利用激光共聚焦研究金黄地鼠与小鼠科间妊娠中MHC Ⅱ和Gal-α-Gal的表达

目的:种间胚胎移植是挽救濒危动物的一个有效手段。以往的研究主要集中于对种间、同种妊娠之间微观结构和解剖学差异的描述上,而对导致这些现象产生的分子机制的研究却所见甚少。本研究的目的是阐明同种妊娠和科间妊娠之间免疫反应的差异,并初步探讨科间妊娠中流产的可能原因。方法:以科间妊娠第4天、第8天、第12天的孕体为实验组,小鼠同种移植妊娠第4天、第8天、第12天的子宫孕体和相应时间假孕小鼠的子宫为阳性和阴性对照。结果:采用间接免疫荧光和激光共聚焦扫描的方法对冰冻切片显色的结果表明:妊娠第8天时,MHCⅡ分子和Gal-α-Gal抗原决定簇的表达位置和表达密度在科间妊娠、阳性、阴性对照之间均不相同。妊娠第八天时,MHCⅡ分子在科间妊娠中的表达弱于同种妊娠,其表达模式在第12天时也不相同。Gal-α-Gal抗原决定簇在科间妊娠第8天时不表达,但在同种妊娠中却有一定水平的表达。在妊娠第12天,科间妊娠中有一定量的表达,但与同种妊娠的表达模式不同。结论:科间妊娠和同种妊娠的免疫反应有差异,这些差异可能是造成科间妊娠失败的原因之一。     

胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-7′在大鼠胚胎植入过程中的差异表达与调节

胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-7(IGFBP-7)已经证实在人的妊娠过程中起了重要作用,但在大鼠中尚未见报道.在过去的研究中曾利用抑制消减杂交(SSH)方法分析了植入前和植入期的基因表达谱,发现IGFBP-7存在差异表达.通过RNA印迹和原位杂交,分析了IGFBP-7部分序列(编码区531～928nt,称作IGFBP-7′)在大鼠妊娠早期子宫中的时空表达模式.用RT-PCR方法检测了其在不同组织器官及假孕、人工诱导蜕膜化和延迟着床激活大鼠子宫中的表达模式.结果显示:在大鼠妊娠第5天IGFBP-7′mRNA的表达量开始增加,第5.5和6天表达量显著高于植入前期.IGFBP-7′mRNA主要表达于子宫腔上皮和腺上皮.IGFBP-7′mRNA表达无组织特异性,在大鼠的下丘脑、垂体、卵巢、子宫、心、肝、脾、肺、肾等器官均有表达,在假孕的D1～D6大鼠子宫中均有表达,但无显著性差异,诱导蜕膜化后IGFBP-7′mRNA的表达量也无明显变化,但在延迟着床激活的大鼠子宫中表达显著增加.这些结果提示,在植入期IGFBP-7′的表达增加主要是由胚泡引起的,而非蜕膜化.在大鼠妊娠早期,IGFBP-7′的表达增加可能有利于胚胎植入的发生.     

种间胚胎植入对母体免疫系统T细胞比例的影响

目的:研究种间胚胎植入期母体外周血、外周免疫器官(淋巴结、脾脏)、中枢免疫器官(胸腺、骨髓)中总T细胞的百分比变化,并探讨这种变化对种间胚胎植入的影响.方法:利用荧光标记的单克隆抗体染色结合流式细胞术,检测种间、同种胚胎移植以及同期假孕母体外周血、淋巴结、脾脏、胸腺、骨髓中T淋巴细胞的百分率.结果:种间胚胎植入时其外周血T细胞计数极显著低于同种和同期假孕小鼠(P＜0.01),而淋巴结、胸腺、骨髓中的T细胞计数则极显著高于同期假孕小鼠(P＜0.01).脾脏中同种胚胎植入母体则极显著高于种间和同期假孕小鼠(P＜0.01),两后者之间无显著性差异(P＞0.05).结论:种间妊娠时早在植入期开始,母体全身免疫系统就开始发生不利于种间妊娠的反应.     

早孕小鼠子宫内膜M2型丙酮酸激酶基因表达的研究

该研究分析了M2型丙酮酸激酶(pyruvate kinase M2,PKM2)基因在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达规律。通过建立正常妊娠小鼠模型,收集孕D1、D4、D5、D6、D7小鼠子宫内膜组织及孕D5小鼠着床点及着床旁子宫内膜组织。构建假孕小鼠模型,收集假孕PD1、PD4、PD5、PD6和PD7小鼠子宫内膜组织。用Real-time PCR和Western blot方法检测PKM2 m RNA和蛋白质表达水平;免疫组织化学方法检测PKM2蛋白质在孕D5着床点与着床旁子宫内膜的分布。研究结果显示,在正常妊娠小鼠子宫内膜,PKM2 m RNA表达从孕D5开始出现明显升高,孕D6达高峰,孕D7略有下降,孕D6、孕D7与孕D1相比有明显差异。PKM2蛋白质从孕D6开始出现明显升高,孕D7略有下降,孕D6、孕D7与孕D1相比有明显差异。假孕小鼠子宫内膜PKM2 m RNA水平从PD6开始有明显升高,PD7与PD6水平相当,PD6、PD7与PD1相比有明显差异。PKM2蛋白质水平每两组间无明显差异。孕D5小鼠子宫内膜组织中,PKM2 m RNA及蛋白质水平均呈现着床点明显高于着床旁趋势。该研究初步揭示了PKM2基因在早孕小鼠子宫内膜表达规律,为深入探讨PKM2在维持早孕小鼠子宫内膜正常功能的机制上的作用提供了重要线索。     

PTEN在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达及其对胚泡着床的影响

本研究旨存检测肿瘤抑制基因PTEN(phosphatase andtensinhomologdeletedonchromosometen)在早孕小鼠子宫内膜中的表达规律,探讨PTEN在小鼠胚胎着床过程中的作用.采用实时荧光定量聚合酶联反应(real.time fluorescent quantitative PCR.FQ.PCR)和免疫组织化学方法分别检测未孕及孕1、3、4、5、7 d小鼠子宫内膜PTEN mRNA和蛋白的表达;子宫角注射PTEN反义寡核苷酸观察胚泡着床数.FQ-PCR结果显示,妊娠小鼠子宫内膜组织PTENmRNA的表达高于未妊娠小鼠,且随着妊娠天数的增加表达逐渐增强,到妊娠第5天达最高.免疫组织化学分析显示,PTEN蛋白在子宫内膜的表达规律与mRNA结果一致.子宫角注射PTEN反义寡核苷酸后胚泡着床数明显减少.结果提示,PTEN在妊娠早期子宫内膜持续表达,可能参与了胚泡着床.     

早孕小鼠子宫内膜mTOR基因表达增高

利用实时荧光定量PCR、原位杂交法、免疫组化(SP法)和Western印迹法分别检测未孕、假孕及孕d3、d4、d5、d6、d7小鼠子宫内膜哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian tar get of rapamycin,mTOR)mRNA和蛋白质的表达,研究mTOR基因在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达规律.结果显示妊娠子宫内膜组织mTOR的表达较未妊娠的子宫内膜组织显著增加(P＜0.05);着床窗期表达最高(d4,d5),且与其他妊娠各期比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);原位杂交和免疫组化分析显示mTOR mRNA和蛋白质表达主要在子宫内膜基质细胞,与上皮细胞各组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).研究表明mTOR在子宫内膜基质细胞的规律性表达所调控的细胞生长、增殖和分化可能是胚胎正常着床的分子机制之一.     

自然发情与诱导发情小鼠子宫内膜中雌激素受体α表达的比较

目的从雌激素受体α(ERα)的角度探讨自然发情小鼠与诱导发情小鼠的子宫内膜上,雌激素受体α表达是否受内源雌激素的特异诱导而变化,两者之间是否存在差异。方法27只同日龄母鼠,根据处理方式的不同随机分为3个组:自然发情假孕组(对照组)、诱导发情处理假孕组和自然发情假孕第1天摘除卵巢组,3个组的小鼠在见栓后第4、6、8天分别取样后,采用免疫组织化学法观察小鼠子宫内膜中雌激素受体α的表达情况。结果免疫组化结果显示,3个处理组的小鼠子宫内膜上皮细胞核、胞质都有ERα存在,且主要表达在腺上皮;见栓第4、6、8天时,诱导发情处理组小鼠子宫内膜的ERα阳性率均显著高于自然发情组和自然发情第1天摘除卵巢组(P0.05);见栓第8天时,自然发情处理组小鼠子宫内膜中的ERα阳性率与自然发情第1天摘除卵巢组差异不显著(P0.05),但见栓第4、6天时两者阳性率差异显著,自然发情处理组小鼠子宫内膜中的ERα阳性率显著高于自然发情第1天摘除卵巢组(P0.05)。结论诱导发情处理的小鼠子宫内膜,其表面雌激素受体α表达显著高于自然发情小鼠,且两者都受其内源性雌激素的特异诱导而变化。     

明胶酶及肿瘤抑制基因pten在喉鳞状细胞癌中表达的研究

目的探讨喉鳞癌中明胶酶MMP-2、MMP-9及肿瘤抑制基因PTEN的表达及其相关性.方法应用S-P免疫组化法检测68例喉鳞癌、9例异型增生及15例正常喉粘膜的MMP-2、MMP-9及PTEN蛋白表达.结果(1)MMP-2、MMP-9阳性表达率:喉鳞癌中分别为73.53%、79.41%,均显著高于异型增生表达率(44.44%、22.22%)及正常喉粘膜表达率(13.33%、20.00%),P<0.05;伴淋巴结转移的喉鳞癌组分别为96.88%、100%,显著高于未转移组52.78%、61.11%,P<0.01.T3-T4期MMP-9的表达(100%)高于T1-T2期(53.33%),P<0.01.(2)PTEN在异型增生喉上皮中高表达率66.67%,显著高于正常喉上皮(13.33%)P<0.01,喉鳞癌中高表达率44.12%,阴性表达率为22.06%,总异常率(66.17%)与正常组(13.33%)间差异显著,P<0.05.PTEN高表达率在伴淋巴结转移组(25.00%)低于未转移组(61.11%),P<0.05;与组织学分级负相关(P<0.01).(4)喉鳞癌中MMP-2与MMP-9表达间呈正相关,二者分别与PTEN表达呈负相关.结论MMP-2、MMP-9表达增强及PTEN表达减弱对喉鳞癌的浸润转移起促进作用且相互协同,是喉鳞癌侵袭的重要标志物,其中PTEN异常是一早期事件.     

IK细胞因子在小鼠早孕期子宫内膜的表达规律及其在胚胎着床中的作用

通过Real-time PCR、Western blot及免疫组织化学方法分析了IK细胞因子(IK cytokine)在早孕小鼠(妊娠D1~D7)子宫内膜中的表达规律及宫角注射IK细胞因子反义寡聚脱氧核苷酸后对胚胎着床的影响。结果显示,IK细胞因子mRNA表达在D1~D4逐渐升高,于D4达到高峰(P<0.05);Western blot和免疫组织化学结果与Real-time PCR结果基本一致,其蛋白表达在D1~D5逐渐升高,于D5达到高峰(P<0.05);IK细胞因子在D5胚胎着床点的表达显著高于着床旁组织;假孕小鼠子宫内膜IK细胞因子蛋白表达明显低于正常妊娠,且整个假孕过程中没有表达高峰;宫角注射IK细胞因子反义寡聚脱氧核苷酸后24 h和48 h(即D4和D5)子宫内膜IK细胞因子表达明显受到抑制,MHCⅡ抗原表达增强,且胚胎着床数量明显减少(P<0.05),提示IK细胞因子在胚胎着床中发挥着重要作用。     

一种非手术性小鼠胚胎移植技术

为了提高非手术性小鼠胚胎移植技术的成功率,利用塑料移植导管模拟非手术胚胎移植过程,通过观察染料在子宫角的分布而评估胚胎移植效果,并在此基础上将自然妊娠3.5 d的小鼠囊胚经子宫颈移植受体小鼠。结果表明:将CD-1小鼠囊胚移植假孕2.5 d小鼠单侧子宫角,平均70.9%的胚胎能够发育至成活新生仔鼠,建立了高效非手术性小鼠胚胎移植技术。该方法简便快捷、不易污染、费用低,无需专业的手术器械,且符合实验动物伦理原则,完全可以取代手术法胚胎移植技术,更重要的是,它为人类和其他大动物的胚胎移植提供了研究模型。     

Abnormal expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in interspecific pregnancy of rat embryos in mouse recipients

The high failure rate of interspecific pregnancy is a major obstacle to the successful interspecific cloning of mammals. Embryo transfer between rats and mice provides a unique model for studying the causes of such failures. Previous research has shown that the upper time limit for the survival of rat embryos in mouse uteri was the seventh day of pregnancy (Day 7). To study the reasons for the failure of interspecific pregnancy between rats and mice, we transferred rat blastocysts into mouse uteri on the third day of pseudopregnancy. Unexpectedly, intact rat embryos could still be observed in mouse uteri on Day 9 and the implantation rate was as high as 30.6%. However, compared with mouse embryos, the further development of transferred rat embryos in mouse uteri was retarded. On Day 10, transferred rat embryos shrank with much blood. From Day 11 on, they lost their intact structure and the recipient uteri developed dropsy. On Day 12, the embryos shrank further and completely separated from the mouse uteri. By Day 13, they had been absorbed without any remains. In an in vitro co-culture (CT) system, the attachment rate of rat embryos on a monolayer of mouse uterine epithelial cells was similar to that of mouse embryos, but the outgrowth rate of rat embryos was significantly lower. Further investigation by gelatin zymography showed that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activities in transferred rat embryos was significantly less than in mouse embryos. The same result was obtained in the in vitro CT assay. These results suggest that rat embryos can complete adhesion but not the invasion when transferred into mouse uteri. The reduced invasive ability, and especially, the associated reduction of MMP-2 and -9 activity, is one of the reasons for the failure of interspecific pregnancy.     

Effect of various procedures on the viability of mouse embryos containing half the normal number of blastomeres

Half embryos produced from 8-cell or compacted stages were cultured in vitro for 1-2 days and transferred to oviducts or uteri of recipients at different stages of pseudopregnancy. The proportion of live fetuses was low (8-12%), except for one group (27%) in which half embryos were cultured in vitro for 1 day and transferred into oviducts on the 1st day of pregnancy. Monozygotic twin production rate, however, was low (1 out of 10) even in this group. Fetal weight on the 18th day of gestation was significantly lower after transfer of half embryos than after transfer of similarly treated but undivided embryos. Half embryos produced from the 2-cell stage were inserted into empty zonae, embedded in agar, cultured in ligated mouse oviducts for 2-4 days and transferred to oviducts of recipient females on the 1st day of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. When twin embryos cultured for 2-3 days were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients together with control embryos, 4 sets of monozygotic twins and 5 singletons out of 10 sets of twin embryos were obtained on Days 18-19 of gestation, giving a survival rate of 65%.     

Viability and development of 'tube-locked' mouse embryos

'Tube-locked' morulae and blastocysts were recovered from the ampulla of the oviduct of centchroman-treated mice between Days 4 and 12 post coitum and transferred to the uteri of pseudopregnant female mice. Pregnancy and implantation rates were lower and the post-implantation resorption rate was higher in the treated than in the control group. There was little difference in the pregnancy or implantation rates between embryos recovered on Days 4 or 12 post coitum, but the resorption rate increased with increasing duration of embryos in the oviducts and was 100% for the Day-12 embryos. The resorption rate was similar even when these embryos were transferred to the sterile uterine horn of unilaterally pregnant mice. Centchroman did not produce any deleterious effect on embryos which survived until Day 19 of pregnancy in foster mothers. The average fetal weight was also comparable to those of control fetuses.     

Gene transfer efficiency during gestation and the influence of co-transfer of non-manipulated embryos on production of transgenic mice

Litter size of DNA microinjected zygotes is lower than for non-manipulated zygotes. The rate of embryonic and fetal survival in early, mid and late gestation was determined to assess whether DNA integration was responsible for embryonic losses. Also, the effect of including non-microinjected embryos with injected embryos on pregnancy rate and transgenic pup production was determined. In Experiment 1, one-cell embryos from immature CD-1 mice were microinjected with a whey acidic protein promoter-human protein C gene construct. One hour after microinjection embryos were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients (45 transfers of 30 embryos each). Fifteen recipients were sacrificed on day 4, 12 and 18 of gestation and the embryos/fetuses analysed for the transgene. The percentage of embryos or fetuses that were positive for the transgene was not significantly different at any day. However, the number of viable embryos at day 4 was significantly greater than fetuses on days 12 or 18. In addition, a high degree of mosaicism was observed in day 18 fetuses and placentae recovered. In Experiment 2, one-cell embryos from CD-1 mice were microinjected and co-transferred with non-manipulated embryos (C57BL/6). Pregnancy rate and the total number of pups born were improved by addition of non-injected embryos. However, the number of transgenic mice produced was similar whether non-injected embryos were included or not. There were 32.2% (15/46) transgenic pups when 0 non-injected embryos were transferred compared with 15.1% (13/86) transgenic pups when 4 or 8 non-injected embryos were added to the transfers. In summary, a high degree of embryonic and fetal mortality occurs among microinjected embryos. Furthermore, since the percentage of transgenesis did not change throughout pregnancy, DNA integration does not appear to account for all of the embryonic losses. other factor(s) related to the microinjection procedure may be involved in the embryonic and fetal failure of microinjected embryos. Addition of non-injected embryos, although it increased pregnancy rate and the number of pups born from microinjected embryos, actually decreased the number of transgenic pups obtained per pregnancy.     

Effects of E-cadherin on mouse embryo implantation and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9

E-cadherin is a cell surface glycoprotein, which is responsible for adhesion between epithelial cells. Whether it is involved in embryo implantation is still unknown. In a mouse intrauterine horn injection model, one uterine horn in each mouse was injected with different doses of E-cadherin antibody on day 3 of pregnancy. The results showed that embryo implantation was significantly inhibited in the mice injected with 3 microg E-cadherin antibody. The mouse uteri in this group were collected on days 5, 6, and 7 of pregnancy and expressions of MMP-2 and -9 were studied. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR results showed that the expression of MMP-2 and -9 mRNAs in uteri of E-cadherin antibody treated group was increased on days 5-7. The results of gelatin zymography of MMPs showed that the activities of pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, and pro-MMP-9 were increased significantly on days 5 and 6, and pro-MMP-9 activity was increased on day 7. The present study suggested that E-cadherin was involved in embryo implantation through decreasing the expressions and activities of MMP-2 and -9.     

Androgen receptor in the reproductive systems of pregnant pigs and rats

The immunohistochemical expression of the androgen receptor (AR) was investigated in the ovarian atretic follicles and corpora lutea (CL) of pregnant pigs and rats, as well as in porcine uteri and fetuses. Follicular atresia involved either abnormal persistence or depletion of AR in various follicular compartments. Porcine and rat CL expressed nuclear AR. However, in the porcine CL, starting from day 70 of pregnancy, mainly cytoplasmic staining was observed, with exclusively cytoplasmic expression found on day 90. In the CL of pregnant rats, differences in AR distribution within the same CL were observed and decreasing AR expression during luteal regression was found. AR mRNA and protein expression in the porcine uterus depended on the uterine compartment and the day of pregnancy. AR-positive were also testes, ovaries, uteri, kidneys and lungs of fetuses.     

Transplantation of the human insulin gene into fertilized mouse eggs

A circular recombinant plasmid composed of a 12.5 kb fragment of human DNA including the entire insulin gene and the 4.3 kb bacterial plasmid pBR322 was microinjected into fertilized C57BL/6 mouse eggs. 753 eggs were injected with 30000 gene copies in a volume of 1-2 pl; 379 eggs survived micromanipulation and were subsequently cultured to the blastocyst stage. From 282 embryos that were transferred into the uteri of pseudopregnant ICR/Swiss foster females, 60 fetuses and corresponding placentas could be recovered at day 16-19 of pregnancy. High molecular weight DNA was extracted from these tissues and was screened with radioactively labelled hybridization probes for the presence of the injected DNA sequences. By restriction endonuclease analysis in conjunction with Southern blot hybridization, we found that in two normally developed fetuses at day 18, the fetal and placental tissues contained the human insulin gene including the flanking regions and bacterial plasmid sequences. Our results indicate that the injected DNA integrated into the mouse genome within its pBR322 region and properly replicated with the host DNA during development. The intensities of the hybridization bands suggest that at least one copy of foreign plasmid DNA was present per cell in the two fetuses and their placentas.     

Correlation of increased concentration of ovine endometrial cyclooxygenase 2 with the increase in PGE2 and PGD2 in the late luteal phase

The effect of intraoviductal embryos on endometrial receptivity was studied by intraendometrial and intrauterine embryo transfer. Five-week-old female ICR mice were mated after superovulation; a vaginal plug confirmed day 1 of pregnancy. On day 4 (90 h after hCG injection), blastocysts were collected and transferred to pseudopregnant female mice and to recipient mice in which the uterotubal junction had been ligated bilaterally on day 1 of pregnancy. Three embryos per uterine horn, a total of six embryos per recipient mouse at days 1-6, were transferred to the endometrium or uterine cavity and implantation and pregnancy rates were calculated. The implantation rate for intraendometrial embryo transfer to recipients of days 3, 5 and 6 was significantly higher for uterotubal junction-ligated mice (72.2, 20.8 and 9.7%, respectively) than for pseudopregnant mice (55.0, 8.3 and 0.0%, respectively). The implantation rate for intrauterine embryo transfer to recipients at days 2, 5 and 6 was significantly higher for uterotubal junction-ligated mice (11.1, 25.0 and 8.3%, respectively) than for pseudopregnant mice (0.0, 3.3 and 0.0%, respectively). Uterotubal junction-ligated mice achieved implantation and bore neonates by intrauterine embryo transfer on days 2 and 6, whereas no implantation was achieved in pseudopregnant mice. The difference in implantation rate could not be explained by a difference in progesterone concentration between the groups. The distribution of proliferating cells in the endometrium was also studied immunohistochemically by use of anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody in the recipient mice. PCNA-positive cells were more abundant in uterotubal junction-ligated mice and demonstrated a marked extension from the epithelium to the stroma over time, in contrast to those in pseudopregnant mice. These findings indicate that an intraoviductal embryo exerts a biological effect by sending a signal to the endometrial epithelium and stroma, thus facilitating endometrial receptivity to the embryo and improving the rate of implantation.