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Increasing of blastocyst rate and gene expression in co-culture of bovine embryos with adult adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

  • Embryo Biology
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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Despite advances in the composition of defined embryo culture media, co-culture with somatic cells is still used for bovine in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in many laboratories worldwide. Granulosa cells are most often used for this purpose, although recent work suggests that co-culture with stem cells of adult or embryonic origin or their derived biomaterials may improve mouse, cattle, and pig embryo development.

Materials and methods

In experiment 1, in vitro produced bovine embryos were co-cultured in the presence of two concentrations of bovine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells (b-ATMSCs; 103 and 104 cells/mL), in b-ATMSC preconditioned medium (SOF-Cond), or SOF alone (control). In experiment 2, co-culture with 104 b-ATMSCs/mL was compared to the traditional granulosa cell co-culture system (Gran).

Results

In experiment 1, co-culture with 104 b-ATMSCs/mL improved blastocyst rates in comparison to conditioned and control media (p < 0.05). Despite that it did not show difference with 103 b-ATMSCs/mL (p = 0.051), group 104 b-ATMSCs/mL yielded higher results of blastocyst production. In experiment 2, when compared to group Gran, co-culture with 104 b-ATMSCs/mL improved not only blastocyst rates but also quality as assessed by increased total cell numbers and mRNA expression levels for POU5F1 and G6PDH (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Co-culture of bovine embryos with b-ATMSCs was more beneficial than the traditional co-culture system with granulosa cells. We speculate that the microenvironmental modulatory potential of MSCs, by means of soluble substances and exosome secretions, could be responsible for the positive effects observed. Further experiments must be done to evaluate if this beneficial effect in vitro also translates to an increase in offspring following embryo transfer. Moreover, this study provides an interesting platform to study the basic requirements during preimplantation embryo development, which, in turn, may aid the improvement of embryo culture protocols in bovine and other species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the North Paraná State University (UNOPAR—Brazil) for the financial partnership with the authors’ laboratory and the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for the student scholarships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Fecundação In Vitro, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil

    Moysés S. Miranda, Hamilton S. Nascimento, Nathália N. Costa, Karynne N. L. Brito, Simone S. D. Santos, Marcela S. Cordeiro & Otávio M. Ohashi

  2. Laboratório de Células Tronco em Medicina Veterinária (LabTron-Vet), Instituto de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Pará, Castanhal, PA, Brazil

    Moysés S. Miranda, Mayra P. R. Costa & Cinthia T. A. Lopes

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  1. Moysés S. Miranda
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  2. Hamilton S. Nascimento
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Correspondence to Moysés S. Miranda.

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Co-culture of in vitro produced bovine embryos with adult adipose tissue-derived bovine stem cells improved blastocyst development and quality.

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Miranda, M.S., Nascimento, H.S., Costa, M.P.R. et al. Increasing of blastocyst rate and gene expression in co-culture of bovine embryos with adult adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. J Assist Reprod Genet 33, 1395–1403 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0779-0

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