Preimplantation genetic screening--23 years to navigate and translate into the clinical arena. We need a new roadmap!
(Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - August 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Barratt, C. L. R. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Microfluidic devices for the study of sperm migration
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Microfluidics technology offers us an opportunity to model the biophysical and biochemical environments encountered by sperm moving through the female reproductive tract and, at the same time, to study sperm swimming dynamics at a quantitative level. In humans, coitus results in the deposition of sperm in the vagina at the entrance to the cervix. Consequently, sperm must swim or be drawn through the cervix, uterus, uterotubal junction and oviductal isthmus to reach the oocyte in the oviductal ampulla. Only a very small percentage of insemi...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 12, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
17 {beta}-Estradiol promotes vascular endothelial growth factor expression via the Wnt/{beta}-catenin pathway during the pathogenesis of endometriosis
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
Do estrogen and Wnt/β-catenin signaling promote vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in endometriosis and how?
STUDY FINDING
17β-Estradiol (E2)-drives β-catenin triggered up-regulation of VEGF in effector human primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and thus enhances their ability to establish a new blood supply to the human exfoliated endometrium.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Implantation and survival of exfoliated endometrium is crucially dependent on neovascularization and Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in stimulating angiogenesis.
STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Zhang, L., Xiong, W., Xiong, Y., Liu, H., Liu, Y. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Steroid receptor co-activator interacting protein (SIP) mediates EGF-stimulated expression of the prostaglandin synthase COX2 and prostaglandin release in human myometrium
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
Steroid receptor coactivator interacting protein (SIP/KANK2) is involved in regulating the expression of the prostaglandin (PG)-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2; also known as cyclo-oxygenase 2, COX2) and PG release in human myometrium.
STUDY FINDING
SIP is phosphorylated in myometrial cells in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulation and is required for EGF-stimulated increases in COX2 expression, PGE2 and PGF2α release, and expression of interleukins (IL) 6 and IL8.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Human parturition involves inflammatory and non-inflammatory pathways and requires activation of th...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Hudson, C. A., McArdle, C. A., Lopez Bernal, A. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells maintain feto-maternal tolerance by inducing Foxp3 expression in CD4+CD25-T cells by activation of the TGF-{beta}/{beta}-catenin pathway
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/β-catenin pathway is involved in granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cell (G-MDSCs)-induced Foxp3 expression in CD4+CD25–T cells, which plays an essential role in maintaining feto-maternal tolerance.
STUDY FINDING
Decidual G-MDSCs play an important role in promoting Foxp3 induction in CD4+CD25–T cells, which is dependent on TGF-β/β-catenin pathway.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
MDSCs contribute to the observed increase in regulatory T cells in animal cancer models. The TGF-β/β-catenin pathway is required for T cell development a...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Kang, X., Zhang, X., Liu, Z., Xu, H., Wang, T., He, L., Zhao, A. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Dynamic integrated analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression profiles in in vivo and in vitro fertilized mouse post-implantation extraembryonic and placental tissues
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
How does in vitro fertilization (IVF) alter promoter DNA methylation patterns and its subsequent effects on gene expression profiles during placentation in mice?
STUDY FINDING
IVF-induced alterations in promoter DNA methylation might have functional consequences in a number of biological processes and functions during IVF placentation, including actin cytoskeleton organization, hematopoiesis, vasculogenesis, energy metabolism and nutrient transport.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
During post-implantation embryonic development, both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues undergo de novo DNA methylation, thereby esta...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tan, K., Zhang, Z., Miao, K., Yu, Y., Sui, L., Tian, J., An, L. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Transcriptional characteristics of different sized follicles in relation to embryo transferability: potential role of hepatocyte growth factor signalling
This study provides new insights on the impact of follicular size on oocyte quality as measured by embryonic development and demonstrates that medium follicles yield a better percentage of transferable embryos.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Although it is generally accepted that large ovarian follicles contain better eggs, other studies report that a better follicular size subdivision and a better characterization are needed.
STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS
Individual follicles (n = 136), from a total of 33 women undergoing IVF, were aspirated and categorized on the basis of their follicular liquid volume (small, medium...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Nivet, A. L., Leveille, M. C., Leader, A., Sirard, M. A. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Antiphospholipid antibody-induced miR-146a-3p drives trophoblast interleukin-8 secretion through activation of Toll-like receptor 8
This study was supported in part by grants from the American Heart Association (#10GRNT3640032 to V.M.A.), the March of Dimes Foundation (Gene Discovery and Translational Research Grant #6-FY12-255 to V.M.A.), NICHD, NIH (R01HD049446 to V.M.A.), the Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship from the Lupus Foundation of America (to S.M.G.), and the Yale University School of Medicine Medical Student Fellowship (to S.M.G.). The authors declare no competing financial interests.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
N/A. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Gysler, S. M., Mulla, M. J., Guerra, M., Brosens, J. J., Salmon, J. E., Chamley, L. W., Abrahams, V. M. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Production of offspring from a germline stem cell line derived from prepubertal ovaries of germline reporter mice
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
We investigated whether DEAD-box polypeptide 4 (DDX4) positive cells from post-natal ovaries of germline lineage reporter mice can be isolated based on endogenously expressed fluorescent proteins and used to establish a cell line for producing offspring.
STUDY FINDING
DDX4-positive cells from post-natal ovaries of germline lineage reporter mice can be isolated and used to establish a cell line for producing offspring.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
In recent years, female germline stem cells (FGSCs) have been isolated from the ovaries of post-natal mice by magnetic-activated cell sorting or fluorescence-activated...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - July 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Zhang, C., Wu, J. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Establishment of a confluent monolayer model with human primary trophoblast cells: novel insights into placental glucose transport
This study was supported by the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Switzerland, and the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 310030_149958, C.A.). 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 - May 29, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Huang, X., Lüthi, M., Ontsouka, E. C., Kallol, S., Baumann, M. U., Surbek, D. V., Albrecht, C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The loss of imprinted DNA methylation in mouse blastocysts is inflicted to a similar extent by in vitro follicle culture and ovulation induction
This study received funding by Strategic Research Programs-Groeiers (OZR/2014/97), IWT/TBM/110680 and by UZ Brussel Fonds Willy Gepts (WFWG 2013). There is no conflict of interest. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Saenz-de-Juano, M. D., Billooye, K., Smitz, J., Anckaert, E. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Structural analyses to identify selective inhibitors of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase-S, a sperm-specific glycolytic enzyme
This study identified a small-molecule GAPDHS inhibitor with micromolar potency and >10-fold selectivity that exerts the expected inhibitory effects on sperm glycolysis and motility.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Glycolytic ATP production is required for sperm motility and male fertility in many mammalian species. Selective inhibition of GAPDHS, one of the glycolytic isozymes with restricted expression during spermatogenesis, is a potential strategy for the development of a non-hormonal contraceptive that directly blocks sperm function.
STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS
Homology modeling and x-ray crystallography were ...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Danshina, P. V., Qu, W., Temple, B. R., Rojas, R. J., Miley, M. J., Machius, M., Betts, L., O'Brien, D. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Cortical mechanics and myosin-II abnormalities associated with post-ovulatory aging: implications for functional defects in aged eggs
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
Cellular aging of the egg following ovulation, also known as post-ovulatory aging, is associated with aberrant cortical mechanics and actomyosin cytoskeleton functions.
STUDY FINDING
Post-ovulatory aging is associated with dysfunction of non-muscle myosin-II, and pharmacologically induced myosin-II dysfunction produces some of the same deficiencies observed in aged eggs.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Reproductive success is reduced with delayed fertilization and when copulation or insemination occurs at increased times after ovulation. Post-ovulatory aged eggs have several abnormalities in the plasma membrane an...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Mackenzie, A. C. L., Kyle, D. D., McGinnis, L. A., Lee, H. J., Aldana, N., Robinson, D. N., Evans, J. P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Granulosa cell and oocyte mitochondrial abnormalities in a mouse model of fragile X primary ovarian insufficiency
STUDY HYPOTHESIS
We hypothesized that the mitochondria of granulosa cells (GC) and/or oocytes might be abnormal in a mouse model of fragile X premutation (FXPM).
STUDY FINDING
Mice heterozygous and homozygous for the FXPM have increased death (atresia) of large ovarian follicles, fewer corpora lutea with a gene dosage effect manifesting in decreased litter size(s). Furthermore, granulosa cells (GC) and oocytes of FXPM mice have decreased mitochondrial content, structurally abnormal mitochondria, and reduced expression of critical mitochondrial genes. Because this mouse allele produces the mutant Fragile X mental retardati...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Conca Dioguardi, C., Uslu, B., Haynes, M., Kurus, M., Gul, M., Miao, D.-Q., De Santis, L., Ferrari, M., Bellone, S., Santin, A., Giulivi, C., Hoffman, G., Usdin, K., Johnson, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Is there a role for DAZL in human female fertility?
The RNA binding protein deleted in azoospermia-like (Dazl) is a key determinant of germ cell maturation and entry into meiosis in rodents and other animal species. Although the complex phenotype of Dazl deficiency in both sexes, with defects at multiple stages of germ cell development and during meiosis, demonstrates its obligate significance in fertility in animal models, its involvement in human fertility is less clear. As an RNA binding protein, identification of the in vivo mRNA targets of DAZL is necessary to understand its influence. Thus far, only a small number of Dazl targets have been identified, which typically ...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Rosario, R., Adams, I. R., Anderson, R. A. Tags: New Research Horizon Review Source Type: research
