Application of microfluidic technologies to human assisted reproduction
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Microfluidics can be considered both a science and a technology. It is defined as the study of fluid behavior at a sub-microliter level and the investigation into its application to cell biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and medicine. There are at least two characteristics of microfluidics, mechanical and biochemical, which can be influential in the field of mammalian gamete and preimplantation embryo biology. These microfluidic characteristics can assist in basic biological studies on sperm, oocyte and preimplantation embryo...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - February 2, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Raman micro-spectroscopy analysis of different sperm regions: a species comparison
AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs Raman micro-spectroscopy a valid approach to assess the biochemical hallmarks of sperm regions (head, midpiece and tail) in four different species?SUMMARY ANSWERNon-invasive Raman micro-spectroscopy provides spectral patterns enabling the biochemical characterization of the three sperm regions in the four species, revealing however high similarities for each region among species.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYRaman micro-spectroscopy has been described as an innovative method to assess sperm features having the potential to be used as a non-invasive selection tool. However, except for nuclear DNA, the identi...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 29, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Identification of candidate surface antigens for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis by comparative global gene expression on human fetal mesenchymal stem cells
(Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 24, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Single-cell gene expression analysis reveals diversity among human spermatogonia
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">STUDY QUESTION</div>Is the molecular profile of human spermatogonia homogeneous or heterogeneous when analysed at the single-cell level?<div class="boxTitle">SUMMARY ANSWER</div>Heterogeneous expression profiles may be a key characteristic of human spermatogonia, supporting the existence of a heterogeneous stem cell population.<div class="boxTitle">WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY</div>Despite the fact that many studies have sought to identify specific markers for human spermatogonia, the mole...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 18, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Proteolytic degradation of heat shock protein A2 occurs in response to oxidative stress in male germ cells of the mouse
This study suggests a causative link between non-enzymatic post-translational modifications and the relative levels of HSPA2 in the spermatozoa of a specific sub-class of infertile males. In doing so, this work enhances our understanding of failed sperm–egg recognition and may assist in the development of targeted antioxidant-based approaches for ameliorating the production of cytotoxic lipid aldehydes in the testis in an attempt to prevent this form of infertility.<div class="boxTitle">LARGE SCALE DATA</div>Not applicable.<div class="boxTitle">STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)</div>This work wa...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 16, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Junctional adhesion molecule A: expression in the murine epididymal tract and accessory organs and acquisition by maturing sperm
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">STUDY QUESTION</div>Is junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A), a sperm protein essential for normal motility, expressed in the murine post-testicular pathway and involved in sperm maturation?<div class="boxTitle">SUMMARY ANSWER</div>JAM-A is present in the prostate and seminal vesicles and in all three regions of the epididymis where it is secreted in epididymosomes in the luminal fluid and can be delivered to sperm <span style="font-style:italic;">in vitro</span>.<div class="box...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 9, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Peroxiredoxins prevent oxidative stress during human sperm capacitation
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">STUDY QUESTION</div>Do peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) control reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels during human sperm capacitation?<div class="boxTitle">SUMMARY ANSWER</div>PRDXs are necessary to control the levels of ROS generated during capacitation allowing spermatozoa to achieve fertilizing ability.<div class="boxTitle">WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY</div>Sperm capacitation is an oxidative event that requires low and controlled amounts of ROS to trigger phosphorylation events. PRDXs are antioxid...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 9, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Antigen unmasking enhances visualization efficacy of the oocyte activation factor, phospholipase C zeta, in mammalian sperm
Study Question
Is it possible to improve clinical visualization of phospholipase C zeta (PLC) as a diagnostic marker of sperm oocyte activation capacity and male fertility?
Summary Answer
Poor PLC visualization efficacy using current protocols may be due to steric or conformational occlusion of native PLC, hindering antibody access, and is significantly enhanced using antigen unmasking/retrieval (AUM) protocols.
What is Known Already
Mammalian oocyte activation is mediated via a series of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations induced by sperm-specific PLC. PLC represents not only a potential clinical therapeutic in c...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Kashir, J., Buntwal, L., Nomikos, M., Calver, B. L., Stamatiadis, P., Ashley, P., Vassilakopoulou, V., Sanders, D., Knaggs, P., Livaniou, E., Bunkheila, A., Swann, K., Lai, F. A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Normalization matters: tracking the best strategy for sperm miRNA quantification
This study is focused on sperm miRNA qRT-PCR analysis. The use of the selected normalizers in other cell types or tissues would still require confirmation.
Wider Implications of the Findings
The search for new fertility biomarkers based on sperm miRNA expression using high-throughput assays is one of the upcoming challenges in the field of reproductive genetics. In this context, validation of the results using singleplex assays would be mandatory. The normalizer strategy suggested in this study would provide a universal option in this area, allowing for normalization of the validated data without causing meaningful variat...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Corral-Vazquez, C., Blanco, J., Salas-Huetos, A., Vidal, F., Anton, E. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Down-regulation of the liver-derived plasma protein fetuin-B mediates reversible female infertility
Study question
Does antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated down-regulation of serum fetuin-B cause infertility like fetuin-B gene deficiency in female mice?
Summary answer
Pharmacological fetuin-B down-regulation by ASO therapy results in reversible infertility in female mice.
What is known already
Female fetuin-B deficient (Fetub–/–) mice are infertile owing to premature zona pellucida (ZP) hardening. Enzyme activity studies demonstrated that fetuin-B is a potent and highly specific inhibitor of the zona proteinase ovastacin, which cleaves ZP protein 2 (ZP2) and thus mediates definitive ZP hardening.
Stud...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Floehr, J., Dietzel, E., Schmitz, C., Chappell, A., Jahnen-Dechent, W. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Recombinant fetuin-B protein maintains high fertilization rate in cumulus cell-free mouse oocytes
Study Question
Does fetuin-B inhibit premature zona pellucida (ZP) hardening in mouse oocytes in vitro and thus increase IVF rate?
Summary Answer
Supplementation of oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) media with recombinant mouse fetuin-B (rmFetuB) increased fertilization rate without affecting mouse embryo development into blastocysts.
What is Known Already
Mice deficient in fetuin-B are infertile owing to premature ZP hardening. Premature ZP hardening also occurs during oocyte IVM leading to decreased fertilization rate.
Study Design, Size, Duration
We fertilized batches of 20–30 mouse metaphase II (Mll) stage oocy...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Dietzel, E., Floehr, J., Van de Leur, E., Weiskirchen, R., Jahnen-Dechent, W. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Inhibin-B secretion and FSH isoform distribution may play an integral part of follicular selection in the natural menstrual cycle
The aim of the present paper is to expand the concept on how follicular selection takes place in the follicular phase of the natural menstrual cycle. It is suggested that inhibin-B exerts a more intimate role in this process than previously understood. Inhibin-B shows a peak in the circulation around cycle day 7, simultaneous with selection of the dominant follicle, whereas levels of estradiol and inhibin-A only start to increase a few days later suggesting that inhibin-B is mainly responsible for downregulating pituitary FSH release. New data now demonstrate that the circulatory peak of inhibin-B is reflected by peak prod...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Yding Andersen, C. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Progress towards human primordial germ cell specification in vitro
This article describes the latest, most relevant findings about the mechanisms of PGC formation, emphasizing human PGC. It also discusses our own laboratory's progress in using transdifferentiation protocols to derive human PGCs (hPGCs). Our preliminary results arose from our pursuit of a sequential hPGC induction strategy that starts with the repression of lineage-specific factors in the somatic cell, followed by the reactivation of germ cell-related genes using specific master regulators, which can indeed reactivate germ cell-specific genes in somatic cells. While it is still premature to assume that fully functional hum...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Canovas, S., Campos, R., Aguilar, E., Cibelli, J. B. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Call for papers: in vitro-generated germ cells--facts and possibilities
(Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 8, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Boiani, M. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Call for papers: in vitro -generated germ cells—facts and possibilities
(Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - January 4, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
