{"title":"Roles of the EF-hand domain of PLCZ1 in establishing species-specific Ca2+ oscillations in mouse and rat fertilization†.","authors":"Hoi Chang Lee, Hiroki Akizawa, Rafael A Fissore","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodic increases in cytosolic calcium concentration (Ca2+ oscillations) during mammalian fertilization induce all the events collectively known as egg activation. The sperm-specific phospholipase C, Phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCZ1) represents the \"sperm factor\" vital for initiating the persistent Ca2+ oscillations in mammals. Despite sequence conservation, the Ca2+ oscillation-inducing properties of the enzyme differ vastly among species, and this is particularly salient between mouse and rat PLCZ1, where the activities vary at least one order of magnitude in favor of the former. As previously shown, injecting wild-type rat Plcz1 mRNA into metaphase II mouse eggs induced delayed Ca2+ oscillations with low specific activity compared to the homologous mouse Plcz1 mRNA. We, therefore, sought to uncover the factor(s) diversifying these enzymes by swapping functional domains between species, creating chimeric PLCZ1s. When injected into mouse metaphase II eggs, mouse Plcz1 mRNA with the whole- or part of the EF-hand domains swapped with the rat showed a substantial reduction in activity compared to WT. Consistently, the opposite exchange enhanced the rat's enzyme activity. EF-hand domains 1 and 2 seemed to underlie most differences, and mutations of the divergent amino acids within these domains, substitutions for Glu(m-30; r-29) and Gln(m-58; r-57), changed the activity of both species' PLCZ1s in opposite directions. Collectively, our findings support the view that differences in the sequences of EF-hand domains, especially in several of its charged residues, underpin the distinct PLCZ1 activities between these species, revealing the gametes and species' adaptability to optimize the fertilization signal and early development.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"663-674"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143073663","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}
Deirdre M Scully, Tian Xia, Guzel R Musina, Michaela A McCown, Kohei Umezu, Bonnie K Kircher, Richard R Behringer, Irina V Larina
{"title":"Region-specific roles of oviductal motile cilia in oocyte/embryo transport and fertility†.","authors":"Deirdre M Scully, Tian Xia, Guzel R Musina, Michaela A McCown, Kohei Umezu, Bonnie K Kircher, Richard R Behringer, Irina V Larina","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf005","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The physiological and clinical importance of motile cilia in reproduction is well recognized; however, the specific role they play in transport through the oviduct and how ciliopathies lead to subfertility and infertility are still unclear. The contribution of cilia beating, fluid flow, and smooth muscle contraction to overall progressive transport within the oviduct remains under debate. Therefore, we investigated the role of cilia in the oviduct transport of preimplantation eggs/embryos using a combination of genetic and advanced imaging approaches. We show that the region of the oviduct where cumulus-oocyte complex circling occurs, around the time of fertilization, is correlated with asymmetrical mucosal fold arrangement and non-radially distributed ciliated epithelium. Our results suggest that motile cilia, as well as mucosal fold asymmetry, may contribute to the local flow fields that help steer luminal contents away from the epithelial walls. We also present, in vivo, volumetric evidence of delayed egg transport in a genetic mouse model with disrupted motile cilia function in the female reproductive system. Females with Dnah5 deleted in the oviduct epithelium are subfertile and demonstrate disrupted motile cilia activity within the oviduct mucosa. Fifty percent of Dnah5 mutant females have delayed egg transport where cumulus-oocyte complexes did not progress to the ampulla at the expected time point and remained within the ovarian bursa. The integration of advanced imaging with genetic dysfunction of motile cilia provides valuable insights into oviductal transport. Potentially, these data could be valuable for better understanding and management of tubal pathologies and human infertility.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"651-662"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11996758/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana C Lima, Mariam Okhovat, Alexandra M Stendahl, Ran Yang, Jake VanCampen, Kimberly A Nevonen, Jarod Herrera, Weiyu Li, Lana Harshman, Lev M Fedorov, Katinka A Vigh-Conrad, Nadav Ahituv, Donald F Conrad, Lucia Carbone
{"title":"Deletion of an evolutionarily conserved TAD boundary impacts spermatogenesis in mice†.","authors":"Ana C Lima, Mariam Okhovat, Alexandra M Stendahl, Ran Yang, Jake VanCampen, Kimberly A Nevonen, Jarod Herrera, Weiyu Li, Lana Harshman, Lev M Fedorov, Katinka A Vigh-Conrad, Nadav Ahituv, Donald F Conrad, Lucia Carbone","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf017","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spermatogenesis is a complex process that can be disrupted by genetic and epigenetic changes, potentially leading to male infertility. Recent research has rapidly increased the number of coding mutations causally linked to impaired spermatogenesis in humans and mice. However, the role of noncoding mutations remains largely unexplored. To evaluate the effects of noncoding mutations on spermatogenesis, we first identified an evolutionarily conserved topologically associated domain boundary near two genes with important roles in mammalian testis function: Dmrtb1 and Lrp8. We then used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate a mouse line where 26 kb of the boundary was removed including a strong and evolutionarily conserved CTCF binding site. ChIP-seq and Hi-C experiments confirmed the removal of the CTCF site and a resulting mild increase in the DNA-DNA interactions across the domain boundary. Mutant mice displayed significant changes in testis gene expression, a higher frequency of histological abnormalities, a drop of 47-52% in efficiency of meiosis, a 15-18% reduction in efficiency of spermatogenesis, and, consistently, a 12-28% decrease in daily sperm production compared to littermate controls. Despite these quantitative changes in testis function, mutant mice show no significant changes in fertility. This suggests that noncoding deletions affecting testis gene regulation may have smaller effects on fertility compared to coding mutations of the same genes. Our results demonstrate that disruption of a topologically associated domain boundary can have a negative impact on sperm production and highlight the importance of considering noncoding mutations in the analysis of patients with male infertility.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"767-779"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11996757/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143187996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: Digital analysis of ovarian tissue: generating a standardized method of follicle analysis.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf039","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf039","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"782"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11996755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143555807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waleed F A Marei, Kerlijne Moorkens, Yannick Gansemans, Filip Van Nieuwerburgh, Jo L M R Leroy
{"title":"Acute and long-term transcriptomic responses of granulosa cells to obesogenic diet and concomitant effects on oocyte quality: insight from an outbred mouse model†.","authors":"Waleed F A Marei, Kerlijne Moorkens, Yannick Gansemans, Filip Van Nieuwerburgh, Jo L M R Leroy","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf027","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diet-induced obesity can cause long-term alterations in ovarian functions, but the acute effects of obesogenic diets on the follicular cells and their progression over time, when intake is continued and obesity develops, remain unclear. We aimed to determine the onset and progression of changes in the granulosa cell transcriptomic profile after starting a high-fat/high sugar (HFHS)-diet feeding in mice. We also examined the changes in oocyte lipid droplet content and mitochondrial ultrastructural abnormalities. Swiss (outbred) mice were sacrificed at 24 h, 3 days, and at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of feeding HFHS and control diets. Lipid droplet content significantly increased in the HFHS oocytes within 24 h compared to controls (P < 0.05). Oocyte mitochondrial abnormalities only increased starting from 8 weeks. Granulosa RNA-seq revealed altered transcriptomic gene-set enrichments (GO terms and KEGG pathways, Padj < 0.05) already at 3 days and 1 week indicating acute endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein responses, with concomitant fluctuations in several cellular metabolic pathways and gene sets related to mitochondrial bioenergetic functions, some of which persisted after 8 weeks. Interestingly, the short- and long-term patterns of changes in cytochrome P450, steroid hormone biosynthesis, retinol metabolism, bile acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and Pi3K/Akt signaling pathways were most prominent and highly correlated; all being acutely upregulated, then chronically downregulated. These results show that the impact of obesogenic diet on the oocyte and granulosa cells is prompt, while the response depends on the duration of feeding and occurs in a multiphasic cascade together with a progressive deterioration in oocyte quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"692-708"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143363554","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":"Developmental proteome dynamics in granulosa and thecal layers from growing follicles to pre-ovulatory duck follicles†.","authors":"Weiguang Xia, Chenglong Jin, Shuang Wang, Yanan Zhang, Kaichao Li, Xuebing Huang, Chuntian Zheng, Wei Chen","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf026","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Granulosa and thecal layer cells play important roles in the post-hatching follicular growth in laying birds. To examine the biochemical processes of granulosa and thecal layers associated with follicular growth, the technique of data independent acquisition was used in this study to explore protein profiling in granulosa and thecal layers from growing follicles in laying ducks. We identified and quantitatively analyzed 8032 proteins in granulosa cells and 9552 proteins in thecal layer cells. Hierarchical clustering of the resulting profiles revealed differential changes of expression of proteins linked to cell metabolism, signaling, cell junction, especially in steroid synthesis, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, and gap junction signaling pathway at different stages of follicles. The highest expression of proteins related to gap junction and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway occurred in granulosa cells of 3-6 mm or 6-8 mm follicles. In granulosa cells, decreases in the enzymes that catalyze the transformation of estrone into estradiol and proteins related to calcium transport and apoptosis occurred during follicular growth. As follicles grew, proteins related to androgens biosynthesis and involved in gap junction and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway decreased in the thecal layer cells. Three main group functional clusters extracted from the protein-protein interaction network, were mainly responsible for apoptosis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway. These proteomic data provide a holistic framework for understanding how diverse biochemical processes in granulosa cells and thecal layer cells are coordinated at the cellular level during follicular growth in laying birds.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"675-691"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143187997","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}
Shelby L Havel, Robert J Hubbard, Michael D Griswold
{"title":"Testicular stage- and cell-specific expression of F-actin binding proteins.","authors":"Shelby L Havel, Robert J Hubbard, Michael D Griswold","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaf086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sertoli cells are essential to successful, continuous sperm production and are responsible for many processes throughout spermatogenesis including germ cell movement and compartmentalization of the seminiferous tubule interior. These functions are able to be performed by the Sertoli cells due to the F-actin cytoskeleton present within the seminiferous tubules that facilitates cell movement and adhesion. While some molecular players that regulate the testicular F-actin cytoskeleton are known, the expression of other actin-related genes in the mammalian testis remains unknown. In this study, we have revisited previously published next generation sequencing data and combined this with immunohistochemical analysis to identify the cell- and stage-specific expression of multiple Alpha-actinin (α-actinin) and myosin genes, and protein products. This work provides the first characterization of α-actinin and myosin localization within murine testes throughout spermatogenesis. We have identified α-actinin 3 (ACTN3), α-actinin 4 (ACTN4), myosin VIIa (MYO7A), and myosin 10 (MYO10) as potential functional candidates regulating cytoskeleton dynamics throughout spermatogenesis based on the high mRNA expression observed of these genes within Sertoli cells, as well as the specific protein localization observed within Sertoli cells. We additionally found expression MYO7A within early spermatogonia and meiotic germ cells, suggesting a potential role of these proteins during mitotic and meiotic division. Overall, this study provides insight to the expression of many F-actin related genes during the mammalian testicular maturation and contributes to our understanding of dynamic Sertoli cell gene expression in mammalian testes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143953616","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":"Placental transcriptomic profiling in a mouse model of fetal growth restriction reveals disturbed inflammation and immunity regulation†.","authors":"Shiyun Huang, Xin He, Xiaotao Bian, Jiamei Tong, Zhengpeng Li, Yi Chen","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaf083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To date, few studies have specifically explored the placental transcriptome of an animal model of fetal growth restriction (FGR) with nitric oxide (NO) deficiency. The aim of this study was to use NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to establish a mouse model of FGR with NO deficiency, and explore the histological changes and the transcriptomic complexity of the placenta. We established a FGR mouse model via L-NAME administration (n = 6 per group). We assessed the biometric phenotypes of the fetuses and the placentas, and analyzed placental and cellular morphology to confirm the pathological changes that occur in FGR placentas. Finally, we applied RNA-seq to analyze the placental transcriptome from the L-NAME-induced mouse model of FGR. We established a mouse model of FGR using L-NAME with biometric and pathological changes. Transcriptomic analysis identified eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the FGR-affected and normal placentas, including six upregulated genes (solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter), member 14 (Slc6a14), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (Mmp9), RAS guanyl releasing protein 1 (Rasgrp1), ATP-binding cassette, sub-family B member 1B (Abcb1b), solute carrier family 16 (monocarboxylic acid transporters), member 12 (Slc16a12), and transmembrane protein 255A (Tmem255a)) and two downregulated genes (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type N polypeptide 2 (Ptprn2) and meiosis 1 associated protein (M1ap)). These DEGs are highly involved in angiogenesis, the immune system, and inflammatory signaling pathways, underscoring the multifaceted nature of FGR pathology. This study contributes to the understanding of FGR pathophysiology, emphasizing the importance of the immune-related molecular markers and offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143969518","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":"Suppression of oocyte glycine transporter activity in mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes before resumption of meiosis†.","authors":"Allison K Tscherner, Jay M Baltz","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaf080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glycine is a key regulator of cell volume in early preimplantation mouse embryos and supports embryo viability. Its accumulation is initiated when the GLYT1 glycine transporter (SLC6A9) is activated in oocytes at about the same time the oocyte is released from meiotic arrest at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. The mechanism by which GLYT1 is maintained in an inactive state before ovulation is triggered is unknown. Here, we have shown that GLYT1 activity can remain suppressed in isolated cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) under defined culture conditions that include keeping COCs physically separated and using the physiological mediator of GV arrest, Natriuretic Peptide Precursor C (NPPC). When GV arrest is instead maintained in oocytes within COCs by inhibiting phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) or cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), GLYT1 similarly remains inactive. However, GLYT1 becomes activated in isolated GV oocytes similarly maintained in GV arrest, indicating that cumulus cells are required for suppressing GLYT1 activity. This implied that meiotic arrest was necessary but not sufficient for preventing GLYT1 activation and that an inhibitory factor likely arising from the cumulus was also required. Finally, we found that pyrrophenone, a selective inhibitor of arachidonic acid production by cytoplasmic phospholipase A alpha (cPLAα), caused GLYT1 to become activated in oocytes within COCs despite maintenance of meiotic arrest of the oocyte. Since arachidonic acid levels decrease in oocytes after release from GV arrest, we propose that arachidonic acid may be a candidate for the inhibitory factor in COCs that regulates GLYT1 activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810365","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":"New insight in human sperm pro-survival and pro-apoptotic pathways: potential new therapeutical targets in male infertility.","authors":"Saveria Aquila, Adele Vivacqua, Giuseppina Peluso, Roberto Castiglione, Rosario D'Agata","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioaf078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaf078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past two decades, others and our group have explored the different signalling cascade in human spermatozoa and observed that their deregulation might lead to sperm dysfunctions, contributing to infertility. Studies of patients with infertility have reported variations in sperm features, such as asthenozoospermia, either alone or in combination with other pathologies, more specifically in patients with genital tract infections, sperm metabolic diseases, varicocele, and anatomic/molecular sperm anomalies. Infertility is idiopathic and multifactorial in most patients. Although several studies have elucidated many of the components and mechanisms involved in the human sperm signalling pathways, their role in defective spermatozoa or systemic pathologies remains nebulous. In this review, we focused on transducing signals, the underlying regulatory mechanisms in human spermatozoa and explored the known pro-survival and pro-apoptotic pathways as well as the factors involved.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794525","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}