Coenzyme Q10 restores oocyte mitochondrial function and fertility during reproductive aging

Female reproductive capacity declines dramatically in the fourth decade of life as a result of an age‐related decrease in oocyte quality and quantity. The primary causes of reproductive aging and the molecular factors responsible for decreased oocyte quality remain elusive. Here, we show that aging of the female germ line is accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction associated with decreased oxidative phosphorylation and reduced Adenosine tri‐phosphate (ATP) level. Diminished expression of the enzymes responsible for CoQ production, Pdss2 and Coq6, was observed in oocytes of older females in both mouse and human. The age‐related decline in oocyte quality and quantity could be reversed by the administration of CoQ10. Oocyte‐specific disruption of Pdss2 recapitulated many of the mitochondrial and reproductive phenotypes observed in the old females including reduced ATP production and increased meiotic spindle abnormalities, resulting in infertility. Ovarian reserve in the oocyte‐specific Pdss2‐deficient animals was diminished, leading to premature ovarian failure which could be prevented by maternal dietary administration of CoQ10. We conclude that impaired mitochondrial performance created by suboptimal CoQ10 availability can drive age‐associated oocyte deficits causing infertility.     

Hormonal, follicular and endometrial dynamics in letrozole-treated versus natural cycles in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation

Background

To investigate the effect of pelvic floor Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Therapy in improving endometrial thickness in women with thin endometrium.

Methods

41 patients undergoing assisted reproduction with a thin endometrium (less than or equal to7 mm) were recruited and advised to go for a pelvic floor NMES in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle. PHENIX Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy System was used according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol for 20 to 30 minutes of intermittent vaginal electrical stimulation on the treatment days.

Results

A total of 20 and 21 were included in the NMES and non-NMES groups respectively. 12 out of 20 (60%) patients developed endometrial thickness equal to or more than 8 mm after the NMES therapy, which was the primary outcome. The mean thickness of endometrium before and after was respectively 5.60 mm (0.82 mm) and 7.93 mm (1.42 mm) in the therapy group versus 5.50 mm (1.00) and 6.78 mm (0.47) in the control group; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002). There was higher pregnancy rate in the NMES group (42% versus 35%) but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Neuromuscular Electrical stimulation therapy may be effective for the patients with a thin endometrium. Further studies are needed to investigate its effectiveness.     

Morphological plasticity promotes resistance to phagocyte killing of uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli proceed through a complex intracellular developmental pathway that includes multiple morphological changes. During intracellular growth within Toll-like receptor 4-activated superficial bladder epithelial cells, a subpopulation of uropathogenic E. coli initiates SulA-mediated filamentation. In this study, we directly investigated the role of bacterial morphology in the survival of uropathogenic E. coli from killing by phagocytes. We initially determined that both polymorphonuclear neutrophils and macrophages are recruited to murine bladder epithelium at times coincident with extracellular bacillary and filamentous uropathogenic E. coli. We further determined that bacillary uropathogenic E. coli were preferentially destroyed when mixed uropathogenic E. coli populations were challenged with cultured murine macrophages in vitro. Consistent with studies using elliptical-shaped polymers, the initial point of contact between the phagocyte and filamentous uropathogenic E. coli influenced the efficacy of internalization. These findings demonstrate that filamentous morphology provides a selective advantage for uropathogenic E. coli evasion of killing by phagocytes and defines a mechanism for the essential role for SulA during bacterial cystitis. Thus, morphological plasticity can be viewed as a distinct class of mechanism used by bacterial pathogens to subvert host immunity.     

Mapping of genes associated with leptine content of tetraploid potato

High content of leptine glycoalkaloids present in Solanum chacoense has been associated with genetic resistance to Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Say]). From an unrecorded accession of S. chacoense, the North Dakota State University breeding program has developed a tetraploid genotype, ND4382-19, that contains foliar leptines. In this study, using a segregating population, ND5873 (ND4382-19 × Chipeta), and GC-MS to analyze foliar content of alkaloids, two loci, involved in the synthesis of leptines were identified. They segregated as two complementary epistatic genes that allowed the synthesis of leptinidine (Lep) and acetyl-leptinidine (AL), respectively. Partial AFLP maps for both parents were developed using 97 individuals from population ND5873. The total lengths mapped for ND4382-19 and Chipeta were 1,883 and 1,021 cM, respectively. The marker for Lep was located at the distal end of simplex-coupling linkage group R37. Expansion of the initial mapping population and analysis of Lep-containing individuals allowed us to identify the linkage group (R35) that enabled synthesis of AL. By the use of simple sequence repeat markers, linkage group R37 (Lep) and linkage group R35 (AL) have been identified as homologs of chromosomes II and VIII, respectively.H. Casper (deceased)