The oviduct and development of the preimplantation embryo

Fertilization and early embryo development take place in the oviduct in vivo. Relative to studies in other reproductive organs, the importance of the oviduct has been ignored for many years because pregnancies can be obtained in assisted reproduction treatment using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer to the uterus without involving the Fallopian tube. After the reports on the beneficial effect of oviductal cells on embryo development in sheep and subsequently in human, and a practical need to improve the success rates in clinical assisted reproduction, there was a period when more research was performed on the Fallopian tube. Many of these studies used in vitro coculture systems to emulate the in vivo environment in vitro, and to search for oviduct-derived embryotrophic factors. With the recent development of sequential culture to improve embryo development in vitro, the use of coculture in assisted reproduction and its related research declined because routine use of coculture is laborious and experience-dependent.published_or_final_versio

Study of extracellular matrix for the culture of human embryonic stem cells

Poster Session 2: abstract no. 718Background: The development of clinical grade human embryonic stem cells (hESC) suitable for cell therapy requires defined components for hESC culture. We hypothesize that the feeder cells used for hESC culture produce extracellular matrix molecules supporting the growth of hESC. Materials and Methods: The profiles of mRNA and extracellular matrix production of two human feeder cell lines, human foreskin fibroblast (hFF-1) and human lung fibroblast (WI-38) were correlated with their ability to maintain the pluripotency of a hESC line, BG01V. The mRNA expression profile and matrix production were determined by Affymetrix microarray chip and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis, respectively. Results: Using a morphological grading system, hFF-1 but not WI-38 supported the pluripotency of BG01V. The observation was supported by over-expression of early differentiation markers KRT-8 and -18 mRNA in BG01V cells cultured on WI-38, though the mRNA expression of pluripotent markers Nanog, Oct4 and TRA-1-81 in BG01V cultured with hFF-1 and WI-38 was similar. Microarray analysis showed that the expression of 530 transcripts was 2-fold higher (P<0.05) in hFF-1 than in WI-38. The microarray data were validated by real-time PCR on 12 differentially expressed genes related to secretory and extracellular matrix molecules. Proteomic profiling of the extracellular matrix molecules also demonstrated differences between the two feeder cell lines. Both microarray and proteomic analysis identified sulfatase 1 (SUFL1) and chemokine (C-X-C Motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) were higher in hFF-1. Conclusion: The difference in the ability of feeder cells in maintaining the pleuripotency of hESC may be related to the differential secretion of matrix molecules by the feeder cells.published_or_final_versio

A New Framework to Assess Relative Ecosystem Vulnerability to Climate Change

Climate change poses a growing risk to global biodiversity. To prioritize conservation efforts, identification of the species and ecosystems most at risk from further changes in climatic conditions is critically needed. Although frameworks are available to assess species vulnerability to climate change, we still lack an easily implementable, ecosystem-level perspective to inform landscape management. Here, we introduce a novel, spatially explicit vulnerability framework able to generate assessments at the ecosystem scale and apply it to Mozambican forest mangroves, which are under growing pressures from climate change. Results show that most of these ecosystems are currently highly vulnerable to sea level rise, while mangroves in the Zambezia and Nampula districts are highly vulnerable to both sea level rise and tropical storms. Altogether, we believe the introduced assessment framework has clear potential to inform conservation planning and management at various spatial scales, and help achieve adaptive management in the face of climatic uncertainties

Sirtuin 1 facilitates generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts through the miR-34a and p53 pathways

published_or_final_versio

The role carbohydrate moieties of ZIF-1 in inhibiting spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding

published_or_final_versio

Establishment of a novel human embryonic stem cell-derived trophoblastic spheroid implantation model

postprin

Perfluorooctanoate suppresses spheroid attachment on endometrial epithelial cells through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and down-regulation of Wnt signaling

Exposure of animals to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a surfactant used in emulsion polymerization processes causes early pregnancy loss, delayed growth and development of fetuses. The mechanisms of action are largely unknown. We studied the effect of PFOA on implantation using an in vitro spheroid-endometrial cell co-culture model. PFOA (10-100μM) significantly reduced Jeg-3 spheroid attachment on RL95-2 endometrial cells. PFOA also suppressed β-catenin expression in Jeg-3 cells. The Wnt agonist Wnt3a stimulated β-catenin expression in Jeg-3 cells and reversed the PFOA suppression of the spheroid attachment. The putative PFOA receptors (PPARα, β, γ) present in both cell lines were not affected by PFOA (0.01-100μM). The PPARα antagonist MK886 restored the β-catenin and E-cadherin expression levels in Jeg-3 cells and reversed the suppression of the spheroid attachment caused by PFOA. Taken together, PFOA suppresses spheroid attachment through PPARα and Wnt signaling pathways via down-regulation of β-catenin and E-cadherin expression.postprin

Human chorionic gonadotropin stimulates spheroid attachment on fallopian tube epithelial cells through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and down-regulation of olfactomedin-1

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on olfactomedin-1 (Olfm1) expression and spheroid attachment in human fallopian tube epithelial cells in vitro. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: Reproductive biology laboratory. PATIENT(S): Healthy non-pregnant women. INTERVENTION(S): No patient interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) and Olfm1 expression in fallopian tube epithelium cell line (OE-E6/E7 cells). OE-E6/E7 cells treated with hCG, U0126 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor, or XAV939 Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor were analyzed by Western blotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and in vitro spheroid attachment assay. RESULT(S): Human chorionic gonadotropin increased spheroid attachment on OE-E6/E7 cells through down-regulation of Olfm1 and activation of Wnt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. U0126 down-regulated both MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways and up-regulated Olfm1 expression. XAV939 down-regulated only the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway but up-regulated Olfm1 expression. CONCLUSION(S): Human chorionic gonadotropin activated both ERK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways and enhanced spheroid attachment on fallopian tube epithelial cells through down-regulation of Olfm1 expression.postprin

Mapping the extent of mangrove ecosystem degradation by integrating an ecological conceptual model with satellite data

Anthropogenic and natural disturbances can cause degradation of ecosystems, reducing their capacity to sustain biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. Understanding the extent of ecosystem degradation is critical for estimating risks to ecosystems, yet there are few existing methods to map degradation at the ecosystem scale and none using freely available satellite data for mangrove ecosystems. In this study, we developed a quantitative classification model of mangrove ecosystem degradation using freely available earth observation data. Crucially, a conceptual model of mangrove ecosystem degradation was established to identify suitable remote sensing variables that support the quantitative classification model, bridging the gap between satellite-derived variables and ecosystem degradation with explicit ecological links. We applied our degradation model to two case-studies, the mangroves of Rakhine State, Myanmar, which are severely threatened by anthropogenic disturbances, and Shark River within the Everglades National Park, USA, which is periodically disturbed by severe tropical storms. Our model suggested that 40% (597 km2) of the extent of mangroves in Rakhine showed evidence of degradation. In the Everglades, the model suggested that the extent of degraded mangrove forest increased from 5.1% to 97.4% following the Category 4 Hurricane Irma in 2017. Quantitative accuracy assessments indicated the model achieved overall accuracies of 77.6% and 79.1% for the Rakhine and the Everglades, respectively. We highlight that using an ecological conceptual model as the basis for building quantitative classification models to estimate the extent of ecosystem degradation ensures the ecological relevance of the classification models. Our developed method enables researchers to move beyond only mapping ecosystem distribution to condition and degradation as well. These results can help support ecosystem risk assessments, natural capital accounting, and restoration planning and provide quantitative estimates of ecosystem degradation for new global biodiversity targets.</jats:p

A Novel, Stable, Estradiol-Stimulating, Osteogenic Yam Protein with Potential for the Treatment of Menopausal Syndrome

A novel protein, designated as DOI, isolated from the Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) could be the first protein drug for the treatment of menopausal syndrome and an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is known to have undesirable side effects. DOI is an acid- and thermo-stable protein with a distinctive N-terminal sequence Gly-Ile-Gly-Lys-Ile-Thr-Thr-Tyr-Trp-Gly-Gln-Tyr-Ser-Asp-Glu-Pro-Ser-Leu-Thr-Glu. DOI was found to stimulate estradiol biosynthesis in rat ovarian granulosa cells; induce estradiol and progesterone secretion in 16- to 18-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats by upregulating expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and ovarian aromatase; counteract the progression of osteoporosis and augment bone mineral density; and improve cognitive functioning by upregulating protein expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and TrkB receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, DOI did not stimulate the proliferation of breast cancer and ovarian cancer cells, which suggest it could be a more efficacious and safer alternative to HRT.link_to_OA_fulltex