Ying Han, Junrong Diao, Xinyan Wang, Shuai Zhang, Lina Yuan, Yaqiong Ping, Ge Gao, Yunshan Zhang, Haining Luo
{"title":"Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals common interactions between follicle immune cells and granulosa cells in premature ovarian insufficiency patients.","authors":"Ying Han, Junrong Diao, Xinyan Wang, Shuai Zhang, Lina Yuan, Yaqiong Ping, Ge Gao, Yunshan Zhang, Haining Luo","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the follicle microenvironment of individuals with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), normal ovarian reserve (normal) and advanced maternal age (AMA), and identify potential therapeutic targets.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 9 women, including 3 POI, 3 normal and 3 AMA women, underwent in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection were included in this study. For each participant, the first punctured follicle not containing cumulus cells were submitted to single-cell RNA sequencing to explore the characteristics of the follicle microenvironment of POI, normal and AMA individuals.</p><p><strong>Result(s): </strong>A total of 87,323 cells were isolated and grouped into six clusters: T cells, B cells, neutrophils, basophils, mononuclear phagocytes, and granulosa cells. Further analysis demonstrated that the population of granulosa cells in cluster 6 was increased in AMA and POI patients, whereas the population of gamma delta T (GDT)-cells was decreased. We also found that the genes that were differentially expressed between GDT cells and monocytes were enriched in ribosome- and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-related pathways. In addition, it showed that VEGFA-FLT1 interaction between the monocytes and granulosa cells may be lost in the AMA and POI patients as compared with the normal group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion(s): </strong>Loss of the VEGFA-FLT1 interaction in monocytes and granulosa cells, along with enriched ER- and ribosome-related pathways, may drive excess inflammation, accelerating granulosa cell senility and contributing to infertility. This study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of POI and aging and highlights the VEGFA/FLT1 interaction may be a potential therapeutic target for reducing inflammation and treating POI.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142602953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adele Frau, David Edache, Sebastiano Sale, Antonio Gallo, Vincenzo Miragliotta, Giulia Lazzarini, Andrea Corda, Francesca Corda, Olimpia Barbato, Sara Succu, Daniela Bebbere, Federica Franciosi, Alberto S Atzori, Francesca Mossa
{"title":"Maternal undernutrition in the first eighty days of gestation negatively programs ovarian development in dairy calves.","authors":"Adele Frau, David Edache, Sebastiano Sale, Antonio Gallo, Vincenzo Miragliotta, Giulia Lazzarini, Andrea Corda, Francesca Corda, Olimpia Barbato, Sara Succu, Daniela Bebbere, Federica Franciosi, Alberto S Atzori, Francesca Mossa","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We hypothesized that in dairy cattle maternal energy restriction applied during two gestational windows (up to day 80 or 120 of gestation) impairs ovarian and cardiovascular development in juvenile female offspring. We also investigated the role of maternal leptin and testosterone in developmental programming in calves. Holstein-Friesian heifers were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups; starting 10 days before artificial insemination, they were individually fed at: (i) 0.6 of their maintenance energy requirements (M) up to day 80 (Nutrient Restricted, NR80) or (ii) day 120 of gestation (NR120); (iii) 1.8 M until day 120 of pregnancy (Control, CTR). Plasma leptin concentrations increased transiently in nutritionally restricted heifers pregnant with a single female calf, but maternal testosterone concentrations were not influenced by diet. Calves had similar body growth, but daughters of NR80 and NR120 had impaired ovarian development, as assessed by reduced gonadal weight, fewer surface antral & primary follicles and recovered COCs, as well as lower circulating AMH concentrations. Cardiovascular morphology and function in the offspring were not influenced by maternal diet, as determined by peripheral arterial blood pressure, echocardiography, post-mortem heart weight and aortic circumference. Regardless of its duration (until day 80 or 120 of gestation), nutritional restriction resulted in a similar alteration of ovarian development in juvenile progeny, but cardiovascular development was unaltered. Evidence suggests that the window of development that encompasses the peri-ovulatory period to the first 2.6 months of gestation is critical in ovarian programming and that maternal leptin may be involved.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142602946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eliza Winek, Lidia Wolińska-Nizioł, Katarzyna Szczepańska, Anna Szpakowska, Olga Gewartowska, Izabela Wysocka, Magdalena Grzesiak, Aneta Suwińska
{"title":"Zygotic activin a is dispensable for the mouse preimplantation embryo development and for the derivation and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells†.","authors":"Eliza Winek, Lidia Wolińska-Nizioł, Katarzyna Szczepańska, Anna Szpakowska, Olga Gewartowska, Izabela Wysocka, Magdalena Grzesiak, Aneta Suwińska","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work, we aimed to determine the role of activin A during crucial events of mouse embryogenesis and distinguish the function of the protein of zygotic origin and the one secreted by the maternal reproductive tract. To this end, we recorded the progression of development and phenotype of Inhba knockout embryos and compared them with the heterozygotes and wild-type embryos using time-lapse imaging and detection of lineage-specific markers. We revealed that the zygotic activin A deficiency does not impair the course and rate of development of embryos to the blastocyst stage. Inhba knockout embryos form functional epiblast, as evidenced by their ability to give rise to embryonic stem cells. Our study is the first to show that derivation, maintenance in culture, and pluripotency of embryo-derived embryonic stem cells are exogenous and endogenous activin A-independent. However, the implantation competence of activin A-deficient embryos may be compromised as indicated in the outgrowth assay.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142590105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Insight into the post-translational modifications in pregnancy and related complications.","authors":"Yangxue Yin, Lingyun Liao, Qin Xu, Shuangshuang Xie, Liming Yuan, Rong Zhou","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Successful pregnancy is dependent on a number of essential events, including embryo implantation, decidualization and placentation. Failure of the above process may lead to pregnancy-related complications, including preeclampsia (PE), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth, fetal growth restriction (FGR), etc., may affect 15% of pregnancies, and lead to increased mortality and morbidity of pregnant women and perinatal infants, as well as the occurrence of short-term and long-term diseases. These complications have distinct etiology and pathogenesis, and the present comprehension is still lacking. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are important events in epigenetics, altering the properties of proteins through protein hydrolysis or the addition of modification groups to one or more amino acids, with different modification states regulating subcellular localization, protein degradation, protein-protein interaction, signal transduction and gene transcription. In this review, we focus on the impact of various PTMs on the progress of embryo and placenta development and pregnancy-related complications, which will provide important experimental bases for exploring new insights into the physiology of pregnancy and pathogenesis associated with pregnancy complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142581031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: In vitro production of viable eggs from undeveloped oocytes in mouse preantral follicles by reconstructing granulosa cell-oocyte complexes.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae155","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142520916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergio Gómez-Olarte, Verena Mailänder, Júlia Castro-Neves, Violeta Stojanovska, Anne Schumacher, Nicole Meyer, Ana C Zenclussen
{"title":"The ENDOMIX perspective: how everyday chemical mixtures impact human health and reproduction by targeting the immune system†.","authors":"Sergio Gómez-Olarte, Verena Mailänder, Júlia Castro-Neves, Violeta Stojanovska, Anne Schumacher, Nicole Meyer, Ana C Zenclussen","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) are natural and synthetic compounds found ubiquitously in the environment that interfere with the hormonal-immune axis, potentially impacting human health and reproduction. Exposure to EDCs has been associated with numerous health risks, such as neurodevelopmental disorders, metabolic syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, infertility, and cancers. Nevertheless, the current approach to establishing causality between EDCs and disease outcomes has limitations. Epidemiological and experimental research on EDCs faces challenges in accurately assessing chemical exposure and interpreting non-monotonic dose response curves. In addition, most studies have focused on single chemicals or simple mixtures, overlooking complex real-life exposures and EDC mechanistic insights, in particular regarding their impact on the immune system. The ENDOMIX project, funded by the EU's Horizon Health Program, addresses these challenges by integrating epidemiological, risk assessment, and immunotoxicology methodologies. This systemic approach comprises the triangulation of human cohort, in vitro, and in vivo data to determine the combined effects of EDC mixtures. The present review presents and discusses current literature regarding human reproduction in the context of immunotolerance and EDC mode of action. It further underscores the ENDOMIX perspective to elucidate the impact of EDCs on immune-reproductive health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142494591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N Grechi, G A Ferronato, S Devkota, M A M M Ferraz
{"title":"Microplastics are detected in bull epididymal sperm and polystyrene microparticles impair sperm fertilization.","authors":"N Grechi, G A Ferronato, S Devkota, M A M M Ferraz","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An increase in global infertility has coincided with the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in the environment. This trend is particularly troubling because only 10% of male infertility cases can be attributed to identifiable causes, leaving a knowledge gap in our understanding of their underlying factors. To bridge this, it is important to explore the connection between the accumulation of MPs and the observed decline in male fertility. We assessed the presence of microplastics in epididymal sperm from bulls and used it as baseline concentrations for sperm exposure. MPs were detected in all epidydimal sperm (ES) samples, with a mean concentration of 0.37 μg mL-1. Next, to investigate the effects of MPs on fertility, bovine sperm was exposed to three different concentrations of a mixture of 1.1, 0.5, and 0.3 μm polystyrene (PS) beads: (1) 0.7 μg mL-1, blood concentration of PS in cows (bPS); (2) 0.37 μg mL-1, based on the concentration of total MPs found in ES (esMP); and (3) 0.026 μg mL-1, based on the concentration of PS found in ES (esPS). All sperm samples incubated with PS exhibited reduced motility compared with the control at 0.5 h. However, PS exposure did not affect acrosome integrity or induced oxidative stress. Embryos produced from sperm exposed to PS had reduced blastocyst rates, in addition to increased ROS formation and apoptosis. By employing physiological exposure, this research provided evidence of MPs in bovine epididymal sperm and demonstrated the detrimental effect of PS on sperm functionality.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142494590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Taurine is essential for mouse uterine luminal fluid resorption during implantation window via the SCNN1A and AQP8 signaling.","authors":"Yewen Zhou, Shaona Pei, Guobin Qiu, Jinglin Zhang, Hongzhou Guo, Sheng Cui, Zongping Liu, Di Zhang","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae152","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Uterine fluid homeostasis during peri-implantation is crucial for successful embryo implantation. Taurine (Tau) plays a crucial role in regulating osmotic pressure and ion transport. However, the precise mechanisms underlying Tau-mediated regulation of uterine fluid homeostasis during peri-implantation in mice remain unclear. In this study, we generated a Tau-deficient mouse model by administering Tau-free diet to Csad knockout (Csad-/-) mice to block endogenous Tau synthesis and exogenous Tau absorption (Csad-/--Tau free). Our findings demonstrated that Csad-/-Tau free mice with diminished level of Tau exhibited decreased rates of embryo implantation and impaired fertility. Further analysis revealed that the expression of Scnn1a was down-regulated during the implantation window, while Aqp8 was upregulated in Csad-/-Tau free mice, leading to uterine luminal fluid retention and defects in luminal closure, resulting in failed embryo implantation. Additionally, it was also found that E2 inhibited uterine Csad expression and Tau synthesis, while P4 promoted them. Therefore, our findings suggest that ovarian steroid hormones regulate Csad expression and Tau synthesis, thereby affecting release and resorption of uterine luminal fluid, ultimately impacting embryo implantation success.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142457241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral Y Jorge-Cruz, Ana L Roa-Espitia, Enrique O Hernández-González
{"title":"Guinea pig spermatozoa adhesion to an immobilized fibronectin matrix alters their physiology and increases their survival.","authors":"Coral Y Jorge-Cruz, Ana L Roa-Espitia, Enrique O Hernández-González","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Isthmus is the region of the oviduct considered a reservoir for spermatozoa, where they are retained and then released synchronously with ovulation. Integrins mediate this interaction, and it is suggested that they regulate the viability and capacitation of spermatozoa. Spermatozoa retained in the oviductal epithelial cells show specific characteristics: normal morphology, intact acrosome and plasma membrane, no DNA fragmentation, and low levels of intracellular Ca2+ and protein phosphorylation at Tyr. This work aimed to define spermatozoa's ability to adhere to an immobilized fibronectin matrix and its effects on their viability and capacitation. We found that guinea pig spermatozoa showed a high affinity for adhering to an immobilized fibronectin matrix but not to those made up of type 1 collagen or laminin. This interaction was mediated by integrins that recognize the RGD domain. Spermatozoa adhered to an immobilized fibronectin matrix were maintained in a state of low capacitation: low levels of intracellular concentration of Ca2+, protein phosphorylation in Tyr and F-actin. Also, spermatozoa kept their plasma membrane and acrosome intact, flagellum beating, and showed low activation of caspases 3/7. The spermatozoa adhered to the immobilized fibronectin matrix, gradually detached, forming rosettes and did not undergo a spontaneous acrosomal reaction but were capable of experiencing a progesterone-induced acrosomal reaction. In conclusion, the adhesion of spermatozoa to an immobilized fibronectin matrix alters the physiology of the spermatozoa, keeping them in a steady state of capacitation, increasing their viability in a similar way to what was reported for spermatozoa adhered to oviductal epithelial cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142457237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Luiza Camargos Morato, Carolina Gennari Verruma, Cristiana Libardi Miranda Furtado, Rosana Maria Dos Reis
{"title":"In vitro maturation of oocytes: what is already known?","authors":"Ana Luiza Camargos Morato, Carolina Gennari Verruma, Cristiana Libardi Miranda Furtado, Rosana Maria Dos Reis","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioae147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) involve the laboratory manipulation of gametes and embryos to help couples with fertility problems become pregnant. One of these procedures controlled ovarian stimulation uses pharmacological agents to induce ovarian and follicular maturation in vivo. Despite the effectiveness in achieving pregnancy and live births, some patients may have complications due to over-response to gonadotropins and develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In vitro maturation of oocytes (IVM) has emerged as a technique to reduce the risk of OHSS, particularly in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and for fertility preservation in women undergoing oncological treatment. Although there are some limitations, primarily due to oocyte quality, recent advances have improved pregnancy success rates and neonatal and infant outcomes. Different terms have been coined to describe variations of IVM, and the technique has evolved with the introduction of hormones to optimize results. This review we provide a comprehensive overview of IVM and its reproductive outcomes during ARTs.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142457239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}