Beef and milk production industries represent the largest agricultural industries in the United States with a retail equivalent value of approximately $112 billion (USDA, 2008). Infertility is the major problem for mammalian reproduction. In the United States approximately 66% of cows are bred by Artificial Insemination (AI), but only ~50% of these inseminations result in successful pregnancies. Infertility can occur either from male factor (spermatozoon) or female factor (oocyte) and male contributes approximately 40% of cases. Infertility costs the producer approximately $5 per exposed cow for every 1% reduction in pregnancy rate. In spite of its millions of dollars in economic impact, the precise molecular events/mechanisms that determine the fertilizing potential of an oocyte and spermatozoon are not well defined. The thesis of my doctoral dissertation is that proteomics-based “systems biology” modeling of bovine oocyte and spermatozoon can facilitate rapid understanding of fertility. To test this thesis, I needed to first identify the proteins associated with bovine oocyte and its associated cumulus cells, and spermatozoon. The next step was functional annotation of the experimentally confirmed proteins to identify the major functions associated with the oocyte, cumulus cells and spermatozoon, and finally, generate a proteomics based systems biology model of bovine oocyte and cumulus cell communication and male fertility. The results of my dissertation established the methods that provide afoundation for high-throughput proteomics approaches of bovine oocyte and cumuluscell biology and allowed me to model the intricate cross communication between oocyte and cumulus cells using systems biology approaches. Proteomics based systems biology modeling of oocytes and cumulus cells identified the signaling pathways and proteins associated with this communication that may have implications in oocyte maturation. In addition, systems biology modeling of differential spermatozoa proteomes from bulls of varying fertility rates enabled the identification of putative molecular markers and key pathways associated with male fertility. The ultimate positive impact of these results is to facilitate the field of biomedical research with useful information for comparative biology, better understanding of bovine oocyte and spermatozoon development, infertility, biomarker discovery, and eventually development of therapies to treat infertility in bovine as well as humans.

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in both the periperhal and central nervous systems, and are involved in pre-, post-, and non-synaptic control of neuronal activation. In the brain, these receptors play an important role in a variety of physiological processes such as cognition, development, learning, and memory formation. Malfunction of these receptors have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD), schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease. To date, 17 different nAChR subunits, including α2-α7 and β2-β4, have been cloned that can form homo- and/or hetero-pentameric ionotropic receptors. The unique combinations of subunit pentamers manifest in distinct functional receptors. Using single-cell real-time quantitative RT-PCR, we identified the individual expression rates and co-expression rates of the different nAChR subunits in rat CA1 hippocampal interneurons in efforts to characterize functional receptors involved in learning and memory. The two-way combination of subunits with highest expression in hippocampal interneurons was α3β2. Moreover, this combination was expressed in ratios near 1:3 or 3:1 α3 to β2 respectively. To investigate the functionality of α3β2 receptors in different stoichiometries, we injected human α3 and rat β2 subunit mRNA in 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 ratios into Xenopus laevis oocytes for expression. Two-electrode voltage clamp was then performed with the application of different concentrations of ACh to produce full dose-response curves and channel kinetics data. Distinct α3β2 functional channels were identified from the different expression ratios based on significant differences in channel kinetics (i.e.- peak current rise times, peak current decay times, steady state current in forced desensitization) Dose-response curves produced no significant difference in EC50 values in the different expression groups. However, there was a trend to greater agonist sensitivity with increased α3 expression relative to β2. α3β2 receptors were further characterized through forced desensitization of the receptors and generation of IV plots. The findings from this study elucidate the neuronal nAChR subunit combinations that form functional channels in hippocampal interneurons.

The development of oocytes of differing quality retrieved using transvaginal follicular aspiration (TVFA) and following DNA injection was examined. Eight cows were subjected to twice weekly TVF A for 16 wk. Oocytes retrieved were graded and placed in an in-vitro maturation, fertilization and co-culture (IVMIIVFIIVC) program. Two thirds of oocytes were injected with DNA. Good quality oocytes from slaughtered cows (SH) were obtained once monthly and processed the same way. Good quality TVF A oocytes had a higher mean development score than poor quality oocytes, but not different from that of good quality SH oocytes. Good quality TVF A oocytes produced more viable embryos (31.7% blastocysts) than poor quality oocytes or SH oocytes (12.8% and 20.4% blastocysts, respectively). Embryo development following injection of DNA was the same for oocytes for each source-quality group (TVF A-good, 8.4; TVF A-poor, 5.5; SH-good, 6.3 % blastocysts). Development of good quality TVFA oocytes increased during the last 9 wk of the 16 wk collection period. Poor oocyte development increased slightly to 9 wk and then decreased. Development of TVF A oocytes injected with DNA did not vary during the experiment. However, development of controls increased from a mean score of2.50 at wk 1 to 4.17 at wk 16. Oocytes from TVFA produced more PCR positive blastocysts (95.0%) than SH oocytes (61.5%). More calves were born from the transfer of embryos injected with DNA from TVF A oocytes (3/5) than from SH oocytes (116), although not statistically significant. One calf was PCR positive in bone-marrow, but was negative in other tissues. The use of oocytes obtained by TVF A may improve the efficiency of producing transgenic cattle. / Master of Science

The objective of part one of this study was to determine if the presence of porcine growth hormone (pGH) during oocycte in vitro maturation (IVM) affected subsequent embryo development. Pig cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) (n=987) were aspirated from slaughterhouse derived ovaries and cultured in BSA-free NCSU 23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (10% v/v), cysteine (0.1 mg/ml) and hormonal supplements (eCG and hCG, 10 IU/ml each), 10 ng/ml EGF, and with or without pGH (100 ng/ml) for 22 h. The COC were then cultured in the same medium with or without 100 ng/ml pGH, but without hormonal supplements for an additional 22 h. After the completion of maturation culture, cumulus cells were removed and oocytes were co-incubated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa for 8 h. Putative embryos were transferred to NCSU 23 containing 0.4% BSA and cultured for 144 h. Embryo development was assessed on d 6 of culture. The treatment groups were as follows: treatment 1 = control group cultured in IVM medium alone; treatment 2 = 100 ng/ml pGH present of the first 22 h of maturation culture and absent for the second 22 h of maturation culture; treatment 3 = 100 ng/ml pGH absent for the first 22 h of maturation culture, but present for the second 22 h of maturation culture; and treatment 4 = 100 ng/ml pGH present throughout the entire IVM period. Embryos were visually scored for developmental stage at 144 h following fertilization. Each oocyte in the study received a developmental score, based on a scale of 1 = uncleaved, 2 = 2-cell embryo, 3 = 4- to 8-cell embryo, 4 = 9- to 16-cell embryo, 5 = morula, and 6 = blastocyst. The addition of pGH did not affect porcine embryo development as compared to the control (1.57 ± .08, 1.67 ± .08, 1.47 ± .08, and 1.60 ± .08, respectively; P > .10). Replicates within the study differed significantly from each other (P < .01) primarily because the development in replicate 6 was greater than for all others. There was a significant treatment by replicate interaction (P < .05); pGH added during the first 22 h of IVM and pGH added during the second 22 h of IVM in replicate 6 resulted in higher development scores than for controls and continuous pGH addition. However, in replicate 2, continuous pGH resulted in the greatest development. These results suggest that pGH may exert a stimulatory effect on embryo development when present in the IVM media; however, further studies using pGH in IVM culture are necessary. The objectives of the second part of the study were to examine aspects of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using membrane-disrupted spermatozoa, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and sperm-mediated gene transfer in the pig. Porcine oocytes were shipped overnight in maturation media at 39°C in a portable incubator. After 22 h of maturation culture, oocytes were washed in maturation medium without gonadotropins and cultured for an additional 22 h. Cumulus cells were removed and oocytes were divided into four treatment groups: treatment 1 = ICSI using membrane-damaged spermatozoa coincubated with linear green fluorescent protein (GFP) DNA; treatment 2 = ICSI using membrane damaged spermatozoa; treatment 3 = IVF with frozen-thawed spermatozoa coincubated with linear GFP DNA prior to IVF; treatment 4 = IVF with frozen-thawed spermatozoa with no DNA coincubation. Embryos were scored for developmental stage at 144 h following fertilization. Each oocyte in the study received a developmental score, based on a scale of 1 = uncleaved, 2 = 2-cell embryo, 3 = 4-cell embryo, 4 = 5- to 8-cell embryo, 5 = 9- to 16-cell embryo, 6 = morula, and 7 = blastocyst. Although no overall difference in development score was observed following the four different treatments, a treatment difference among cleaved oocytes was observed when comparing only the two ICSI treatments (P < .05); development scores were greater in the ICSI treatment in which sperm were not coincubated with linear GFP DNA prior to injection than when the coincubation was performed (3.76 ± .21 vs. 3.13 ± .17, respectively). No differences in development score were observed in the two IVF treatments. The percentage of embryos expressing the GFP transgene on d 6 of culture following fertilization was 7.3% in the ICSI+GFP group and 0% in all other treatment groups. Thus, sperm-mediated gene transfer using ICSI in the pig has been demonstrated, although success rates were low. / Master of Science

No description available.

No description available.

El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en describir el papel del sistema plasminógeno/plasmina (PLG/PLA) en la fecundación bovina y porcina. Mediante fecundación in vitro, demostramos que la presencia de PLG ó PLA en el medio de coincubación de los gametos disminuía la penetración de los espermatozoides en los ovocitos y su unión a la zona pelúcida (ZP). Esta disminución no se debía a alteraciones de la funcionalidad espermática ni a cambios en la resistencia de la ZP a la proteolisis, sino a que la PLA provocaba la liberación de los espermatozoides adheridos a la ZP. Mediante inmunofluorescencia indirecta detectamos la presencia de PLG y sus activadores en la ZP y en el oolema de los ovocitos antes de la fecundación. Tras la fecundación, dicha presencia disminuyó o desapareció por completo, por lo que proponemos que el sistema PLG/PLA se activa durante la interacción espermatozoide-ovocito y contribuye a regular la polispermia. / The aim of this study was to describe the role of the plasminogen/plasmin system (PLG/PLA) in bovine and porcine fertilization. Through in vitro fertilization, we demonstrated that the presence of PLG or PLA in the incubation medium of gametes decreased penetration of oocytes and sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP). This decrease was not due to alterations in sperm function or changes in the ZP resistance to proteolysis, but the PLA caused the release of sperm previously bound to the ZP. By indirect immunofluorescence we detected the presence of PLG and its activators in the ZP and oolema of the oocytes before fertilization. After fertilization, this presence diminished or disappeared completely, so we propose that the PLG/PLA system is activated during sperm-oocyte interaction and contributes to the regulation of polyspermy.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:46:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 apparicioferreira_m_dr_jabo.pdf: 8938205 bytes, checksum: 540b8a495ebda2425790114eece3d47a (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Este estudo foi realizado com o intuito de avaliar comparativamente os efeitos do emprego de meios seqüenciais com hormônios no desenvolvimento meiótico e citoplasmático de oócitos caninos durante o período de cultivo de 72 horas. Os oócitos foram coletados de 49 cadelas hígidas submetidas à ovariosalpingo-histerectomia ou ovariectomia, divididas em três grupos de acordo com seu status reprodutivo (fase folicular, lútea e anestro). Os óocitos foram aleatoriamente distribuídos em quatro sistemas de cultivo diferentes sendo o meio básico (MB) o TCM 199 suplementado. Os demais consistiam: no sistema A (controle) os oócitos foram maturados por 72 horas no (MB) com 10 UI/mL de hCG, 1 mg/mL de progesterona (P4) e 1 mg/mL de estradiol (E2), ou seja, expostos de forma contínua à estes hormônios; no sistema seqüenciado B os oócitos foram maturados no meio base com hCG por 48 horas e nas 24 horas adicionais no MB com P4; no sistema seqüenciado C os oócitos foram maturados no MB com hCG, P4 e E2 por 48 horas e nas 24 horas adicionais no MB com P4; no sistema D (controle) os oócitos foram maturados no MB, sem hormônios. Nos meios B e C, os hormônios foram suplementados nas mesmas concentrações empregadas no sistema A. Os resultados evidenciaram efeito positivo dos meios seqüenciais na progressão da meiose e na maturação citoplasmática (P<0,05). Não houve influência da condição reprodutiva das fêmeas doadoras nas taxas de maturação oocitária (P>0,05). A presença de espermatozóides nos meios de cultivo não teve efeito benéfico sobre as taxas de MII; em contrapartida, a porcentagem de oócitos degenerados aumentou consideravelmente (P>0,05). / The aim of this work was to study the influence of different bi-phasic systems with gonadotrophins and steroids on meiotic and cytoplasmic development of canine oocytes cultured for 72 hours. Oocytes were collected after ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy from 49 healthy bitches, divided into 3 groups according to their reproductive status (follicular, luteal and anestrous stages). Oocytes were randomly allocated in four different culture systems with the base medium (BM) consisting of TCM-199. The systems were as follows: in system A oocytes were matured for 72 h in BM with 10 UI/mL hCG, 1 mg/mL progesterone (P4), 1 mg/mL estradiol (E2); in bi-phasic system B oocytes were matured for 48 h in BM with hCG and for 24 h in BM with P4; in bi-phasic system C oocytes were matured for 48 h in BM with hCG, P4 and E2, and for 24 h in BM with P4. In system D (control), oocytes were cultured in BM without hormones. In sytems B and C hormones were supplemented at the same doses as in system A. The results suggest that the use of bi-phasic systems was beneficial for oocyte meiosis and cytoplasmic maturation (P<0,05). No difference was noticed with regards to the influence of reproductive status on maturation rates (P>0,05). The addition of spermatozoa to the medium had no benefit on MII stage rates (P>0,05); however, the percentage of degenerated oocytes has significantly increased.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCV07MA018.pdf: 1132263 bytes, checksum: 6e10cf4471ceb93e5b44c3be1e5da2c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-17 / The main objective of Cryobiology is the optimization of an oocyte cryopreservation technique. It will permit to create germoplasm banks for maintenance of animal biodiversity, serving as an important instrument in transgenic, cloned or in vitro produced animals. It is consensus that the vitrification is the best method to cryopreserve oocytes and that high cooling rates improve the viability. To evaluate the use of carrier tools with different thermal conductivity in vitrification, 1.454 oocytes (Experiment 1) were 30 seconds exposed to 10% EG + 10% DMSO + 20% estrus mare serum (SEE) in TCM Hepes. Just after, groups of 5 or 6 oocytes were exposed (20 seconds) to vitrification solution (SV - 20% EG + 20% DMSO and 0.5M Sucrose). They were loaded in PM (stainless metallic straws, n=265), MV (glass micropipette, n=279), PB (straw bevel cuted, n=280), OPS (open pulled straw, n=272) or maintained without vitrification GC (control group n=358). Vitrification was obtained by plunging it in super cooled liquid nitrogen. In the experiment 2 (n=709) the aim was to evaluate bovine oocytes vitrification in reduced (25 and 50%) cryoprotectants concentration. Oocytes were 30 sec. exposed to the first cryoprotectant solution, and just after during 20 seconds to one of the allows vitrification solutions: SV100 (n=187), 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0.5M Suc; SV75 (n=187), 15% of EG + 15% of DMSO and 0.375M of Suc; or SV50 (n=146), 10% of EG, 10% of DMSO + 0.25M Suc. A non vitrified group (n=189) was used as control. The re-warming was performed by exposure (5 minutes each) to decreasing sucrose solutions (0.30 and 0.15M), heated up to 35ºC. The oocytes were then maturated, fertilized, and the presumptive zygotes cultured in SOFaaci medium, at 39ºC, in saturated humidity. Cleavage, blastocysts and hatching rates were used as viability criteria. In the experiment 1 there was not differences in cleavage rates (p>0.05) among treatments, that were lower (P <0.05) than control group. In the vitrified groups, higher blastocyst rates were obtained with PM treatment (10.2%), that was lower (P <0.05) than the OPS (6.1%) and PB (6.1%) treatments, not differing from the MV group (8.0%), although with tendency of be higher (P <0.1). The treated groups had identical hatching rates, which were lower than the control group. In the second experiment, there was not difference in the cleavage rate among SV100 and SV75 treatments, being both higher (p <0.05) than the SV50 treatment. In the blastocyst rates, there was difference among all groups (P <0.05). The higher rate was obtained in control group (38.0%), followed by the SV100 (10.1%), SV75 (7.6%) and SV50 (0.5%) treatments, respectively. The hatching rates of SV100 and SV75 groups were similar, being lower (P <0.05) than control group. In the SV50 group none blastocyst hatched. We conclude that increasing cooling speed rates improves the viability of immature vitrified bovine oocytes, and that the metallic straws are more effective than recipients of lower conductivity (plastic straws), with a tendency of superiority when compared to the glass micropipette. Still, the reduction of the cryoprotectors in 25% or up does not allow an appropriate cryoprotection to vitrify bovine oocytes, in the conditions of this study / A otimização da técnica de vitrificação de oócitos é um dos principais objetivos da criobiologia, pois possibilitará a formação de bancos de germoplasma para manutenção da biodiversidade animal, além de se constituir num importante instrumento na produção de animais transgênicos, clones ou programas de produção in vitro de animais. É consenso que a vitrificação é o método mais adequado para criopreservar oócitos e que elevadas taxas de resfriamento melhoram a viabilidade da técnica. Para avaliar o uso de materiais com diferentes condutividade térmica na vitrificação (Experimento 1), 1454 oócitos foram utilizados. Inicialmente os oócitos foram expostos a 10% EG + 10% DMSO + 20% soro de égua em estro (SEE), em TCM Hepes, por 30 segundos. Após, grupos de 5 ou 6 oócitos foram submetidos à solução de vitrificação (SV) composta de 20% EG + 20% DMSO e 0,5M Sacarose, durante 20 segundos, período em foram envasados e mergulhados em nitrogênio super-resfriado. O envase foi realizado em PM (palheta metálica inoxidável, n=265), MV (micropipeta de vidro, n=279), PB (palheta cortada em bisel, n=280), OPS (open pulled straw, n=272). Simultaneamente, um grupo não vitrificado serviu como controle, (GC n=358). No Experimento 2, 709 oócitos foram vitrificados com concentrações reduzidas (25 e 50%) de crioprotetores. Inicialmente os oócitos foram expostos, por 30 segundos, a uma solução de 10% EG + 10% DMSO + 20% SEE, em TCM Hepes. Logo após, foram expostos, por 20 segundos, a uma das soluções de vitrificação: SV100 (n=187), 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0,5M Sacarose; SV75 (n=187), 15% de EG + 15% de DMSO e 0,375M de sacarose; ou SV50 (n=146), 10% de EG, 10% de DMSO + 0,25M de sacarose, além de um grupo controle não vitrificado (n=189). O reaquecimento foi realizado pela exposição (5 minutos cada) às soluções decrescentes de sacarose (0,30 e 0,15M), aquecidas a 35ºC. Os oócitos foram então maturados e fecundados, e os prováveis zigotos cultivados em meio SOFaaci, à 39ºC. As taxas de clivagem, de blastocistos e eclosão foram utilizadas com critérios de viabilidade. No experimento 1 não foram verificadas diferenças (P>0,05) nas taxas de clivagem dos tratamentos, que foram inferiores (P<0,05) ao grupo controle. A maior taxa de blastocistos nos grupos vitrificados foi obtida com o tratamento PM (10,2%), que foi superior (p<0,05) aos tratamentos OPS (6,1%) e PB (6,1%), não diferindo do grupo MV (8,0%), embora com tendência de ser superior (p<0,1). Também as taxas de eclosão nos grupos tratados foram semelhantes, sendo inferiores as do grupo controle. No experimento 2, não houve diferença na clivagem entre os tratamentos SV100 e SV75, sendo ambos superiores (P<0,05) ao tratamento SV50. Na taxa de blastocistos, houve diferença entre todos os tratamentos (p<0,05). A maior taxa foi obtida com o grupo controle (38,0%), seguido do tratamento SV100 (10,1%), SV75 (7,6%) e SV50 (0,5%), respectivamente. As taxas de eclosão dos grupos SV100 e SV75 foram semelhantes, sendo inferiores (p<0,05) ao controle. No grupo SV50 não houve eclosão. Conclui-se que o aumento da velocidade de resfriamento melhora a viabilidade pós vitrificação de oócitos bovinos imaturos, sendo que as palhetas metálicas são mais efetivas que os recipientes de menor condutividade (palhetas plásticas), com uma tendência de superioridade quando comparada à micropipeta de vidro. Ainda, a redução dos crioprotetores em percentual igual ou superior a 25% não permite uma adequada crioproteção na vitrificação de oócitos bovinos, com a metodologia proposta neste estudo

A delicate balance of steroid and gonadotrophic hormones is essential for intrafollicular oocyte maturation and successful fertilization and embryonic development. Previous studies have demonstrated that a superovulatory dose of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) has excessive gonadotrophic activity and alters intrafol1icular steroid hormone levels. In a series of four experiments, the morphology of oocytes and embryos retrieved from immature rats, treated with either a low or high dose of PMSG, and mature, cycling rats was compared to determine whether a superovulatory dose of PMSG has an adverse effect on oocyte maturation and subsequent fertilization and embryonic development in immature rats. Morphological criteria for the assessment of intraoviductal oocyte aging were established in the first experiment. During intraoviductal aging, progressive morphological changes directed by the intrinsic developmental program of the oocyte were observed. Further alterations in morphology were attributed to abnormalities of cytoskeletal function. In the second experiment, no difference in morphology was observed between oocytes retrieved from immature rats treated with either 4 or 40 IU PMSG. When compared with mature rats, changes attributable to cytoskeletal instability were observed in aged oocytes from immature rats treated with both doses of PMSG. This was concluded to be a manifestation of altered intrafollicular oocyte maturation as a result of the administration of exogenous gonadotrophin. In the third and fourth experiments, delayed fertilization and a significant reduction in fertilization rate were observed in superovulated, immature rats. The major cause of fertilization failure was determined to be intraoviductal oocyte aging. A significant increase in abnormal embryos was observed as a result of parthenogenetic activation of the aged oocytes. Abnormal, fertilized embryos retrieved from the superovulated group were concluded to be the manifestation of delayed fertilization. In conclusion, the major effect of a superovulatory dose of PMSG on oocyte fertilizability and embryonic development was intraoviductal oocyte aging and delayed fertilization. Changes attributed to altered intrafol1icular maturation were manifested during oocyte aging in immature rats treated with either the low or high dose of PMSG. / Medicine, Faculty of / Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of / Graduate