Abstract
In mammals, the oviduct (or the Fallopian tube in humans) can be divided into the infundibulum (responsible for oocyte pick-up), ampulla (site of fertilization), isthmus (where preimplantation embryos develop), and uterotubal junction (where embryos transit to the uterus). The oviductal fluid, as well as extracellular vesicles produced from the oviduct epithelial cells, referred to as oEVs, have been shown to improve the fertilization process, prevent polyspermy, and aid in embryo development. oEVs contain molecular cargos (such as miRNAs, mRNAs, proteins, and lipids) that can be delivered and fuse to recipient cells. oEVs produced from the ampulla appear to be functionally distinct from those produced from the isthmus. In multiple species including mice, cats, dogs, pigs, and cows, oEVs can be incorporated into the oocytes, sperm, and embryos. In this review, we show the positive impact of oEVs on gamete function as well as blastocyst development and how they may improve embryo quality in in vitro conditions in an assisted reproductive technology setting for rodents, domestic animals, farm animals, and humans.
Highlights
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in intercellular and interorganismal communications
Proteins involved in the biogenesis of microvesicles include arrestin domain containing 1 (ARRDC1), tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101), vesicle-fusing ATPase (VSP4), RAB22A, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6), phospholipase D (PLD), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) [8]
Proteins found in common between bovine oviductal EVs (oEVs) and human endometrial EVs include proteins that are related to exosome biogenesis (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-associated proteins), intracellular vesicular trafficking (cytoplasmic dynein 1 light intermediate chain 1 (DYN-C1LI1), synaptosomal-associated protein 23 (SNAP23), and syntaxin-binding protein 1 (STXBP1))
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in intercellular and interorganismal communications (reviewed by [1]). EVs is the collective term used for both exosomes and microvesicles. Exosomes are derived from endocytotic origin and are released from cells through plasma membrane fusion of a multi-vesicular body [2]. Microvesicles (100–1000 nm) readily bud from the cell membrane (reviewed by [3]). EVs communicate their signal to recipient cells by transferring their molecular cargos using endocytosis and cellular fusion [4]. These cargos usually contain DNA, RNA, proteins, and other metabolites [1]. We have described characteristics of EVs in the oviduct from different species and their role in supporting oocytes, sperm, and embryos
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