title: Expression and distribution of cell adhesion-related proteins in bovine parthenogenetic embryos: The effects of oocyte vitrification.
abstract: The objective was to investigate expression of cell adhesion-related proteins (E-cadherin, β-catenin, and the cytoskeletal protein F-actin) in bovine parthenogenetic embryos derived from vitrified-warmed oocytes. Bovine oocytes at metaphase II were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) untreated (control); (2) exposed to vitrification solution without freezing (toxicity); and (3) vitrified and warmed by the open-pulled straw method (vitrification). After parthenogenetic activation, in the vitrification group compared with the control, the timing of compaction was delayed in (108-120 vs. 96-108 hours, respectively), and the percentage of blastocysts that developed from eight-cell embryos was lower (32.08% vs. 61.03%; P < 0.05). To investigate whether vitrification delayed embryo compaction by affecting adhesion junction formation and function, immunostaining and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were done to characterize distribution patterns (E-cadherin, β-catenin, and the cytoskeletal protein F-actin) and expression levels of cell adhesion-related proteins (β-catenin). Distribution of β-catenin in eight-cell embryos from the vitrification group changed dramatically compared with the control and toxicity groups. Relative expression of β-catenin at the mRNA and protein levels was lower (P < 0.05) than that of the fresh and toxicity groups. However, expression and distribution of E-cadherin were similar among groups. In conclusion, abnormal distribution and decreased expression of β-catenin in bovine parthenogenetic eight-cell embryos derived from vitrified-warmed oocytes were associated with embryo compaction and reduced competence for subsequent embryo development.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xiangwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Guangbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Mingxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D015870:Gene Expression; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010312:Parthenogenesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051176:beta Catenin