RAB35 depletion affects spindle formation and actin-based spindle migration in mouse oocyte meiosis
AbstractMammalian oocyte maturation involves a unique asymmetric cell division, in which meiotic spindle formation and actin filament-mediated spindle migration to the oocyte cortex are key processes. Here, we report that the vesicle trafficking regulator, RAB35 GTPase, is involved in regulating cytoskeleton dynamics in mouse oocytes. RAB35 GTPase mainly accumulated at the meiotic spindle periphery and cortex during oocyte meiosis. Depletion of RAB35 by morpholino microinjection led to aberrant polar body extrusion and asymmetric division defects in almost half the treated oocytes. We also found that RAB35 affected SIRT2 a...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - June 1, 2019 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Potential roles of aquaporin 9 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis
In this study, tissue samples were obtained from women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis and other benign conditions. Analysis of expressions of AQP subtypes in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis (Eu-EMS and Ect-EMS, respectively) and eutopic endometrium of control patients without endometriosis (Eu-CTL) were performed using the NanoString nCounter System and western blotting. Human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were cultured and transfected with the siRNA of the AQP of interest. Among the AQP1 –9 subtypes, endometrial expression of AQP2 and AQP8 was significantly increased...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 9, 2019 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Reduced inflammatory state promotes reinnervation of endometriotic-like lesions in TNFRp55 deficient mice
AbstractEndometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease, characterized by growth of endometrial tissue in ectopic sites due to alteration of peritoneal homeostasis and deregulation of apoptosis. Here we have examined whether TNFRp55 deficiency modulates the pro-inflammatory state and the reinnervation of endometriotic-like lesions in mice. Two-month-old female C57BL/6 mice, eight wild type (WT) and eight TNFRp55−/− (KO) were used in the study. Endometriotic-like lesions were induced experimentally. The right uterine horn was removed from the animal, divided longitudinally, cut in three square pieces and sutured to the...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 9, 2019 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Sperm-borne small RNAs regulate α-tubulin acetylation and epigenetic modification of early bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos
In this study, we found that sperm-borne small RNA can affect abnormal pronuclear-like structures, postpone the timing of first embryo cleavage and enhance developmental competence of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. In addition, the supplementation of sperm-borne small RNA can significantly increase live birth rates and decrease the birth weights of cloned offspring. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, the levels of α-tubulin K40 acetylation (Ac α-tubulin K40) and histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) during early embryo development were investigated in SCNT embryos with sperm-borne smal...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 1, 2019 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Cisplatin- and cyclophosphamide-induced primordial follicle depletion is caused by direct damage to oocytes
This study investigated the cellular targets, molecular mechanisms, and temporal course of ovarian reserve depletion following treatment with commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs. Adult female C57BL/6 mice were injected i.p. with saline, cisplatin (5mg/kg), or cyclophosphamide (300mg/kg); ovaries were harvested after 8 or 24 hours. Follicle counts showed depletion of all follicular stages 24 hours after administration of cisplatin or cyclophosphamide. Eight hours post-treatment, H2A histone family member X ( γH2AX) immunofluorescence showed DNA double-stranded breaks at all follicular stages, including within primordial f...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - April 6, 2019 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Platelet-derived microparticles from recurrent miscarriage associated with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome influence behaviours of trophoblast and endothelial cells
AbstractPlatelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) are a type of microparticle budding from platelets undergoing activation or apoptosis in many autoimmune diseases, including antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). PMPs may also contribute to recurrent miscarriage, although the exact mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the potential biological mechanism by which abnormal PMP activation may affect recurrent miscarriage. PMPs were counted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and compared between the healthy control (HC) and recurrent miscarriage/APS groups. Different effects of PMPs isolated ...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - April 3, 2019 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Education, education, education —now more than ever?
AbstractThe generation of scientists and physicians that took part in starting the whole era of modern-assisted reproduction is currently close to retirement or has already left research. A new generation is about to take over and the profession is facing a massive transgenerational transition. Since current treatments have reached a plateau in success rates and costs, new research and development is required to further advance the field. Today, multi-disciplinary platforms including numerous research areas, not previously integrated in our field, are fundamental to achieve new clinical approaches. Structured, broader and ...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - June 25, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1 may control miR-30d levels in endometrial exosomes affecting early embryo implantation
AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs there a specific mechanism to load the microRNA (miRNA), hsa-miR-30d, into exosomes to facilitate maternal communication with preimplantation embryos?SUMMARY ANSWERThe heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1 (hnRNPC1) is involved in the internalization of endometrial miR-30d into exosomes to prepare for its subsequent incorporation into trophectoderm cells.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYOur group previously described a novel cell-to-cell communication mechanism involving the delivery of endometrial miRNAs from the maternal endometrium to the trophectoderm cells of preimplantation embryos. Specifically, hu...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Characterization of a non-human primate model for the study of testicular peritubular cells —comparison with human testicular peritubular cells
AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONAre monkey testicular peritubular cells (MKTPCs) from the common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) a suitable translational model for the study of human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs)?SUMMARY ANSWERMKTPCs can be isolated and propagatedin vitro, retain characteristic markers for testicular peritubular cells and their proteome strongly (correlation coefficient of 0.78) overlaps with the proteome of HTPCs.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYSmooth-muscle-like peritubular cells form the wall of seminiferous tubules, transport sperm, are immunologically active, secrete a plethora of factors and may contribute to...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 29, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Expression of adhesion and extracellular matrix genes in human blastocysts upon attachment in a 2D co-culture system
AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONWhat are the changes in human embryos, in terms of morphology and gene expression, upon attachment to endometrial epithelial cells?SUMMARY ANSWERApposition and adhesion of human blastocysts to endometrial epithelial cells are predominantly initiated at the embryonic pole and these steps are associated with changes in expression of adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) genes in the embryo.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYBoth human and murine embryos have been co-cultured with Ishikawa cells, although embryonic gene expression associated with attachment has not yet been investigated in an in vitro implantation m...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 26, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
A novel mouse model of testicular granulosa cell tumors
This study was performed using mice, and the direct relevance of the experimental paradigm and findings to human testicular GrCTs awaits further investigation. Of note, constitutive activation of TGFBR1 was employed to enhance TGFB/SMAD signaling activity and may not be interpreted as the genetic cause of the disease.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSThis mouse model may prove to be a useful addition to the mouse genetics toolkit for GrCT research. Our finding that dysregulation of TGFB signaling results in the development of testicular GrCTs supports a common origin between Sertoli cells and granulosa cells, and highlight...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 21, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Expression of GRIM-19 in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and possible pathogenesis
AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs aberrant expression of gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 (GRIM-19) associated with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA)?SUMMARY ANSWERGRIM-19 deficiency may regulate regulatory T cell/T helper 17 cell (Treg/Th17) balance partly through reactive oxygen species (ROS) –mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis in URSA.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYImmunological disorders may cause impaired maternal immune tolerance to the fetus and result in fetal rejection. The differentiation of Treg and Th17 cells is controlled by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Building tomorrow ’s in vitro-derived germ cells on today’s solid facts
(Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Retrospective analysis: reproducibility of interblastomere differences of mRNA expression in 2-cell stage mouse embryos is remarkably poor due to combinatorial mechanisms of blastomere diversification
This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant DFG BO 2540-4-3 to M.B. and grant NO 413/3-3 to V.N.). The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests. (Source: Molecular Human Reproduction)
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - May 9, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Exosomal miR-214 from endometrial stromal cells inhibits endometriosis fibrosis
AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs it possible to improve fibrosis in endometriosis by microRNA-214 delivery in exosomes?SUMMARY ANSWERUpregulation of miR-214 may inhibit fibrogenesis and its delivery by exosomes derived from ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), offers an alternative therapeutic approach for endometriosis fibrosis.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYFibrosis is the primary pathological feature of endometriosis. MiR-214 plays an important role in fibrotic disease. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a critical fibrogenic mediator of miR-214. The expression of miR-214 is decreased in ectopic ESCs compared with normal ESCs...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - April 11, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
