Effects of salinity on pre- and post-fertilization developmental events in the clam Anomalocardia flexuosa (Linnaeus, 1767)

The knowledge about the effect of salinity on the physiological mechanism of bivalve reproduction is fundamental to improve production strategies in hatcheries. The present work evaluated the influence of different salinity concentrations (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 g⋅L−1) on pre- and post-fertilization development processes in the clam, Anomalocardia flexuosa, oocytes obtained by stripping. Salinity directly interfered with the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) rate and in the cellular stability of unfertilized oocytes. Salinity concentrations between 30 and 35 g⋅L−1 provided better percentages of stable GVBD within 120 min, and incubation of oocytes in the salinity range of 30-35 g⋅L−1 for a time interval of 80-120 min provided > 80% GVBD. In the post-fertilization analysis, salinity affected the rate of the extrusion of the first and second polar bodies (PB1 and PB2). The release of 50% of the PBs was faster at a salinity of 35 g⋅L−1, with an estimated time of 10 min for PB1 and 30 min for PB2. Thus, chromosome manipulation methodologies aiming triploids should be applied at 35 g⋅L−1 salinity, with application of post-fertilization shock before 10 min for PB1 retention or before 30 min for PB2 retention.(AU)

Large-scale chromatin structure and function changes during oogenesis: theinterplay between oocyte and companioncumulus cell

The process of chromatin configuration remodeling within the mammalian oocyte nucleus or germinal vesicle (GV), which occurs towards the end of its differentiation phase before meiotic resumption, has received much attention and has been studied in several mammals. This review is aimed to highlight the relationship between changes in chromatin configurations and to both functional and structural modifications occurring in the oocyte nuclear compartment. During the extensive phase of meiotic arrest at the diplotene stage, the chromatin enclosed within the GV is subjected to several levels of regulation. Morphologically, the chromosomes lose their individuality and form a loose chromatin mass. Then the decondensed chromatin undergoes profound rearrangements during the final stages of oocyte growth in tight association with the acquisition of meiotic and developmental competence. Functionally, the discrete stages of chromatin condensation are characterized by different level of transcriptional activity, DNA methylation and covalent histone modifications. Interestingly, the program of chromatin rearrangement is not completely intrinsic to the oocyte, but follicular cells exert their regulatory actions through gap junction mediated communications and intracellular messenger dependent mechanism(s). With this in mind and since oocyte growth mostly relies on the bidirectional crosstalk with the follicular cells, experimental manipulation of large-scale chromatin configuration is discussed. Besides providing tools to determine the key cellular pathways involved in genome-wide chromatin modifications , the present findings will aid to the refinement of physiological culture systems that can have important implications in treating human infertility as well as managing breeding schemes in animal husband .

Large-scale chromatin structure and function changes during oogenesis: theinterplay between oocyte and companioncumulus cell

The process of chromatin configuration remodeling within the mammalian oocyte nucleus or germinal vesicle (GV), which occurs towards the end of its differentiation phase before meiotic resumption, has received much attention and has been studied in several mammals. This review is aimed to highlight the relationship between changes in chromatin configurations and to both functional and structural modifications occurring in the oocyte nuclear compartment. During the extensive phase of meiotic arrest at the diplotene stage, the chromatin enclosed within the GV is subjected to several levels of regulation. Morphologically, the chromosomes lose their individuality and form a loose chromatin mass. Then the decondensed chromatin undergoes profound rearrangements during the final stages of oocyte growth in tight association with the acquisition of meiotic and developmental competence. Functionally, the discrete stages of chromatin condensation are characterized by different level of transcriptional activity, DNA methylation and covalent histone modifications. Interestingly, the program of chromatin rearrangement is not completely intrinsic to the oocyte, but follicular cells exert their regulatory actions through gap junction mediated communications and intracellular messenger dependent mechanism(s). With this in mind and since oocyte growth mostly relies on the bidirectional crosstalk with the follicular cells, experimental manipulation of large-scale chromatin configuration is discussed. Besides providing tools to determine the key cellular pathways involved in genome-wide chromatin modifications , the present findings will aid to the refinement of physiological culture systems that can have important implications in treating human infertility as well as managing breeding schemes in animal husband .(AU)

Influence of stages anestrous and diestrus in chromatin configuration in germinal vesicle of canine oocytes / Influência das fases de anestro e diestro sobre a configuração da cromatina em vesícula germinativa de oócitos caninos

In canine specie, oocyte maturation rates are low and the percentage of oocytes that remain in the stage of germinal vesicle (GV) regardless of culture conditions is high. During maturation oocyte undergoes modification and the GV chromatin remodeling manifested by changes in the configuration and positioning. The objective of this work is to evaluate the configuration and positioning of chromatin of oocytes in GV stage during anestrus and diestrus bitches. The ovaries of 33 females (20 bitches in anestrous and 13 in diestrus) were isolated, sliced and only cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) grade 1 were subjected to solution of 0.2% hyaluronidase for release in cumulus cells. After this process, the selected oocytes were stained and evaluated. From a total of 920 oocytes, 566 were classified as grade 1 and the stages of chromatin configuration identified as GV-1, GV-2, GV-3 and GV-4. The observed changes in chromatin configuration been characterized as a transition dispersed chromatin (GV-1, GV-2) for partially condensed (GV-3) until it reaches a fully condensed stage (GV-4). The data analyzed from the chromatin configuration showed a significant difference between the stages with a higher proportion of GV-1 and GV-2 for the anoestrus and GV-3 and GV-4 during diestrus. There is need for further studies to be able to have a proper understanding of the influence of chromatin configuration of oocytes in GV stage in resumption of meiosis and consequently in oocyte meiotic competence(AU)

Na espécie canina as taxas de maturação oocitária são baixas e a porcentagem de oócitos que permanecem em estagio de vesícula germinativa (VG), independente das condições de cultivo, e alta. Durante a maturação oocitária, a VG sofre modificação e remodelamento da cromatina, que se manifesta por alterações na sua configuração e posicionamento. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho e avaliar a configuração e o posicionamento da cromatina de oócitos em estagio de VG durante o anestro e diestro de cadelas. Os ovários de 33 fêmeas (20 cadelas em anestro e 13 em diestro) foram isolados, fatiados e os complexos cumulus-oócitos (COCs) foram submetidos à solução de hialuronidase 0,2% para a liberação das células do cumulus. Apos esse processo, os oócitos selecionados foram corados, avaliados e apenas COCs grau 1 foram utilizados. De um total de 920 oócitos, 566 foram classificados como grau 1 e os estágios de configuração da cromatina identificados como VG-1, VG-2, VG-3 e VG-4. As alterações observadas na configuração da cromatina foram caracterizadas como transição de uma cromatina dispersa (VG-1, VG-2) para parcialmente condensada (VG-3) ate atingir um estagio totalmente condensado (VG-4). Os dados analisados da configuração da cromatina mostraram uma diferença significativa entre as fases de anestro e diestro, com maior proporção de VG-1 e VG-2 durante o anestro e de VG-3 e VG-4 durante o diestro. Ha necessidade de novos estudos para uma compreensão adequada da influencia da configuração da cromatina de oócitos no estagio de VG na retomada da meiose e na competência meiótica do oócito(AU)