and in explant cultures of presomitic mesoderm Mf2 is induced by Shh secreted by COS cells. These results suggest that Mf2, like other murine forkhead genes, has multiple roles in embryogenesis, possibly mediating the response of cells to signaling molecules such as SHH.     

斜带石斑鱼囊胚期胚胎和尾芽期胚胎差异表达基因的筛选及克隆

以斜带石斑鱼囊胚期胚胎和尾芽期胚胎分别作为检验组和驱动组,构建了石斑鱼囊胚期胚胎和尾芽期胚胎的抑制性差减杂交cDNA文库。以α-tubulin作为检测指标,显示差减效率分别高达28和27。分别取囊胚期胚胎和尾芽期胚胎各192和960个PCR阳性克隆进行斑点杂交,得到15个囊胚期和131个尾芽期的斑点杂交阳性克隆。测序和数据库比对分析表明,囊胚期15个阳性克隆中有11个已知基因的cDNA片段和没有同源性的4个cDNA片段;而在尾芽期的131个阳性克隆中,有123个已知基因的cDNA片段和8个没有同源性的cD-NA片段。用半定量RT-PCR技术分析了部分基因片段在胚胎发育过程中的表达规律和和组织分布情况。这些差异表达片段的呈现为进一步揭示石斑鱼胚胎发育、早期性别决定和性腺分化的分子机制奠定了基础。     

几种匍匐翦股颖成熟胚愈伤组织诱导及植株再生

利用成熟种子作为外植体,分析了2,4-D对匍匐翦股颖胚性愈伤组织诱导与植株再生体系的影响,并对体细胞胚的发生过程进行了观察.实验结果表明,在2.0 mg/L 2,4-D 0.1 mg/L 6-BA时胚性愈伤组织的诱导频率最高.随着2,4-D浓度的增加,愈伤组织的诱导和分化能力明显下降.在再生过程中采用1.0 mg/L的6-BA达到了比较好的效果,愈伤组织的再生频率大部分在90%以上.同时发现适当提高肌醇浓度可以使苗长得较为粗壮.在实验中发现匍匐翦股颖的体细胞胚发生过程为球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷胚和子叶胚.     

Differentiation Inducing Phosphatidyl Choline(s) from the Embryos of Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri): Isolation and Structural Elucidation1

Phospholipid which is able to induce the differentiation of some undifferentiated tumour cells was isolated from the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) embryos. As HPLC gave only one peak, the phospholipid seemed to be completely purified. However, the spectra of SIMS and FD-MS have shown that it was a mixture of two molecular species. By the chemical and enzymic studies their structures were determined as C_16:0/C_22:6-and C_18:1/C_22:6-phosphatidyl cholines. The isolated and structurally elucidated phosphatidyl cholines induce haemoglobin synthesis in murine erythroleukemia cells and a rapid decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in teratocarcinoma cells. Some phosphatidyl cholines which are commercially available have shown no or conspicuously low activities. Recently we isolated another differentiation-inducing substance(s), which proved to be diglyceride(s) containing the completely same fatty acids as those in the above mentioned phosphatidyl cholines, that is, C_16:0/C_22:6-and C_18:1/C_22:6. These results suggest that the lipids containing C_22:6 fatty acid or this fatty acid itself might play an important part in the differentiation and development.     

Mouse Macrophages Completely Lacking Rho Subfamily GTPases (RhoA,RhoB, and RhoC) Have Severe Lamellipodial Retraction Defects,but Robust Chemotactic Navigation and Altered Motility

RhoA is thought to be essential for coordination of the membrane protrusions and retractions required for immune cell motility and directed migration. Whether the subfamily of Rho (Ras homolog) GTPases (RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC) is actually required for the directed migration of primary cells is difficult to predict. Macrophages isolated from myeloid-restricted RhoA/RhoB (conditional) double knock-out (dKO) mice did not express RhoC and were essentially “pan-Rho”-deficient. Using real-time chemotaxis assays, we found that retraction of the trailing edge was dissociated from the advance of the cell body in dKO cells, which developed extremely elongated tails. Surprisingly, velocity (of the cell body) was increased, whereas chemotactic efficiency was preserved, when compared with WT macrophages. Randomly migrating RhoA/RhoB dKO macrophages exhibited multiple small protrusions and developed large “branches” due to impaired lamellipodial retraction. A mouse model of peritonitis indicated that monocyte/macrophage recruitment was, surprisingly, more rapid in RhoA/RhoB dKO mice than in WT mice. In comparison with dKO cells, the phenotypes of single RhoA- or RhoB-deficient macrophages were mild due to mutual compensation. Furthermore, genetic deletion of RhoB partially reversed the motility defect of macrophages lacking the RhoGAP (Rho GTPase-activating protein) myosin IXb (Myo9b). In conclusion, the Rho subfamily is not required for “front end” functions (motility and chemotaxis), although both RhoA and RhoB are involved in pulling up the “back end” and resorbing lamellipodial membrane protrusions. Macrophages lacking Rho proteins migrate faster in vitro, which, in the case of the peritoneum, translates to more rapid in vivo monocyte/macrophage recruitment.     

Glycolytic, Pentose-Phosphate Shunt and Transaminase Enzymes in Gastrocnemius Muscle, Liver, Heart, and Brain of Two Mouse Mutants, 129 J-dy and A2G-adr, with Abnormal Muscle Function

Abstract: Aldolase and phosphoglycerate kinase activity were markedly reduced in muscle from two mouse mutants, 129 J-dy and A2G-adr, with abnormal muscle development. The pentose-phosphate shunt enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, were both greatly increased in the gastrocnemius of 129 J-dy mice, but only the former was slightly increased in A2G-adr muscle. Alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities were normal or low in 129 J-dy muscle but increased to approximately 200% in A2G-adr muscle. Liver from 129 J-dy mice showed increased activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. These findings are compatible with the well-recognised lipid involvement in the 129 J-dy mutant but indicate that an abnormality of amino acid metabolism in relation to energy supply is probably more important in the A2G-adr mutant.     

Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds of Poly(glycerol-dodecanedioate) for Engineering Neural Tissues From Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

For tissue engineering applications, the preparation of biodegradable and biocompatible scaffolds is the most desirable but challenging task.  Among the various fabrication methods, electrospinning is the most attractive one due to its simplicity and versatility. Additionally, electrospun nanofibers mimic the size of natural extracellular matrix ensuring additional support for cell survival and growth. This study showed the viability of the fabrication of long fibers spanning a larger deposit area for a novel biodegradable and biocompatible polymer named poly(glycerol-dodecanoate) (PGD)¹ by using a newly designed collector for electrospinning. PGD exhibits unique elastic properties with similar mechanical properties to nerve tissues, thus it is suitable for neural tissue engineering applications. The synthesis and fabrication set-up for making fibrous scaffolding materials was simple, highly reproducible, and inexpensive. In biocompatibility testing, cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells could adhere to and grow on the electrospun PGD fibers. In summary, this protocol provided a versatile fabrication method for making PGD electrospun fibers to support the growth of mouse embryonic stem cell derived neural lineage cells.     

Mouse fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4): characterization of the gene and functional assessment as a very long chain acyl-CoA synthetase

FATP4 (SLC27A4) is a member of the fatty acid transport protein (FATP) family, a group of evolutionarily conserved proteins that are involved in cellular uptake and metabolism of long and very long chain fatty acids. We cloned and characterized the murine FATP4 gene and its cDNA. From database analysis we identified the human FATP4 genomic sequence. The FATP4 gene was assigned to mouse chromosome 2 band B, syntenic to the region 9q34 encompassing the human gene. The open reading frame was determined to be 1929 bp in length, encoding a polypeptide of 643 amino acids. Within the coding region, the exon-intron structures of the murine FATP4 gene and its human counterpart are identical, revealing a high similarity to the FATP1 gene. The overall amino acid identity between the deduced murine and human FATP4 polypeptides is 92.2%, and between the murine FATP1 and FATP4 polypeptides is 60.3%. Northern analysis showed that FATP4 mRNA was expressed most abundantly in small intestine, brain, kidney, liver, skin and heart. Transfection of FATP4 cDNA into COS1 cells resulted in a 2-fold increase in palmitoyl-CoA synthetase (C16:0) and a 5-fold increase in lignoceroyl-CoA synthetase (C24:0) activity from membrane extracts, indicating that the FATP4 gene encodes an acyl-CoA synthetase with substrate specificity biased towards very long chain fatty acids.     

Cot/tpl2 (MAP3K8) Mediates Myeloperoxidase Activity and Hypernociception following Peripheral Inflammation

Cot/tpl2 (also known as MAP3K8) has emerged as a new and potentially interesting therapeutic anti-inflammatory target. Here, we report the first study of Cot/tpl2 involvement in acute peripheral inflammation in vivo. Six hours after an intraplantar injection of zymosan, Cot/tpl2^−/− mice showed a 47% reduction in myeloperoxidase activity, concomitant with a 46% lower neutrophil recruitment and a 40% decreased luminol-mediated bioluminescence imaging in vivo. Accordingly, Cot/tpl2 deficiency provoked a 25–30% reduction in luminol-mediated bioluminescence and neutrophil recruitment together with a 65% lower macrophage recruitment 4 h following zymosan-induced peritonitis. Significantly impaired levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF and of other cytokines such as TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as some chemokines such as MCP-1, MIP-1β, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine, were detected during the acute zymosan-induced intraplantar inflammatory response in Cot/tpl2^−/− mice. Moreover, Cot/tpl2 deficiency dramatically decreased the production of the hypernociceptive ligand NGF at the inflammatory site during the course of inflammation. Most importantly, Cot/tpl2 deficiency significantly reduced zymosan-induced inflammatory hypernociception in mice, with a most pronounced effect of a 50% decrease compared with wild type (WT) at 24 h following intraplantar injection of zymosan. At this time, Cot/tpl2^−/− mice showed significantly reduced NGF, TNFα, and prostaglandin E₂ levels compared with WT littermates. In conclusion, our study demonstrates an important role of Cot/tpl2 in the NGF, G-CSF, and GM-CSF production and myeloperoxidase activity in the acute inflammatory response process and its implication in inflammatory hypernociception.     

贵州纺蚋亚属二新种(双翅目： 蚋科)

记述了采自贵州雷公山自然保护区的纺蚋二新种,清水纺蚋Simulium (Nevermannia) qingshuiense sp. Nov.和桥落纺蚋S. (N.) qiaolaoense sp. Nov.,二者均以其产地命名。文中对其成虫、蛹和幼虫形态进行了全面描述,并与其近缘种进行分类讨论。模式标本存放在贵阳医学院生物学教研室。     

Mutations induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in the lacZ and cII genes of Muta™ Mouse

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) found in chewing tobacco, snuff, cigarettes, and cigars is a tobacco-specific nitrosamine and classified as a possible human carcinogen (Class 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). NNK given intraperitoneally was seen to induce lung and liver adenomas.To evaluate the genotoxicity of NNK in vivo, NNK was intraperitoneally administered to Muta™ Mouse at two concentrations (125 and 250 mg/kg, once a week for 4 weeks) followed by the measurement of mutant frequencies in the lacZ and cII genes from lung and liver in the same mice. Characterization of the types of the mutation was determined by sequencing the cII genes from mutant plaques. The mutant frequencies in both target genes from both organs dose-dependently increased up to 10 times compared to those of the control group. For the types of mutations, the ratio of the G:C to A:T mutation in the total number of mutants was less than the ratio of A:T to T:A and A:T to C:G transversion, contrary to a previous report [Cancer Res, 49 (1989) 5305]. The A:T to T:A transversion was the most highly induced mutation both in the lung and liver cII genes. The increasing rate of mutant frequencies in lung and liver over the vehicle control was 55 and 56 times, respectively, while the increasing rate of G:C to A:T transition was only 1.9 and 2.8 times, respectively.These observations show that NNK predominantly induces DNA adducts leading to A:T to T:A and/or A:T to C:G mutations in the transgene.     

Inhibition of nucleation and growth of ice by poly(vinyl alcohol) in vitrification solution

Control of ice formation is crucial in cryopreservation of biological substances. Successful vitrification using several additives that inhibit ice nucleation in vitrification solutions has previously been reported. Among these additives, here we focused on a synthetic polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and investigated the effects of PVA on nucleation and growth of ice in 35% (w/w) aqueous 1,2-propanediol solution by using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) system equipped with a cryomicroscope. First, the freezing temperature of the solution was measured using the DSC system, and then the change in ice fraction in the solution during cooling was evaluated based on images obtained using the cryomicroscope, at different concentrations of PVA between 0% and 3% (w/w). Based on the ice fraction, the change in residual solution concentration during cooling was also evaluated and then plotted on the state diagram of aqueous 1,2-propanediol solution. Results indicated that, when the partially glassy and partially frozen state was intentionally allowed, the addition of PVA effectively inhibited not only ice nucleation but also ice growth in the vitrification solution. The effect of PVA on ice growth in the vitrification solution was explained based on kinetic limitations mainly due to mass transport. The interfacial kinetics also might limit ice growth in the vitrification solution only when the ice growth rate decreased below a critical value. This coincides with the fact that PVA exhibits a unique antifreeze activity in the same manner as antifreeze proteins when ice growth rate is lower than a critical value.     

河鲈胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼发育

为探究河鲈(Perca fluviatilis)早期生活史和发育生物学,采用体视解剖镜、显微镜仔细观察、测量、描述、绘图的方法,连续观察了6个批次河鲈胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼发育状况,进行比较分析。结果显示:(1)在水温8~13℃时,胚胎期约需265h,有效积温2540~2880℃.h;水温11~13℃时,卵黄囊期约需6d,有效积温1750~2120℃.h;(2)辐射状次级卵膜将受精卵连成长带形单层网片状,每个胚胎周围有6个胚胎,排列很有规则。胚胎卵黄囊表面有一个大圆形油球。出膜前期可见眼球色素、胸鳍突起;(3)胚胎出膜的不同步主要是由于出膜前期长短不一和孵化水温较低所致。