Article
Reproductive Biology
Nabil Mansour, Fouad Lamghari, Mostafa Nasef, Theneyan Mohamed Al Busaidi, Mohammad Shamim Hossein, Yeon Ik Jeong, Mina Kang, Huijeong Kim, Yura Bae, Bo Hyun Eum, Yeon Woo Jeong, Woo Suk Hwang
Summary: The study evaluated the number and maturity of recovered oocytes after two intervals of in-vivo maturation. It also examined the impact of developmental stage and number of cloned transferred blastocysts on pregnancy rate and early pregnancy loss in dromedary camels. The results showed that a fewer number of oocytes were recovered at 24-26 h compared to 18-20 h. Additionally, the transfer of two hatching cloned blastocysts per surrogate increased the pregnancy rate and decreased early pregnancy loss in dromedary camels.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marina Gertsenstein, Lauryl M. J. Nutter
Summary: Knockout mice are widely used to study the phenotypic effects of gene dysfunction, and the use of RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease technology has significantly reduced the time and resources needed to produce knockout mouse lines. A standard methodology using electroporation of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) into mouse zygotes has resulted in an 80% success rate in generating founders for null alleles with a subsequent 93% germline transmission rate. These methods rely on existing equipment in transgenic facilities and are relatively straightforward to implement with appropriate expertise in embryo handling.
Article
Cell Biology
Lei-Ning Chen, Xiao-Yan Fan, Yi-Tong Liu, Shao-Qing Chen, Feng-Yun Xie, Li Zeng, Juan Wen, Jin Li, Jun-Yu Ma, Xiang-Hong Ou, Shi-Ming Luo, Lei Guo
Summary: Microinjection is an empirical technology highly dependent on operator experience, impacting cell survival. Optimizing microinjection methods can increase survival rates, save experimental samples, and benefit the study of rare animal models.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Julian A. Gingold, Melissa Fazzari, Rachel Gerber, Michelle Kappy, Michelle Goodman, Harry Lieman, Staci Pollack, Manvinder Singh, Sangita Jindal
Summary: Nonadherence with transfer guidelines is significantly associated with increased rates of multiple pregnancies, preterm births, and low birth weights.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Stefan Gregore Ciornei, Dan Drugociu, Liliana Ciornei, Petru Rosca
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of in vivo embryo transfer in Suffolk sheep by streamlining hormone therapies and optimizing technique. The results showed that the improved reproductive indices were achieved and the embryo transfer activity was successful.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Ayumi Hasegawa, Keiji Mochida, Shogo Matoba, Kimiko Inoue, Daiki Hama, Masayo Kadota, Noriko Hiraiwa, Atsushi Yoshiki, Atsuo Ogura
Summary: This study developed assisted reproductive technologies for wild-derived Mus spretus mice, enabling efficient production of embryos and successful interspecies embryo transfer into laboratory mice, demonstrating the potential for safe preservation and utilization of strains in research settings.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshiharu Morimoto, Udayanga Sanath Kankanam Gamage, Takayuki Yamochi, Noriatsu Saeki, Naoharu Morimoto, Masaya Yamanaka, Akiko Koike, Yuki Miyamoto, Kumiko Tanaka, Aisaku Fukuda, Shu Hashimoto, Ryuzo Yanagimachi
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of embryo quality through mitochondrial transfer to human oocytes and the normal outcomes for children born using this technology. The results show that transferring autologous mitochondria from oogonia stem cells to mature oocytes significantly increases good-quality embryo rates, transferable embryo rates, and embryo quality scores, resulting in the birth of 13 babies under normal conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Mingrui Li, Chao Ren, Shuai Zhou, Yuanlin He, Yueshuai Guo, Hao Zhang, Lu Liu, Qiqi Cao, Congjing Wang, Jie Huang, Yue Hu, Xue Bai, Xuejiang Guo, Wenjie Shu, Ran Huo
Summary: The study found that abnormal expression of splicing regulation proteins in aged oocytes affects the splicing of DNA repair-related genes in 2-cell embryos, reducing their developmental potential.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kazuki Ohata, Kenji Ezoe, Tetsuya Miki, Shizu Kouraba, Nanoha Fujiwara, Akiko Yabuuchi, Tamotsu Kobayashi, Keiichi Kato
Summary: The study demonstrates that fatty acid supplementation in vitrification and warming media can enhance the developmental competence of mouse and bovine embryos, as well as improve the morphological characteristics of human embryos.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Nagi Fujii, Yuta Nakata, Yoko Kato
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated whether cytoplasmic replacement could rescue the survivability of germinal vesicle stage oocytes in postmortem mouse carcasses. The results showed that the levels of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria numbers in the oocytes were significantly impaired after 44 hours postmortem. However, when cytoplasm from the oocytes was transferred to recipient oocytes, the in vitro maturation, spindle morphology, and developmental ability of the reconstituted oocytes were improved.
EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Aly Karen, Ahmed Abd-Elfattah, Mostafa Nasef, Raza Ur Rahman, Muhammad Babar Ihsan, Shanmugavelu Muthukumaran
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate 12 factors related to embryo quality, donors, recipients, males, and environment that could affect the outcome of ET in dromedary camels. The study found that factors such as embryo transparency, recipient age, embryo shape, ET type, breeding season, and day of flushing had significant effects on pregnancy and pregnancy losses.
REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peixin Wang, Chenqiong Zhao, Wen Xu, Xiaoying Jin, Songying Zhang, Haiyan Zhu
Summary: This study evaluated the association between the number of oocytes retrieved and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in different female age groups. Age and number of oocytes retrieved were found to be independent factors affecting CLBR, and recommendations regarding the minimum number of oocytes needed to achieve the desired live birth rate were provided for different age groups.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Rui Jia, Yuanyuan Liu, Rulan Jiang, Xuli Zhu, Liang Zhou, Peipei Chen, Mingya Cao, Zhiming Zhao
Summary: This study aimed to determine the optimal number of oocytes retrieved for patients with PCOS undergoing IVF to achieve the best CLBR and live birth after fresh embryo transfer. The study found that the number of oocytes retrieved was an independent protective factor for CLBR, with a higher CLBR observed when the number of oocytes retrieved was 15 or more. Patients with 7-16 oocytes retrieved had a greater chance of live birth after fresh embryo transfer.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Monique Mazzarollo Frata, Wagner Marques de Lima, Danylo Cintra Medeiros Lima, Denis Halinski da Silveira, Thomaz Lucia Junior, Rogerio Ferreira, Paulo Bayard Dias Goncalves, Bernardo Garziera Gasperin
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of single PGF administration concurrent with artificial insemination (AI) on fertilization and embryo production rates in superovulated cows. The results showed that the treatment did not affect embryo production in superovulated cows.
Article
Developmental Biology
Qiao-Qiao Kong, Guo-Liang Wang, Jin-Song An, Jia Wang, Hao Cheng, Tao Liu, Jing-He Tan
Summary: The research found that oocytes aged faster in restraint-stressed mice compared to unstressed mice, and female stress facilitated the apoptosis of oviductal cells, while mating helped alleviate oviductal cell apoptosis and oocyte aging.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Gema Garrido, Almudena Fernandez, Lluis Montoliu
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Davide Seruggia, Santiago Josa, Almudena Fernandez, Lluis Montoliu
Summary: The Tyr gene encodes tyrosinase and mutations may lead to albinism, highlighting the importance of analyzing non-coding regulatory DNA elements in their natural chromosomal environment.
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Almudena Fernandez, Masahiro Hayashi, Gema Garrido, Andrea Montero, Ana Guardia, Tamio Suzuki, Lluis Montoliu
Summary: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a common presentation of albinism, affecting pigmentation and vision, with syndromic and non-syndromic types. Syndromic OCA may be more severe and associated with additional systemic consequences.
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M-C Birling, M. D. Fray, P. Kasparek, J. Kopkanova, M. Massimi, R. Matteoni, L. Montoliu, L. M. J. Nutter, M. Raspa, J. Rozman, E. J. Ryder, F. Scavizzi, V. Voikar, S. Wells, G. Pavlovic, L. Teboul
Summary: Managing the quality of laboratory animals is crucial for the reproducibility of research, especially when sharing research models. Biological material repositories play a key role in ensuring the continuity of animal quality and supporting networks for sharing reagents. Quality control and the role of repositories are essential for all exchanges of biological materials in the scientific community.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Juan Luque, Ingrid Mendes, Beatriz Gomez, Beatriz Morte, Miguel Lopez de Heredia, Enrique Herreras, Virginia Corrochano, Juan Bueren, Pia Gallano, Rafael Artuch, Cristina Fillat, Luis A. Perez-Jurado, Lluis Montoliu, Angel Carracedo, Jose M. Millan, Susan M. Webb, Francesc Palau, Pablo Lapunzina
Summary: CIBERER, a thematic area of CIBER, focuses on rare disease research. It aims to facilitate collaboration between biomedical and clinical research groups and provide new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases.
Article
Dermatology
Carlos J. Perez, Lars Mecklenburg, Almudena Fernandez, Marta Cantero, Tiago Antonio de Souza, Kevin Lin, Sharon Y. R. Dent, Lluis Montoliu, Alexander Awgulewitsch, Fernando Benavides
Summary: Loss of function mutations in the HOXC13 gene have been linked to Ectodermal Dysplasia-9, Hair/Nail Type (ECTD9). The spontaneous mouse mutation Naked (N) is identified as a terminal truncation in the Hoxc13 gene. The N/N mice exhibit generalized alopecia with abnormal nails, while N/+ mice show partial alopecia and normal lifespan, indicating a potentially dominant-negative mutation.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Helen J. Kuht, Gail D. E. Maconachie, Jinu Han, Line Kessel, Maria M. van Genderen, Rebecca J. McLean, Michael Hisaund, Zhanhan Tu, Richard W. Hertle, Karen Gronskov, Dayong Bai, Aihua Wei, Wei Li, Yonghong Jiao, Vasily Smirnov, Jae-Hwan Choi, Martin D. Tobin, Viral Sheth, Ravi Purohit, Basu Dawar, Ayesha Girach, Sasha Strul, Laura May, Fred K. Chen, Rachael C. Heath Jeffery, Abdullah Aamir, Ronaldo Sano, Jing Jin, Brian P. Brooks, Susanne Kohl, Benoit Arveiler, Lluis Montoliu, Elizabeth C. Engle, Frank A. Proudlock, Garima Nishad, Prateek Pani, Girish Varma, Irene Gottlob, Mervyn G. Thomas
Summary: The purpose of this study was to characterize the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of foveal hypoplasia (FH). The results showed that atypical FH is associated with worse visual acuity, while typical FH occurs earlier in certain genetic conditions. The genetic status and specific gene variants are also related to the severity of FH and visual acuity.
Article
Oncology
Nerea Lazcanoiturburu, Juan Garcia-Saez, Carlos Gonzalez-Corralejo, Cesareo Roncero, Julian Sanz, Carlos Martin-Rodriguez, M. Pilar Valdecantos, Adoracion Martinez-Palacian, Laura Almale, Paloma Bragado, Silvia Calero-Perez, Almudena Fernandez, Maria Garcia-Bravo, Carmen Guerra, Lluis Montoliu, Jose Carlos Segovia, Angela M. Valverde, Isabel Fabregat, Blanca Herrera, Aranzazu Sanchez
Summary: Inactivating EGFR signaling in the liver can reduce liver damage and promote efficient regeneration following cholestatic injury. This effect involves enhanced activation of mitogenic/survival signals and changes in cell turnover, which are associated with differences in the profile of intrahepatic immune cells.
JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Ophthalmology
Reinier Bakker, Ellie L. Wagstaff, Charlotte C. Kruijt, Eszter Emri, Clara D. M. van Karnebeek, Michael B. Hoffmann, Brian P. Brooks, Camiel J. F. Boon, Lluis Montoliu, Maria M. van Genderen, Arthur A. Bergen
Summary: This article discusses the pathogenesis of albinism, proposing a genetic signaling pathway hypothesis that includes 22 human albinism disease genes and suggests that different types of albinism may be caused by different cellular defects. It provides a framework for further systematic studies in albinism and melanin pigmentation disorders.
PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Borja Alonso-Lerma, Ylenia Jabalera, Sara Samperio, Matias Morin, Almudena Fernandez, Logan T. Hille, Rachel A. Silverstein, Ane Quesada-Ganuza, Antonio Reifs, Sergio Fernandez-Penalver, Yolanda Benitez, Lucia Soletto, Jose A. Gavira, Adrian Diaz, Wim Vranken, Avencia Sanchez-Mejias, Marc Guell, Francisco J. M. Mojica, Benjamin P. Kleinstiver, Miguel A. Moreno-Pelayo, Lluis Montoliu, Raul Perez-Jimenez
Summary: Research reveals that ancient Cas9 protein from extinct bacteria exhibit significant differences in guide RNA and protospacer-adjacent motif requirements compared to modern Cas9 enzymes. Additionally, these ancient Cas9 proteins evolved from nickase to double-strand break activity, have high activity with single-stranded DNA and RNA targets, and are capable of gene editing in human cells.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Belen Esquerra-Ruvira, Ignacio Baquedano, Raul Ruiz, Almudena Fernandez, Lluis Montoliu, Francisco J. M. Mojica
Summary: Non-coding RNAs (crRNAs) produced from CRISPR loci and Cas proteins interfere with the spread of genetic elements. The programmable targeting of nucleic acids by ribonucleoproteins enables the modification of DNA and RNA targets. The identification of a smaller Cas9 protein (EHCas9) associated with a new CRISPR-Cas9 system offers a simplified tool for genome editing in prokaryotes and eukaryotic cells.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maria D. Boyano, Aintzane Asumendi, Jose Carlos Garcia-Borron, Lluis Montoliu, Santos Alonso
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemical Research Methods
Almudena Fernandez, Marta Cantero, Ana Guardia, Andrea Montero, Gema Garrido, Maria Jesus Del Hierro, Julia Fernandez, Lluis Montoliu
TRANSGENIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Magdalena Juhaszova, Evgeny Kobrinsky, Dmitry B. Zorov, H. Bradley Nuss, Yael Yaniv, Kenneth W. Fishbein, Rafael de Cabo, Lluis Montoliu, Sandra B. Gabelli, Miguel A. Aon, Sonia Cortassa, Steven J. Sollott
Summary: ATP synthase can utilize both Delta psi(m)-driven H+- and K+-transport to synthesize ATP under physiological conditions. The presence of K+ increases ATP synthesis rate in isolated mitochondria while also increasing oxygen consumption rate. The data obtained from purified F1Fo single molecule experiments are consistent with the functional data observed in intact mitochondria.
Article
Cell Biology
Magdalena Juhaszova, Evgeny Kobrinsky, Dmitry B. Zorov, H. Bradley Nuss, Yael Yaniv, Kenneth W. Fishbein, Rafael de Cabo, Lluis Montoliu, Sandra B. Gabelli, Miguel A. Aon, Sonia Cortassa, Steven J. Sollott
Summary: ATP synthase serves as the primary way for K+ to enter mitochondria, and its activity can be upregulated by endogenous survival-related proteins via IF1. The interaction between IF1 and Bcl-xL or Mcl-1 enhances ATP synthase's efficiency and limits ischemia-reperfusion injury.