Proteomics in Human Reproduction.

BACKGROUND: Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) have significantly advanced since the first successful In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). However, most in vitro-produced embryos fail to implant. Key steps in ART are the correct infertility diagnosis, in order to manage the individualised treatments, and the assessment of gamete and embryo viability, to identify the embryo with the best implantation potential. OBJECTIVE: The goal for this manuscript was to present a brief review of proteomics in Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) and raises the question of whether proteomics is a good alternative for the future of ART. METHODS: A literature review concerning proteomics and assisted reproduction was conducted. RESULTS: Non-invasive approaches to correctly diagnose infertility and to access embryo development potential have the advantages of increasing our knowledge about embryo physiology, therefore allowing the development of methods to predict developmental competence and viability. These approaches include proteomic profiling and other omics technologies. CONCLUSION: The use of proteomics in clinical practice goes beyond the identification of the oocytes and embryos with the best developmental potentials, it may add to the diagnosis of both male and female infertility and in the future, it may be a laboratory tool that will contribute to the birth of a healthy child.

Alterações na morfologia e na viabilidade no desenvolvimento de embriões bovinos fecundados in vitro com sêmen contaminado experimentalmente à Escherichia coli produtora da toxina Shiga stx2 / Changes in morphology and viability on the development of bovine embryos in vitro fertilized with experimentally contaminated semen to Escherichia coli Shiga toxin producing stx2

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio de microscopia óptica e eletrônica de transmissão, as alterações na morfologia e a viabilidade do desenvolvimento de embriões bovinos fecundados com sêmen contaminado experimentalmente à Escherichia coli produtora da toxina shiga stx2 (STEC). Para tanto, oócitos foram aspirados de ovários de vacas abatidas e selecionados para maturação in vitro. Após 20-24 horas de maturação, os oócitos foram divididos em 2 grupos. Sendo o primeiro grupo o controle (n = 418), fertilizado com sêmen testado e sem nenhum tipo de contaminante e o segundo, o grupo contaminado (n = 415), fertilizado com sêmen exposto a STEC. Cada sêmen foi tratado pela técnica de gradiente descontínuo de Percoll. Após o período de fecundação, os embriões foram avaliados quanto a sua morfologia e viabilidade, com o auxílio da microscopia óptica e eletrônica. Na ava liação morfológica, os oócitos fecundados com o sêmen contaminado apresentaram retração citoplasmática, falhas na divisão, assimetria de blastômeros, ooplasma granuloso, coloração castanho-escuro, formação de vacúolos, degeneração e rompimento da zona pelúcida. Essas alterações não foram observadas no grupo controle. A avaliação de todos oócitos incluídos mostrou taxas de clivagem de 70,3 e 52,8%, respectivamente, para embriões controle e contaminado (p = 0,0001). Após o 5° dia de desenvolvimento embrionário foram observadas 44,7% de mórulas no grupo controle e 22,4% no grupo contaminado, apresentando diferença significativa (p=0,0001). A presença da STEC interfere na taxa de clivagem dos embriões e também inviabiliza e provoca queda no desenvolvimento embrionário ao estádio de mórula, além de causar alterações morfológicas durante esse desenvolvimento.(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate by optical microscopy and transmission electron, changes in morphology and viability of the development of bovine embryos, fertilized with semen experimentally contaminated (STEC). Oocytes were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered cows and the intact zona pellucida were selected and matured. After 20-24 hours of maturation, the oocytes were divided into 2 groups. The first, control group (n = 4l8),fertilized with semen tested and without any type of contaminant and the second, the infected group (n = 415), fertilized with sperm exposed to STEC. Both semen were treated by the technique of discontinuous Percoll gradient. After the period of fertilization, embryos were evaluated for their morphology and viability by optical and electron microscopy. In morphologic evaluation, the oocytes fertilized with contaminated semen showed cytoplasmic shrinkage, gaps in the division, asymmetry of blastomeres, ooplasm grainy, dark brown color, vacuoles formation, degeneration and zona pellucid disruption. These changes were not observed in the control group. The cleavage rate was 70.3 and 52.8%, respectively, for control and infected groups, significant differences (p = 0.0001). After the 5th day of embryonic development, where it was observed 44.7% of morula in the control group, and 22.4% in the contaminated group, showing a significant difference (p = 0.0001). The presence of STEC interferes with the cleavage rate of embryos and also prevents and causes a decline in embryonic development to the morula stage and cause morphological changes during this development.(AU)