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The International Journal of... 2008Sperm-egg interactions have been studied for many years using biochemical approaches such as the employment of antibodies and ligands that interact with sperm or with... (Review)
Review
Sperm-egg interactions have been studied for many years using biochemical approaches such as the employment of antibodies and ligands that interact with sperm or with eggs and their vestments. As a result, various factors that participate in fertilization have emerged. However, when animals were genetically manipulated to examine the roles of those factors, most of them were found, to our surprise, to be "not essential". Of course, all biological systems contain redundancies and compensatory mechanisms, but at least some factors were found to be "essential" after gene disruption. As a whole, the explanations of sperm-egg interactions require significant modification from the gene manipulation point of view. In this review, information about sperm-egg interactions obtained from genetically manipulated animals is mainly revisited in order to propose a new vision.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Female; Fertilization; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Models, Biological; Ovum; Phenotype; Sperm-Ovum Interactions; Spermatozoa; Vitelline Membrane; Zona Pellucida
PubMed: 18649279
DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.072529mi -
Poultry Science Sep 2019Environmental stimuli resulting from immunological stress can induce transgenerational phenotypic inheritance, but few similar studies are found in avian. Here, we...
Environmental stimuli resulting from immunological stress can induce transgenerational phenotypic inheritance, but few similar studies are found in avian. Here, we challenged F0 hens with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid [Poly(I: C)] and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 53 wk of age, and then investigated the ethology of the challenged hens. In the unchallenged F1 descendants, the egg quality at 23 wk of age and laying rate (LR) at different stages were measured. Mortality rate (MR) and the days of population LR reaching 50% (D50%LR) at 33 wk of age were also tested in F1 hens. Pearson correlation analysis was subsequently calculated between F1 peripheral blood lymphocytes transcriptome and LR (in L vs. C) and EW (in P vs. C), respectively. The results showed that the ethology and egg-laying variations of stimuli-challenged hens and their descendants could be affected by the 2 kinds of immune stimuli. Poly(I: C) was likely to increase LR, especially in the early laying period and advance the D50%LR in F1 hens. It also reduced the MR, albumen height, and Haugh units of the unchallenged offspring. Whereas LPS could induce a sickness behavior of the challenged F0 hens, it also reduced the LR of F1 hens throughout the study, prolonged the D50%LR, and faded the eggshell color. Correlation analysis showed that Poly(I: C) mainly affected EW, while LPS mainly influenced LR of F1 offspring. All findings in the present study were the first time to be revealed in laying chickens, suggesting the different effects of Poly(I: C) and LPS on chickens and their descendants, and laying the foundation for the study of the influence of maternal experience on offspring in avian.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Chickens; Female; Lipopolysaccharides; Longevity; Maternal Behavior; Ovum; Poly I-C; Reproduction
PubMed: 30982890
DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez189 -
Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica 2011We studied the glycopatterns and ultrastructure of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) of the egg of the Apennine yellow-bellied toad Bombina pachypus, by light and electron...
We studied the glycopatterns and ultrastructure of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) of the egg of the Apennine yellow-bellied toad Bombina pachypus, by light and electron microscopy in order to determine structure, chemical composition and function. Histochemical techniques in light microscopy included PAS and Alcian Blue pH 2.5 and 1.0, performed also after β-elimination. Lectin-binding was tested with nine lectins (AAA, ConA, DBA, HPA, LTA, PNA, SBA, UEA-I, WGA). An inner fertilization envelope (FE) and five jelly layers (J1-J5) were observed, differing in histochemical staining, lectin binding and ultrastructure. Most glycans were O-linked, with many glucosamylated and fucosylated residues. The fertilization envelope presented a perivitelline space and a fertilization layer, with mostly neutral glycans. The jelly layers consisted of fibers and granules, whose number and orientation differed between layers. Fibers were densely packed in J(1) and J(4) layers, whereas a looser arrangement was observed in the other layers. Jelly-layer glycans were mostly acidic and particularly abundant in the J(1) and J(4) layers. In the J(1), J(2) and J(5) layers, neutral, N-linked glycans were also observed. Mannosylated and/or glucosylated as well as galactosyl/galactosaminylated residues were more abundant in the outer layers. Many microorganisms were observed in the J(5) layer. We believe that, apart from their functions in the fertilization process, acidic and fucosylated glycans could act as a barrier against pathogen penetration.
Topics: Animals; Anura; Concanavalin A; Extracellular Matrix; Ovum; Polysaccharides; Protein Binding
PubMed: 21744333
DOI: 10.5603/fhc.2011.0043 -
Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE Jun 2014Xenopus laevis egg extract is a well-characterized, robust system for studying the biochemistry of diverse cellular processes. Xenopus egg extract has been used to study...
Xenopus laevis egg extract is a well-characterized, robust system for studying the biochemistry of diverse cellular processes. Xenopus egg extract has been used to study protein turnover in many cellular contexts, including the cell cycle and signal transduction pathways(1-3). Herein, a method is described for isolating Xenopus egg extract that has been optimized to promote the degradation of the critical Wnt pathway component, β-catenin. Two different methods are described to assess β-catenin protein degradation in Xenopus egg extract. One method is visually informative ([(35)S]-radiolabeled proteins), while the other is more readily scaled for high-throughput assays (firefly luciferase-tagged fusion proteins). The techniques described can be used to, but are not limited to, assess β-catenin protein turnover and identify molecular components contributing to its turnover. Additionally, the ability to purify large volumes of homogenous Xenopus egg extract combined with the quantitative and facile readout of luciferase-tagged proteins allows this system to be easily adapted for high-throughput screening for modulators of β-catenin degradation.
Topics: Animals; Female; Ovum; Xenopus laevis; beta Catenin
PubMed: 24962160
DOI: 10.3791/51425 -
Poultry Science Dec 2005We studied the affects of storage period and egg weight on the hatchability of 314 ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs. Eggs were stored at 20 degrees C and 65% RH before...
We studied the affects of storage period and egg weight on the hatchability of 314 ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs. Eggs were stored at 20 degrees C and 65% RH before incubation at the Poultry Research, Teaching and Extension Center at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). Eggs were classed by storage period (< or = 5, > 5 < or = 10, > 10 < or = 15, or > 15 < 24 d) and egg weight (< or = 1,450, > 1,450 < or = 1,650, or > 1,650 g) to determine the influence of storage period and egg weight on hatchability, egg weight loss, incubation period, and absolute and relative chick weights. Eggs were incubated at 36.5 to 37.0 degrees C and 25% RH through 38 d of incubation and 36 degrees C and 30% RH thereafter. Mean egg weight loss was greater from eggs of the longest storage period group (> 15 < 24 d) at 21 or 38 d when compared with eggs of the shorter storage periods, but there were no differences at 7, 14, or 28 d among all storage period groups. Mean hatchability was higher in eggs stored < or = 10 d than eggs stored > 15 < 24 d, but hatchability of eggs stored >10 < or = 15 d was not different from eggs stored < or = 10 d or > 15 < 24 d. Incubation period was longer, and absolute and relative weights were higher in eggs stored >15 d than was observed in eggs stored < or = 15 d. Negative correlations were detected between egg weight and moisture loss at 38 d (-0.55) and between hatch time and moisture loss (-0.25). Hatchability was higher in small eggs than medium eggs (< or = 1,650 g). A positive correlation was observed between chick and egg weights (0.84). The results indicated that storage period and egg weight affected egg weight loss. Our results suggested that the most effective storage period was less than 15 d to maintain hatchability for ostrich eggs when incubated at 36.5 to 37.0 degrees C with 25% RH.
Topics: Animals; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Incubators; Organ Size; Ovum; Struthioniformes; Time Factors
PubMed: 16479949
DOI: 10.1093/ps/84.12.1908 -
Parasites & Vectors Jul 2015Eggs of the porcine whipworm Trichuris suis are currently explored in human clinical trials as a treatment of immune-mediated diseases. In this context, only the...
BACKGROUND
Eggs of the porcine whipworm Trichuris suis are currently explored in human clinical trials as a treatment of immune-mediated diseases. In this context, only the infective, embryonated eggs, constitute the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). The rodent whipworm, Trichuris muris is commonly used as a laboratory model to study Trichuris biology. The embryonated eggs (containing a fully developed larva) are biologically active and will invade the large intestinal mucosa of the host. This study aims to assess the in vitro hatching of T. muris and T. suis eggs in various bacterial cultures as a measure for their biological activity.
METHODS
Eggs of T. muris and T. suis were incubated with Escherichia coli strain (BL-21) at three concentrations in a slightly modified in vitro egg hatching assay previously developed for T. muris. Additionally, E. coli strains (M15, SG13009, PMC103, JM109, TUNER, DH5alpha, TOP10) and five Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus caccae, Streptococcus hyointestinalis, Lactobacillus amylovorus, L. murinus, and L. reuteri) were tested as a hatching stimulus for T. muris and T. suis eggs.
RESULTS
Whereas T. muris eggs hatched, T. suis did not, even when exposed to different concentrations and strains of E. coli after 4 and 24-hour incubation. When incubated with Gram-positive bacteria, only T. muris eggs showed noticeable hatching after 20 h, although with high variability.
CONCLUSIONS
The observed difference in hatching of T. muris and T. suis eggs incubated with selected bacteria, indicate significant biological differences which may reflect specific adaptation to different host-specific gut microbiota.
Topics: Animals; Escherichia coli; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Ovum; Species Specificity; Trichuris
PubMed: 26174801
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0986-z -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Feb 1977We have used the calcium-specific light-emitting protein aequorin to follow changes in free calcium concentration during fertilization and cleavage of eggs from medaka,...
We have used the calcium-specific light-emitting protein aequorin to follow changes in free calcium concentration during fertilization and cleavage of eggs from medaka, a fresh-water fish. Aequorin-injected medaka eggs show a very low resting glow before they are fertilized, indicating a low calcium concentration in the resting state. Upon activation by sperm, the calcium-mediated light emission increases to a level some 10,000 times the resting level with a 1 to 2 sec time constant for an e-fold increase, and then slowly retruns to the resting level. Upon activation by the ionophore A23187, the early rise in luminescence is much slower, but once a threshold has been reached the subsequent rise becomes as rapid as the normal sperm-induced response. We infer that the explosive rise in calcium involves calcium-stimulated calcium release, and that a sperm normally triggers this rise by somehow inducing a more modest and localized rise in calcium.
Topics: Aequorin; Animals; Calcimycin; Calcium; Female; Fertilization; Fishes; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Oocytes; Ovum; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 322135
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.74.2.623 -
The Journal of Biophysical and... Mar 1959This paper reports on the fine structure of rat oocytes at stages before ovulation, during maturation, fertilization, and early cleavage. The study includes parallel...
This paper reports on the fine structure of rat oocytes at stages before ovulation, during maturation, fertilization, and early cleavage. The study includes parallel observations on light and electron microscope preparations with attempted correlations. The follicular cells of the ovarian egg are described as sending long processes through the zona pellucida to the egg surface where they mingle with thin projections from the egg itself. No open communication between follicle cell cytoplasm and egg cytoplasm was observed. During maturation and fertilization both types of processes are withdrawn from the zona. The germinal vesicle and later the pronuclei of the fertilized egg are characterized by numerous large nucleoli. These have the form of thick walled vesicles with diameters as great as 8 to 10 micro. The wall is dense in the EM image and appears to consist in part of small granules. The cytoplasm shows several inclusions including mitochondria of usual form and a Golgi component which has the typical fine structure and the distribution described by earlier light studies. Small dense particles, presumably RNP particles, are distributed throughout the cytoplasmic matrix and show no preference for membranes. The endoplasmic reticulum of the oocyte is represented by a scattering only of vesicles, but begins a more extensive and elaborate development with the onset of segmentation. One inclusion of the ooplasm, similar in size to mitochondria, receives special attention. It is a vesicular structure, containing a large number of small vesicles (10 to 50 mmicro in diameter) and frequently a central density or nucleoid. They are referred to as multivesicular bodies. Such bodies are found in small number in the ovarian egg, but increase greatly in number during maturation and fertilization. It appears from the micrographs of eggs in these latter stages that these vesicular bodies break down and liberate their content of small vesicles to the surrounding ooplasm. Comments are provided on the apparent significance of the various observations.
Topics: Animals; Cell Nucleus; Cytoplasm; Electrons; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Female; Fertilization; Golgi Apparatus; Humans; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria; Oocytes; Organelles; Ovarian Follicle; Ovum; Rats; Zona Pellucida; Zygote
PubMed: 13654454
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.5.2.327 -
Fertility and Sterility Feb 1990
Review
Topics: Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Male; Microinjections; Ovum; Sperm-Ovum Interactions; Spermatozoa; Zona Pellucida
PubMed: 2404802
DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)53267-1 -
Fertility and Sterility Feb 1985Little research has been done on the in vitro and xenogenous fertilization of cryopreserved primate oocytes. This study reports the development of freezing and thawing...
Little research has been done on the in vitro and xenogenous fertilization of cryopreserved primate oocytes. This study reports the development of freezing and thawing methods for squirrel monkey oocytes with subsequent successful fertilization by these two methods. Preliminary results on techniques for blastomere separation using the hamster and squirrel monkey as models are also given. These studies have important implications relative to the long-term frozen storage of human oocytes, their subsequent thawing, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, and the use of the blastomere separation procedure, in conjunction with in vitro fertilization, in the diagnosis of embryonic normality and possible congenital defects prior to implantation.
Topics: Animals; Blastomeres; Cell Survival; Cricetinae; Culture Media; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Freezing; Oocytes; Ovum; Saimiri
PubMed: 3967788
DOI: No ID Found