Probability, odds and random chance: the difficult task of modulating the epigenetic profile of cloned embryos

Since the beginning of modern embryology, scientists have wondered about how a small number of totipotent embryonic cells can become an individual with a wide variety of organs and tissues with distinct functions. Also, the idea of generating a cloned animal using a nucleus from a donor cell is not recent. However, it has taken years of research to achieve this goal, especially regarding mechanisms of cell reprogramming required to return a differentiated cell to totipotency. Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been a valuable tool to understand epigenetic mechanisms related to cellular reprogramming. However, cloning efficiency is still low, with a low percentage of embryos resulting in healthy animals. The high attrition rate is associated with incomplete or abnormal epigenetic reprogramming, such that many cloned embryos have DNA methylation patterns different than controls, resulting in faulty gene expression and subsequent developmental failures. Attempts to improve genome reprogramming by modulation of oocyte quality and/or somatic cell plasticity, thereby increasing cloning efficiency and preventing detrimental effects on development, have proven ineffective. The recent development of DNA editing techniques may facilitate an improved understanding of cellular reprogramming and the role of DNA methylation in development. These novel tools may lead to new means to modulate epigenetic programming and inheritance, and hold great promise to assist in epigenetic remodeling of the donor nucleus. Such strategies are likely to improve the odds for successful cloning.

Probability, odds and random chance: the difficult task of modulating the epigenetic profile of cloned embryos

Since the beginning of modern embryology, scientists have wondered about how a small number of totipotent embryonic cells can become an individual with a wide variety of organs and tissues with distinct functions. Also, the idea of generating a cloned animal using a nucleus from a donor cell is not recent. However, it has taken years of research to achieve this goal, especially regarding mechanisms of cell reprogramming required to return a differentiated cell to totipotency. Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been a valuable tool to understand epigenetic mechanisms related to cellular reprogramming. However, cloning efficiency is still low, with a low percentage of embryos resulting in healthy animals. The high attrition rate is associated with incomplete or abnormal epigenetic reprogramming, such that many cloned embryos have DNA methylation patterns different than controls, resulting in faulty gene expression and subsequent developmental failures. Attempts to improve genome reprogramming by modulation of oocyte quality and/or somatic cell plasticity, thereby increasing cloning efficiency and preventing detrimental effects on development, have proven ineffective. The recent development of DNA editing techniques may facilitate an improved understanding of cellular reprogramming and the role of DNA methylation in development. These novel tools may lead to new means to modulate epigenetic programming and inheritance, and hold great promise to assist in epigenetic remodeling of the donor nucleus. Such strategies are likely to improve the odds for successful cloning.(AU)

Survival rates of mouse blastocyst vitrified in dimethylformamide based solutions associated with ethylene glicol or 1-2 propanediol

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dimethylformamide (DF) associated with ethylene glycol (EG) or 1-2 propanediol (PROH) during vitrification, on the in vitro development of mouse blastocysts. Cryoprotectant toxicity was evaluated exposing embryos into three different equilibrium solutions (ES) composed by DF, EG or PROH mixtures (10% v/v of each) in mPBS + 0.5% PVA at different interval times (1, 3 and 10min). In a second experiment, embryos were exposed to the same ES (either 1 or 3min), following for the three respectively vitrification solutions (VS) (20% v/v of each) for 30s. After 72 hours of in vitro culture, embryo hatching and expansion rates were similar for the ES1 and ES2 equilibration solutions during the time interval of 1 or 3min. However embryos exposed for 10 min to the DF equilibration solutions, had lower survival rates than EG-PROH solution (P 0.01). Furthermore, survival rates for embryos exposed to DF-PROH (ES+VS) were lower than embryos exposed to the other solutions (P 0.01). Blastocyst vitrification was performed with the three ES+VS (for 1min and 30s, respectively), using glass micropipettes (GMP). Survival rates were lower for blastocysts vitrified with DF solutions (3%-3/108 and 17.1%-19/111) (P 0.01) than with PROH+EG vitrification solutions (69%-73/105). In conclusion, DF as a cryoprotectant into vitrification solutions have deleterious effects on the in vitro developmental competence of vitrified mouse blastocysts.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito da dimetilformamida (DF) associada com etileno glycol (EG) ou 1-2 propanediol (PROH) durante a vitrificação, no desenvolvimento in vitro de blastocistos murinos. A toxicidade dos crioprotetores foi avaliada ao expor os embriões as três soluções de equilíbrio (ES) compostas pelas misturas de DF, EG ou PROH (10% v/v de cada) em mPBS + 0,5% PVA, em diferentes intervalos de tempo (1, 3 e 10min). Em um segundo experimento, os embriões foram expostos as mesmas ES (durante 1 e 3min), seguido da exposição as três respectivas soluções de vitrificação (VS) (20% v/v de cada) durante 30seg. Após 72 horas de cultivo in vitro, as taxas de expansão e eclosão dos embriões expostos durante os períodos de 1 e 3min às soluções de equilíbrio ES1 e ES2 foram semelhantes. No entanto, os embriões expostos durante 10min às soluções de equilíbrio com DF apresentaram taxas de sobrevivência inferiores à solução de EG-PROH (P 0,01). Além disso, as taxas de sobrevivência dos embriões expostos à DF-PROH (ES+VS) foram menores que as dos embriões expostos as outras soluções (P 0,01). A vitrificação dos blastocistos foi realizada após a exposição dos embriões nas três ES+VS (por 1min e 30seg, respectivamente), usando micropipetas de vidro (GMP). As taxas de sobrevivência foram menores nos blastocistos vitrificados nas soluções compostas por DF (3%-3/108 e 17,1%-19/111), em relação à solução EG-PROH (69%-73/105) (P 0,01). Em conclusão, a DF adicionada como crioprotetor às soluções de vitrificação apresenta efeitos deletérios na capacidade de desenvolvimento in vitro dos blastocistos murinos vitrificados.

Survival rates of mouse blastocyst vitrified in dimethylformamide based solutions associated with ethylene glicol or 1-2 propanediol

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dimethylformamide (DF) associated with ethylene glycol (EG) or 1-2 propanediol (PROH) during vitrification, on the in vitro development of mouse blastocysts. Cryoprotectant toxicity was evaluated exposing embryos into three different equilibrium solutions (ES) composed by DF, EG or PROH mixtures (10% v/v of each) in mPBS + 0.5% PVA at different interval times (1, 3 and 10min). In a second experiment, embryos were exposed to the same ES (either 1 or 3min), following for the three respectively vitrification solutions (VS) (20% v/v of each) for 30s. After 72 hours of in vitro culture, embryo hatching and expansion rates were similar for the ES1 and ES2 equilibration solutions during the time interval of 1 or 3min. However embryos exposed for 10 min to the DF equilibration solutions, had lower survival rates than EG-PROH solution (P 0.01). Furthermore, survival rates for embryos exposed to DF-PROH (ES+VS) were lower than embryos exposed to the other solutions (P 0.01). Blastocyst vitrification was performed with the three ES+VS (for 1min and 30s, respectively), using glass micropipettes (GMP). Survival rates were lower for blastocysts vitrified with DF solutions (3%-3/108 and 17.1%-19/111) (P 0.01) than with PROH+EG vitrification solutions (69%-73/105). In conclusion, DF as a cryoprotectant into vitrification solutions have deleterious effects on the in vitro developmental competence of vitrified mouse blastocysts.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito da dimetilformamida (DF) associada com etileno glycol (EG) ou 1-2 propanediol (PROH) durante a vitrificação, no desenvolvimento in vitro de blastocistos murinos. A toxicidade dos crioprotetores foi avaliada ao expor os embriões as três soluções de equilíbrio (ES) compostas pelas misturas de DF, EG ou PROH (10% v/v de cada) em mPBS + 0,5% PVA, em diferentes intervalos de tempo (1, 3 e 10min). Em um segundo experimento, os embriões foram expostos as mesmas ES (durante 1 e 3min), seguido da exposição as três respectivas soluções de vitrificação (VS) (20% v/v de cada) durante 30seg. Após 72 horas de cultivo in vitro, as taxas de expansão e eclosão dos embriões expostos durante os períodos de 1 e 3min às soluções de equilíbrio ES1 e ES2 foram semelhantes. No entanto, os embriões expostos durante 10min às soluções de equilíbrio com DF apresentaram taxas de sobrevivência inferiores à solução de EG-PROH (P 0,01). Além disso, as taxas de sobrevivência dos embriões expostos à DF-PROH (ES+VS) foram menores que as dos embriões expostos as outras soluções (P 0,01). A vitrificação dos blastocistos foi realizada após a exposição dos embriões nas três ES+VS (por 1min e 30seg, respectivamente), usando micropipetas de vidro (GMP). As taxas de sobrevivência foram menores nos blastocistos vitrificados nas soluções compostas por DF (3%-3/108 e 17,1%-19/111), em relação à solução EG-PROH (69%-73/105) (P 0,01). Em conclusão, a DF adicionada como crioprotetor às soluções de vitrificação apresenta efeitos deletérios na capacidade de desenvolvimento in vitro dos blastocistos murinos vitrificados.

Survival rates of mouse blastocyst vitrified in dimethylformamide based solutions associated with ethylene glicol or 1-2 propanediol

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dimethylformamide (DF) associated with ethylene glycol (EG) or 1-2 propanediol (PROH) during vitrification, on the in vitro development of mouse blastocysts. Cryoprotectant toxicity was evaluated exposing embryos into three different equilibrium solutions (ES) composed by DF, EG or PROH mixtures (10% v/v of each) in mPBS + 0.5% PVA at different interval times (1, 3 and 10min). In a second experiment, embryos were exposed to the same ES (either 1 or 3min), following for the three respectively vitrification solutions (VS) (20% v/v of each) for 30s. After 72 hours of in vitro culture, embryo hatching and expansion rates were similar for the ES1 and ES2 equilibration solutions during the time interval of 1 or 3min. However embryos exposed for 10 min to the DF equilibration solutions, had lower survival rates than EG-PROH solution (P 0.01). Furthermore, survival rates for embryos exposed to DF-PROH (ES+VS) were lower than embryos exposed to the other solutions (P 0.01). Blastocyst vitrification was performed with the three ES+VS (for 1min and 30s, respectively), using glass micropipettes (GMP). Survival rates were lower for blastocysts vitrified with DF solutions (3%-3/108 and 17.1%-19/111) (P 0.01) than with PROH+EG vitrification solutions (69%-73/105). In conclusion, DF as a cryoprotectant into vitrification solutions have deleterious effects on the in vitro developmental competence of vitrified mouse blastocysts.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito da dimetilformamida (DF) associada com etileno glycol (EG) ou 1-2 propanediol (PROH) durante a vitrificação, no desenvolvimento in vitro de blastocistos murinos. A toxicidade dos crioprotetores foi avaliada ao expor os embriões as três soluções de equilíbrio (ES) compostas pelas misturas de DF, EG ou PROH (10% v/v de cada) em mPBS + 0,5% PVA, em diferentes intervalos de tempo (1, 3 e 10min). Em um segundo experimento, os embriões foram expostos as mesmas ES (durante 1 e 3min), seguido da exposição as três respectivas soluções de vitrificação (VS) (20% v/v de cada) durante 30seg. Após 72 horas de cultivo in vitro, as taxas de expansão e eclosão dos embriões expostos durante os períodos de 1 e 3min às soluções de equilíbrio ES1 e ES2 foram semelhantes. No entanto, os embriões expostos durante 10min às soluções de equilíbrio com DF apresentaram taxas de sobrevivência inferiores à solução de EG-PROH (P 0,01). Além disso, as taxas de sobrevivência dos embriões expostos à DF-PROH (ES+VS) foram menores que as dos embriões expostos as outras soluções (P 0,01). A vitrificação dos blastocistos foi realizada após a exposição dos embriões nas três ES+VS (por 1min e 30seg, respectivamente), usando micropipetas de vidro (GMP). As taxas de sobrevivência foram menores nos blastocistos vitrificados nas soluções compostas por DF (3%-3/108 e 17,1%-19/111), em relação à solução EG-PROH (69%-73/105) (P 0,01). Em conclusão, a DF adicionada como crioprotetor às soluções de vitrificação apresenta efeitos deletérios na capacidade de desenvolvimento in vitro dos blastocistos murinos vitrificados.