title: Altered chromatin condensation of heat-stressed spermatozoa perturbs the dynamics of DNA methylation reprogramming in the paternal genome after in vitro fertilisation in cattle.
abstract: Shortly after penetration of the oocyte, sperm DNA is actively demethylated, which is required for totipotent zygotic development. Aberrant DNA methylation is thought to be associated with altered chromatin condensation of spermatozoa. The objectives of this study were to investigate the dynamics of DNA methylation reprogramming in the paternal pronucleus and subsequent fertilisation potential of heat-stressed bull spermatozoa having altered chromatin condensation. Hence, bovine zygotes (n=1239) were collected at three different time points (12, 18 and 24h post insemination, hpi), and stained with an antibody against 5-methylcytosine. Fluorescence intensities of paternal and maternal pronuclei were measured by ImageJ. DNA methylation patterns in paternal pronuclei derived from heat-stressed spermatozoa did not differ between time points (P>0.05), whereas control zygotes clearly showed demethylation and de novo methylation at 18 and 24hpi, respectively. Moreover, heat-stressed spermatozoa showed a highly reduced (P<0.01) fertilisation rate compared with non-heat-stressed or normal control spermatozoa (53.7% vs 70.2% or 81.5%, respectively). Our data show that the normal pattern of active DNA demethylation followed by de novo methylation in the paternal pronucleus is perturbed when oocytes are fertilised with heat-stressed spermatozoa, which may be responsible for decreased fertilisation potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mohammad Bozlur
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Md Mostofa
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rijsselaere
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vandaele
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shamsuddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Soom
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D006358:Hot Temperature; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; D008297:Male; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D044503:5-Methylcytosine