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Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) enhanced intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) embryo developmental competence by ameliorating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inhibiting apoptosis

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) embryos by evaluating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, and embryo developmental competence in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

ER stress–associated genes and apoptosis-associated genes were measured and apoptosis index was analyzed. Embryo developmental competence was assessed in vitro and in vivo via the inner cell mass (ICM)/trophectoderm (TE) index, pregnancy and implantation rates, and birth rate.

Results

The relative mRNA and protein expression of binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP) was significantly higher in the ICSI embryo group without TUDCA treatment (ICSI-C) than in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) group and in the ICSI embryo group with TUDCA treatment (200 μM) (ICSI-T), while TUDCA ameliorated ER stress in ICSI embryos. Embryos in the ICSI-C group showed a higher apoptosis index than those in the IVF group and ICSI-T group, and there was no significant difference between the IVF group and ICSI-T group. TUDCA can significantly improve ICSI embryo developmental competence in vitro and in vivo based on the ICM/TE index, pregnancy and implantation rates, and birth rate.

Conclusion

ICSI embryos manifested high ER stress and high apoptosis, while TUDCA ameliorated ER stress and reduced apoptosis in ICSI embryos. TUDCA can significantly improve the developmental competence of ICSI embryos in vitro and in vivo. This study provides a new idea for improving the efficiency of ICSI, and it will also have a positive effect on the development of assisted reproduction technologies for humans and other animals.

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Funding

This work was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number 81571407).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Deng Tengfei and Xie Juanke contributed equally to this study and should be considered as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Medical Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, 450003, Henan, China

    Tengfei Deng, Juanke Xie, Hengtao Ge, Qi Liu, Xiaobing Song, Lin Hu, Li Meng & Cuilian Zhang

  2. Reproductive Medical Center, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, 450003, Henan, China

    Tengfei Deng, Juanke Xie, Hengtao Ge, Qi Liu, Xiaobing Song, Lin Hu, Li Meng & Cuilian Zhang

  3. Reproductive Medical Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, 450003, Henan, China

    Tengfei Deng, Juanke Xie, Hengtao Ge, Qi Liu, Xiaobing Song, Lin Hu, Li Meng & Cuilian Zhang

  4. LA IVF Clinic, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Li Meng

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  1. Tengfei Deng
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Correspondence to Cuilian Zhang.

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The Animal Care and Use Committee of Zhengzhou University approved all procedures related to the use of and experimentation on animals.

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Deng, T., Xie, J., Ge, H. et al. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) enhanced intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) embryo developmental competence by ameliorating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inhibiting apoptosis. J Assist Reprod Genet 37, 119–126 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01627-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01627-2

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