Uterosome-like vesicles prompt human sperm fertilizing capability
STUDY QUESTION
Does the rapid transit through the uterine environment modulate the sperm physiological state?
SUMMARY ANSWER
The uterosome-like vesicles (ULVs) secreted by endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) in vitro are able to fuse with human spermatozoa, prompting their fertilizing capacity.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Early studies suggest that sperm capacitation begins in the uterus and ends in the oviduct, and that a synergistic effect of both female organs may accelerate this process. Although it has been reported that co-incubation of human spermatozoa with endometrial cell-conditioned medium (CM) stimulates sperm capa...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - December 6, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Franchi, A., Cubilla, M., Guidobaldi, H. A., Bravo, A. A., Giojalas, L. C. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Vitamin A prevents round spermatid nuclear damage and promotes the production of motile sperm during in vitro maturation of vitrified pre-pubertal mouse testicular tissue
This study was supported by a Ph.D. grant from the Normandy University and a financial support from ‘la Ligue nationale contre le cancer’ (both awarded to L.D.), funding from Rouen University Hospital, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB) and Agence de la Biomédecine. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - December 6, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Dumont, L., Oblette, A., Rondanino, C., Jumeau, F., Bironneau, A., Liot, D., Duchesne, V., Wils, J., Rives, N. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
mtDNA diversity in human populations highlights the merit of haplotype matching in gene therapies
We report ranges and mean differences for all statistics to quantify uncertainty in our results.
LIMITATIONS/REASONS FOR CAUTION
The mapping from mouse and other mammalian models to the human system is challenging, as timescales and mechanisms may differ. Reporting biases in NCBI mtDNA data, if present, may affect the statistics we compute. We discuss the robustness of our findings in the light of these concerns.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
Matching the mtDNA haplotypes of the mother and third-party donor in mitochondrial replacement therapies is supported as a means of ameliorating the potentially deleterious res...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Royrvik, E. C., Burgstaller, J. P., Johnston, I. G. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
A role for the endocannabinoid system in premature luteal regression and progesterone withdrawal in lipopolysaccharide-induced early pregnancy loss model
STUDY QUESTION
What is the role of the endocannabinoid system (eCS) in the alterations of the endocrine system in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced miscarriage?
SUMMARY ANSWER
In 7-days pregnant wild type, but not cannabinoid receptor type 1 knockout (CB1-KO) mice, LPS increased COX-2 expression and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) production in the uterus leading to lower expression of prolactin receptor in the ovary and a marked regression of corpora lutea (CL), suggesting that the eCS mediates the deleterious effects of LPS on reproductive events.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Appropriate systemic proges...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Schander, J. A., Correa, F., Bariani, M. V., Blanco, J., Cymeryng, C., Jensen, F., Wolfson, M. L., Franchi, A. M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
DNA methylation mediated up-regulation of TERRA non-coding RNA is coincident with elongated telomeres in the human placenta
This study was supported by NHMRC early career fellowship (B.N.), NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (R.S.) and the Victoria Government Infrastructure Grant. R.R. holds a patent for the C-circle assay. No other conflicts declared. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Novakovic, B., Napier, C. E., Vryer, R., Dimitriadis, E., Manuelpillai, U., Sharkey, A., Craig, J. M., Reddel, R. R., Saffery, R. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Preimplantation maternal stress impairs embryo development by inducing oviductal apoptosis with activation of the Fas system
This study was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (Nos. 2014CB138503 and 2012CB944403), the China National Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 31272444 and 30972096) and the Animal breeding improvement program of Shandong Province. All authors declare that their participation in the study did not involve factual or potential conflicts of interests. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Zheng, L.-L., Tan, X.-W., Cui, X.-Z., Yuan, H.-J., Li, H., Jiao, G.-Z., Ji, C.-L., Tan, J.-H. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
TNF{alpha}-induced IKK{beta} complex activation influences epithelial, but not stromal cell survival in endometriosis
This study shows a significant relationship between peritoneal fluid TNFα and IKKβ activation in epithelial cells that will have significant consequences for the continued survival of these cells at ectopic locations through the regulation of downstream pathways.
Large scale data
None.
Study funding/competing interest(s)
The study was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant Number 320030_140774). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Kocbek, V., Grandi, G., Blank, F., Wotzkow, C., Bersinger, N. A., Mueller, M. D., Kyo, S., McKinnon, B. D. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Human fallopian tube epithelium co-culture with murine ovarian follicles reveals crosstalk in the reproductive cycle
Study question
Do interactions between human fallopian tube epithelium and murine follicles occur during an artificial reproductive cycle in a co-culture system in vitro?
Summary answer
In a co-culture system, human fallopian tissues responded to the menstrual cycle mimetic by changes in morphology and levels of secreted factors, and increasing murine corpus luteum progesterone secretion.
What is known already
The entire fallopian tube epithelium, including ciliated and secretory cells, can be regulated in the reproductive cycle. Currently, there are no in vitro culture models that can monitor fallopian tissues in real t...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Zhu, J., Xu, Y., Rashedi, A. S., Pavone, M. E., Kim, J. J., Woodruff, T. K., Burdette, J. E. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Irinotecan metabolite SN38 results in germ cell loss in the testis but not in the ovary of prepubertal mice
STUDY QUESTION
Does the Irinotecan metabolite 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecan (SN38) damage the gonads of male and female prepubertal mice?
SUMMARY ANSWER
The Irinotecan metabolite SN38 reduces germ cell numbers within the seminiferous tubules of mouse testes at concentrations that are relevant to cancer patients, while in contrast it has little if any effect on the female germ cell population.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Little is known about the role of the chemotherapeutic agent Irinotecan on female fertility, with only one article to date reporting menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women treated with Irinotecan, while n...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Lopes, F., Smith, R., Nash, S., Mitchell, R. T., Spears, N. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic subgroup members are part of an amyloid matrix and associated with extracellular vesicles in the mouse epididymal lumen
Study Question
Do the CRES (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic) subgroup members, including CRES2, CRES3 and cystatin E2, contribute to the formation of a nonpathological, functional amyloid matrix in the mouse epididymal lumen?
Summary Answer
CRES2, CRES3 and cystatin E2 self-assemble with different aggregation properties into amyloids in vitro, are part of a common amyloid matrix in the mouse epididymal lumen and are present in extracellular vesicles.
What is Known Already
Although previously thought only to be pathological, accumulating evidence has established that amyloids, which are highly ordered protein ag...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - November 2, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Whelly, S., Muthusubramanian, A., Powell, J., Johnson, S., Hastert, M. C., Cornwall, G. A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
How much have we learned from time-lapse in clinical IVF?
Can the time-lapse system (TLS) identify the best embryo for transfer? Although there are several studies that support this hypothesis, more research is required to improve the quality of the current evidence and also to assess live birth rate, miscarriage, stillbirth or clinical pregnancy in order to choose between a TLS or conventional incubation. In addition, although some authors report on effectiveness and safety in the use of TLS monitoring of embryo development in vitro, other authors that have not found relevant differences between the two systems for the culture and subsequence embryo selection. On the other hand,...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - October 12, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Castello, D., Motato, Y., Basile, N., Remohi, J., Espejo-Catena, M., Meseguer, M. Tags: New Research Horizon Review Source Type: research
Assessment of human embryo development using morphological criteria in an era of time-lapse, algorithms and 'OMICS: is looking good still important?
With the worldwide move towards single embryo transfer there has been a renewed focus on the requirement for reliable means of assessing embryo viability. In an era of ‘OMICS’ technologies, and algorithms created through the use of time-lapse microscopy, the actual appearance of the human embryo as it progresses through each successive developmental stage to the blastocyst appears to have been somewhat neglected in recent years. Here we review the key features of the human preimplantation embryo and consider the relationship between morphological characteristics and developmental potential. Further, the impact ...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - October 12, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Gardner, D. K., Balaban, B. Tags: New Research Horizon Review Source Type: research
Polarity and cell division orientation in the cleavage embryo: from worm to human
Cleavage is a period after fertilization, when a 1-cell embryo starts developing into a multicellular organism. Due to a series of mitotic divisions, the large volume of a fertilized egg is divided into numerous smaller, nucleated cells—blastomeres. Embryos of different phyla divide according to different patterns, but molecular mechanism of these early divisions remains surprisingly conserved. In the present paper, we describe how polarity cues, cytoskeleton and cell-to-cell communication interact with each other to regulate orientation of the early embryonic division planes in model animals such as Caenorhabditis e...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - October 12, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Ajduk, A., Zernicka-Goetz, M. Tags: New Research Horizon Review Source Type: research
Cell fate in animal and human blastocysts and the determination of viability
Understanding the mechanisms underlying the first cell differentiation events in human preimplantation development is fundamental for defining the optimal conditions for IVF techniques and selecting the most viable embryos for further development. However, our comprehension of the very early events in development is still very limited. Moreover, our knowledge on early lineage specification comes primarily from studying the mouse model. It is important to recognize that although mammalian embryos share similar morphological landmarks, the timing and molecular control of developmental events may vary substantially between sp...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - October 12, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Piliszek, A., Grabarek, J. B., Frankenberg, S. R., Plusa, B. Tags: New Research Horizon Review Source Type: research
Cleavage in the preimplantation embryo: it is all about being in the right place at the right time!
(Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - October 12, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Sakkas, D. Tags: Editorial Commentary Source Type: research
