Impact of ethanol and heat stress-dependent effect of ultra-diluted Arnica montana 6 cH on in vitro embryo production in cattle.

This study evaluated the effect of adding ultra-diluted and dynamized Arnica montana 6 cH, and its vehicle (0.3% ethanol) to the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium, in the absence (experiment 1) or presence (experiment 2) of heat stress (HS), on bovine oocyte maturation and in vitro embryo production (IVEP). In experiment 1 (n = 902 cumulus oocyte complexes, COCs), the treatments were 1) IVM medium (Control treatment), 2) IVM medium + 0.3% ethanol, and 3) IVM medium + Arnica montana 6 cH. In experiment 2 (n = 1064 COCs), the treatments were 1) IVM medium without HS, 2) IVM medium under HS, 3) IVM medium + ethanol under HS, and 4) IVM medium + Arnica montana under HS. In the absence of HS (experiment 1), the addition of Arnica montana to the IVM medium had a deleterious effect on the IVEP (cleavage and blastocyst rates) and the total cell number/blastocysts. On the other hand, ethanol (0.3%) increased IVEP in relation to the Control and Arnica montana treatments. However, in the presence of HS during IVM (experiment 2), the addition of ethanol or Arnica montana increased IVEP when compared to the HS treatment alone, and the Arnica montana treatment resulted in greater total cell number/blastocysts compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that the negative or positive effect of Arnica montana 6 cH on IVEP depends on the culture condition (i.e., absence or presence of HS during IVM). On the other hand, ethanol showed beneficial and consistent results on IVEP regardless of exposure to HS.

Oocyte quality and estradiol supplementation affect in vitro maturation success in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

White-tailed deer oocyte biology is not well documented. The objective of this study was to determine (1) the influence of estradiol (E(2)) supplementation on meiotic resumption and the ability to "rescue" poorer quality (lower grade) oocytes and (2) the kinetics of oocyte nuclear maturation in vitro in the white-tailed deer. In Experiment 1, immature oocytes harvested during hunting-culling operations were cultured for 24h in the presence or absence of E(2). Incubation in 1mug/mL E(2) promoted nuclear maturation (to telophase I, TI; or to metaphase II, MII) in a higher proportion of Grade 1 oocytes ( approximately 77%; P<0.05) compared with that in Grade 2 or Grade 3 counterparts ( approximately 51%). For Grades 2 and 3 oocytes, there was no advantage (P>0.05) for E(2) supplementation in reaching TI/MII. In Experiment 2, Grade 1 oocytes were cultured in the presence of E(2) and nuclear status evaluated at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24h of in vitro incubation. At 0h,>70% of oocytes already had undergone germinal vesicle breakdown. After 12h, approximately 70% of oocytes had reached metaphase I of nuclear maturation, with approximately 75% achieving TI/MII by 24h in vitro. In summary, adding E(2) to an in vitro maturation (IVM) culture system for white-tailed deer was advantageous, but only for the highest quality oocytes, with approximately 75% achieving nuclear maturation. In contrast, E(2) supplement did not benefit lower-grade oocytes, half of which will reach MII, with the other half failing. Under the described culture conditions, good-quality white-tailed deer oocytes achieve nuclear maturation over a time duration comparable with that reported in other ungulates.

Localization of oestrogen receptors in the epididymis during sexual maturation of the domestic cat.

Oestrogens are involved in regulation of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation and are essential for male fertility. To study the role of oestrogens on epididymal function in the domestic cat, we analyzed the localization patterns of oestrogen receptors (ERs) within the epididymis of juvenile, pubertal and adults using immunohistochemistry. Cat epididymal tissues obtained during routine castrations were fixed in chilled Bouin's solution and processed for immunohistochemistry with ER-specific antibodies. For a certain receptor type, ER localization was influenced by donor age. In the juvenile epididymis, ERalpha was localized in the nuclei of epithelial cells of efferent ducts and undifferentiated epithelium of the ductus epididymis. During puberty, ERalpha localization in the undifferentiated epithelium of the epididymis shifted from the nuclei to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Oestrogen receptor-alpha level was highest in the pubertal and adult epididymis, especially within the cytoplasm and in plasma membranes of caput epithelial cells. This finding was suggestive of a role in fluid reabsorption within the efferent ducts and the epididymis. In corpus and cauda regions, ERalpha was less abundant, suggesting a minor role for oestrogens in sperm storage areas. Interestingly, localization of ERbeta was neither influenced by age nor location within the epididymis and was ubiquitous throughout. Results demonstrate that oestrogen actions within the epididymis may be predominantly mediated through ERalpha during sexual maturation in the domestic cat.

Overcoming poor in vitro nuclear maturation and developmental competence of domestic cat oocytes during the non-breeding season.

The domestic cat experiences circannual variations in ovarian activity and intrafollicular oocyte quality. One result is poor nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation during in vitro maturation (IVM) conducted during the annual non-breeding season (July through November). In an attempt to overcome this seasonal phenomenon immature oocytes were collected from July through November and cultured in a conventional IVM medium (IVM1) or in IVM1 supplemented with different FSH concentrations and antioxidant (ascorbic acid or cysteine). Nuclear status of oocytes was assessed after IVM or IVF. Embryo stage and blastocyst quality were evaluated after 7 days of in vitro culture. Although the addition of antioxidant alone had no effect, the presence of 10 microg FSH ml(-1) improved nuclear maturation (75.4+/-4.1% versus 48.7+/-8.8% in IVM1; P<0.05) and fertilization success (47.9+/-3.2% versus 35.0+/-5.1% in IVM1; P<0.05). Furthermore, developmental competence of fertilized oocytes was enhanced (P<0.05) only in the presence of ascorbic acid (30.6+/-6.7%) or cysteine (33.6+/-5.1%) compared with IVM1 (8.1+/-8.8%). Consequently, blastocyst yield (17% of total oocytes cultured) was highest when oocytes were matured in medium containing higher FSH concentration and antioxidants. The results of this study demonstrate that meiotic and developmental competences are inherent to the immature cat oocyte collected during the non-breeding season. However, appropriate mechanisms (perhaps seasonal variation in FSH receptors or lack of antioxidant capacity of the cumulus-oocyte complex) are inadequate during this period of gonadal quiescence. Regardless, this compromised oocyte function during the non-breeding season can be overridden by altering in vitro culture conditions to include supplemental FSH and antioxidant.

Sperm capacitation in vitro in the eld's deer.

Sperm capacitation was examined in the endangered Eld's deer (Cervus eldi thamin). Sperm motility and viability (percentage of sperm cells with intact membranes) were assessed in vitro over time after attempting to induce capacitation in TALP alone and TALP supplemented with calcium (10 mM CaCl2), dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM dbcAMP), or fetal calf serum (20% FCS). Sperm aliquots were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 h for motility, viability, and ability to acrosome react after exposure to calcium ionophore (A23187, CI; 10 microM) or lysophosphatidylcholine (LC; 100 microg/mL). Fresh sperm aliquots in TALP + 10 mM CaCl2 exposed to CI had fewer (P < 0.05) intact acrosomes than the TALP control (TALP alone) or dbcAMP and FCS treatments after 9 h. Mean (+/- SEM) percentage of intact acrosomes of spermatozoa incubated in medium with increased CaCl2 declined (P < 0.05) from 80.2 +/- 2.6% (0 h) to 49.7 +/- 7.3% after prolonged incubation (9 h). The proportion of capacitated fresh spermatozoa was not influenced by LC treatment. Capacitation was not induced (P > 0.05) by any of the presumptive sperm capacitators after freeze-thawing. Likewise, neither CI nor LC induced the acrosome reaction (AR) in these spermatozoa, suggesting that the freeze-thawing process may have caused membrane damage. Results revealed that the supplementation of medium with CaCl2 evokes capacitation in some spermatozoa. However, Eld's deer spermatozoa appear remarkably resistant to conventional stimulators of capacitation and the AR.

Regulation of sperm function by protein tyrosine phosphorylation in diverse wild felid species.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is associated with sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction in several mammalian species. Changes in phosphorylation of a 95-kDa protein in human, mouse, and domestic cat spermatozoa are known to be influenced by capacitation and exposure to zona pellucida (ZP) proteins. We previously reported diminished phosphorylation of 95- and 160-kDa proteins in spermatozoa from teratospermic cats, compared with normospermic domestic cats. To determine if these proteins and mechanisms are present in other species in the phenotypically diverse Felidae family, we examined the relationship between tyrosine-phosphorylated sperm proteins and sperm morphology in the leopard cat (approximately 65% normal sperm/ejaculate), tiger (approximately 65%), clouded leopard (approximately 15%), and cheetah (approximately 30%). Furthermore, we investigated the involvement of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the regulation of sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Specifically, we assessed the following: 1) presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in sperm extracts; 2) changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation after sperm capacitation and swim-up separation; 3) impact of tyrosine kinase inhibition on leopard cat sperm protein phosphorylation and ZP penetration; and 4) involvement of a cAMP-dependent pathway in the regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Immunoblotting analysis with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody (PY20) indicated that a 95-kDa protein was present in all four species. Additional phosphorylated proteins were detected in the leopard cat (145- and 175-kDa proteins), tiger (185-kDa protein), clouded leopard (160- and 190-kDa proteins), and cheetah (115- and 155-kDa proteins). Sperm capacitation in vitro increased phosphorylation of one or more proteins in the leopard cat, tiger and clouded leopard, but not in the cheetah. Although swim-up separation increased the proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa in the clouded leopard and cheetah, no changes were observed in phosphorylation of the 95-kDa sperm protein. Thus, phosphorylation of the 95-kDa protein appeared to be related to the condition of teratospermia. Exposing leopard cat spermatozoa to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin, reduced (P < 0.05) phosphorylation of the 95- and 145-kDa proteins, as well as ZP penetration, without affecting sperm motility. Similarly, when spermatozoa were incubated in the presence of cAMP analogs or active and inactive stereoisomers of cAMP, phosphorylation of sperm proteins was either stimulated or inhibited. Together, these data suggest that protein tyrosine kinase mechanisms appear conserved within the family Felidae and are regulated by a cAMP/protein kinase A pathway.

Role of sulfhydryl groups in the function of glucosidase I from mammary gland.

Glucosidase I initiates the processing of asparagine-linked glycoproteins by excising the distal alpha 1,2-linked glucosyl residue from the Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 oligosaccharide, soon after its en bloc transfer from the lipid-linked donor to the nascent polypeptide. 1-Deoxynojirimycin, an analog of D-glucose, is a potent competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. Sulfhydryl-seeking reagents also strongly inhibit the enzyme, implying the involvement of an -SH group in its activity. To test this hypothesis, glucosidase I was purified from the rat mammary gland and its active site was loaded with 1-deoxynojirimycin, to protect such a group(s), while -SH groups on the remaining surface of the enzyme were blocked with N-ethylmaleimide or para-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid. Deoxynojirimycin was removed by dialysis to expose the active site -SH group(s). This group(s) was then tagged with 3-(N-maleimidopropionyl)biocytin (MPB) and detected with 125I-streptavidin on Western blots. A series of experiments is presented to show that indeed a critical -SH group(s) is located within the catalytic site of the enzyme. Additionally, the enzyme also possesses one or more sulfhydryls and disulfide bonds in its primary structure. The experimental approach outlined here should apply to identify reactive sulfhydryl groups in other catalytically active proteins.

Glucosidase I, a transmembrane endoplasmic reticular glycoprotein with a luminal catalytic domain.

We have analyzed the functional domain structure of rat mammary glucosidase I, an enzyme involved in N-linked glycoprotein processing, using biochemical and immunological approaches. The enzyme contains a high mannose type sugar chain that can be cleaved by endo-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase H without significantly affecting the catalytic activity. Based on trypsin digestion pattern and the data on membrane topography, glucosidase I constitutes a single polypeptide chain of 85 kDa with two contiguous domains: a membrane-bound domain that anchors the protein to the endoplasmic reticulum and a luminal domain. A catalytically active 39-kDa domain could be released from membranes by limited proteolysis of saponin-permeabilized membranes with trypsin. This domain appeared to contain the active site of the enzyme and had the ability to bind to glucosidase I-specific affinity gel. Phase partitioning with Triton X-114 indicated the amphiphilic nature of the native enzyme, consistent with its location as an integral membrane protein, whereas the 39-kDa fragment partitioned in the aqueous phase, a characteristic of soluble polypeptide. These results indicate that glucosidase I is a transmembrane protein with a luminally oriented catalytic domain. Such an orientation of the catalytic domain may facilitate the sequential processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide, soon after its transfer en bloc by the oligosaccharyl transferase complex in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum.