miRNAs in Follicular and Oviductal Fluids Support Global DNA Demethylation in Early-Stage Embryos.

Global methylation levels differ in in vitro- and in vivo-developed embryos. Follicular fluid (FF) contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing miRNAs that affect embryonic development. Here, we examined our hypothesis that components in FF affect global DNA methylation and embryonic development. Oocytes and FF were collected from bovine ovaries. Treatment of zygotes with a low concentration of FF induced global DNA demethylation, improved embryonic development, and reduced DNMT1/3A levels. We show that embryos take up EVs containing labeled miRNA secreted from granulosa cells and the treatment of zygotes with EVs derived from FF reduces global DNA methylation in embryos. Furthermore, the methylation levels of in vitro-developed blastocysts were higher than those of in their vivo counterparts. Based on small RNA-sequencing and in silico analysis, we predicted miR-29b, -199a-3p, and -148a to target DNMTs and to induce DNA demethylation, thereby improving embryonic development. Moreover, among FF from 30 cows, FF with a high content of these miRNAs demethylated more DNA in the embryos than FF with a lower miRNA content. Thus, miRNAs in FF play a role in early embryonic development.

Telomere length determines the mitochondrial copy number in blastocyst-stage embryos.

Telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mt-cn) are associated with embryonic development. Here, we investigated the correlation between TL and mt-cn in bovine embryos to determine whether TL regulates mt-cn. TL and mt-cn were closely correlated in embryos derived from six bulls. Treatment of embryos with a telomerase inhibitor (TMPyP) and siTERT shortened the TL and reduced mt-cn in blastocysts. RNA-sequencing of blastocysts developed with TMPyP revealed differentially expressed genes associated with transforming growth factor-ß1 signaling and inflammation. In conclusion, TL regulates mt-cn in embryos.

microRNAs associated with the quality of follicular fluids affect oocyte and early embryonic development.

Purpose: Oocyte and embryo quality differs significantly among individuals. Follicular fluid (FF) is a solo environment of oocyte maturation and may flux into the oviduct. Supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) medium with extracellular vesicles of FFs supports oocyte maturation and embryonic development. We addressed a hypothesis that miRNA profiles in FFs are crucial background of oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Methods: FFs were collected from the ovaries of individual cows, and the FFs were classified into Good or Poor FF based on the developmental rate to the blastocyst stage of enclosed oocytes. miRNAs associated with the Good FFs were explored using small RNA sequencing. In addition, FFs were classified using the concentration of Good-FF-associated miRNAs. These classified FFs or miRNA were added to the IVM or IVC mediums. Results: Supplementation of IVM and IVC medium with Good FF improved embryonic development. Good FFs contained miR-151-3p and miR-425-5p at a high concentration compared with those in Poor FFs. FFs selected by the concentration of miR-151-3p and miR-425-5p improved oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Supplementation of IVM or IVC medium with either miR-151-3p or miR-425-5p improved embryonic development to the blastocyst stage. Conclusion: miRNAs were associated with the Good FFs determined oocyte maturation and embryonic development.

Effect of a low ethanol concentration during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes and subsequent embryo development.

The present study investigated the effects of low ethanol exposure on bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated for the antral follicles of slaughterhouse-derived ovaries. These COCs were incubated in maturation medium containing 0, 0.1, and 0.2% ethanol for 21 h and subjected to fertilization and in vitro development, and then the rates of nuclear maturation, mitochondrial DNA copy number (Mt-cn) and protein (TOMM40), ATP content and lipid content in oocyte, fertilization, and blastulation were examined. Furthermore, COCs were incubated with 0 or 0.1% ethanol and then mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the glucose consumption of COCs was determined. In addition, gene expression in oocytes was examined by RNA sequencing. Ethanol (0.1 and 0.2%) increased Mt-cn and Mt-protein levels whereas 0.2% ethanol increased the blastulation rate and ATP content in oocytes and decreased lipid content in oocytes. Ethanol (0.1%) increased MMP in oocytes and decreased glucose consumption of COCs. Eight stage embryos derived from 0.1% ethanol treated oocytes had higher levels of trimethyl-H3K9 compared with that of nontreated counterpart. RNA sequencing revealed that differentially expressed genes were associated with glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, carbon metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and fatty acid degradation pathways. In conclusion, even 0.1% concentrations of ethanol during in vitro maturation considerably affects oocyte metabolism and histone configuration of embryos.

Beneficial Effect of Polysaccharide Gel Made of Xanthan Gum and Locust Bean Gum on Bovine Oocytes.

The present study examined the effect of polysaccharides gels made of xanthan gum and locust bean gum (gel culture system) on oocyte maturation and explored the molecules causing the beneficial effect of the gel culture system. Oocytes and cumulus cells complexes were collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries and cultured on a plastic plate or gel. The gel culture system improved the rate of development to the blastocyst stage. The oocytes that matured on the gel contained high lipid contents and F-actin formation, and the resultant 8-cell stage embryos had low DNA methylation levels compared to their plate counterparts. RNA sequencing of the oocytes and embryos revealed the differentially expressed genes between the gel and plate culture systems, and upstream regulator analysis revealed estradiol and TGFB1 as top activated upstream molecules. The medium of the gel culture system contained higher concentrations of estradiol and TGFB1 than that of the plate cultures system. Supplementation of the maturation medium with either estradiol or TGFB1 resulted in high lipid content in oocytes. In addition, TGFB1 improved the developmental ability of the oocytes and increased F-actin content while reducing DNA methylation levels in the 8-cell stage embryos. In conclusion, the gel culture system is useful for embryo production, potentially through the upregulation of TGFB1.

miR-17-5p in bovine oviductal fluid affects embryo development.

This study identified microRNAs (miRNAs) in bovine oviductal fluids (OFs) and examined the effect of miR-17-5p in OFs on embryonic development to the blastocyst stage. Small RNA-seq of extracellular vesicles of OFs revealed 242 miRNAs. Additionally, analyzing expressions of randomly selected OF-miRNAs with RT-qPCR in the culture medium of oviductal epithelial cells indicated that the abundance of miRNAs in OFs increased during the luteal phase. miR-17-5p mimic-treated eight-cell-stage zona pellucida-free embryos showed improved embryonic development to the blastocyst stage. The effect of the miR-17-5p mimic was confirmed using a dual-luciferase assay and immunostaining. In addition, RNA-seq of the miR-17-5p mimic- or control-treated embryos revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs), suggesting possible pathways that overlapped with the in silico-predicted pathways for miR-17-5p targeting genes. Furthermore, ingenuity pathway analysis of DEG predicted miR-17 to be a significant upstream regulator. Our results suggest that miR-17-5p in OFs regulates embryonic development in bovines.

Effect of maternal aging and vitrification on mitochondrial DNA copy number in embryos and spent culture medium.

Maternal aging and vitrification affect mitochondrial quality and quantity in embryos. The present study investigated the effects of maternal aging on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in embryos, and the amount of cell-free mtDNA (cf-mtDNA) in spent culture medium (SCM) of embryos. Moreover, we examined the effects of vitrification on mtDNA copy number in embryos of young and aged cows, and on cf-mtDNA abundance in SCM. Oocytes collected from ovaries of young (20-40 months old) and aged cows (> 140 months old) were used to produce early stage embryos (8-12 cell-stage, 48 h after insemination). These embryos were individually cultured for 5 days, and mtDNA copy number in blastocysts and cf-mtDNA content in SCM, were evaluated by real-time PCR. At 48 h post-insemination, mtDNA copy number in embryos was greater for young cows compared with that of aged cows, whereas no significant difference was observed in cf-mtDNA in the SCM. Next, we addressed whether zona pellucida (ZP) may mask the difference in cf-mtDNA content in SCM. Using ZP-free embryos, we found significantly greater cf-mtDNA content in the SCM of blastocysts derived from aged cows. Furthermore, when embryos were vitrified and warmed, mtDNA copy number in blastocysts derived from young cows was lower, whereas cf-mtDNA content in SCM was greater than in those derived from aged cows. In conclusion, maternal aging affects mitochondrial kinetics and copy number in embryos following vitrification.

Xanthan gum and locust bean gum substrate improves bovine embryo development.

One of the major difference between the in vivo and in vitro embryonic environments is the stiffness of the culture substrate. Xanthan gum (XG) and locust bean gum (LBG) are natural materials that are safe, inexpensive and easy to handle. In this study, we investigated the effects of using a polysaccharide culture substrate made from 1% XG and 1% LBG (XG-LBG gel) on bovine embryonic development. Oocytes collected from bovine ovaries were subjected to maturation, and fertilization to generate embryos at an early developmental stage (>4 cell stage). Cleaved embryos were further cultured in a well of 96-well cell culture plate coated with or without XG-LBG gel for 5 days. While the developmental rate up to the blastocyst stage did not differ between the two culture systems (control, 38.0 vs. gel, 38.6%), blastocysts developed on the XG-LBG gel produced significantly high cell numbers and ATP content. Embryos cultured on XG-LBG gels for 24 hr had high expression levels of F-actin and a highly even distribution of E-cadherin. In addition, embryos developed on XG-LBG gel demonstrated increased translocation of YAP to the nucleus and increased connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) protein levels (downstream of Hippo signalling). These findings suggest that soft culture substrates improve embryonic development by enhancing mechanotransduction, including YAP-CTGF signalling.

Resveratrol enhances the clearance of mitochondrial damage by vitrification and improves the development of vitrified-warmed bovine embryos.

The present study investigated the vitrification-induced deterioration of mitochondrial functions that may reduce the developmental ability of post-warming bovine embryos. In addition, the effect of supplementation of the culture medium with resveratrol on the mitochondrial functions and post-warming embryonic development was examined. Two days after in vitro fertilization, embryos with 8-12 cells (referred to hereafter as 8-cell embryos) were vitrified and warmed, followed by in vitro incubation for 5 days in a culture medium containing either the vehicle or 0.5 µM resveratrol. Vitrification reduced embryonic development until the blastocyst stage, reduced the ATP content of embryos, and impaired the mitochondrial genome integrity, as determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Although the total cell number and mitochondrial DNA copy number (Mt-number) of blastocysts were low in the vitrified embryos, the Mt-number per blastomere was similar among the blastocysts derived from fresh (non-vitrified) and vitrified-warmed embryos. Supplementation of the culture medium with resveratrol enhanced the post-warming embryonic development and reduced the Mt-number and reactive oxygen species level in blastocysts and blastomeres without affecting the ATP content. An increase in the content of cell-free mitochondrial DNA in the spent culture medium was observed following cultivation of embryos with resveratrol. These results suggested that vitrification induces mitochondrial damages and that resveratrol may enhance the development of post-warming embryos and activates the degeneration of damaged mitochondria, as indicated by the increase in the cell-free mitochondrial DNA content in the spent culture medium and the decrease in the Mt-number of blastocysts and blastomeres.