Dissecting mammalian reproduction with spatial transcriptomics.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology and medicine
• Genomics and molecular biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Mammalian reproduction relies on gamete fusion and embryonic development within a specialized environment.
• Understanding reproductive systems requires knowledge of cell types, cell-cell interactions, and gene regulation.
• Single-cell omics provide cellular insights but lack spatial context, limiting understanding of tissue interactions.

Approach:

• This review critically evaluates peer-reviewed articles and reviews on spatial omics and transcriptomics in reproduction.
• PubMed searches utilized keywords like 'spatial omics,' 'fertility,' 'gametogenesis,' and 'embryogenesis' up to April 2023.
• The review provides an overview of spatial transcriptomics technologies, their advantages, and limitations.

Key Points:

• Spatial transcriptomics (ST) reveals novel biological insights into gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and reproductive pathologies.
• ST identifies genes with non-random spatial expression, spatially clustered interacting cell types, and unique cellular microenvironments in pathologies.
• Challenges in applying ST to reproduction include experimental and computational hurdles, with potential solutions and future directions discussed.

Conclusions:

• Spatial omics technologies offer significant potential for novel insights into mammalian reproduction, complementing single-cell approaches.
• This review updates reproductive biologists and clinicians on the state-of-the-art in ST for reproductive research.
• Adoption of cutting-edge spatial technologies can advance both basic and clinical reproductive research.