DNA In Embryonic Cells Research Articles

Oxidative effect of low intensity microwave radiation in the model of developing quail embryos

Objective: Exposure of humans to low intensity microwave radiation (MW) under some circumstances leads to several medical conditions, including headache, chronic fatigue, and even cancer. Mechanisms of these effects in many cases may depend on oxidative stress caused by MW exposure. Our study aims to assess oxidative stress features in embryonic cells under low intensity MW exposure in the first stages of embryogenesis. Methods: Embryos of Japanese quails were exposed in ovo to low intensity MW of GSM 900 MHz (0.25 µW/cm2) during 158-360 h discontinuously (48 c - ON, 12 c - OFF) before and in the initial stages of development. The levels of superoxide (O2·-), nitrogen oxide (NO·) and 8-oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) were assessed in cells of 38-h, 5- and 10-day exposed embryos and compared to the control group. Lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence was used for assessment of GSM modulation role in MW-induced oxidative effects. Results: A significant persistent overproduction of superoxide, nitrogen oxide and 8-oxo-dG in GSM MW exposed embryonic cells during all periods of analyses was detected. Conclusion: Exposure of developing quail embryos to low intensity MW of GSM 900 MHz during the first stages of embryogenesis resulted in a significant overproduction of superoxide and nitrogen oxide, and oxidative damages of DNA in embryonic cells. These effects were interpreted to be depended on the GSM modulation of MW.

Enhanced efficiency of P-element mediated transgenesis in Drosophila: Microinjection of DNA complexed with nanomaterial

The efficiency of genetic transformation technology to generate stable transgenics depends upon the successful delivery of plasmid DNA in embryonic cells. The available gene vectors facilitate efficient plasmid DNA delivery to the cellular milieu but are exposed to nuclease degradation. Recent in vitro studies suggest encapsulation of plasmid DNA with nanomaterial(s) for better protection against nucleases. Therefore, in this study, we tested if complexing of free plasmid DNA with linear polyethylenimine (LPEI, 25 kDa) based nanoparticle (LPN) enhances the efficiency of transformation (transgenesis) by using Drosophila based germ-line transformation technology. Here, we show that the LPN-DNA complex not only enhances the efficiency of this transgenic technology at a DNA concentration of 0.04 μg/μl but also reduces the DNA quantity required to generate transgenics by ten folds. This approach has potential applications for other types of transgenesis and nucleic acid injection methods in Drosophila as well as other popular genetic model systems.

닭의 모체 연령에 따른 생산 배아의 염색체 이상 빈도 및 텔로미어 함량 분석

모체 출산 연령이 늦어짐에 따라 태아의 염색체 이상 빈도는 증가하는 것으로 알려져 있는데, 이는 난자의 노화에 따른 염색체의 비분리 현상의 증가 등이 주된 원인이다. 염색체 양 말단에 존재하는 텔로미어는 염색체의 안정성에 관여하고 세포분열이 진행됨으로써 이의 길이가 짧아져 노화의 지표로 활용되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 모체의 노화가 생산 배아에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 닭의 산란 연령별 배아의 염색체 이상 빈도와 이들의 텔로미어 함량을 분석하였다. 시험 분석은 20주령에서부터 70주령까지의 화이트 레그혼 종을 공시하고 10주 간격으로 생산된 수정란의 초기 배아에 대한 핵형 분석과 양적형광보인법(Q-FISH)을 이용한 모계 및 생산 배아의 텔로미어 함량을 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 초기 배아의 염색체 이상 빈도는 산란 연령에 따른 유의적인 차이가 있었는데, 산란 초기에 상대적으로 높은 염색체 이상 빈도를 보이다가 산란 중기에서 안정된 빈도를 유지하고, 후기부터 다시 이상 빈도가 증가하는 양상을 보여 모체의 노화가 태아의 염색체 이상 빈도에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 개체의 텔로미어 함량은 연령이 증가함에 따라 점진적 감소 양상을 나타내는 반면, 모계 연령에 따른 생산 배아들의 텔로미어 함량은 연령 간에 차이가 없는 것으로 나타나 모체의 노화가 수정 배아의 텔로미어 함량에는 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 보여진다. 이는 배란 후 수정이 된 배아는 초기 발생 과정 중 세포들의 reprograming이 일어나 텔로미어가 복구됨을 의미한다. The rate of fetus with abnormal chromosomes increase with maternal age. Nondisjunction of aging oocyte chromosome is a major reason for the increased rate of abnormalities. Telomeres are the ends of eukaryotic chromosome, which are essential for chromosome stability and are related in cell senescence. This study was carried out to analyze the chromosome aberration rate and amount of telomeric DNA in chick embryo along with maternal age. Fertilized eggs and blood were sampled from White Leghorn layers starting at 20 weeks through to 70 weeks age at 10 weeks interval. Chromosome aberration rate was analyzed by karyotyping. The amounts of telomeric DNA in embryonic cells and lymphocytes were quantified by Quantitative Fluorescence in situ Hybridization method. The chromosome aberration rate in chick embryos significantly differed with maternal age. The chromosome aberration rate increased at early laying period and beyond 70 weeks of maternal age. Therefore, chromosome aberration rate was affected by maternal age due to ovulated oocytes state. However, the amount of telomeric DNA on embryonic cells did not differ significantly with maternal age. Thus, maternal age does not affects telomere quantity in their embryos due to cellular reprograming at early embryonic stage after fertilization.

372 X-CHROMOSOME-BEARING SPERM SEPARATION BY Percoll™ DISCONTINUOUS DENSITY GRADIENT AND SEX RATIO DEVIATION IN IN VITRO PRODUCED BOVINE EMBRYOS

The aims of this study were to separate X-chromosome-bearing bovine sperm by discontinuous Percoll ™ (GE Healthcare Bio-Science AB, Uppsala, Sweden) density gradients, validate the sexing of resultant IVF embryos by PCR, replace the bovine fetal serum (BFS) with BSA in the culture medium, to decrease male development advantage, and verify whether the gradient can be used in an IVF laboratory routine. The gradient was prepared by mixing Dubelcco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM; Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) with Percoll™ isotonic solution with 0.3% BSA, for different densities obtained ranging from 1.110 to 1.123 g mL-1, disposed in 3 layers into 15-mL conical tubes. For sexing, 40 million thawed sperm were overlaid on density gradients. The tubes were centrifuged at 500 g, for 15 min, at 22°C. After centrifugation, sperm sediment was used for IVF. For the control group, a Percoll™ 45, 90% gradient was used. The oocytes were selected from ovaries from slaughterhouse and maturated for 24 h in TCM-199 medium. After fertilization, oocytes and sperm were incubated for 20 h in 5% CO2, in humidified air at 38.5°C. Presumptive zygotes were denuded of cumulus cells, and washed in modified SOF medium and then transferred to 500 μL SOF in four well dishes. Embryo culture was carried out under mineral oil in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 at 38.5°C, and the cleavage assessed at 46 h and development to the blastocyst stage at Day 7. To obtain embryonic cell DNA for sex determination by PCR, 115 embryos of the sexed and 82 of the control group were used. Two pairs of primers of Y-specific sequences were split in two distinct samples. The first pair detected a sequence of 210 bp, and the second one 196 bp of the bovine Y-chromosome. A third one detected an autosomal sequence of 280 bp, indicating the presence of bovine genomic DNA. PCR multiplex was carried out in the same tube with first and third primers and the PCR of the second one was carried out in another tube. The results were analyzed by X2. Of the sexed group, from a total of 373 oocytes, the cleavage rate was 58.2% (n = 217); 35.6% (n = 133) produced embryos; 36.5% (n = 42) were male embryos and the female embryo rate was 63.5% (n = 73). From a total of 268 control oocytes, the cleavage rate was 63.8% (n = 171); produced embryos 37.3% (n = 100); 57.3% (n = 47) were male embryos and the female rate was 42.7% (n = 35). The Percoll™ density gradient for sperm sexing altered the proportion of IVF embryos toward more females. Because of fast and easy preparation, the gradient can be used routinely in an IVF laboratory and also, BSA can replace FBS for the IVF. FAPESP process number 59357-9 and CAPES

Investigation of Developmental Toxicity and Teratogenicity of Macrolide Antibiotics in Cultured Rat Embryos

Macrolides are considered to be one of the safest anti-infective groups in clinical use, with severe adverse reactions being rare. However, there are limited data about their embryotoxicity and teratogenicity. We aimed to investigate and compare the effects of these agents on embryonic growth and development. Rat embryos were cultured in vitro for 48 h in rat serum. Whole rat serum was used as a culture medium for the control group while different concentrations of spiramycin and azithromycin (1.25-6.25 microg/ml), and clarithromycin (2.5-30 microg/ml) were added to rat serum for the experimental groups. Dose-dependent effects of macrolides on embryonic developmental parameters were compared using morphological methods. Embryos were evaluated for the presence of any malformations. After morphological examination of the embryos, total DNA was extracted from the cells using standard procedures to determine fragmentation of nuclear DNA of embryonic cells. When compared with the control embryos, the macrolides significantly decreased all growth and developmental parameters dose dependently. While clarithromycin was found to cause more developmental toxicity than spiramycin and azithromycin, azitromycin was determined to have more teratogenicity potential. Compared with controls, there was no difference regarding the fragmentation of nuclear DNA of all the agents used. According to these results, when the toxic and teratogenic potential of the used agents compared, because of the lower toxic and teratogenic effects observed with spiramycin, this agent may be preferred for parturients.