Bull spermatozoa selected by thermotaxis exhibit high DNA integrity, specific head morphometry, and improve ICSI outcome.

BACKGROUND: Sperm migration by thermotaxis is a guidance mechanism that operates along the oviduct and it has proved to be a valid method for selecting spermatozoa with low DNA fragmentation (SDF) in mice, humans, and stallions. This study aimed to analyse if bull spermatozoa could be selected by thermotaxis and to assess their quality in terms of SDF as well as determine the presence of a specific sperm subpopulation based on sperm morphometry and assess their fertilizing capacity by ICSI. METHODS: We used frozen-thawed sperm from 6 bulls and sperm selection by thermotaxis was performed with TALP medium supplemented with 25 mmol/L of HEPES and 5 mmol/L of caffeine. In these conditions, sperm selection was achieved, obtaining a net thermotaxis of 3.6%. Subsequently, we analysed the SDF of the migrated and not-migrated spermatozoa using the neutral COMET assay, and we evaluated the size of the sperm head using Hemacolor® staining with Motic Images Plus 3 software. Additionally, migrated and not-migrated spermatozoa by thermotaxis were used to fertilize bovine in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes by ICSI, a very inefficient procedure in cattle that is only successful when the oocyte is artificially activated. RESULTS: The results showed lower SDF (χ², P < 0.001, 13.3% reduction, n = 8) and lower head size parameters (length and width, P < 0.01; and perimeter and area, P < 0.001; n = 4) in those spermatozoa migrated in comparison to those not-migrated. The distribution of sperm subpopulations structure varied between groups, highlighting cluster 2, characterized by spermatozoa with small head size, and high ellipticity and elongated heads, as the most abundant in the thermotaxis migrated group. When performed ICSI (without oocyte artificial activation) with the thermotactic sperm, the blastocyst rate was 32.2% ± 9.3% in the group microinjected with the thermotactic spermatozoa vs. 8.3% ± 7.8% in the group of not-migrated sperm (χ², P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that bull sperm selection by thermotaxis has a much higher DNA integrity, small and elongated head size parameters, and different sperm subpopulation structure than the not-selected spermatozoa. Additionally, we evidenced that thermotactic spermatozoa improve ICSI success rates.

Embryonic disc formation following post-hatching bovine embryo development in vitro.

Failures during conceptus elongation are a major cause of pregnancy losses in ungulates, exerting a relevant economic impact on farming. The developmental events occurring during this period are poorly understood, mainly because this process cannot be recapitulated in vitro. Previous studies have established an in vitro post-hatching development (PHD) system that supports bovine embryo development beyond the blastocyst stage, based on agarose gel tunnels and serum- and glucose-enriched medium. Unfortunately, under this system embryonic disc formation is not achieved and embryos show notorious signs of apoptosis and necrosis. The objective of this study has been to develop an in vitro system able to support embryonic disc formation. We first compared post-hatching development inside agarose tunnels or free-floating over an agarose-coated dish in serum- and glucose-enriched medium (PHD medium). Culture inside agarose tunnels shaped embryo morphology by physical constriction, but it restricted embryo growth and did not provide any significant advantage in terms of development of hypoblast and epiblast lineages. In contrast to PHD medium, a chemically defined and enriched medium (N2B27) supported complete hypoblast migration and epiblast survival in vitro, even in the absence of agarose coating. Cells expressing the pluripotency marker SOX2 were observed in ~56% of the embryos and ~25% developed embryonic disc-like structures formed by SOX2+ cells. In summary, here we provide a culture system that supports trophectoderm proliferation, hypoblast migration and epiblast survival after the blastocyst stage.

Spatial differences in gene expression in the bovine oviduct.

The aim of this study was to compare the transcriptome of the oviductal isthmus of pregnant heifers with that of cyclic heifers as well as to investigate spatial differences between the transcriptome of the isthmus and ampulla of the oviduct in pregnant heifers. After synchronizing crossbred beef heifers, those in standing oestrus (=Day 0) were randomly assigned to cyclic (non-bred, n=6) or pregnant (artificially inseminated, n=11) groups. They were slaughtered on Day 3 and both oviducts from each animal were isolated and cut in half to separate ampulla and isthmus. Each portion was flushed to confirm the presence of an oocyte/embryo and was then opened longitudinally and scraped to obtain epithelial cells which were snap-frozen. Oocytes and embryos were located in the isthmus of the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum Microarray analysis of oviductal cells revealed that proximity to the corpus luteum did not affect the transcriptome of the isthmus, irrespective of pregnancy status. However, 2287 genes were differentially expressed (P<0.01) between the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum in pregnant animals. Gene ontology revealed that the main biological processes overrepresented in the isthmus were synthesis of nitrogen, lipids, nucleotides, steroids and cholesterol as well as vesicle-mediated transport, cell cycle, apoptosis, endocytosis and exocytosis, whereas cell motion, motility and migration, DNA repair, calcium ion homeostasis, carbohydrate biosynthesis, and regulation of cilium movement and beat frequency were overrepresented in the ampulla. In conclusion, large differences in gene expression were observed between the isthmus and ampulla of pregnant animals at Day 3 after oestrus.

Effect of leptin during in vitro maturation of prepubertal calf oocytes: embryonic development and relative mRNA abundances of genes involved in apoptosis and oocyte competence.

During the in vitro maturation of adult bovine oocytes, leptin has beneficial effects on blastocyst development, apoptosis and transcription levels of developmentally important genes. The present study analyzes the differential effects of leptin on prepubertal bovine oocytes and cumulus cells. Effects were determined of leptin treatment during oocyte maturation on their developmental capacity after fertilization (Exp. 1), incidence of apoptosis in cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) (Exp. 2) or on relative mRNA abundances of genes in cumulus cells and oocytes (Exp. 3). COCs were matured in serum-free medium containing 1 mg/mL polyvinyl alcohol and 0, 10, 100, or 1000 ng/mL leptin (L0, L10, L100, and L1000, respectively), or in medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) as a positive control. Addition of leptin during oocyte maturation had no effect on cleavage rates after fertilization (FCS, 68.6%; L0, 62.9%; L10, 66.9%; L100, 63.4%; L1000, 60.9%). Similarly, no significant differences in blastocyst rates were observed when oocytes were matured in the presence of L0 (8.4%), L10 (9.3%), L100 (6.7%), L1000 (8.2%), compared to control FCS (9.4%). In Experiment 2, maturation in the presence of 1000 ng/mL of leptin increased the proportion of TUNEL-positive cumulus cell (6.9%) with respect to those matured in the presence of FCS (4.96%), but not at the lower leptin doses. When relative mRNA abundances were examined for seven genes by qRT-PCR, five (TP53, BAX, DNMT3A, PGTS2 and LEPR) showed differences among groups. LEPR expression was significantly higher in the oocytes matured with FCS compared with the other groups and in those matured with PVA (L0) without leptin compared with the three groups of oocytes matured in the presence of leptin. In conclusion, the addition of leptin to the in vitro maturation medium used for prepubertal bovine oocytes does not increase the development potential of the oocytes or reduce the percentage of apoptosis in cumulus cells. Leptin blocks transcription of the leptin receptor (LEPR) probably reflecting selective, differential degradation by doses of leptin.