Down-regulation of HLA-G attenuates cleavage rate in human triploid embryos

HLA-G is a major histocompatibility complex [MHC], class Ib molecule that is selectively expressed at the fetal maternal interface. It is thought to play a role in protecting the fetus from the maternal immune response. Interestingly, the preimplantation embryo development [Ped] gene product Qa-2 is also a mouse MHC class Ib protein that affects cleavage and division of preimplantation mouse embryos and subsequent embryonic survival. Data from many human in vitro fertilization [IVF] clinics suggest that the mouse Ped phenomenon also exists in human because embryos fertilized at the same time have different cleavage rates and consequently different IVF outcomes. As HLA-G is expressed in human early embryos, it is highly regarded as the functional homologue of Qa-2. Whether HLA-G expression is correlated with the cleavage rate of human embryos has great potential clinical value. In this study, 45 human early abnormal fertilized embryos [3 PN] from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were used to test the effects of HLA-G knock-down via infection with adenovirus carrying its specific siRNA on the cleavage rate in a 2-day culture period. One-way ANOVA, Post hoc and Chi-square were used to compare groups. A p-value smaller than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Knocking-down HLA-G in human pre-implantation stage embryos resulted in a higher cell arrest rate and a slower cleavage rate. The results from the present study suggested that HLA-G might play an important role in early human embryo development

Effects of high power microwave on the expressions of Bcl-2 and C-myc proteins in the rat testis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the expressions of Bcl-2 protein and C-myc protein in the spermatogenic cells of rats after exposure to high power microwave (HPM) and to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying the apoptosis induced by HPM at the genetic translation level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-five healthy male SD rats were divided randomly into unexposed control and experimental groups. The latter were radiated with S wave band 10 W/cm2, 20 W/cm2 HPM for 5 min and 10 min. Testicular samples were taken 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 120 h after radiation and studied respectively. Five blank radiation groups served as controls. Then immunohistochemical SP staining was performed to test the expressions of Bcl-2 protein and C-myc protein in the spermatogenic cells in the rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of Bcl-2 protein in the 24 h group was up-regulated after radiated for 5 minutes and 10 minutes by HPM, higher in the 20 mW/cm2 group than in the 10 mW/cm2 group (P < 0.01). There was no expression of C-myc/Bcl-2 protein in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Exposure to HPM for 24 h can up-regulate the expressions of C-myc protein and Bcl-2 protein in the spermatogenic cells of rats, which might be one of the mechanisms of the apoptosis induced by HPM.</p>

Effect of human oviductal embryotrophic factors on gene expression of mouse preimplantation embryos / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of embryotrophic factors(ETF)from human oviductal cells on gene expression of mouse early developmental embryos and discuss the role of fallopian tube in early development of embryos.Methods ETF was isolated from conditioned medium of human oviductal cell line by sequential liquid chromatographic systems.Mouse embryos were treated by ETF in vitro.Using differential display RT-PCR,the gene expression of embryos treated by ETF was compared with embryos without ETF treatment.The differentially expressed genes were separated,re-amplified,cloned and sequenced.Results Gene expression profiles of embryos with ETF treatment was different from embryos without this treatment.Eight differentially expressed genes were cloned and sequenced.These genes functioned in RNA degradation,synthesis,splicing,protein trafficking,cellular differentiation and embryo development.Conclusion Embryotrophic factors from human oviductal cells affect gene expression of early developmental embryos.The human oviductal cells play wide roles in early developmental stages of embryos.