Evidence of Placental Autophagy during Early Pregnancy after Transfer of In Vitro Produced (IVP) Sheep Embryos.
Pregnancies obtained by Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) are associated with limited maternal nutrient uptake. Our previous studies shown that in vitro culture of sheep embryos is associated with vascularization defects in their placentae and consequent reduction of embryo growth. Autophagy is a pro-survival cellular mechanism triggered by nutrient insufficiency. Therefore, the goal of our present study was to determine if autophagy is involved in early placental development after transfer of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos. To do this, placentae obtained following transfer of IVP sheep embryos were compared with placentae obtained after natural mating (control-CTR). The placentae were collected on day 20 post-fertilization and post-mating, respectively, and were analyzed using molecular (qPCR), ultrastructural and histological/immunological approaches. Our results show drastically increased autophagy in IVP placentae: high levels of expression (p<0.05) of canonical markers of cellular autophagy and a high proportion of autophagic cells (35.08%; p<0.001) were observed. We conclude that high autophagic activity in IVP placentae can be a successful temporary counterbalance to the retarded vasculogenesis and the reduction of foetal growth observed in pregnancies after transfer of IVP embryos.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
Paola
P
Toschi
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
Marta
M
Czernik
Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec ul. Postepu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
Federica
F
Zacchini
Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec ul. Postepu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
Antonella
A
Fidanza
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
Pasqualino
P
Loi
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy.|Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec ul. Postepu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.|National Research Institute of Animal Production, 1, Krakowska Street, 32-083 Balice n/Krakow, Poland.
Grażyna Ewa
GE
Ptak
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology*
D015415:Biomarkers