Transcriptomic differences in bovine blastocysts following vitrification and slow freezing at morula stage [EmbryocryoVit]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to compare the transcriptome of vitrified and slow frozen embryos with the untreated control. Bovine embryos (compact morulae) were vitrified or slow frozen and post-warm embryos were cultured to expanded blastocyst stage. The vitrified- and slow frozen-derived were subjected to microarray analysis and compared with untreated control embryos for differential gene expression. Morula to blastocyst conversion rate was higher (P<0.05) in control (72%) and vitrified (77%) embryos compared to slow frozen (34%) embryos. Total 20 genes were upregulated and 44 genes were downregulated in the vitrified embryos (fold change ≥ +-2, P<0.05). In slow frozen embryos, 102 genes were upregulated and 63 genes were downregulated (fold change ≥ +-1.5, P<0.05) in comparison with untreated embryos. Vitrified embryos exhibited significant changes in gene expression mainly involving embryo implantation (PTGS2, CALB1), lipid peroxidation and ROS generation (HSD3B1, AKR1B1, APOA1) and cell differentiation (KRT19, CLDN23). The slow frozen embryos, however, showed significant changes in the expression of genes related to cell signaling (SPP1), cell structure and differentiation (DCLK2, JAM2 and VIM), and lipid metabolism (PLA2R1 and SMPD3). In silico comparison between vitrified and slow-frozen (reference) embryos revealed similar changes in gene expression as between vitrified and untreated embryos. In conclusion, the vitrified bovine embryos demonstrated better post-warming embryo development than slow-frozen bovine embryos but their gene expression related to lipid metabolism, steroidogenesis, cell differentiation and placentation changed significantly. Slow freezing killed more embryos than vitrification, and the survived embryos did not express significant change in their gene expression.
Project description:This study aimed to compare the transcriptome of vitrified and slow frozen embryos with the untreated control. Bovine embryos (compact morulae) were vitrified or slow frozen and post-warm embryos were cultured to expanded blastocyst stage. The vitrified- and slow frozen-derived were subjected to microarray analysis and compared with untreated control embryos for differential gene expression. Morula to blastocyst conversion rate was higher (P<0.05) in control (72%) and vitrified (77%) embryos compared to slow frozen (34%) embryos. Total 20 genes were upregulated and 44 genes were downregulated in the vitrified embryos (fold change ≥ +-2, P<0.05). In slow frozen embryos, 102 genes were upregulated and 63 genes were downregulated (fold change ≥ +-1.5, P<0.05) in comparison with untreated embryos. Vitrified embryos exhibited significant changes in gene expression mainly involving embryo implantation (PTGS2, CALB1), lipid peroxidation and ROS generation (HSD3B1, AKR1B1, APOA1) and cell differentiation (KRT19, CLDN23). The slow frozen embryos, however, showed significant changes in the expression of genes related to cell signaling (SPP1), cell structure and differentiation (DCLK2, JAM2 and VIM), and lipid metabolism (PLA2R1 and SMPD3). In silico comparison between vitrified and slow-frozen (reference) embryos revealed similar changes in gene expression as between vitrified and untreated embryos. In conclusion, the vitrified bovine embryos demonstrated better post-warming embryo development than slow-frozen bovine embryos but their gene expression related to lipid metabolism, steroidogenesis, cell differentiation and placentation changed significantly. Slow freezing killed more embryos than vitrification, and the survived embryos did not express significant change in their gene expression.
Project description:This study aimed to compare the transcriptome of vitrified and slow frozen embryos with the untreated control. Bovine embryos (compact morulae) were vitrified or slow frozen and post-warm embryos were cultured to expanded blastocyst stage. The vitrified- and slow frozen-derived were subjected to microarray analysis and compared with untreated control embryos for differential gene expression. Morula to blastocyst conversion rate was higher (P<0.05) in control (72%) and vitrified (77%) embryos compared to slow frozen (34%) embryos. Total 20 genes were upregulated and 44 genes were downregulated in the vitrified embryos (fold change ≥ +-2, P<0.05). In slow frozen embryos, 102 genes were upregulated and 63 genes were downregulated (fold change ≥ +-1.5, P<0.05) in comparison with untreated embryos. Vitrified embryos exhibited significant changes in gene expression mainly involving embryo implantation (PTGS2, CALB1), lipid peroxidation and ROS generation (HSD3B1, AKR1B1, APOA1) and cell differentiation (KRT19, CLDN23). The slow frozen embryos, however, showed significant changes in the expression of genes related to cell signaling (SPP1), cell structure and differentiation (DCLK2, JAM2 and VIM), and lipid metabolism (PLA2R1 and SMPD3). In silico comparison between vitrified and slow-frozen (reference) embryos revealed similar changes in gene expression as between vitrified and untreated embryos. In conclusion, the vitrified bovine embryos demonstrated better post-warming embryo development than slow-frozen bovine embryos but their gene expression related to lipid metabolism, steroidogenesis, cell differentiation and placentation changed significantly. Slow freezing killed more embryos than vitrification, and the survived embryos did not express significant change in their gene expression.
Project description:Changes in gene expression induced by the Cryotop vitrification procedure in bovine blastocysts using Agilent EmbryoGENE microarray slides. Bovine in vitro-produced embryos at the blastocyst stage (144 to 156 hours post insemination) were vitrified using the Cryotop system and compared with non-vitrified (control) embryos. After vitrification, the embryos were warmed and cultured for an additional 4 hours. Embryos that re-expanded or developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were used for microarray analysis. Four pools of vitrified embryos were hybridized against four pools of control embryos in a dye-swap design.
Project description:Changes in gene expression induced by the Cryotop vitrification procedure in bovine blastocysts using Agilent EmbryoGENE microarray slides. Bovine in vitro-produced embryos at the blastocyst stage (144 to 156 hours post insemination) were vitrified using the Cryotop system and compared with non-vitrified (control) embryos. After vitrification, the embryos were warmed and cultured for an additional 4 hours. Embryos that re-expanded or developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were used for microarray analysis.
Project description:Studies on embryo cryopreservation efficiency had been focused mainly on technical and embryo factors. While structural damages can be easily evaluated, physiological damages only can be estimated by analyzing their in vitro and in vivo development to later stages. In order to determine how cryopreservation process affect embryo pre-implantory development, a transcriptional microarray study has been performed comparing gene expression of 6 days old rabbit embryos, previously vitrified or frozen and transferred into recipients rabbit females, to their in vivo counterparts. For each experimental group, control, vitrified and frozen late blastocysts, total RNA was extracted from 3 pools of approximately 10 embryos and labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 dyes. Then, six competitive hybridizations were carried out including two dye-swaps to compensate dye-bias. A specifically microarray designed to study rabbit gene expression profiling, the Rabbit 44K oligonucleotide array (Agilent Technologies), was used in this study. Identification of differentially expressed transcripts from 6 day old blastocysts was achieved using the Limma algorithm, and functional annotation was performed by Blast2GO software. Compared to 6 day old in vivo derived embryos, viable vitrified embryos only present 3 differentially expressed genes, in contrast to frozen viable embryos with 24 genes upregulated and 46 genes downregulated. These results reveal that effects of cryopreservation still remain in late blastocyst pre-implantatory gene expression, and potential damage and alterations produced by vitrification and slow-freezing procedures are differentially resolved after 3 days of in vivo development. Transcriptional microarray study that compares gene expression of viable 6 day old rabbit embryos, previosly vitrified or frozen and tranferred into recipient rabbit females, to their in vivo counterparts. Experiment 1: Control embryos vs. Vitrified embryos and Experiment 2: Control embryos vs. Frozen embryos. Biological replicates used: 3 replicates for control embryos, 3 replicates for vitrified embryos and 3 replicates for frozen embryos.
Project description:Nowadays there is a need to improve cryopreservation protocols in both human assisted reproduction and domestic animal field. We wanted to compare the transcriptomic changes induced by two commonly used cryopreservation procedures (slow freezing and vitrification) on rabbit late blastocyst before the onset of implantation. We recovered rabbit morulae at day 3 of development, freezing or vitrified and transferred them into recipient maternal tracts till day 6 of development. In this way, we wanted to analyse if different cryopreservation techniques produce different effects on gene expression that embryos are unable to get over after three days of in vivo development. After artificially insemination morulae were recovered at day 3 of development, frozen or vitrified, and then transferred to recipient does. To assess gene expression differences between frozen and vitrified the recipients were slaughtered three days after the transfer, at day 6.
Project description:Studies on embryo cryopreservation efficiency had been focused mainly on technical and embryo factors. While structural damages can be easily evaluated, physiological damages only can be estimated by analyzing their in vitro and in vivo development to later stages. In order to determine how cryopreservation process affect embryo pre-implantory development, a transcriptional microarray study has been performed comparing gene expression of 6 days old rabbit embryos, previously vitrified or frozen and transferred into recipients rabbit females, to their in vivo counterparts. For each experimental group, control, vitrified and frozen late blastocysts, total RNA was extracted from 3 pools of approximately 10 embryos and labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 dyes. Then, six competitive hybridizations were carried out including two dye-swaps to compensate dye-bias. A specifically microarray designed to study rabbit gene expression profiling, the Rabbit 44K oligonucleotide array (Agilent Technologies), was used in this study. Identification of differentially expressed transcripts from 6 day old blastocysts was achieved using the Limma algorithm, and functional annotation was performed by Blast2GO software. Compared to 6 day old in vivo derived embryos, viable vitrified embryos only present 3 differentially expressed genes, in contrast to frozen viable embryos with 24 genes upregulated and 46 genes downregulated. These results reveal that effects of cryopreservation still remain in late blastocyst pre-implantatory gene expression, and potential damage and alterations produced by vitrification and slow-freezing procedures are differentially resolved after 3 days of in vivo development.
Project description:Compared to other mammalian species, porcine oocytes and embryos are characterized by large amounts of lipids stored mainly in the form of droplets in the cytoplasm. The amount and the morphology of LD change throughout the preimplantation development however, relatively little is known about expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism of early embryos. We compared porcine and bovine blastocyst stage embryos as well as dissected inner cell mass (ICM) and trophoblast (TE) cell populations with regard to lipid droplet storage and expression of genes functionally annotated to selected lipid Gene Ontology terms using RNA-seq. Comparing the number and the volume occupied by LD between bovine and porcine blastocysts, we have found significant differences both at the level of single embryo and a single blastomere. Aside from different lipid content we found that embryos regulate the lipid metabolism differentially at the gene expression level. Out of 125 genes, we have found 73 to be differentially expressed between entire porcine and bovine blastocyst, and 36 and 51 to be divergent between ICM and TE cell lines. We noticed significant involvement of cholesterol and ganglioside metabolism in preimplantation embryos as well as possible shift towards glucose rather than pyruvate dependence in bovine embryos. A number of genes like DGAT1, CD36 or NR1H3 may serve as lipid associated markers indicating distinct regulatory mechanisms while upregulated PLIN2, APOA1, SOAT1 indicate significant function during blastocyst formation and cell differentiation in both models.
Project description:Compared to other mammalian species, porcine oocytes and embryos are characterized by large amounts of lipids stored mainly in the form of droplets in the cytoplasm. The amount and the morphology of LD change throughout the preimplantation development however, relatively little is known about expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism of early embryos. We compared porcine and bovine blastocyst stage embryos as well as dissected inner cell mass (ICM) and trophoblast (TE) cell populations with regard to lipid droplet storage and expression of genes functionally annotated to selected lipid Gene Ontology terms using RNA-seq. Comparing the number and the volume occupied by LD between bovine and porcine blastocysts, we have found significant differences both at the level of single embryo and a single blastomere. Aside from different lipid content we found that embryos regulate the lipid metabolism differentially at the gene expression level. Out of 125 genes, we have found 73 to be differentially expressed between entire porcine and bovine blastocyst, and 36 and 51 to be divergent between ICM and TE cell lines. We noticed significant involvement of cholesterol and ganglioside metabolism in preimplantation embryos as well as possible shift towards glucose rather than pyruvate dependence in bovine embryos. A number of genes like DGAT1, CD36 or NR1H3 may serve as lipid associated markers indicating distinct regulatory mechanisms while upregulated PLIN2, APOA1, SOAT1 indicate significant function during blastocyst formation and cell differentiation in both models.
Project description:Vitrification is replacing slow freezing as the most popular method for human embryo cryopreservation in clinics world-wide. Several studies demonstrated that cryopreservation alters gene expression of mammalian embryos, but none of them analysed what happen with those embryos that get implanted and follow with the gestation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitrification technique on rabbit embryonic and fetal development by performing a transcriptomic analysis of 6 day old embryos and 14 days old fetal placentas. Effect of vitrification on late blastocyst and fetal placenta transcriptome. Four indepent replicates were performed for each condition (control and vitrified) and for both tissues (embryo and fetal placenta).