Background Oxidative stress,caused by an imbalance in the production and elimination of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),has been recognized for its detrimental effects on mammalian embryonic development.Lut...Background Oxidative stress,caused by an imbalance in the production and elimination of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),has been recognized for its detrimental effects on mammalian embryonic development.Luteolin(Lut)has been documented for its protective effects against oxidative stress in various studies.However,its specific role in embryonic development remains unexplored.This study aims to investigate the influence of Lut on porcine embryonic development and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.Results After undergoing parthenogenetic activation(PA)or in vitro fertilization,embryos supplemented with 0.5μmol/L Lut displayed a significant enhancement in cleavage and blastocyst formation rates,with an increase in total cell numbers and a decrease in the apoptosis rate compared to the control.Measurements on D2 and D6 revealed that embryos with Lut supplementation had lower ROS levels and higher glutathione levels compared to the control.Moreover,Lut supplementation significantly augmented mitochondrial content and membrane potential.Intriguingly,activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway was observed in embryos supplemented with Lut,leading to the upregulation of antioxidant-related gene transcription levels.To further validate the relationship between the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway and effects of Lut in porcine embryonic development,we cultured PA embryos in a medium supplemented with brusatol,with or without the inclusion of Lut.The positive effects of Lut on developmental competence were negated by brusatol treatment.Conclusions Our findings indicate that Lut-mediated activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway contributes to the enhanced production of porcine embryos with high developmental competence,and offers insight into the mechanisms regulating early embryonic development.展开更多
Background Anethole(AN)is an organic antioxidant compound with a benzene ring and is expected to have a positive impact on early embryogenesis in mammals.However,no study has examined the effect of AN on porcine embry...Background Anethole(AN)is an organic antioxidant compound with a benzene ring and is expected to have a positive impact on early embryogenesis in mammals.However,no study has examined the effect of AN on porcine embryonic development.Therefore,we investigated the effect of AN on the development of porcine embryos and the underlying mechanism.Results We cultured porcine in vitro-fertilized embryos in medium with AN(0,0.3,0.5,and 1 mg/mL)for 6 d.AN at 0.5 mg/mL significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate,trophectoderm cell number,and cellular survival rate compared to the control.AN-supplemented embryos exhibited significantly lower reactive oxygen species levels and higher glutathione levels than the control.Moreover,AN significantly improved the quantity of mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane potential,and increased the lipid droplet,fatty acid,and ATP levels.Interestingly,the levels of proteins and genes related to the sonic hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway were significantly increased by AN.Conclusions These results revealed that AN improved the developmental competence of porcine preimplantation embryos by activating SHH signaling against oxidative stress and could be used for large-scale production of high-quality porcine embryos.展开更多
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidases have long been believed to assist in sperm penetration through the cumulus-oocyte complex(COC);however,their role in mammalian fertilization remains unclear.P...Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidases have long been believed to assist in sperm penetration through the cumulus-oocyte complex(COC);however,their role in mammalian fertilization remains unclear.Previously,we have shown that hyaluronidase 5(Hyal5)/Hyal7 double-knockout(dKO)mice produce significantly fewer offspring than their wild-type(WT)counterparts because of defective COC dispersal.Male infertility is mainly caused by a low sperm count.It can be further exacerbated by the deficiency of sperm hyaluronidase,which disperses the cumulus cells of the outer layer of the COC.In the current study,we evaluated the effects of a low count of Hyal-deficient sperm and conditions of ovulated oocytes on the fertilization rate using a mouse model.Our results demonstrated that a low sperm count further decreases the in vitro fertilization(IVF)rate of Hyal-deficient dKO spermatozoa.In addition,the dKO spermatozoa resulted in a fertilization rate of 12.5%upon fertilizing COCs with a thick cumulus layer,whereas the IVF rate was comparable to that of WT spermatozoa when oocytes with a thin or no cumulus layer were fertilized.Finally,we proved that the IVF rate of dKO spermatozoa could be recovered by adding rat spermatozoa as a source of sperm hyal.Our results suggest that a deficiency of proteins involved in fertilization,such as sperm hyal,has a vital role in fertilization.展开更多
To directly assess the molecular function of the monkey 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （20α-HSD） promoter, we generated transgenic mice （tg） expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein （EGFP） under control...To directly assess the molecular function of the monkey 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （20α-HSD） promoter, we generated transgenic mice （tg） expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein （EGFP） under control of this promoter. We demonstrated that prostaglandin F2α induced 20α-HSD promoter activity in CHO cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, forskolin treatment markedly reduced 20α-HSD promoter activity, and prolactin exhibited weak inhibitory activity. The transgenic mouse obtained one positive founder male. The transgene was propagated in 10 successive generations without any notable defects to the progeny. EGFP and 20α-HSD in the tg mice were colocalized in the luteal cells of the ovary during late pregnancy. Strong EGFP and 20et-HSD protein signals were also detected in the adult testis. Immtmohistochemical analysis revealed high EGFP levels in the seminiferous epithelium, whereas 20α-HSD was expressed in the seminiferous tubules. Our data suggest that the ovaries in monkey and mouse exhibit similar expression patterns of 20α-HSD during pregnancy. However, the expression pattern of EGFP in tg mice testis slightly differed from that of the endogenous 20α-HSD. Further investigation is required to elucidate the functional mechanisms underlying regulation of the monkey 20α-HSD promoter in the tg mice.展开更多
基金supported by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology(KRIBB)Research Initiative Program(KGM4252331,KGM5382322),Republic of Korea.
文摘Background Oxidative stress,caused by an imbalance in the production and elimination of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),has been recognized for its detrimental effects on mammalian embryonic development.Luteolin(Lut)has been documented for its protective effects against oxidative stress in various studies.However,its specific role in embryonic development remains unexplored.This study aims to investigate the influence of Lut on porcine embryonic development and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.Results After undergoing parthenogenetic activation(PA)or in vitro fertilization,embryos supplemented with 0.5μmol/L Lut displayed a significant enhancement in cleavage and blastocyst formation rates,with an increase in total cell numbers and a decrease in the apoptosis rate compared to the control.Measurements on D2 and D6 revealed that embryos with Lut supplementation had lower ROS levels and higher glutathione levels compared to the control.Moreover,Lut supplementation significantly augmented mitochondrial content and membrane potential.Intriguingly,activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway was observed in embryos supplemented with Lut,leading to the upregulation of antioxidant-related gene transcription levels.To further validate the relationship between the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway and effects of Lut in porcine embryonic development,we cultured PA embryos in a medium supplemented with brusatol,with or without the inclusion of Lut.The positive effects of Lut on developmental competence were negated by brusatol treatment.Conclusions Our findings indicate that Lut-mediated activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway contributes to the enhanced production of porcine embryos with high developmental competence,and offers insight into the mechanisms regulating early embryonic development.
基金supported by the Ministry of EducationScience and Technology(No.2021M3A9A1096894)+1 种基金Republic of Korea and the KRIBB Research Initiative Program(KGM4252223)Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology,Republic of Korea。
文摘Background Anethole(AN)is an organic antioxidant compound with a benzene ring and is expected to have a positive impact on early embryogenesis in mammals.However,no study has examined the effect of AN on porcine embryonic development.Therefore,we investigated the effect of AN on the development of porcine embryos and the underlying mechanism.Results We cultured porcine in vitro-fertilized embryos in medium with AN(0,0.3,0.5,and 1 mg/mL)for 6 d.AN at 0.5 mg/mL significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate,trophectoderm cell number,and cellular survival rate compared to the control.AN-supplemented embryos exhibited significantly lower reactive oxygen species levels and higher glutathione levels than the control.Moreover,AN significantly improved the quantity of mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane potential,and increased the lipid droplet,fatty acid,and ATP levels.Interestingly,the levels of proteins and genes related to the sonic hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway were significantly increased by AN.Conclusions These results revealed that AN improved the developmental competence of porcine preimplantation embryos by activating SHH signaling against oxidative stress and could be used for large-scale production of high-quality porcine embryos.
基金supported by the KRIBB Research Initiative Program(KGM4252122)the National Research Foundation(2018M2A9Hl078340)the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government(NRF-2020R111A3072358).
文摘Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidases have long been believed to assist in sperm penetration through the cumulus-oocyte complex(COC);however,their role in mammalian fertilization remains unclear.Previously,we have shown that hyaluronidase 5(Hyal5)/Hyal7 double-knockout(dKO)mice produce significantly fewer offspring than their wild-type(WT)counterparts because of defective COC dispersal.Male infertility is mainly caused by a low sperm count.It can be further exacerbated by the deficiency of sperm hyaluronidase,which disperses the cumulus cells of the outer layer of the COC.In the current study,we evaluated the effects of a low count of Hyal-deficient sperm and conditions of ovulated oocytes on the fertilization rate using a mouse model.Our results demonstrated that a low sperm count further decreases the in vitro fertilization(IVF)rate of Hyal-deficient dKO spermatozoa.In addition,the dKO spermatozoa resulted in a fertilization rate of 12.5%upon fertilizing COCs with a thick cumulus layer,whereas the IVF rate was comparable to that of WT spermatozoa when oocytes with a thin or no cumulus layer were fertilized.Finally,we proved that the IVF rate of dKO spermatozoa could be recovered by adding rat spermatozoa as a source of sperm hyal.Our results suggest that a deficiency of proteins involved in fertilization,such as sperm hyal,has a vital role in fertilization.
基金supported by the KRIBB Research Initiative Program (KGM4251622), Republic of Korea
文摘To directly assess the molecular function of the monkey 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （20α-HSD） promoter, we generated transgenic mice （tg） expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein （EGFP） under control of this promoter. We demonstrated that prostaglandin F2α induced 20α-HSD promoter activity in CHO cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, forskolin treatment markedly reduced 20α-HSD promoter activity, and prolactin exhibited weak inhibitory activity. The transgenic mouse obtained one positive founder male. The transgene was propagated in 10 successive generations without any notable defects to the progeny. EGFP and 20α-HSD in the tg mice were colocalized in the luteal cells of the ovary during late pregnancy. Strong EGFP and 20et-HSD protein signals were also detected in the adult testis. Immtmohistochemical analysis revealed high EGFP levels in the seminiferous epithelium, whereas 20α-HSD was expressed in the seminiferous tubules. Our data suggest that the ovaries in monkey and mouse exhibit similar expression patterns of 20α-HSD during pregnancy. However, the expression pattern of EGFP in tg mice testis slightly differed from that of the endogenous 20α-HSD. Further investigation is required to elucidate the functional mechanisms underlying regulation of the monkey 20α-HSD promoter in the tg mice.
