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Published on: November 19, 2020
Effects of ooplasm transfer on paternal genome function in mice
Cheng-Guang Liang1, Zhiming Han, Yong Cheng
1The Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|August 8, 2009
Summary
Foreign ooplasm transfer in assisted reproductive technology (ART) can negatively impact paternal genome function. This study shows inter-genotype ooplasm transfer altered paternal pronucleus development in mice, with implications for human ART.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Ooplasm is crucial for paternal pronucleus formation and chromosome regulation.
- Ooplasm donation in human assisted reproductive technology (ART) involves foreign ooplasm exposure.
- Potential epigenetic effects of foreign ooplasm on the paternal genome are unknown, but abnormalities have been observed in human progeny.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of foreign ooplasm on paternal pronucleus function.
- To explore epigenetic alterations in the paternal genome following inter-genotype ooplasm transfer.
- To assess the impact of ooplasm donation on early embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized inter-genotype ooplasm transfer followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in mice (C57BL/6 and DBA/2 strains).
- Examined ooplasm effects in diploid androgenones (containing exclusively paternal chromosomes) to isolate paternal genome responses.
- Assayed for effects on paternal genome function and blastocyst development.
Main Results:
- Intra-strain ooplasm transfer showed no significant effect on androgenone development.
- Inter-genotype ooplasm transfer of DBA/2 ooplasm to C57BL/6 oocytes resulted in a significant negative effect on androgenone blastocyst development (P < 0.05).
- The reciprocal inter-genotype transfer did not yield significant effects.
Conclusions:
- Inter-genotype ooplasm transfer, combined with ICSI, can indeed alter paternal genome function.
- The observed effect of foreign ooplasm is exclusively negative, with no evidence of beneficial outcomes.
- Findings provide critical insights into the potential consequences of ooplasm donation in human ART.
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