Zygote最新文献

{"title":"Trappc4 is required for early mammalian development.","authors":"Sarah S Mirza, Louise Bassom, Minjun Ahn, Jesse Mager","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100598","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100598","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trafficking Protein Particle Complex Subunit 4 (TRAPPC4) is essential for protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. It plays a crucial role in tethering COPII vesicles and assembling SNARE complexes, ensuring precise protein delivery, which is vital for cellular communication and growth. Mutations in TRAPPC4 and other TRAPP subunits are associated with a group of human diseases collectively known as TRAPPopathies, often manifesting as neurological disorders. This study investigates the role of TRAPPC4 during early embryonic development by analysing the phenotypic consequences when the gene is knocked out in the mouse. Our results show that TRAPPC4 knockout leads to early embryonic lethality, where TRAPPC4 homozygous mutant embryos form morphologically normal blastocysts but fail to implant in the uterus and are not present at embryonic day 7.5. We show that mutant embryos can hatch from the zona pellucida, but do not form proper inner cell mass (ICM) outgrowths. Unlike the tightly compressed ICM colonies in control littermates, the mutant ICM appears necrotic with cells that are not adherent. This dispersion suggests that ICM cells may begin deteriorating at peri-implantation stages, underscoring TRAPPC4's pivotal role in maintaining cellular viability during early embryonic development.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"234-239"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13573824/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148931402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Zona opening size by laser-assisted hatching and monozygotic multiple pregnancy after frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer.","authors":"Azusa Moriyama, Keiji Kuroda, Yuko Ikemoto, Takashi Horikawa, Hideaki Watanabe, Yumi Kato, Asako Shirai, Shuko Nojiri, Koji Nakagawa, Rikikazu Sugiyama","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100628","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100628","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Manipulation of the zona pellucida, including laser-assisted hatching (LAH), has been associated with an increased risk of monozygotic multiple pregnancy (MMP). A leading hypothesis suggests that embryonic splitting could be triggered by the division of the inner cell mass as the blastocyst herniates through the zona pellucida. The present study aimed to investigate whether the size of the zona pellucida opening created by LAH influences the prevalence of MMP in frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer (SBT) cycles. This retrospective observational study included 9452 pregnancies resulting from frozen-thawed SBT, of 13,271 clinical pregnancies between January 2020 and October 2024. MMP was defined as the presence of ≥2 gestational sacs and/or ≥2 fetuses after SBT. Between January and May 2021, the LAH opening size was enlarged from 30° to 90°. Prevalence of MMP was compared between 30° and 90° zona openings. Among the 9452 pregnancies analysed, 175 (1.85%) were MMP cases, including 169 twin and 6 triplet pregnancies. No significant differences in maternal age, fertilization method, blastocyst grade, culture duration or embryo biopsy rate were observed between singleton and MMP cases. In univariate analysis, a small zona opening was associated with an increased risk of MMP (odds ratio [OR] 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-2.29, <i>p</i> = 0.047); however, this association was not significant after adjustment for confounders (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.98-2.22, <i>p</i> = 0.06). A small zona pellucida opening created by LAH showed a trend towards an increased risk of MMP and warrants further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"250-256"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149082098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of artificial oocyte activation on embryomorphokinetic parameters and blastulation time.","authors":"Funda Gode, İbrahim Pala, Burcu Tamer, Ahmet Zeki Işık","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100562","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100562","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) with Calcium ionophore (Ca-I) application has been shown to improve fertilization rates in patients with poor reproductive outcomes and fertilization failure; however, the effect of Ca-I on embryomorphokinetic parameters remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AOA with Ca-I application on embryomorphokinetic parameters and clinical pregnancy outcomes. In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 412 cycles were involved and participants were classified into two groups as intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI + AOA (<i>n</i> = 225) and ICSI (<i>n</i> = 187). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of baseline parameters. When the duration from 2PN to tB (time to blastulation) was examined, t2, t3, t4, or t5 times were not significantly different between the groups; however, Ca ionophore application was found to extend time to start of blastulation (tsB) time and tB (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Optimal time-lapse parameters (t5, cc2, S2, and t5-t2) also did not differ between the two groups, and there were no significant differences in embryo grades determined by optimal time-lapse parameters. According to the fertilization and pregnancy results, no significant differences were found between the groups. In conclusion, Ca ionophore application does not seem to affect most embryomorphokinetic parameters except blastulation time, and the clinical importance of this finding needs further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"227-233"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of coenzyme Q10 bioaccessibility and its dose-dependent protective effects on sperm motility, morphology and intracellular ROS levels.","authors":"Yasemin Yilmazer, Sermin Durak, Mustafa Yaman, Sinem Dogan, Aleyna Cavdar, Busra Sagir, Turgut Aydin","doi":"10.1017/S096719942610063X","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S096719942610063X","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infertility is found in approximately 15% of couples all over the world and male factors alone are responsible for approximately 50% of infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on sperm mobility, morphology and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and to assess its bioaccessibility in selected dietary sources relevant to human nutrition. The bioaccessibility of CoQ10 in several food samples was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Based on these bioaccessible concentrations, the effects of CoQ10 (10, 50 and 100 µM) on sperm motility and morphology were evaluated in infertile patients. To evaluate the cellular response to CoQ10, MTT assay was employed for cytotoxicity assessment, while flow cytometry was utilized to quantify intracellular ROS production. <i>In vitro</i> gastrointestinal digestion analysis confirmed the high bioaccessibility of CoQ10, with the 50 µM concentration identified as the optimal dose for therapeutic application. This concentration exhibited superior biocompatibility in L929 cells, maintaining high cell viability without cytotoxic effects. Treatment with 50 µM CoQ10 significantly improved both total and progressive sperm motility compared to the control group. Moreover, the 50 µM CoQ10 significantly reduced intracellular ROS levels, which was associated with the preservation of sperm structural integrity by reducing acrosomal, nuclear and tail anomalies (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our results suggested that dietary intake and supplementation of CoQ10-enriched foods may exert beneficial therapeutic effects on low sperm motility. While CoQ10 significantly improves sperm motility at optimal concentrations (50 µM), high doses may exert cytotoxic effects on cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"257-265"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149115719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Lippia sidoides</i> essential oil: chemical composition and antioxidant activity during <i>in vitro</i> culture of bovine ovarian tissue.","authors":"Francisco Freire Caetano Filho, Vitória Santos Bezerra, Laís R Melo Paulino, Geovany Amorim Gomes, Francisco Flavio da Silva Lopes, Selene Maia Morais, Valdevane Rocha Araújo, Solano Dantas Martins, Francisco das Chagas Costa, Jose Roberto V Silva","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100616","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of <i>Lippia sidoides</i> essential oil (LSEO) and the influence of different concentrations of LSEO on activation and survival of primordial follicles, ovarian stromal cell density, collagen area in the extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as on thiol levels, messenger RNA (mRNA) of CAT, SOD1, GPX1 and PRDX6 and activity of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD1 and GPX1. To this end, the chemical composition of the oil was analysed using the gas chromatography (GC) method. The bovine ovaries were collected from a local slaughterhouse. In the laboratory, fragments of the ovarian cortex were then cultured in control medium alone or in the presence of 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 µg/mL LSEO. After six days of culture, the tissues were fixed and sent for histological analysis. Other fragments were used in molecular tests to determine the redox profile and to quantify mRNA levels. The results showed that a concentration of 400 μg/mL LSEO promoted follicular activation and growth, as well as increased stromal cell density and the mRNA levels of SOD1, CAT, and GPX1. Additionally, the LSEO at all tested concentrations reduced CAT activity in cultured bovine ovarian tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"240-249"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149082066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding the silent language of embryos: current evidence, clinical applicability and future perspectives of non-invasive embryo assessment in IVF.","authors":"Gulcin Ozkara","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199426100641","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-invasive embryo assessment strategies are increasingly being explored in in vitro fertilization (IVF) to complement conventional morphological evaluation and improve embryo selection. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of current and emerging approaches, with a focus on time-lapse monitoring (TLM), artificial intelligence (AI), omics-based technologies and non-invasive genomic testing, and critically evaluates their clinical utility and limitations. Recent literature investigating morphokinetic parameters, AI-based embryo evaluation, transcriptomic, metabolomic and secretomic biomarkers, and non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing was reviewed, including relevant clinical studies, systematic reviews and guideline-based recommendations. TLM enables continuous monitoring of embryo development and provides morphokinetic information associated with developmental competence; however, randomized clinical evidence has not demonstrated a consistent improvement in clinically meaningful outcomes when TLM-based embryo selection is used in isolation. AI-based models may improve the objectivity and reproducibility of embryo evaluation, but heterogeneous predictive performance, limited external validation and insufficient evidence of improved live birth outcomes currently support their use primarily as decision-support tools. Omics-based approaches have identified potential non-invasive biomarkers associated with embryo competence and implantation, although methodological variability, lack of standardization and limited prospective validation continue to restrict clinical translation. Among non-invasive genomic approaches, cfDNA-based non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) has shown promising potential, but variable concordance with trophectoderm biopsy and insufficient clinical validation currently preclude its use as a replacement for conventional PGT-A. More comprehensive genomic applications of embryo-derived cfDNA remain exploratory. Overall, embryo assessment is evolving toward integrative, multidimensional strategies combining morphological, developmental, molecular and computational information. Despite substantial technological advances, most emerging non-invasive approaches remain investigational or experimental, and rigorous standardization, multicentre prospective validation and demonstration of improvements in clinically meaningful outcomes are required before routine clinical implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149082034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of circadian rhythm on reproductive functions - CORRIGENDUM.","authors":"Seda Karabulut, Lima Oria","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100434","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100434","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"221-226"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148670450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of agarose gel support system and conventional methods for in vitro culture of bovine preantral follicles.","authors":"Camila Bizarro da Silva, Larissa Zamparone Bergamo, Marcela Bortoletto Cerezzetti, Rafaela Schoma Cardoso, Miriam Nagashima Hohmann, Waldiceu A Verri, Mateus José Sudano, Marcelo Marcondes Seneda","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100586","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100586","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We evaluated the efficiency of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) systems for in vitro culture of preantral follicles from the bovine species. Ovarian cortex fragments were obtained from a local slaughterhouse and randomly distributed into four groups: i) standard culture, directly on a culture plate (2D), ii) supported culture, on a gel monolayer (2D), iii) immersed culture on agarose gel (plating coated) covered in a medium (3D) and iv) Millicell-Biopore culture (3D), tested at 6 or 14 days. The following parameters were evaluated: follicular morphology and morphometry, reactive oxygen species production and granulosa cell proliferation. After 6 days of culture, follicles cultured on a gel monolayer (2D) showed a higher proportion of intact follicles than those cultured using other methods (<i>P</i> < 0.05). After 14 days of growth, standard culture on a culture plate (2D) and supported culture on a gel monolayer (2D) had a higher percentage of morphologically intact follicles (<i>P</i> < 0.05) than the 3D culture. An assessment of the redox status revealed that superoxide anion levels and antioxidant capacity of the samples cultured using the four methods were lower than those of the control group (non-cultured; <i>P</i> < 0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that the agarose gel support system offers distinct advantages for bovine preantral follicle culture by maintaining morphological integrity and stabilising the redox environment, although further studies incorporating functional endpoints are warranted to fully confirm these observations.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"198-211"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the impact of psychopharmacological agents on spermatozoa parameters, genomic integrity and chromatin architecture - CORRIGENDUM.","authors":"Uğurcan Altiok, Seda Karabulut, Oya Korkmaz, Lima Oria","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100604","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100604","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"220"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148664623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wnt signalling pathway dysfunction in non-obstructive azoospermia: identifying key genes and potential therapeutic targets.","authors":"Xiaobin Guo, Xiaohong Li, Taisen Pang, Zhongxia Liang, Fulin Wu, Junhao Lin, Guihai Huang, Kaiqiang Li, Ximing Li, Zhi Chen, Nan Hao, Wei Li","doi":"10.1017/S0967199426100549","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S0967199426100549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to investigate the involvement of the Wnt signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and to identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. We obtained the gene expression profiles of NOA patients from the GEO database, screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and NOA-associated co-expressing gene modules, then intersected the DEGs with related genes in the Wnt signalling pathway and identified key genes. LASSO regression analysis was used to find hub genes, and qRT-PCR and WB methods were used to verify the expression of key genes in NOA patients. The immune infiltration and GSEA were conducted in order to investigate the relationship between hub genes and immune cells infiltration and NOA-associated pathways; furthermore, we built the miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory network and predicted possible small molecules drug targets of the hub gene. Four candidate genes were related to NOA: CSNK1G2, GNG3, H2AFB1 and PARD6A. The key hub gene was CSNK1G2 based on the results of the LASSO regression analysis, and its expression level was significantly down-regulated in NOA patients. The immune infiltration analysis and GSEA results showed that the expression level of CSNK1G2 had a close relationship with immune cells infiltration and NOA-related pathways. Furthermore, we built a miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory network and predicted the possible small molecule drugs of CSNK1G2. Our findings suggest that the Wnt signalling pathway, particularly CSNK1G2, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of NOA. CSNK1G2 may be a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of NOA.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":" ","pages":"183-197"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148674209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}