Downstream transcription promotes human recurrent CNV associated AT-rich sequence mediated genome rearrangements in yeast.

AT-rich sequence can cause structure variants such as translocations and its instability can be accelerated by replication stresses. When human 16p11.2 or 22q11.

Flavopiridol induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by interfering with CDK1 signaling pathway in human ovarian granulosa cells.

Several clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the use of flavopiridol (FP) to treat a variety of cancers, and almost all cancer drugs were found to be associated with toxicity and side effects. It is not clear whether the use of FP will affect the female reproductive system. Granulosa cells, as the important cells that constitute the follicle, play a crucial role in determining the reproductive ability of females.

4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide induces apoptosis by excessive reactive oxygen species and DNA damage in human ovarian granulosa cells.

4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) is a hazardous industrial material which is widely used in the production of fragrances, rubber tires, antioxidants, pesticides, flame retardants and plasticizers. Previous studies have shown that exposure to VCD damages the female reproductive system, but the effects and mechanisms of VCD exposure on human granulosa cells are not reported. In this study, we used a human granulosa cell line (SVOG) to explore the effects of VCD exposure and found that VCD exposure had toxic effects on SVOG cells in vitro.

Continuous light exposure influences luteinization and luteal function of ovary in ICR mice.

With the rapid change of people's lifestyle, more childbearing couples live with irregular schedules (i.e., staying up late) and suffer from decreased fertility and abortion, which can be caused by luteal phase defect (LPD).

Reduction of mtDNA heteroplasmy in mitochondrial replacement therapy by inducing forced mitophagy.

Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) has been used to prevent maternal transmission of disease-causing mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). However, because MRT requires nuclear transfer, it carries the risk of mtDNA carryover and hence of the reversion of mtDNA to pathogenic levels owing to selective replication and genetic drift. Here we show in HeLa cells, mouse embryos and human embryos that mtDNA heteroplasmy can be reduced by pre-labelling the mitochondrial outer membrane of a donor zygote via microinjection with an mRNA coding for a transmembrane peptide fused to an autophagy receptor, to induce the degradation of the labelled mitochondria via forced mitophagy.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic responses of mouse testis to the dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis, are widespread in developed countries and gradually increasing in developing countries. Evidences showed that man with CD has a decrease of serum testosterone, but how IBD take effects on testicular testosterone synthesis is not well elucidated. To investigate the effects of IBD on testis, we analyzed testicular metabolome and transcriptome data of the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced IBD mice.

Correction: Chromosomal variants accumulate in genomes of the spontaneous aborted fetuses revealed by chromosomal microarray analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

High-Survival Rate After Microinjection of Mouse Oocytes and Early Embryos With mRNA by Combining a Tip Pipette and Piezoelectric-Assisted Micromanipulator.

Utilizing microinjection to introduce biological molecules such as DNA, mRNA, siRNA, and proteins into the cell is well established to study oocyte maturation and early embryo development . However, microinjection is an empirical technology. The cellular survival after microinjection is mainly dependent on the operator, and an experienced operator should be trained for a long time, from several months to years.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of mouse follicular somatic cells†.

Within the development of ovarian follicle, in addition to cell proliferation and differentiation, sophisticated cell-cell cross talks are established among follicular somatic cells such as granulosa cells (GCs) and theca cells. To systematically reveal the cell differentiation and signal transductions in follicular somatic cells, we collected the mouse follicular somatic cells from secondary to ovulatory stage, and analyzed the single cell transcriptomes. Having data filtered and screened, we found 6883 high variable genes in 4888 single cells.

Double-strand breaks induce short-scale DNA replication and damage amplification in the fully grown mouse oocytes.

Break-induced replication (BIR) is essential for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) with single ends. DSBs-induced microhomology-mediated BIR (mmBIR) and template-switching can increase the risk of complex genome rearrangement. In addition, DSBs can also induce the multi-invasion-mediated DSB amplification.

Why is oocyte aneuploidy increased with maternal aging?

One of the main causes of pregnancy failure and fetus abortion is oocyte aneuploidy, which is increased with maternal aging. Numerous possible causes of oocyte aneuploidy in aged women have been proposed, including cross-over formation defect, cohesin loss, spindle deformation, spindle assembly checkpoint malfunction, microtubule-kinetochore attachment failure, kinetochore mis-orientation, mitochondria dysfunction-induced increases in reactive oxygen species, protein over-acetylation, and DNA damage. However, it still needs to be answered if these aneuploidization factors have inherent relations, and how to prevent chromosome aneuploidy in aged oocytes.

The repair of endo/exogenous DNA double-strand breaks and its effects on meiotic chromosome segregation in oocytes.

Germ cell-derived genomic structure variants not only drive the evolution of species but also induce developmental defects in offspring. The genomic structure variants have different types, but most of them are originated from DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). It is still not well known whether DNA DSBs exist in adult mammalian oocytes and how the growing and fully grown oocytes repair their DNA DSBs induced by endogenous or exogenous factors.

Motility, progressive motility score and DNA integrity of spermatozoa from cold-preserved mouse cauda epididymis.

This study attempted to investigate and validate whether epididymis cold storage could be a suitable alternative for short-term preservation of spermatozoa. Mouse cauda epididymides and spermatozoa were preserved at 4-8°C from 1 day to 6 weeks. From days 1 to 10, motility and fertility were daily examined when motility loss occurred.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 is a critical regulator of pig oocyte meiotic maturation.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), a direct substrate of p38 MAPK, plays key roles in multiple cellular processes. In the present study, we showed that MK2 affected not only cumulus expansion, but also the oocyte meiotic cell cycle in porcine oocytes. Inhibition of MK2 arrested oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage or the prometaphase I/metaphase I stage.

[Endometrial microvessel density for assessing endometrial receptivity during the peri-implantation period].

Objective: To evaluate the value of endometrial microvessel density (MVD) in assessing the endometrial receptivity during the peri-implantation period.

Methods: A total of 104 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into clinical pregnancy group (50 cases) and nonpregnant group (54 cases) according to the IVF-ET outcome.

[Frozen embryo transfer combined with intrauterine administration of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells for repeated implantation failure: report of 3 cases].

Objective: To explore the efficacy of frozen-thawed embryo transfer combined with intrauterine administration of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the treatment of repeated implantation failure (RIF).

Methods: PBMCs obtained from 3 patients with RIF on the day of follicle rupture (natural cycle) or when the endometrial thickness reached 8 mm (hormone replacement cycle) were cultured in the presence of HCG for 48 h. The cultured PBMCs, along with freshly isolated PBMCs, were administered into the uterine cavity of the patients.

[Association between cell apoptosis and the quality of early mouse embryos].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cell apoptosis and the quality of early mouse embryos, understand the significance of apoptosis-regulatory genes in early embryonic development, and explore a new approach to improving the embryo quality.

Methods: The levels of cell apoptosis and proliferation in early mouse embryos in different developmental status (morphologically normal embryos, arrested embryos and fragmented embryos) were analyzed with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), caspase in situ fluorescence and Bcl-2 immunofluorescence, and immunofluorescent detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

Results: The cells in arrested embryos and embryonic fragments showed positive results in TUNEL assay with enhanced caspase activity and lowered expressions of Bcl-2 and PCNA.

[Value of serum estradiol concentration in predicting the clinical outcome of IVF-ET in patients receiving long protocol of GnRHa].

Objective: To investigate the value of serum estradiol increment and serum estradiol/follicles on the day of hCG administration in predicting the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the IVF-ET data was conducted involving 121 patients who received a long gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) protocol. According to the increment of serum estradiol on the day of hCG administration (relative to the level on the day before hCG administration), the patients were divided into 3 groups (A1, A2 and A3) with a increment ratio below 30%, between 30% and 50%, and over 50%, respectively.

[Analysis of the clinical outcomes of 160 patients undergoing repeated IVF/ICSI-ET treatment].

Objective: To study the clinical factors affecting the outcomes of repeated assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data and outcomes was conducted among 160 patients undergoing repeated IVF/ICSI-ET treatment between January 2006 and April 2009.

Results: The patients with successful clinical pregnancy after two ART cycles (group A) had a younger age and shorter duration of infertility, and had more antral follicles (AFC), more eggs and good-quality embryos with more transferred embryos available and higher good-quality embryo rate (P<0.

[Clinical application of prefilled pen and conventional syringe during controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy, convenience and costs of recombinant follitropin alpha administered by a prefilled pen device and conventional syringe in Chinese women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: A total of 184 patients undergoing IVF treatment were enrolled in this study. According to a long-term recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) protocol, ovarian stimulation was performed with the prefilled pen and conventional syringe at random in these subjects, and the dose of follitropin, number of oocytes and embryo parameters and IVF-ET outcome were compared between the two groups.

[Clinical study of Osaka formula and improved multiparameter ultrasonic measurement for fetal weight estimation].

Objective: To analyze the factors affecting the accuracy of Osaka formula multiparameter ultrasound-based fetal mass estimation, thereby establishing new formulas to improve the accuracy of the estimation.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted among 519 healthy women with singleton pregnancy. Three days before the delivery (between 37 and 42 weeks' gestation), ultrasonic measurement of the fetal weight and other indices of the fetus was routinely performed.

[Clinical analysis of pregnancy in second and third trimesters complicated severe acute respiratory syndrome].

Objective: To explore and analyze the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, management and maternal-perinatal prognosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-complicated pregnancy in second and third trimesters.

Methods: Clinical data of 5 inpatients with SARS-complicated pregnancy in second and third trimesters from 4(th) February to 17(th) March 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Five patients were all primigravida (including 2 twins).