Project description:The new use of automated tools in assisted reproductive techniques rises the concern of a posible detrimental effect on development. In the current study there are no meaningful differences between the transcriptomes of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro following manual or automatic denudation of the presumptive zygotes after in vitro fertilization.
Project description:Fertilization constitutes a critical step in the plant life cycle during which the gamete genomes undergo reprogramming in preparation for embryogenesis. However, it is unclear whether and how DNA methylation that epigenetically regulates gene expression is reprogramed during fertilization. Here, we characterized DNA methylation patterns and investigated the function of DNA glycosylases in rice eggs, sperms and unicellular zygotes. We found that DNA methylation is extensively reprogramed at non-CG sites in euchromatin regions upon fertilization, which intensifies during early embryogenesis. Genetic and genomic analysis revealed that rice DNA glycosylase genes DNG702, DNG701 and DNG704 demethylate at distinct and complementary loci in egg, sperm, and zygote genomes and are required for zygotic gene expression and development. The results indicate that active demethylation takes place in the gametes and the zygote to reprogram DNA methylation and zygotic genome activation in plant.
Project description:We aimed to verify whether and to which extent a perturbed nutrient environment during embryo development impact on the capacity of the resultant blastocyst to participate in initial embryo-maternal interactions. For this, in vitro-derived bovine zygotes were exposed to perturbed nutritional environments during the first days of their development. On Day 4 (post fertilization), groups of 5 morulas were transfered to sub-confluent Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cell (BEEC) monolayers. Embryos were cocultured with BEEC until Day 8, when endometrial cells were recovered for transcriptome analysis.
Project description:In order to understand how in vitro culture affects embryonic quality, we analyzed survival and global gene expression in bovine blastocysts after exposure to increased oxidative stress conditions of IVC. A pro-oxidant agents that act intra-cellularly by inhibiting GSH synthesis (0.4 mM buthionine sulfoximine [BSO]) was added from days 3 to 7, and transcriptomic analysis was then performed in resulting blastocysts. Precisely, after in vitro maturation and fertilization, bovine zygotes were culture in vitro in normal condition, then at day 3, embryos were allocated into culture in control or supplemented with BSO (0.4 mM) until day 7. At this time, blastocysts were harvested and analyzed. Our hypothesis was that BSO treatment will affect blastocyst survival and gene expression associated with low embryo quality 4 replicates of 10 blast/rep was produced for BSO and control treatment. According to a dye swap design with 2 colors, 4 arrays were used to compare BSO (green) against CTL (red) and 4 arrays were used to compared BSO (red) againt CTL (green).
Project description:In order to understand how in vitro culture affects embryonic quality, we analyzed survival and global gene expression in bovine blastocysts after exposure to increased oxidative stress conditions of IVC. A pro-oxidant agents that act extra-cellularly by promoting ROS production (0.01 mM 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride [AAPH]) was added from days 3 to 7, and transcriptomic analysis was then performed in resulting blastocysts. Precisely, after in vitro maturation and fertilization, bovine zygotes were culture in vitro in normal condition, then at day 3, embryos were allocated into culture in control or supplemented with AAPH (0.01 mM) until day 7. At this time, blastocysts were harvested and analyzed. Our hypothesis was that AAPH treatment will affect blastocyst survival and gene expression associated with low embryo quality 4 replicates of 10 blast/rep was produced for AAPH and control treatment. According to a dye swap design with 2 colors, 4 arrays were used to compare AAPH (green) against CTL (red) and 4 arrays were used to compared AAPH (red) againt CTL (green).
Project description:Oocyte defects lie at the heart of some forms of infertility and could potentially be addressed therapeutically by alternative routes for oocyte formation. Here, we describe the generation of functional human oocytes following nuclear transfer of first polar body (PB1) genomes from metaphase II (MII) oocytes into enucleated donor MII cytoplasm (PBNT). The reconstructed oocytes supported the formation of de novo meiotic spindles and, after fertilization with sperm, meiosis completion and formation of normal diploid zygotes. While PBNT zygotes developed to blastocysts less frequently (42%) than controls (75%), genome-wide genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional analyses of PBNT and control ESCs indicated comparable numbers of structural variations and markedly similar DNA methylation and transcriptome profiles. We conclude that rescue of PB1 genetic material via introduction into donor cytoplasm may offer a source of oocytes for infertility treatment or mitochondrial replacement therapy for mtDNA disease.