Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
·
2024
·
IF 4.6
Romualdo Sciorio,Luca Tramontano,Gerard Campos,Pier Francesco Greco,Giuseppe Mondrone,Anna Surbone,Ermanno Greco,Riccardo Talevi,Nicola Pluchino,Steven Fleming
Over the past 40 years there has been a worldwide critical change in the field of assisted reproduction technology (ART), leading to the increased application of single blastocyst transfer, which is extremely important to avoid the risks of multiple pregnancy and associated complications for both mother and babies. Indeed, advancements in ART over the last few decades have been obtained thanks to several improvements, including ovarian stimulation, embryo culture conditions and, of course, progress in cryopreservation methods, especially with the application of vitrification. The ability to cryopreserve human embryos has improved significantly with vitrification compared to the initially adopted slow-freezing procedures. Since the introduction of vitrification, it has become the gold standard method to effectively cryopreserve human blastocysts. However, some new protocols are now being explored, such as the short warming procedure and even shorter exposure to the equilibration solution before vitrification, which seem to provide optimal results. Therefore, the main aim of the current narrative review, will be to illustrate the benefit of vitrification as an effective method to cryopreserve the human blastocyst and to illustrate new protocols and variations which in future may increase the performance of vitrification protocols.
研究领域:
生殖医学
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胚胎学
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辅助生殖技术
·
低温生物学
·
临床胚胎学
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
Frontiers in Chemistry
·
2018
·
IF 4.155
Osin Oluwatomiwa A.,Yu Tianyu,Cai Xiaoming,Jiang Yue,Peng Guotao,Cheng Xiaomei,Li Ruibin,Qin Yao,Lin Sijie
The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 based photocatalysts can be improved by structural modification and elemental doping. In this study, through rational design, one type of carbon and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 (C, N-TiO2) photocatalyst with mesoporous structure was synthesized with improved photocatalytic activity in degrading 4-nitrophenol under simulated sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the C, N-TiO2 was much higher than the anatase TiO2 (A-TiO2) based on absorbance and HPLC analyses. Moreover, using zebrafish embryos, we showed that the intermediate degradation compounds generated by photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol had higher toxicity than the parent compound. A repeated degradation process was necessary to render complete degradation and non-toxicity to the zebrafish embryos. Our results demonstrated the importance of evaluating the photocatalytic degradation efficiency in conjunction with the toxicity assessment of the degradation compounds.
研究领域:
环境科学
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材料科学
·
毒理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
·
2020
·
IF 3.218
Xiaoyan Wan,Xiaomei He,Qian Liu,Peng Duan,Honggang Li
Research question Frequent and mild scrotal heat stress (fmSHS) often occurs in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of fmSHS on natural fertility , the IVF–embryo transfer (IVF–ET) process and the offspring sex ratio. Design Male mice were randomly divided into four groups: no scrotal heat stress (SHS) (controls) and those subjected to SHS at 37°C, 39°C or 41°C for 30 min once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. The testis, epididymis and sperm quality were assessed to evaluate the effects of different degrees of SHS, to establish an fmSHS model. Then, natural fertility, IVF–embryo transfer (IVF–ET) results, embryo development, offspring sex ratio and the X/Y chromosome-bearing sperm ratio were examined. Results SHS at 39°C and 41°C caused mild impairment to spermatozoa , leading to a phenotype similar to oligoasthenozoospermia in humans. Given that most SHS conditions in humans are close to body temperature, SHS of 39°C was adopted to build the fmSHS model. fmSHS reduced the fertilization rate, impaired on-time development and reduced the implantation rate of the embryos in the IVF–ET process, but it did not affect the development or function of blastocysts . The fmSHS mice produced more Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa and propagated more male offspring. Conclusions fmSHS not only reduced the fertilization ability of spermatozoa but also influenced their function beyond fertilization, in addition to changing the offspring sex ratio. These results may help to shed new light on the infertility treatment of males with scrotal heat risk and the health concerns of offspring propagated from these fathers.
研究领域:
生殖生物学
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男科学
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胚胎学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
·
2021
·Vol. 232
·期 9
·1-21
·
IF 2.52
Cano-Viveros Selene,Galar-Martínez Marcela,Gasca-Pérez Eloy,García-Medina Sandra,Ruiz-Lara Karina,Gómez-Oliván Leobardo Manuel,Islas-Flores Hariz
Aluminum, mercury, and iron have been found in high concentrations in various freshwater bodies around the world and have been shown to be very harmful contaminants to hydrobionts, causing metabolic dysfunction and damage at various levels. However, studies on mixtures of these pollutants are scarce, particularly in younger or developing organisms, which are more sensitive to damage. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of Al, Fe, and Hg, in isolation and in mixture, on common carp embryos exposed to the maximum permissible limits described in the Mexican regulations for the protection of aquatic life, correlating the biomarkers of oxidative stress with the effects on embryonic development. For this purpose, the Cyprinus carpio embryos were exposed to iron (0.1 mg L −1 ), mercury (0.00001 mg L −1 ), aluminum (0.05 mg L −1 ), and their mixture, throughout their development and until hatching. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx), the degree of lipoperoxidation, and the content of hydroperoxides and total proteins, as well as the morphological development of the embryos were evaluated at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h of exposure. The results showed that the metals under study are toxic to C. carpio embryos and that their interaction modifies the toxic response. Thus, iron generates alterations in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and modification in embryonic development to a lesser extent than aluminum and the mixture of metals, while mercury exerts its toxicity on embryos by mechanisms other than oxidative stress, but the modification to the activity of antioxidant enzymes may contribute to the changes observed in embryonic development. The changes in the response of biomarkers of embryotoxicity and oxidative stress suggest that the combination of metals produces an antagonism-type interaction, so this study provides a precedent for future research to determine the type of interaction that a mixture of contaminants generates in developing aquatic organisms. Graphical abstract
研究领域:
环境毒理学
·
水产生物学
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生态学
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
Water
·
2022
·Vol. 14
·期 23
·3857
·
IF 3.53
Rong Shen,Yichang Yu,Qinfang Liu,Ruili Wang,Rong Lan,Hui Feng,Ran Yu,Lihua Jin,Ye Li
Pefloxacin (PFLX) is a type of fluoroquinolone (FQ) that has been widely used in aquaculture and animal husbandry. It is also a new kind of pseudo-persistent pollutant, which has some toxic effects. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were used as exposure models to analyze the toxicity of PFLX. The results showed that PFLX was absorbed on the outer membrane surface at the beginning, and then a few PFLX slowly entered the cytoplasm. The adsorption complied with the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. The surface morphology of the embryonic membrane was changed. PFLX exposure had no effect on fetal autonomous movement, but it significantly inhibited the embryo hatching rate. After PFLX exposure, the embryo and larval survival rates showed a clear dose–effect relationship. Though PFLX exposure did not cause teratogenic toxicity, it still affected cardiovascular function. The potential toxicity mechanism and developmental toxicity of PFLX to zebrafish were revealed. These results could be important for studies concerning FQ toxicology.Keywords:pefloxacin;zebrafish;embryonic membrane;developmental toxicity
研究领域:
毒理学
·
环境科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Biomolecules
·
2021
·Vol. 11
·期 8
·1133
·
IF 4.879
Kevin Adi Kurnia,Fiorency Santoso,Bonifasius Putera Sampurna,Gilbert Audira,Jong-Chin Huang,Kelvin H.-C. Chen,Chung-Der Hsiao
Tail coiling is a reflection response in fish embryos that can be used as a model for neurotoxic analysis. The previous method to analyze fish tail coiling is largely based on third-party software. In this study, we aim to develop a simple and cost-effective method called TCMacro by using ImageJ macro to reduce the operational complexity. The basic principle of the current method is based on the dynamic change of pixel intensity in the region of interest (ROI). When the fish tail is moving, the average intensity is increasing. In time when the fish freeze, the peak of mean intensity is maintaining at a relatively low level. By using the optimized macro settings and excel VBA scripts, all the tail coiling measurement processes can be archived with few operation steps with high precision. Three major endpoints of tail coiling counts, tail coiling duration and tail coiling intervals can be obtained in batch. To validate this established method, we tested the potential neurotoxic activity of Tricaine (methanesulfonate, MS-222) and psychoactive compound of caffeine. Zebrafish embryos after Tricaine exposure displayed significantly less tail coiling activity in a dose-dependent manner, and were comparable to manual counting through the Wilcoxon test and Pearson correlation double validation. Zebrafish embryos after caffeine exposure displayed significantly high tail coiling activity. In conclusion, the TCMacro method presented in this study provides a simple and robust method that is able to measure the relative tail coiling activities in zebrafish embryos in a high-throughput manner.Keywords:ImageJ;chorion;tail coiling;ROI;zebrafish;embryo
研究领域:
发育生物学
·
毒理学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PLANT JOURNAL
·
2018
·Vol. 94
·期 2
·288-303
·
IF 5.775
Jie Qian,Yueyue Chen,Ying Hu,Yingtian Deng,Yang Liu,Gang Li,Wenxuan Zou,Jie Zhao
Summary Replication factor C (RFC) is a conserved eukaryotic complex consisting of RFC1/2/3/4/5. It plays important roles in DNA replication and the cell cycle in yeast and fruit fly. However, it is not very clear how RFC subunits function in higher plants, except for the Arabidopsis ( At ) subunits AtRFC1 and AtRFC3 . In this study, we investigated the functions of AtRFC4 and found that loss of function of AtRFC4 led to an early sporophyte lethality that initiated as early as the elongated zygote stage, all defective embryos arrested at the two- to four-cell embryo proper stage, and the endosperm possessed six to eight free nuclei. Complementation of rfc4-1 /+ with AtRFC4 expression driven through the embryo-specific DD45pro and ABI3pro or the endosperm-specific FIS2pro could not completely restore the defective embryo or endosperm, whereas a combination of these three promoters in rfc4-1 /+ enabled the aborted ovules to develop into viable seeds. This suggests that AtRFC4 functions simultaneously in endosperm and embryo and that the proliferation of endosperm is critical for embryo maturation. Assays of DNA content in rfc4-1 /+ verified that DNA replication was disrupted in endosperm and embryo, resulting in blocked mitosis. Moreover, we observed a decreased proportion of late S-phase and M-phase cells in the rfc4-1 /– FIS 2; DD 45; ABI 3pro::At RFC 4 seedlings, suggesting that incomplete DNA replication triggered cell cycle arrest in cells of the root apical meristem. Therefore, we conclude that AtRFC4 is a crucial gene for DNA replication.
研究领域:
植物学
·
遗传学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Reproductive Biology
·
2024
·
IF 2.5
Romualdo Sciorio,Pier Francesco Greco,Mohammed Adel,Lucia Maresca,Ermanno Greco,Steven Fleming
In the last decades, to enhance success rates in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles, scientists have continually tried to optimize embryo culture and selection to increase clinical outcomes. In this scenario, the application of laser technology has increased considerably worldwide and is currently applied across ART in several ways: for assisted hatching (AH) or thinning of the zona pellucida (ZP), embryo biopsy, to immobilize and select the sperm during intracytoplasmic sperm injection, as well as to induce artificial blastocyst shrinkage before cryopreservation. Laser-AH has been suggested as a procedure to improve embryo implantation: the concept is that drilling holes through or thinning of the ZP could improve the hatching process and implantation. The artificial disruption of the ZP can be performed by different approaches: mechanically, chemically and with the laser, which is one of the most favourable and easy methods to remove part of the ZP and to augment the possibilities of implantation in patients defined as having a poor prognosis of success, or when the ZP is too thick. However, in the current literature, there is not sufficient evidence about the potential risk or impairment that laser utilization might induce on embryo development; therefore, the main aim of the current review is to provide an overview of the existing knowledge on the ZP and the mechanisms of manipulating it to improve the effectiveness of ART. Also, it emphasizes the positive aspect of laser application as a powerful tool that might increase the chance of pregnancy for infertile couples undergoing ART cycles.
研究领域:
生殖生物学
·
辅助生殖技术
·
胚胎学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
·
2019
·
IF 4.527
Xiaoyong Huang,Zhaoyang Yan,Kui Zhu,Shuangyang Ding
Ionizable strategies are routinely used to enhance the solubility and dissolution rates of various pharmaceuticals. These chemicals may directly affect aquatic environment once discharged from factories, hospitals or livestock farms. Here, we assessed the potential side effect of tetracyclines (TCs) on the development of zebrafish embryos. Tetracycline hydrochloride decreased water pH from 6.4 to 4.4 at 30 mg/L. Acidified water exceeded the tolerance of zebrafish embryos in pure water during the early ten hours post fertilization (hpf). Interestingly, we found that Ca 2+ in the embryo medium could increase the tolerance of embryos to acidified water. Furthermore, we found that the protection of Ca 2+ was not due to the formation of TCs-Ca 2+ complexes under acidic condition, based on spectral analysis. Meanwhile we showed that exogenous addition of Ca 2+ could inhibit the accumulation of Ca 2+ from the cytoplasm to the surface of embryos. These results may shed light on the strategies for protecting aquatic animals from acidic environments.
研究领域:
水生毒理学
·
环境科学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-PLANT
·
2023
·Vol. 59
·期 1
·1-13
·
IF 2.6
Xiao Xu,Zhang Chunling,Liu Yang,Wang Xiaofei,You Chunxiang
Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation is inefficient in apple, which limits the development of apple-related research and industry . Using molecular methods to create a new and more efficient method of genetic transformation has become the focus of research, and improving the efficiency of the three key steps of transformation, regeneration, and rooting has become an effective means of achieving this goal. Baby Boom (BBM) is widely used in plant biotechnology as an important transcription factor regulating adventitious shoot regeneration and somatic embryogenesis. A homologous gene, MDP0000125317 , with high amino acid sequence similarity to AtBBM was cloned in this study, and it was identified from the Royal Gala apple genome ( Malus × domestica Borkh.), which was named as MdBBM . The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MdBBM was expressed at higher levels in the ovary, roots, and seeds. Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of pRI101- MdBBM significantly improved the shoot regeneration efficiency in apples. In the experiment, 33 of the MdBBM-OE transformants were obtained. Compared with the control, only adventitious shoots were formed on the regeneration shoot medium. In vitro leaves of MdBBM-OE transformants were regenerated in three forms: adventitious shoots, adventitious roots, and somatic embryos. Overexpression of MdBBM promoted somatic embryogenesis under 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) induction.
研究领域:
植物学
·
遗传学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
THERIOGENOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 2.4
Xiu-Li Zhang,Zhi-Yong An,Gao-Jie Lu,Tuo Zhang,Cheng-Wei Liu,Meng-Qi Liu,Qing-Xin Wei,Lin-Hu Quan,Jin-Dan Kang
Oocytes and embryos are highly sensitive to environmental stress in vivo and in vitro. During in vitro culture, many stressful conditions can affect embryo quality and viability, leading to adverse clinical outcomes such as abortion and congenital abnormalities. In this study, we found that valeric acid (VA) increased the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content, decreased the level of reactive oxygen species that the mitochondria generate, and thus improved mitochondrial function during early embryonic development in pigs. VA decreased expression of the autophagy-related factors LC3B and BECLIN1 . Interestingly, VA inhibited expression of autophagy-associated phosphorylation-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylation-UNC-51-like autophagy-activated kinase 1 (p-ULK1, Ser555), and ATG13, which reduced apoptosis. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can signal through G-protein-coupled receptors on the cell membrane or enter the cell directly through transporters. We further show that the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) was necessary for the effects of VA on embryo quality, which provides a new molecular perspective of the pathway by which SCFAs affect embryos. Importantly, VA significantly inhibited the AMPK-ULK1 autophagic signaling pathway through MCT1, decreased apoptosis, increased expression of embryonic pluripotency genes, and improved embryo quality.
研究领域:
生殖生物学
·
分子生物学
·
细胞生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Biomicrofluidics
·
2015
·Vol. 9
·期 2
·
IF 3.357
Li Yinbao,Yang Xiujuan,Chen Zuanguang,Zhang Beibei,Pan Jianbin,Li Xinchun,Yang Fan,Sun Duanping
Investigations were conducted to determine acute effects of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ presented individually and collectively on zebrafish embryos. Aquatic safety testing requires a cheap, fast, and highly efficient platform for real-time evaluation of single and mixture of metal toxicity. In this study, we have developed a microfluidic system for phenotype-based evaluation of toxic effects of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ using zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) embryos. The microfluidic chip is composed of a disc-shaped concentration gradient generator and 24 culture chambers, which can generate one blank solution, seven mixture concentrations, and eight single concentrations for each metal solution, thus enabling the assessment of zebrafish embryos. To test the accuracy of this new chip platform, we have examined the toxicity and teratogenicity of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ on embryos. The individual and combined impact of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ on zebrafish embryonic development was quantitatively assessed by recording a series of physiological indicators, such as spontaneous motion at 22 hours post fertilization (hpf), mortality at 24 hpf, heartbeat and body length at 96 hpf, etc. It was found that Pb 2+ or Cu 2+ could induce deformity and cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish embryos and the mixture could induce more severe toxicity. This chip is a multiplexed testing apparatus that allows for the examination of toxicity and teratogenicity for substances and it also can be used as a potentially cost-effective and rapid aquatic safety assessment tool.
研究领域:
毒理学
·
环境科学
·
生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
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