In vivo culture of embryos in the immature mouse oviduct

In-vitro culture of mammalian preimplantation embryos is associated with subsequent decreased viability. This phenomenon is more pronounced with the domestic species embryos as culture conditions are at present unable to sustain cleavage of early preimplantation embryos for more than one or two cell divisions. In this study, the immature mouse oviduct is shown to be capable of supporting cleavage and morphological development of rabbit and porcine embryos. The immature mouse oviduct was shown to be comparable to in vitro culture as 76% and 60% of the transferred zygotes developed to the morula stage after 2 and 3 d respectively. The porcine zygotes, however, failed to develop beyond the 4-cell stage in either the immature mouse oviduct or in vitro. Porcine morula showed better tolerance of the oviduct environment and when recovered after 2 d contained an average of 64 cells, which was significantly more than in in vitro cultured morulae (40 cells). Early porcine blastocysts transferred to the mouse oviduct had over a two-fold increase in cell division (104 cells) over comparable blastocysts grown in vitro (57 cells). The immature mouse oviduct is, therefore, a potential surrogate environment for short-term storage of embryos of other species.     

Coats of preimplantation mammalian embryos as a target of reproductive technologies

The structure and function of the mammalian oocyte and preimplantation embryo coverings are described in this review. The integrity of embryonic coverings is the main prerequisite for the success of such technology as preimplantation embryo freezing and, especially, for successful rederivation. On the other hand, results of in vitro fertilization and, sometimes, the results of embryo freezing are improved after perforation of the oocyte/embryonic coverings. Modern reproductive technologies focusing on oocyte/embryonic coverings, such as preimplantation embryo freezing/cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, assisted hatching, immunocontraception, and rederivation, are reviewed. Application of these technologies to different mammalian species is discussed with a special emphasis on the oocytes/preimplantation embryos coverings.     

Hypoxia during mammalian preimplantation development: Extreme circumstance vs. typical environment

The given paper summarizes the data on the early mammalian embryo development in culture media containing low oxygen concentration. Experimental results on in vitro modeling the hypoxia for preimplantation development are reviewed. Hypoxic conditions were shown to be available in the female reproductive tract of different mammalian species. The estimation of the embryo developing in vitro exhibits that lower oxygen level in culture media improves embryonic quality.     

Comparative aspects of early lineage specification events in mammalian embryos – insights from reverse genetics studies

Within the mammalian class, formation of the blastocyst is morphologically highly conserved among different species. The molecular and cellular events during preimplantation embryo development have been studied extensively in the mouse as model organism, because multiple genetically defined strains and a plethora of reverse genetics tools are available to dissect specific gene functions and regulatory networks. However, major differences in preimplantation developmental kinetics, implantation, and placentation exist among mammalians, and recent studies in species other than mouse showed, that even regulatory mechanisms of the first lineage differentiation events and maintenance of pluripotency are not always conserved. Here, we focus on the first and the second lineage segregation in mouse and bovine embryos, when the first differentiated cell types emerge. We outline their common features and differences in the regulation of these essential events during embryonic development with a glance at further species. In addition, we show how new reverse genetics strategies aid the study of regulatory circuits in embryos of domestic species, enhancing our overall understanding of mammalian preimplantation development.     

Dynamics of DNA-demethylation in early mouse and rat embryos developed in vivo and in vitro

Virtually all mammalian species including mouse, rat, pig, cow, and human, but not sheep and rabbit, undergo genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming by demethylation of the male pronucleus in early preimplantation development. In this study, we have investigated and compared the dynamics of DNA demethylation in preimplantation mouse and rat embryos by immunofluorescence staining with an antibody against 5-methylcytosine. We performed for the first time a detailed analysis of demethylation kinetics of early rat preimplantation embryos and have shown that active demethylation of the male pronucleus in rat zygotes proceeds with a slower kinetic than that in mouse embryos. Using dated mating we found that equally methylated male and female pronuclei were observed at 3 hr after copulation for mouse and 6 hr for rat embryos. However, a difference in methylation levels between male and female pronuclei could be observed already at 8 hr after copulation in mouse and 10 hr in rat. At 10 hr after copulation, mouse male pronuclei were completely demethylated, whereas rat zygotes at 16 hr after copulation still exhibited detectable methylation of the male pronucleus. In addition in both species, a higher DNA methylation level was found in embryos developed in vitro compared to in vivo, which may be one of the possible reasons for the described aberrations in embryonic gene expression after in vitro embryo manipulation and culture.     

Targeting gene expression in the preimplantation mouse embryo using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides

Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides act by blocking translation of their target gene products and are effective tools for down-regulating gene expression. The current study was conducted to define treatment conditions for the use of morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) in mammalian preimplantation embryos, and to employ MOs to target genes and study gene function in the early embryo. For the first time, ethoxylated polyethylenimine (EPEI), Lipofectin or Lysolecithin delivery agents were employed in combination with a fluorescent control MO and an alpha-catenin specific MO, to down-regulate gene expression during murine preimplantation development. Experiments applied to both two- and eight-cell stage murine preimplantation embryos contrasted the efficacy of MO concentrations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 microM and treatment delivery times of 3, 6, 24, and 48 hr. Continuous treatment of two-cell embryos with Lipofectin and 20 microM alpha-catenin MO for 48 hr resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in development to the blastocyst stage and was accompanied by a marked reduction in alpha-catenin protein. These results indicate that morpholino antisense oligonucleotides are effective tools for down-regulating gene expression during mammalian preimplantation development.     

Growth of Preimplatation Bovine Embryos

Development of mammalian embryos in vitro is functionally and temporally inferior to embryo development as it occurs inside the female reproductive tract. The deficiencies of cultured embryos range from slow cleavage rates to complete developmental arrests or blocks, occurring at particular stages in many species. A variety of approaches have been used to overcome the blocks, including most extensively the coculture of preimplantation embryos with various somatic cells. However, even with coculture, development of embryos in vitro is still not equivalent to that in vivo. In most laboratories, only 25–40% of inseminated oocytes develop into morulae and blastocysts in spite of numerous variations on the basic technique. A better understanding of the factors governing embryonic growth is required before we can hope to achieve results comparable with those occurring in vivo.     

Automated microinjection of recombinant BCL-X into mouse zygotes enhances embryo development

Progression of fertilized mammalian oocytes through cleavage, blastocyst formation and implantation depends on successful implementation of the developmental program, which becomes established during oogenesis. The identification of ooplasmic factors, which are responsible for successful embryo development, is thus crucial in designing possible molecular therapies for infertility intervention. However, systematic evaluation of molecular targets has been hampered by the lack of techniques for efficient delivery of molecules into embryos. We have developed an automated robotic microinjection system for delivering cell impermeable compounds into preimplantation embryos with a high post-injection survival rate. In this paper, we report the performance of the system on microinjection of mouse embryos. Furthermore, using this system we provide the first evidence that recombinant BCL-XL (recBCL-XL) protein is effective in preventing early embryo arrest imposed by suboptimal culture environment. We demonstrate that microinjection of recBCL-XL protein into early-stage embryos repairs mitochondrial bioenergetics, prevents reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and enhances preimplantation embryo development. This approach may lead to a possible treatment option for patients with repeated in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure due to poor embryo quality.     

Expression of beta-galactosidase in preimplantation ovine and porcine embryos

Knowledge regarding the timing of embryonic expression of the mammalian genome is of relevance for the development of preimplantation diagnostic methods for human genetic diseases. For development of preimplantation diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases, it will be necessary to know at which embryonic stage the genes for lysosomal enzymes are expressed. In previous studies by other investigators, it has been shown that lysosomal alpha- and beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase in murine embryos increase 50- to 100-fold in activity between the two-cell and late blastocyst stage. We describe here expression of lysosomal beta-galactosidase in preimplantation ovine (two-cell through midblastocyst) and porcine (two-cell through late blastocyst) embryos. Expression of beta-galactosidase in ovine and porcine preimplantation embryos followed a similar rate of increase as that described for murine embryos. Activity of beta-galactosidase increased over 10-fold between the two- to four-cell and midblastocyst stages in ovine embryos, and 300-fold between the two- to four-cell and late blastocyst stages in porcine embryos. Activity expressed on a per cell basis was relatively constant in ovine embryos, as has been described in murine embryos, and increased approximately 5-fold on a per cell basis in porcine embryos. Activity of beta-galactosidase in ovine and porcine embryos initially was greater than 12-fold on a per cell or per embryo basis than in murine embryos evaluated. The knowledge of beta-galactosidase embryonic expression may provide the basis for preimplantation diagnosis of genetic beta-galactosidase deficiency in these species.     

A revised protocol for in vitro development of mouse oocytes from primordial follicles dramatically improves their developmental competence

The objective of this study was to improve the conditions for oocyte development in vitro beginning with the primordial follicles of newborn mice. Previous studies showed that oocytes competent of meiotic maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation could develop in vitro from primordial follicles. However, the success rates were low and only one live offspring was produced (0.5% of embryos transferred). A revised protocol was compared with the original protocol using oocyte maturation and preimplantation development as end points. The percentage of oocytes maturing to metaphase II and developing to the blastocyst stage was significantly improved using the revised protocol. In addition, we compared the production of offspring from two-cell stage embryos derived from in vitro-grown and in vivo-grown oocytes. Of 1160 transferred two-cell stage embryos derived from in vitro-grown oocytes, 66 (5.7%) developed to term and 7 pups (10.6%) died at birth. The remaining 59 pups (27 females, 32 males) survived to adulthood. By comparison, of 437 transferred two-cell stage embryos derived from in vivo-grown oocytes, 76 (17.4%) developed to term and 4 (5.3%) died at birth. The remaining 72 pups (35 females, 37 males) survived to adulthood. These studies provide proof of the principle that fully competent mammalian oocytes can develop in vitro from primordial follicles and present a significant advance in oocyte culture technology.     

Functional foles of insulin and insulinlike growth factors in preimplantation mouse embryo development

Summary Growth factors are known to play important roles in cellular proliferation and differentiation. However, little information is available concerning their roles in the earliest stages of mammalian development. The effect of physiologic levels of insulin, insulinlike growth factor-I, and insulinlike growth factor II (IGF-I and-II) on DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in preimplantation stages of the mouse are described in this study. Quantitative studies of the incorporation of labeled thymidine, uridine, and methionine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material by different developmental stages of preimplantation mouse embryos labeled in vitro, indicate that physiologic levels of insulin stimulated DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis with significant effects observed first at the morula stage of development. In contrast, neither IGF-I nor IGF-II stimulated DNA, RNA, or protein synthesis to a significant degree under the same experimental conditions. These results suggest a functional role for insulin at the earliest stages of mammalian embryogenesis. This work was supported by grant HD 23511 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.     

Expression of plasminogen activators in preimplantation rat embryos developed <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

Embryo implantation plays a major role in embryogenesis and the outcome of pregnancy. Plasminogen activators (PAs) have been implicated in mammalian fertilization, early stages of development and embryo implantation. The invasion of trophoblast cells into the endometrium during the implantation process can be blocked by inhibitors of serine proteases, illustrating the role of these enzymes in the invasion process. As in vitro developing embryos resulted in lower implantation rate than those developed in vivo we assume that a reduced PAs activity may lead to it. There is hardly any information regarding qualitative or quantitative differences in expression of PAs in preimplantation embryos, or comparisons between in vivo and in vitro developed embryos. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of urokinase type (uPA) and tissue type (tPA) plasminogen activators in in vivo and in vitro preimplantation development in rat embryos using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and computerized image analysis.     

Cryopreservation of oocyte and ovarian tissue

Cryopreservation of reproductive cells (i.e., oocytes, spermatozoa) and tissues (i.e., ovarian and testicular tissue) is a developing technology that has tremendous implications for rapid advancement of biomedical research in general. Since the early 1980s, advances have been made in establishing optimal conditions for in vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization, and culture of resulting embryos. These in vitro systems have contributed significantly to the utilization of these cells and tissues after thawing and have made it possible to evaluate protocols designed to cryopreserve such biomaterials more effectively. Although cryopreservation of preimplantation embryos from various species including mouse, human, and farm animals has been successful, cryopreservation of oocytes from most mammalian species has been more challenging due to their extreme sensitivity to suboptimal conditions during the cryopreservation process. Cryopreservation on mouse oocytes have been well documented and have resulted in greater success than studies with other mammalian species. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation techniques have recently received much scientific and public attention due to their great potential use in human infertility treatment, in safeguarding the reproductive potential of the endangered species, and in genome banking of genetically important lab animal strains. A review of past and current research in the field of oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation and discussion of possible strategies for oocyte and ovarian tissue banking are provided.     

Epigenetic reprogramming throughout preimplantation development and consequences for assisted reproductive technologies

Knowledge about preimplantation development is important both for basic reproductive biology and for practical applications, including livestock breeding and regenerative medicine. During preimplantation development, epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are involved in the regulation of imprinted and non-imprinted genes, in the initiation of X chromosome inactivation, and the adjustment of telomere length. The underlying events are particularly vulnerable to external factors. Characterization of expression profiles in in vivo-derived embryos of different developmental stages and understanding the mechanisms and dynamics underlying the reprogramming process are the first steps towards the analysis of the complex gene regulatory networks. They provide a baseline for the analysis of manipulated embryos of all mammalian species, including humans, to improve embryo technologies and related therapeutic applications.     

山羊M II期卵母细胞胞质支持异种间克隆胚的着床前发育

研究去核山羊(Capra hircus)体内成熟的M II期卵母细胞与异种成年的哺乳动物(包括山羊、波尔山羊、牛、塔尔羊、熊猫)及人的成纤维细胞融合形成的体细胞核移植胚胎着床前的发育能力。结果显示这些异种体细胞核移植重构胚可以完成着床前发育, 并形成囊胚。种内体细胞核移植胚的融合率和囊胚发育率分别为78.67%(557/708)和56.29%(264/469); 亚种间或种间体细胞核移植胚的融合率和囊胚发育率分别为: 波尔山羊78.18%(541/692)、33.90%(40/118), 牛70.53%(146/207)、22.52%(25/111), 塔尔羊53.51%(61/114)、5.26%(3/570), 熊猫79.82%(1159/1452)、8.35%(75/898), 人68.76%(317/461)、5.41%(16/296)。由此结果得出以下结论: (1)山羊M II期卵母细胞胞质与供核细胞之间的亲缘性不影响两者的融合率; (2)山羊M II期卵母细胞的胞质能支持异种间体细胞核移植胚的着床前发育; (3)亲缘关系近的种间核移植胚的囊胚发育率高于亲缘关系远的种间核移植胚的。     

Insulin-like growth factor-I as a survival factor for the bovine preimplantation embryo exposed to heat shock

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a survival factor for preimplantation mammalian embryos exposed to stress. One stress that compromises preimplantation embryonic development is elevated temperature (i.e., heat shock). Using bovine embryos produced in vitro as a model, it was hypothesized that IGF-I would protect preimplantation embryos by reducing the effects of heat shock on total cell number, the proportion of blastomeres that undergo apoptosis, and the percentage of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage. In experiment 1, embryos were cultured with or without IGF-I; on Day 5 after insemination, embryos >or=16 cells were cultured at 38.5 degrees C for 24 h or were subjected to 41 degrees C for 9 h followed by 38.5 degrees C for 15 h. Heat shock reduced the total cell number at 24 h after initiation of heat shock and increased the percentage of blastomeres that were apoptotic. Effects of heat shock were less for IGF-I-treated embryos. Experiment 2 was conducted similarly except that embryos were allowed to develop to Day 8 after insemination. The percentage reduction in blastocyst development for heat-shocked embryos compared with those maintained at 38.5 degrees C was less for embryos cultured with IGF-I than for control embryos. Heat shock reduced the total cell number in blastocysts and increased the percentage of blastomeres that were apoptotic, whereas IGF-I-treated embryos had increased total cell number and a reduced percentage of apoptosis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that IGF-I can serve as a survival factor for preimplantation bovine embryos exposed to heat shock by reducing the effects of heat shock on development and apoptosis.     

Bovine oviductal epithelial cells: their cell culture and applications in studies for reproductive biology

Epithelial cells of the mammalian oviduct play an important role in reproductive and developmental events that occur there. Oviductal epithelial cells from several mammalian species can be isolated and cultured in serum or serum-free medium in vitro and cell culture of bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC) has been described by many investigators. Cultured BOEC show a wide variety of secretory activities and these secretory factors may influence early embryonic development or sperm function. Monolayer cultures of BOEC have been widely used for in vitro co-culture of bovine preimplantation embryos. The use of BOEC co-culture systems has improved embryonic development in nearly all the studies conducted. In addition, interaction of bovine spermatozoa with BOEC, in a similar manner to that observed for spermatozoa in vivo, induced specific changes in sperm capacitation and consequently improved the fertilizing capacity of bovine spermatozoa in vitro. Thus co-culture systems with BOEC may not only offer an excellent model for studying the mechanisms of capacitation and acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa but also provide a useful tool for the improvement of embryo development in vitro.     

山羊M II期卵母细胞胞质支持异种间克隆胚的着床前发育

研究去核山羊(Capra hircus)体内成熟的M II期卵母细胞与异种成年的哺乳动物(包括山羊、波尔山羊、牛、塔尔羊、熊猫)及人的成纤维细胞融合形成的体细胞核移植胚胎着床前的发育能力。结果显示这些异种体细胞核移植重构胚可以完成着床前发育, 并形成囊胚。种内体细胞核移植胚的融合率和囊胚发育率分别为78.67%(557/708)和56.29%(264/469); 亚种间或种间体细胞核移植胚的融合率和囊胚发育率分别为: 波尔山羊78.18%(541/692)、33.90%(40/118), 牛70.53%(146/207)、22.52%(25/111), 塔尔羊53.51%(61/114)、5.26%(3/570), 熊猫79.82%(1159/1452)、8.35%(75/898), 人68.76%(317/461)、5.41%(16/296)。由此结果得出以下结论: (1)山羊M II期卵母细胞胞质与供核细胞之间的亲缘性不影响两者的融合率; (2)山羊M II期卵母细胞的胞质能支持异种间体细胞核移植胚的着床前发育; (3)亲缘关系近的种间核移植胚的囊胚发育率高于亲缘关系远的种间核移植胚的。