Flow cytometry and sorting of meiotic prophase cells of female rabbits

We present a new, flow cytometric method by which cells in various stages of the meiotic prophase can be quantitated and sorted in partly enriched fractions. Ovarian cells of 3-16-day-old rabbits were mechanically dispersed and fixed in ethanol and aldehydes. The cell suspension was stained with the DNA fluorochrome mithramycin and analysed and sorted in a FACS IV cell sorter according to the fluorescence and forward light scatter distribution. Cells sorted onto slides were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and differentially counted in the microscope. In the diploid fraction, preleptotene cells were more fluorescent than somatic cells. Leptotene cells were found throughout the S fraction and the tetraploid fraction. Zygotene and pachytene cells caused a major peak in the tetraploid region with 10-25% more fluorescence than somatic cells. Cells in diplotene had 5-15% more fluorescence than somatic cells. Mitotic cells were 20-40% more fluorescent than somatic cells and scattered the light more intensely than did meiotic cells with the same fluorescence.     

Proliferation of germ cells and somatic cells in first trimester human embryonic gonads as indicated by S and S+G2+M phase fractions

Objectives: The number of germ cells and somatic cells in human embryonic and foetal gonads has previously been estimated by stereological methods, which are time‐ and labour‐consuming with little information concerning cell proliferation. Here, we studied whether flow cytometry could be applied as an easier method, also enabling estimation of the fraction of cells in S or S+G₂+M (SG₂M) cell‐cycle phases as indicators of cell proliferation. Methods: Cell suspensions from 35 human embryonic gonads at days 37 to 68 post‐conception (pc) were immunomagnetically sorted into C‐KIT positive (germ) cells and negative (somatic) cells. They were stained for DNA content and analysed by flow cytometry. S and SG₂M fractions could be measured for 13 of the female and 20 of the male gonads. The number of cells was estimated using fluorescent reference beads. Results: During the period from 37 to 68 days pc, female germ and somatic cells had a stable S and SG₂M fractions indicating steady growth of both subpopulations, whereas they decreased in both male germ and somatic cells. The number of germ and somatic cells estimated by flow cytometry was significantly lower than in stereological estimates, suggesting loss of cells during preparation. Conclusions: Cell proliferation as indicated by S and SG₂M fractions could be estimated specifically for primordial germ and somatic cells. Estimation of total number of germ and somatic cells was not feasible.     

体细胞核重编程中表观遗传学的研究进展

促使体细胞核重编程的方法很多,除了传统的体细胞核移植方法外,科学家们努力寻求从法律、道德、伦理等方面更易被人们接受的新方法.近年来多能干细胞与体细胞融合、多能细胞的抽提物与体细胞共孵育以及将编码多潜能因子的基因导入体细胞中等方法都能使体细胞核发生重新编程,将已分化的体细胞转变为一种全能的胚胎状态.主要论述了生殖细胞及早期胚胎、体细胞核移植和其他形式的体细胞核重编程的表观遗传学的改变,对表观遗传学的深入研究将有助于我们进一步了解体细胞核重编程的机制,从而不断完善各种技术促进供体核的重新编程,使其更好地应用于基础研究和生产实践.     

Analysis of the Behavior of Mitochondria in the Ovaries of the Earthworm Dendrobaena veneta Rosa 1839

We examined six types of cells that form the ovary of the earthworm Dendrobena veneta ogonia, prooocytes, vitellogenic oocytes, trophocytes, fully grown postvitellogenic oocytes and somatic cells of the gonad. The quantitative stereological method revealed a much higher “volume density” of mitochondria in all of the types of germ-line cells except for the somatic cells. Fluorescent vital stain JC-1, however, showed a much higher oxidative activity of mitochondria in the somatic cells than in the germ-line cells. The distribution of active and inactive mitochondria within the studied cells was assessed using the computer program ImageJ. The analysis showed a higher luminosity of inactive mitochondria in all of the types of germ-line cells and a higher luminosity of active mitochondria in somatic cells. The OXPHOS activity was found in somatic cells mitochondria and in the peripheral mitochondria of the vitellogenic oocytes. The detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) revealed a differentiated distribution of ROS in the different cell types. The amount of ROS substances was lower in somatic cells than in younger germ-line cells. The ROS level was also low in the cytoplasm of fully grown postwitellogenic oocytes. The distribution of the MnSOD enzyme that protects mitochondria against destructive role of ROS substances was high in the oogonia and in prooocytes and it was very high in vitellogenic and postvitellogenic oocytes. However, a much lower level of this protective enzyme was observed in the trophocytes and the lowest level was found in the cytoplasm of somatic cells. The lower mitochondrial activity and higher level of MnSOD activity in germ-line cells when compared to somatic cells testifies to the necessity of the organisms to protect the mitochondria of oocytes against the destructive role of the ROS that are produced during oxidative phosphorylation. The protection of the mitochondria in oocytes is essential for the transfer of healthy organelles to the next generation.     

Experimental cloning of embryos through human-rabbit inter-species nuclear transfer

Therapeutic cloning,which is based on human somatic cell nuclear transfer,is one of our major research objectives.Though inter-species nuclear transfer has been introduced to construct human somatic cell cloned embryos,the effects of type,passage,and preparation method of donor cells on embryo development remain unclear.In our experiment,cloned embryos were reconstructed with different passage and preparation methods of ossocartilaginous cell,skin fibroblast,and cumulus cells.The cumulus cell embryos showed significantly higher development rates than the other two (P＜0.05).The development rate of embryos reconstructed with skin fibroblasts of different passage number and somatic cells of different chilling durations showed no significant difference.Also,fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)was conducted to detect nuclear derivation of the embryos.The result showed that the nuclei of the inter-species cloned embryo cells came from human.We conclude that (1)cloned embryos can be constructed through human-rabbit interspecies nuclear transfer;(2)different kinds of somatic cells result in different efficiency of nuclear transfer,while in vitro passage of the donor does not influence embryo development;(3)refrigeration is a convenient and efficient donor cell preparation method.Finally,it is feasible to detect DNA gcnotype through FISH.     

Production of interspecies somatic/pluripotent heterokaryons using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and selection by imaging flow cytometry for the study of nuclear reprogramming

Fusion of somatic cells to embryonic stem cells induces reprogramming of the somatic nucleus and can be used to study the effect of trans-acting factors from the pluripotent cell over the differentiated nucleus. However, fusion only occurs in a small fraction of the cells exposed to fusogenic conditions, hence the need for a protocol that produces high fusion rate with minimal cell damage, coupled with a method capable of identifying and selecting these rare events. Here, we describe a protocol to induce formation of bi-species mouse pluripotent/bovine somatic heterokaryons, as well as same-species homokaryons, using polyethylene glycol (PEG). To identify bi-species fusion products, heterokaryons were labeled using cell type-specific fluorescent antibodies and selected using imaging (Amnis ImageStream Mark II) and traditional (BD FACSAria I) flow cytometry. Heterokaryons selected with this method produced ES cell-like colonies in vitro. This procedure can be combined with downstream applications such as nucleic acid isolation for RT-PCR and RNA-Seq, and used as a tool to study somatic cell nuclear reprogramming.     

Cytoplast containing reprogramming-related factors from human embryonic stem cells arrested at metaphase

Generating pluripotent stem cells directly from a patient's somatic cells is one of the major methods to avoid rejection in future regenerative medicine. It is reported that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are able to reprogram the nuclei of fully differentiated human somatic cells, apparently conferring on them a pluripotent state. However, the ability of the cytoplasts from enucleated hESCs to reprogram somatic cells causes much controversy. Here we detect the location of pluripotency-related factors such as Oct4/Nanog/Sox2 in the hESCs at division and non-division stage and obtain the cytoplasts of hESCs by centrifugation. We demonstrate for the first time that the cytoplast from hESCs arrested at the division phase of cell the cycle contains the reprogramming factors and this kind of cytoplast can be obtained through gradient centrifugation. These give us direct proof of the possibility of reprogramming somatic cell using cytoplast of hESCs and make this a possible method for getting patient-specific pluripotent cells without extrinsic DNA introduction.     

Developmental pathway of somatic embryogenesis in Picea abies as revealed by time-lapse tracking

Several coniferous species can be propagated via somatic embryogenesis. This is a useful method for clonal propagation, but it can also be used for studying how embryo development is regulated in conifers. However, in conifers it is not known to what extent somatic and zygotic embryos develop similarly, because there has been little research on the origin and development of somatic embryos. A time-lapse tracking technique has been set up, and the development of more than 2000 single cells and few-celled aggregates isolated from embryogenic suspension cultures of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and embedded in thin layers of agarose has been traced. Experiments have shown that somatic embryos develop from proembryogenic masses which pass through a series of three characteristic stages distinguished by cellular organization and cell number (stages I, II and III) to transdifferentiate to somatic embryos. Microscopic inspection of different types of structures has revealed that proembryogenic masses are characterized by high interclonal variation of shape and cellular constitution. In contrast, somatic embryos are morphologically conservative structures, possessing a distinct protoderm-like cell layer as well as embryonal tube cells and suspensor. The lack of staining of the arabinogalactan protein epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody JIM13 was shown to be an efficient marker for distinguishing proembryogenic masses from somatic embryos. The vast majority of cells in proembryogenic masses expressed this epitope and none of cells in the early somatic embryos. The conditions that promote cell proliferation (i.e. the presence of exogenous auxin and cytokinin), inhibit somatic embryo formation; instead, continuous multiplication of stage I proembryogenic masses by unequal division of embryogenic cells with dense cytoplasm is the prevailing process. Once somatic embryos have formed, their further development to mature forms requires abscisic acid and shares a common histodifferentiation pattern with zygotic embryos. Although the earliest stages of somatic embryo development comparable to proembryogeny could not be characterized, the subsequent developmental processes correspond closely to what occurs in the course of early and late zygotic embryogeny. A model for somatic embryogenesis pathways in Picea abies is presented.     

Establishment of a reproducible tissue culture system for the induction of Arabidopsis somatic embryos

Somatic embryogenesis is an example of totipotency and is used as a model system for studying embryogenesis. A reproducible tissue culture system was established for the large-scale induction of Arabidopsis somatic embryos. The method allows maintenance of high embryogenic competence over a one-year period. Using this tissue culture system, the expression of embryo-specific genes (ABI3, LEC1, FUS3) was detected in embryogenic cells and somatic embryos. Exogenous application of abscisic acid enhanced the expression of some late-embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) protein genes in somatic embryos. The experiments show that the method can be used to obtain sufficient amounts of embryogenic material for basic molecular analyses.     

崇明水仙根尖体细胞染色体的观察和核型分析

以崇明水仙(Narcissus tazetta L.var.chinensis Roem.)根尖体细胞为实验材料,对适宜于崇明水仙细胞学研究的前处理液和前处理时间进行了筛选,在此基础上,应用根尖压片法对重瓣花型和单瓣花型崇明水仙体细胞染色体数、核型及倍性进行了比较分析.结果显示:适宜的前处理液是对二氯苯饱和溶液,适宜的前处理时间为12 h.重瓣花型和单瓣花型崇明水仙的染色体核型差异较小,相同点为:不对称二型核型,染色体基数x=10,三倍体,体细胞染色体数2n=3x=30,第7号染色体的短臂具随体,核型均属于"3B"型,臂比大于2的染色体比率为90%.不同点为:重瓣花型的第7号和第8号染色体分别为sm和st型,单瓣花型的第7号和第8号染色体分别为st和sm型;前者的核型不对称系数(76.48%)略小于后者(76.71%);前者的相对长度系数为12L+6M2+12S,后者的相对长度系数为12L+3M1+3M2+12S;前者的最长染色体与最短染色体长度的比值(3.10)略小于后者(3.19).重瓣花型的核型公式为2n=3x=30=15st+15sm(3SAT),单瓣花型的核型公式为2n=3x=30=15st(3SAT)+15sm,崇明水仙根尖体细胞染色体的平均核型公式为2n=3x=30=15st(3SAT)+15sm.根据研究结果初步推测崇明水仙为节段异源三倍体.     

Doubling of the cytoplasm volume improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes injected with freeze-dried somatic cells

In the present study using pig cells, we examined the effect of the cryoprotectant trehalose on the DNA integrity of freeze-dried cells. We then investigated whether donor cell types and storage duration had impact on DNA integrity in freeze-dried cells or developmental competence of oocytes injected with freeze-dried somatic cells. We also examined whether double cytoplasm nuclear transfer (DCNT) would improve developmental competence of such oocytes. Furthermore, using a PCR-based method for sex identification, we determined whether the blastocysts obtained had actually been generated from the freeze-dried cells. It was found that, for a short storage duration at low temperature, trehalose had no beneficial effect on protection from DNA damage, and that donor cell type had no effect on the DNA integrity of freeze-dried somatic cells or the developmental competence of oocytes injected with them. We also confirmed that all of the blastocysts obtained following nuclear transfer were of freeze-dried somatic cell origin. Storage of freeze-dried somatic cells for up to 1 year at low temperature did not degrade DNA integrity in comparison with storage for 1 month, 1 week or 1 day. Following injection of freeze-dried cells, the proportion of oocytes that developed to blastocysts after storage for up to 1 year was similar to that after storage for 1 month, 1 week or 1 day. Moreover, DCNT significantly improved the developmental competence of oocytes treated in this way. In summary, using DCNT, we have demonstrated that freeze-dried porcine somatic cells subjected to long-term storage at 4 °C have nearly the same potential to develop to blastocysts as non-freeze-dried cells.     

Metaphase I arrest and spontaneous parthenogenetic activation of strain LTXBO oocytes: chimeric reaggregated ovaries establish primary lesion in oocytes

Oocytes of strain LT mice, and related strains such as LTXBO, exhibit a high incidence of arrest in the progression of meiosis at metaphase I (MI) and in spontaneous parthenogenetic activation. Activation of these oocytes within the ovary leads to the formation of ovarian teratomas. In this study, the role of the oocyte's companion granulosa cells, the cumulus cells, was investigated using fully grown oocytes matured in vitro after isolation from LTXBO mice. Results showed that the role of cumulus cells in MI arrest is dichotomous. Cumulus cells temporarily helped to sustain MI arrest, but they also promoted a delayed progression to metaphase II. Cumulus cells also promoted parthenogenetic activation that occurred in association with the delayed progression to metaphase II. Next, the question of whether the lesion(s) promoting MI arrest and spontaneous activation is due to defects in the somatic cells or is intrinsic to the oocyte was addressed using chimeric reaggregated ovaries. An improved method for completely exchanging the germ cell and the somatic cell compartments of ovaries from newborn mice is described. These chimeric reaggregated ovaries, grafted beneath the renal capsule of SCID mice, allowed the complete development of LTXBO oocytes to occur in association with somatic cells from control (B6SJLF(1)) ovaries and development of control oocytes in association with LTXBO somatic cells. Oocyte growth and follicular development appeared generally normal in reaggregated ovaries. High incidences of MI arrest and spontaneous activation of LTXBO oocytes occurred regardless of the genotype of the somatic cells. Moreover, there was a low incidence of MI arrest and spontaneous activation of control oocytes, even though they underwent complete development and maturation associated with LTXBO somatic cells. It is concluded that the phenotypes of MI arrest and parthenogenetic activation in LTXBO oocytes are defects caused by lesions intrinsic to the oocyte. Nevertheless, the oocyte's companion somatic cells play crucial roles in the expression of these lesions.     

多能干细胞诱导分化及体细胞转分化为心肌细胞的研究进展

心血管疾病是威胁人类健康的重大疾病,而心肌细胞数量逐渐减少,甚至衰竭是其核心病变。心肌细胞补偿性替代治疗是未来用于治疗这类疾病的重要手段,因此,心肌细胞的来源和有效治疗将成为关键。目前,心肌细胞构建的主要方法有多能干细胞诱导分化成心肌祖细胞或心肌细胞、心源性心肌祖细胞,以及体细胞重编程等。其中,多能干细胞向心肌细胞分化是最常用的方法;而体细胞转分化技术相较于传统的诱导多潜能干细胞衍生心肌细胞缩短了时间窗,为潜在的心血管疾病治疗提供了另一种思路。随着获取心肌细胞效率及其质量的提升,未来心血管疾病的治疗将有望获得重大突破。     

快速准确监测奶牛体细胞数的方法

实验通过荧光染色的方法,运用荧光显微术对3个取样点总计39头奶牛的体细胞在不同时间计数,表明吖啶橙染色是一种快速、准确的监测奶牛体细胞数的方法,同时还表明不同的饲养条件及管理会造成牛群健康状况的显著差异,并依据实验结果对改善牛群的健康状况提出了建议。     

人-兔异种核移植构建克隆胚的实验研究

“治疗性克隆”是人类最关注的课题之一,而人体细胞核移植是治疗性克隆的基础和前提。异种核移植的方法虽已被引入人体细胞克隆胚的构建,但供体细胞的类型、培养代数及准备方法与其效率之间的关系尚有待探讨。本实验以不同培养代数和不同准备方法的人卵丘细胞、皮肤成纤维细胞和软骨细胞为供体构建了克隆胚,对其发育情况的比较表明,以卵丘细胞为供体时重构胚的体外发育率高于其余二者,差异显著（P〈0．05）;不同培养代数的成纤维细胞克隆胚和不同冷藏天数供体细胞克隆胚体外发育率无明显差异。此外,本实验还尝试用荧光原位杂交法检测所构建的异种克隆胚核遗传物质的来源,结果显示来自人体细胞。本研究表明,人一兔异种核移植构建克隆胚切实可行;体细胞的类型与核移植效率相关;供体细胞的体外培养传代对克隆胚的发育并无影响;而冷藏是一种简便有效的供体细胞准备方法;此外,用FISH方法对重构胚进行核遗传物质的鉴定切实可行。     

The fate of surface cell layers of Daucus carota (L.) embryos raised in suspension culture

The ultrastructure and fate of surface cells covering mature somatic embryos of Daucus carota grown in suspension culture were analyzed and new information obtained concerning somatic embryogenesis in these conditions. Our studies showed that during some developmental stages, these embryos were covered irregularly and discontinuously by cells with a typical protodermal phenotype characterized by a cuticle on the outer cell wall. We observed that cells with cuticles were peeled off from the surface of mature embryos. Before peeling off, these cells underwent programmed cell death, which was confirmed by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling method. Transmission electron microscopy revealed advanced processes of autophagy in these cells.     

The size of cells providing interhemispheric and intrahemispheric connections in the visual cortex of binocular vision-impaired cats

The size (somatic area) of 658 cells located in layers 2/3 of cortical areas 17, 18 of both hemispheres in intact monocularly deprived and bilateral strabismic cats was measured. These cells were retrogradely labelled after injections of horseradish peroxidase into ocular dominance columns in areas 17, 18. In all groups of cats, the mean somatic area of callosal cells was significantly larger than the mean somatic area of intrahemispheric cells. It was found that the mean somatic area of callosal cells was increased by 26.6% in monocularly deprived cats and by 20.2% in strabismic cats in relation to the mean somatic area of callosal cells in intact cats. In addition, the mean somatic area of intrahemispheric cells in monocularly deprived cats was indistinguishable from the mean somatic area of intrahemispheric cells in strabismic cats and in intact cats. It is concluded that early binocular vision impairments produce enlargement of callosal cells' size in the visual cortex.     

ABA对枸杞体细胞胚发生的调节作用

Using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method, we determined the ABA contents of different stages in somatic embryogenesis. The results showed that endogenous ABA contents increased to maximum value twice during somatic embryogenesis. After first maximum value of ABA contents embryogenic cells were observed in callus, and simultaneously, there was a specific protein of somatic embryogenesis investigated by SDS-PAGE. This protein accumulates preferentially in embryogenic callus but not in transferred callus. So it is suggested that ABA could promote the expression of specific genes and the synthesis of embryogenic protein during somatic embryogenesis in Lycium barbarum L. and ABA play an important role in globular stage as well. In addition, treatment of non-embryogenic activity callus with 4 mumol/L exogenous ABA could stimulate somatic embryogenesis. And the ABA function mechanism in relation to somatic embryogenesis was discussed.     

Quantification of somatic and spermatogenic cell proliferation in the testes of ruminants, using a proliferation marker and flow cytometry analysis

We compared 2 methods for the quantification of proliferation in somatic and spermatogenic compartments of post mortem-collected testes in cattle and roe deer. Proliferation was evaluated by estimation of the tissue polypeptid specific antigen (TPS) using an ELISA. This proliferation-specific marker was detected in homogenized cells after selective enrichment of different cell types by density gradient centrifugation. The haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells were monitored by one-parameter flow cytometry and analyzed for mitotic cell cycle. Somatic and spermatogenic cells were discriminated by dual-parameter flow cytometry after DNA staining with propidium iodide and selective labelling of stromatic cells with a vimentin antibody. The TPS was related to the ploidy of cells and their somatic or spermatogenic type. High concentrations of TPS were found in both species. The TPS values varied with different contents of spermatogenic and somatic cells in the fractions of the density gradient. The TPS was positively correlated with spermatogenic cells in the G2/M phase of mitotic cycle (r = 0.474; P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with somatic cells (r = -0.676; P < 0.0001) in roe deer (n = 40). Discrimination of germinative and stromatic cells in the G2-M phase showed their varying proliferation during the annual cycle in roe deer. The quantification of tetraploid spermatogenic cells allowed the calculation of an exact meiotic transformation (ratio haploid:tetraploid cells). In conclusion, TPS indicates proliferation in the germinative compartment of the testes. However, this marker provides only relative values, without information on the number and type of proliferating cells. Dual-parameter flow cytometry using specific staining for vimentin proves to be a better method for studying changing mitotic and meiotic steps during the involution and recrudescence of testes in seasonally breeding ruminants, as it relates proliferative processes directly to both spermatogenic and somatic cells.     

Cloned embryos from semen. Part 1: in vitro proliferation of epithelial cells on embryonic fibroblasts after isolation from semen by gradient centrifugation

Although epithelial-like somatic cells have been previously isolated from semen, cell proliferation rates were low. Culture of whole semen samples resulted in loss of potentially valuable spermatozoa. The aims of the present study were to: (1) isolate somatic cells from semen, while preserving sperm viability, and (2) optimize in vitro culture conditions for semen-derived epithelial cells. Density gradient centrifugation of washed ejaculates of two rams (Ovis aries) (n = 24) and one eland bull (Taurotragus oryx) (n = 4) was performed using a three-layer discontinuous Percoll column consisting of 90% (P-90), 50% (P-50), and 20% (P-20) Percoll. In vitro culture and Trypan Blue staining indicated that live somatic cells settled in the P-20 layer. Nonmotile spermatozoa were recovered at the P-50 and P-90 interfaces, whereas motile spermatozoa were collected in the pellet from the P-90 layer. Subsequently, somatic cells isolated from the P-20 layer were plated either on inactivated 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers, collagen-coated plates with 3T3 feeder cell inserts, or on collagen-coated plates. Initial somatic cell plating was similar among treatments, but proliferation significantly increased when cocultured with 3T3 cells (feeder or insert). Furthermore, two different types of epithelial cells were obtained. The exact origin of the cells in the male reproduction system is uncertain and probably variable. The present method of cell isolation and in vitro culture may be of value for preserving endangered species. Specifically, cells isolated and cultured from cryopreserved semen of nonliving males could be used for producing embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer.