Combined analysis of microRNome and 3'-UTRome reveals a species-specific regulation of progesterone receptor expression in the endometrium of rhesus monkey

The establishment of endometrial receptivity is a prerequisite for successful pregnancy, which is controlled by a complex mechanism. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have emerged as important regulators of gene expression. However, the contribution of miRNAs in endometrial receptivity is still unknown. Here we used rhesus monkey as an animal model and compared the endometrial miRNA expression profiles during early-secretory (pre-receptive) phase and mid-secretory (receptive) phase by deep sequencing. A set of differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, 8 of which were selected and validated using quantitative RT-PCR. To facilitate the prediction of their target genes, the 3'-UTRome was also determined using tag sequencing of mRNA 3'-termini. Surprisingly, about 50% of the 10,677 genes expressed in the rhesus monkey endometrium exhibited alternative 3'-UTRs. Of special interest, the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene, which is necessary for endometrial receptivity, processes an ultra long 3'-UTR (~10 kb) along with a short variant (~2.5 kb). Evolutionary analysis showed that the 3'-UTR sequences of PGR are poorly conserved between primates and rodents, suggesting a species-biased miRNA binding pattern. We further demonstrated that PGR is a valid target of miR-96 in rhesus monkey and human but not in rodents, whereas the regulation of PGR by miR-375 is rhesus monkey-specific. Additionally, we found that miR-219-5p regulates PGR expression through a primate-specific long non-coding RNA immediately downstream of the PGR locus. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying endometrial receptivity and presents intriguing species-specific regulatory roles of miRNAs.     

Successful cryopreservation of expanded equine blastocysts

Effective cryopreservation of expanded equine blastocysts (> 300 μm in diameter) has been difficult, perhaps due to the volume of blastocoele fluid or the presence of the equine embryonic capsule. Recently, we reported normal viability of equine embryos after trophoblast biopsy, which resulted in blastocyst collapse. The present study addressed the effect of biopsy and resultant breach of the capsule and blastocyst collapse on survival of expanded equine blastocysts after vitrification. First, non-biopsied, small embryos (< 300 μm) were vitrified in fine-diameter microloader pipette tips using dimethylsulfoxide-containing medium (DM) or ethylene glycol-containing medium (EG). A third group was vitrified with EG, but was warmed using sucrose (EG/s). Embryos in the DM and EG/s treatments grew in culture after vitrification, and established pregnancies after transfer (3 of 12 and 3 of 6, respectively). Expanded blastocysts 300-730 μm in diameter were then biopsied and vitrified; rates of normal pregnancy (detection of embryonic heartbeat) after warming and transfer were 2 of 16 (13%) and 6 of 13 (46%) for DM and EG/s treatments, respectively (P = 0.05). Within the EG/s treatment, it appeared that greater loss of blastocoele fluid after biopsy was associated with higher survival. Therefore, an altered (“Central”) biopsy technique was used to aspirate blastocoele fluid, followed by vitrification in EG/s. Pregnancy rates were 1 of 8 (13%) for embryos cultured after warming and 4 of 7 (57%) for embryos transferred immediately after warming (P = 0.1). Finally, expanded blastocysts 407 to 565 μm in diameter were biopsied from the periphery, and blastocoele fluid was removed with gentle suction. After vitrification with EG/s, this resulted in a rate of normal pregnancy of 5 of 7 (71%). These findings demonstrated that blastocoele collapse and vitrification in fine-diameter pipettes allowed successful cryopreservation of expanded equine blastocysts.     

胚胎冷冻技术应用于抗菌肽转基因小鼠的保种传代

目的研究胚胎冷冻在抗菌肽转基因FVB小鼠保种传代中的应用。方法对6~8周正常雌性FVB小鼠进行超排分别与雄性杂合子抗菌肽转基因FVB小鼠交配,收集2-cell胚胎,进行胚胎冷冻。1周后进行胚胎复苏移植,通过PCR方法对仔代鉴定。结果冻存胚胎140枚,复苏获得存活胚胎98枚,移植85枚,产仔38只,获得阳性后代12只。结论通过胚胎冷冻技术保种及复苏移植技术可对抗菌肽转基因小鼠进行传代。     

人工饲养恒河猴麻醉与非麻醉状态下血液学、血液生化、血流变指标的测定与比较

目的测定人工饲养条件下48只健康恒河猴在非麻醉状态下及30只健康恒河猴在麻醉状态下的血液生化、血液常规、血液流变学指标,并分析两种状态下恒河猴血液生化、血液常规、血液流变值的差异及相互关系.方法应用全自动血液细胞分析仪和全自动血液生化分析仪,自动清洗旋转型粘度计测定及分析麻醉和非麻醉状态下健康恒河猴血液生化、血液常规、血液流变值.结果血液生化值麻醉组比非麻醉组明显低(P<0.01)的项目有GGT、AST、CREAT、TBIL、DBIL、P3+、TF;较明显低(P<0.05)的项目有ALT、ALP、LDH、HBDH;明显高(P<0.01)的项目有UA、Ca2+、CK-MB、ALB,较明显高(P<0.05)的项目有TPROT.血常规值麻醉组比非麻醉组明显低(P<0.01)的项目有RBC、Hct、MCV、MPV、RDW、NEUTRO,明显高(P<0.01)的项目有MCH、MCHC、PLT、LYM、MEDIAN.血液流变值麻醉组比非麻醉组明显低(P<0.01)的项目有全血低切粘度,全血中切粘度,全血高切粘度,血浆粘度,红细胞压积,还原低切,血沉K值,聚集指数;明显高(P<0.01)的项目有变形指数,电泳指数.结论本文测定并比较了人工饲养条件下健康恒河猴在麻醉和非麻醉状态下血液生化、血液常规、血液流变值,讨论分析了两组数值之间的差异和原因,了解应激反应和麻醉剂对动物生理方面的影响.     

小鼠胚胎徒手分割技术的研究

目的　研究不同分割液和分割前胚胎去致密化与否对昆明白系小鼠的桑椹胚和囊胚的徒手分割以及分割后胚胎移植的影响。方法　在mPBS、1 2 5 %蔗糖液和进口分割液三种不同分割液中对桑椹胚和囊胚进行徒手分割。结果和结论　在蔗糖液与进口分割液中分割桑椹胚 ,成功率显著高于mPBS处理组 (6 9 5 3%、77 4 0 %vs5 6 82 % ) (P <0 0 5 ) ,而半胚的囊胚发育率及囊胚细胞数三组差异均无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;在蔗糖液与进口分割液中分割囊胚 ,分割后半胚培养的囊胚发育率显著高于mPBS处理组 (72 38%、74 2 9%vs 5 6 2 0 % ) (P <0 0 1 ) ,而分割成功率及囊胚细胞数三组差异均无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;各处理组半胚的囊胚发育率及囊胚细胞数都显著低于对照组体外培养桑椹胚的囊胚发育率 (98 70 % )和囊胚细胞数 (6 3 6 7± 5 78) (P <0 0 1 ) ;桑椹胚经去致密化处理后分割 ,其分割成功率显著高于未处理组 (82 90 %vs 5 6 6 0 % ) (P <0 0 1 ) ,处理组半胚培养的囊胚发育率也显著高于未处理组 (73 80 %vs 4 6 80 % ) (P <0 0 1 ) ;共移植 1 4 2枚 2分胚形成的囊胚移植于 1 1只受体 ,其中 3只妊娠 ,分别产仔 2只、3只和 4只     

草地早熟禾胚胎学研究 Ⅲ．多胚囊及多胚现象

报道了草地早熟禾中多胚囊的起源、发育和结构。在１个胚珠中,大孢子母细胞周围可以有一到多个起源于珠心细胞的胚囊原始细胞,并可以发育成为多胚囊,其中具有两个胚囊的可以发育成为成熟胚囊。起源于珠心的体细胞无孢子生殖胚囊的发育属于山柳菊型。两个成熟胚囊中,都可以形成胚和胚乳,因而形成了具假多胚的种子。位于中部的胚来源于珠心还囊,属于无融合生殖形成的胚。两个以上的多胚囊不能形成成熟胚囊。     

Factors affecting chilled storage of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Chilled storage of zebrafish embryos was investigated at a temperature that arrests embryonic development as this technique might offer interesting practical applications. Five parameters played an important role for chilled storage: (a) storage temperature, (b) development stage of embryos, (c) storage solution (extender), (d) postchilling treatment, and (e) inhibition of growth of microorganisms by antibiotics. The optimal chilling temperature was 8 °C. Prim-5 stage (24 h postfertilization [hpf]) and prim-25 stage (36 hpf) embryos had similar high chilling resistance and could be chilled for 33 h without a loss in viability. Five-somite stage (12 hpf) embryos had a lower chilling resistance and could be chilled only for 14 h without a loss in viability. After longer incubation periods, the viability started to decrease. Under these conditions, chilling in physiologic saline solutions was superior to that in water. Fifty percent of the prim-5 stage and prim-25 stage embryos survived for 41 h at 8 °C in water but for 46 h in physiologic saline solution. A similar effect was observed for 5-somite stage embryos (50% survival rate in water, 28 h; 50% survival rate in physiologic saline solution, 35 h). When embryos were incubated in physiologic saline solution instead of water in the postchilling phase, the embryo viability was positively affected, too. Also, supplementation of the storage solution with antibiotics (penicillin and streptomycin) increased the viability of chilled embryos. In summary, the current study shows that chilled storage of zebrafish embryos is possible for sufficiently long periods to synchronize the development of embryos deriving from different spawning dates or to delay the development for experimental purposes. To prolong the storage periods, further development and standardization of the methodology is necessary.     

恒河猴睾丸内激素调控的离体研究 Ⅱ.恒河猴睾丸Sertoli细胞的离体培养及激素分泌的研究

本文采用胶原酶消化和BSA密度梯度沉降的方法,建立了恒河猴睾丸Steroli细胞的无血清培养技术,研究了人促滤泡激素（hFSH）、羊促滤泡激素（oFSH）、双链环-磷酸腺苷（db-cAMP）、磷酸二酯酶的抑制剂（MIX）、霍乱毒素（Choleratixon）和Forskolin对恒河猴睾丸Steroli细胞雌二醇分泌的影响。结果表明：Steroli细胞对hFSH和oFSH的作用无明显的反应,而在同样的条件下,db-cAMP、MIX、Choleratixon和Forskolin明显地刺激Steroli细胞将雄烯二酮转化为雌二醇。     

雄性猕猴血清中促黄体素的分泌水平

本文采用促黄体素（ＬＨ）体外生物测定法,对不同年龄组雄性猴血清中促黄体素分泌水平进行了分析。结果表明：幼年组为５．４±１．７ｎｇ／ｍｌ,成年组为４５．６±１２．８ｎｇ／ｍｌ,老年组为６９．２±２１．５ｎｇ／ｍｌ。提示雄性猕猴ＬＨ分泌模式与人很相似。     

改良大鼠左心室插管术及心衰大鼠左心功能指标的测定

目的完善大鼠左心室插管技术并确定充血性心力衰竭（CHF）大鼠心功能指标参数。方法将80只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为2组：假手术组（SH）,腹主动脉缩窄模型组（CAA）。采用腹主动脉部分缩窄法制作CHF大鼠模型,BL-420E＋生物信号采集系统测定心功能参数。观察比较2组大鼠第6周后测定的心功能的各项指标。结果（1）经进一步完善大鼠左心室插管技术,成功率明显提高。（2）CAA组大鼠心功能明显减低,左室重量指数（LVMI）、左室舒张末压（LVEDP）升高,左心室内压上升、下降的最大变化速率（±dp/dtmax）下降（P〈0.01）。结论改良大鼠左心室插管术提高成功率,心衰大鼠的心功能指标明显改变。     

Embryo quality and transcervical technique are not the limiting factors in donkey embryo transfer outcome

Embryo transfer (ET) in the donkey resulted in a very low recipient pregnancy rates. The aim of these studies was to investigate if nonsurgical transfer techniques or donkey embryo quality affect donkey recipient pregnancy failure. In Study 1, the impact of transfer technique was investigated by evaluating if cervical catheterization is associated with prostaglandin release and suppression of luteal function and if donkey recipients would become pregnant after nonsurgical transfer of horse embryos. Four jennies, from 5 to 8 d after ovulation, were submitted to a sham transcervical ET and to evaluation of PGFM and progesterone plasma concentrations. Five 8 d horse embryos were nonsurgically transferred into synchronized donkey recipients (HD). Cervical stimulation caused a transient PGF_2α release in two of four jennies in the absence of a significant decrease in progesterone plasma concentration. All transferred horse embryos resulted in pregnancies in the jenny recipients. In Study 2, donkey embryo viability was investigated by 1.2 meters, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining of 10 embryos and by the transfer of 6 and 12 donkey embryos in synchronized mare (DH) and donkey (DD) recipients, respectively, of known fertility. The estimated proportion of dead cells in DAPI stained embryos was 0.9% (range 0-3.9%) and below what is considered normal (20%) for horse embryos. Three of six and six of 12 of the DH and DD ETs, respectively resulted in pregnancies at 14 and 25 d (50%), a higher pregnancy rate than previously reported after DD ET. The overall results of this study suggest that the transcervical technique for ET and donkey embryo viability are not the reasons for the low pregnancy rates that have previously been described in donkey recipients, and that nonsurgical ET in donkeys can result in acceptable results.     

恒河猴睾丸内激素调控的离体研究 I.恒河猴睾丸Leydig细胞的离体培养及激素分泌的研究

为了研究恒河猴睾丸的激素分泌及其调节作用,作者发展了一种简便分离睾丸Ｌｅｙｄｉｇ细胞和用无血清培养的实验模型,研究了人绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｈＣＧ）、恒河猴绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｍＣＧ）、环磷酸腺苷（ｃＡＭＰ）、Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ和雌二醇（Ｅ２）对睾丸Ｌｅｙｄｉｇ细胞激素分泌的影响。结果显示离体的Ｌｅｙｄｉｇ细胞对低剂量同源的ｍＣＧ和异源的ｈＣＧ产生睾酮都有依赖反应,而高剂量的前者对Ｌｅｙｄｉｇ细胞分泌睾酮有明显的抑制作用,后者不出现反向调节;ｃＡＭＰ和Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ对Ｌｅｙｄｉｇ细胞分泌睾酮有刺激作用;雌二醇具有明显抑制ｈＣＧ和ｍＣＧ促睾丸分泌的作用     

枣合子胚和体细胞胚发育过程的观察与比较

本实验对临猗梨枣、壶瓶枣、晋矮1号等13个品种的枣胚的发育过程进行了观察,并诱导晋矮1号成熟胚的愈伤组织通过体细胞胚发生途径形成再生植株。结果表明:体细胞胚产生于愈伤组织的表层细胞或内部细胞。在鱼雷胚期已有导管的分化,子叶期的维管组织呈“Y”形。枣合子胚及体细胞胚的发育均经历了原胚、球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷胚和子叶胚五个时期。大多数品种的枣胚从球形胚期或心形胚期即开始败育,只有极少数品种可发育到成熟胚,而且合子胚形成的能力、胚败育时发育的程度等均存在着大的品种间差异,同一品种甚至同一子房内胚的发育进程也不同步。     

Divergent selection for in vitro developmental capacity of preimplantation mouse embryos

Summary Replicated divergent selection was conducted for two generations in ICR mice for in vitro developmental capacity (IVDC; percentage of fertilized one-cell zygotes developing to blastocysts in vitro per female donor). Realized heritabilities based on high and low selection were 0.03±0.08 and –0.11±0.09 in replicate 1, and 0.10±0.11 and 0.08±0.10 in replicate 2. No differences were detected between selection lines (P>0.2) or replicates (P>0.1). Estimate of heritability in the base population based on 332 daughter-dam pairs was 0.14±0.18. These results indicate that additive genetic variance contributes little to the phenotypic variance in this trait. Considerable phenotypic variation in IVDC was observed (mean=49.3; SD=31.0), with a range of IVDC from 0%–100%. Utilization of donor female as a blocking factor is suggested for designs of experiments with preimplantation embryos to increase precision and power of statistical analyses.     

Retrospective study of factors affecting multiple ovulations,embryo recovery,quality, and diameter in a commercial equine embryo transfer program

In this study, 198 donor mares of different breeds, ages, and reproductive category were inseminated with fresh, cooled and frozen or frozen and cooled semen at the embryo transfer station or in private artificial insemination centers during 10 breeding seasons. The results of this activity were retrospectively analyzed by Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression to evaluate factors affecting multiple ovulations, embryo recovery, embryo quality, and embryo diameter. Out of the 661 cycles, 937 ovulations were recorded (mean ovulations/cycle: 1.42 ± 0.58). Ovulation rate and incidence of multiple ovulations were significantly affected by age, breed, and reproductive category. Uterine flushings for embryo recovery were performed between 7 and 10 days after ovulation and resulted in the recovery of 338 embryos (51.1% embryos/cycle and 36.1% embryos/ovulation, respectively). At least one embryo was recovered in 298 flushings (45.1%). The factors affecting embryo recovery were age, breed, reproductive category, type of semen, number of ovulations, and location of artificial insemination. Flushing protocol and day of flushing had no effect on embryo recovery. Age, type of semen, number of ovulations, and day of flushing had a significant influence on embryo diameter (N = 215). None of the factors included in the model had an effect on embryo quality distribution.     

Loss of fertilization potential of desiccated rhesus macaque spermatozoa following prolonged storage

Desiccation provides a novel spermatozoal preservation technique because it eliminates the need to store spermatozoa in liquid nitrogen, resulting in decreased opportunities for cross-contamination of samples and lower costs of spermatozoal banking, storage, and shipping. The objective of this study was to desiccate rhesus macaque spermatozoa and to evaluate the fertility following storage. Semen from four male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were collected using electroejaculation, washed through a Percoll gradient, and resuspended to 100 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/mL in a simple vacuum drying buffer containing the disaccharide trehalose (10 mM HEPES, 5 mM KCl, 65 mMNaCl, 150 mMtrehalose, 5.7% bovine serum albumin, BSA). Cells were desiccated in 50 μl drops under vacuum (22 inHg) at ambient temperature until the water content was less than 1 g H₂O/g dry weight. Initial motility was high (90–70%) and was reduced by desiccation (0%). Membrane integrity was investigated using the two fluorochromes, SYBR 14 and propidium iodide (PI, Molecular Probes, Inc.), with flow cytometry. After desiccation, 100% of the spermatozoa were stained red with PI indicating plasma membrane compromise. Samples were stored in air-tight polyvinyl plastic bags purged with N₂ gas for 10 s and vacuum sealed. The samples were protected from light and either stored at room temperature (treatment 1) or at −80 °C (treatment 2). Samples were rehydrated 7–10 days post desiccation in 150 μl BWW containing 0.5% BSA and used for intracytoplasmic spermatozoa injection (ICSI) to compare fertilization and embryo development to freshly collected samples. For control embryos, one freshly ejaculated motile sperm with normal morphology was immobilized by scoring a small incision in the plasma membrane over the sperm tail before injecting into an oocyte. For the dried sperm treatments, one sperm with normal morphology was selected and scored before injecting into an oocyte. After injection, the embryos were individually cultured in CMRL medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) media on pre-plated buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells at 37 °C and 5% CO₂. Fertilization was assessed at 14, 16, 22, and 24 h. Embryo development was evaluated daily from day 3 to day 11. The fertilization rate was 68%, 73%, and 45% for the control, treatment 1, and treatment 2 groups, respectively. The blastocyst rate was 40%, 5%, and 0% for control, treatments 1, and 2, respectively. Treatment group 1 had comparable fertilization rates with control group (73% vs. 68%) and was not significantly different (P < 0.05), but as development progressed, fewer embryos developed beyond the morula stage. Treatment 2 had a lower fertilization rate than control (45% vs. 68%), although not significantly different, and embryos did not develop past the morula stage. This study demonstrates that while the vacuum dried spermatozoa were immotile and had compromised plasma membrane integrity, they were capable of fertilization using ICSI and could support embryo development to the morula stage.     

恒河猴血清孕酮含量测定方法

目的建立恒河猴血清中孕酮含量测定方法。方法本文采用放射免疫测定技术。结果孕酮的回收率为94％,批内CV为5．1％～8．3％,批间CV为4．5％～7．7％,灵敏度为5～10Pg。说明该方法具有较高的灵敏度、特异性、准确性。分别测定了幼年组、成年组和老年组的雌性恒河猴的血清中的孕酮含量分别为：（0．20±0．04）ng／mL、（6．26±0．17）ng,mL和（0．35±0．06）ng/mL;成年雌性恒河猴月经周期孕酮的变化范围为：滤泡期为（1．10±0．12）ng／mL,排卵期（2．36±0．18）ng/mL,黄体期（6．17±0．15）ng/mL,妊娠期随着妊娠月份的增加,孕酮浓度也增加,最高可达50ng／mL。结论经实验验证,该方法灵敏、可靠、适用,可作为恒河猴血清中孕酮含量测定的一种方法。     

实验性Ⅰ型糖尿病恒河猴的组织病理学观察

目的　观察实验性Ⅰ型糖尿病恒河猴的组织病理学变化。方法　 7只恒河猴分别静脉注射不同剂量的链脲佐菌素 (streptozotocin ,STZ) ,建立STZ性Ⅰ型糖尿病恒河猴模型 ,观察其心脏、肾脏、胰脏、脾脏等组织病理学变化。结果　动物胰岛数量明显减少 ,分布稀疏 ,残存胰岛萎缩 ,胰岛大小不等 ,成纤维细胞增生。肾小球增大 ,毛细血管壁增厚、僵硬 ,肾小管内膜细胞玻璃样变性 ,肾小球球囊内皮细胞增生。心肌变性、坏死、淤血 ,心肌细胞肥大 ,中、小血管壁增厚 ,血管壁纤维组织增加 ,冠状动脉内膜局部增厚 ,内皮细胞增生。脾脏小动脉硬化。结论　通过对STZ诱发的Ⅰ型糖尿病模型胰岛、肾脏和心脏等结构病理观察说明 ,该动物模型可用于糖尿病组织病理研究和药物疗效的评价。