In-utero exposure to real-life environmental chemicals disrupts gene expression within the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of prepubertal and adult rams.

Environmental chemicals (ECs) have been associated with a broad range of disorders and diseases. Daily exposure to various ECs in the environment, or real-life exposure, has raised significant public health concerns. Utilizing the biosolids-treated pasture (BTP) sheep model, this study demonstrates that in-utero exposure to a real-life EC mixture disrupts hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis gene expression and reproductive traits in prepubertal (8-week-old, 8w) and adult (11-month-old) male sheep.

Preconceptional and in utero exposure of sheep to a real-life environmental chemical mixture disrupts key markers of energy metabolism in male offspring.

Over recent decades, an extensive array of anthropogenic chemicals have entered the environment and have been implicated in the increased incidence of an array of diseases, including metabolic syndrome. The ubiquitous presence of these environmental chemicals (ECs) necessitates the use of real-life exposure models to the assess cumulative risk burden to metabolic health. Sheep that graze on biosolids-treated pastures are exposed to a real-life mixture of ECs such as phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and metabolites thereof, and this EC exposure can result in metabolic disorders in their offspring.

Developmental exposure to real-life environmental chemical mixture programs a testicular dysgenesis syndrome-like phenotype in prepubertal lambs.

Current declines in male reproductive health may, in part, be driven by anthropogenic environmental chemical (EC) exposure. Using a biosolids treated pasture (BTP) sheep model, this study examined the effects of gestational exposure to a translationally relevant EC mixture. Testes of 8-week-old ram lambs from mothers exposed to BTP during pregnancy contained fewer germ cells and had a greater proportion of Sertoli-cell-only seminiferous tubules.

Morphological and transcriptomic alterations in neonatal lamb testes following developmental exposure to low-level environmental chemical mixture.

Exposure to anthropogenic environmental chemical mixtures could be contributing to the decline in male reproductive health. This study used the biosolid treated pasture (BTP) sheep model to assess the effects of exposure to low-dose chemical mixtures. Maternal BTP exposure was associated with lower plasma testosterone concentrations, a greater proportion of Sertoli cell-only seminiferous tubules, and fewer gonocytes in the testes of neonatal offspring.

Receptivity markers in endometrial mesenchymal stem cells of recurrent implantation failure and non-recurrent implantation failure women: A pilot study.

Aim: Endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSC) have a vital role in regeneration of endometrium during menstrual cycles. Since it has been suggested that (eMSC) likely play a role in uterine receptivity and establishment of pregnancy, we aimed to evaluate the expression levels of five most known receptivity markers-Integrin (ITG) β1, Rac1, HoxA11, ITGβ3 and Noggin-in eMSC of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and non-RIF women.

Methods: Human eMSC were isolated from menstrual blood (MB) of RIF and non-RIF women.

Comparison of Germ Cell Gene Expressions in Spontaneous Monolayer versus Embryoid Body Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells toward Germ Cells.

Background: Genetic and morphologic similarities between mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and primordial germ cells (PGCs) make it difficult to distinguish differentiation of these two cell types . Using specific GC markers expressed in low level or even not expressed in ESCs- can help recognize differentiated cells . We attempted to differentiate the mouse ESCs into GC-like cells spontaneously in monolayer and EB culture method.

Evaluation of specific germ cell genes expression in mouse embryonic stem cell-derived germ cell like cells treated with bone morphogenetic protein 4 in vitro.

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a significant signaling molecule that involves in initiating of differentiation and performs multifunctional effects on embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and embryos.

Objective: The goal of the present study was to evaluate an in vitro differentiation model of mouse embryonic stem cells into germ cells, using BMP4.

Materials And Methods: in this experimental study, we used Oct4-GFP mouse ESCs to form embryoid body (EB) aggregations for two days.

Evaluation of Novel Mouse-Specific Germ Cell Gene Expression in Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Germ Cell-Like Cells In Vitro with Retinoic Acid Treatment.

We designed a study to induce differentiation of Oct4-GFP (expression of Green Fluorescent Protein of oct4) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by embryoid body (EB) culture system into germ cells (GCs) using retinoic acid (RA) and evaluated the expression level of (Fkbp6, Mov10l1, 4930432K21Rik, and Tex13) in differentiated cells. The expression levels of four GC-related genes, Oct4, Mvh, Scp3, and Stra8, was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR). Immunostaining and flow cytometry were used as additional tests to confirm q-RT-PCR findings.

Functional Germ Cells From Non-Testicular Adult Stem Cells: A Dream or Reality?

Background: Some research studies provided evidence for the differentiation capacity of adult stem cells (ASCs) into germ cells (GCs). Since the generation of GCs from stem cells (SCs) has been proposed as a potential way for treatment of infertility, many research groups have begun their creative studies on generation of new GCs both in vitro and in vivo, and utilized different ASC types such as bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), skin stem cells, pancreatic stem cells, and adipose tissue MSCs. Despite many interesting reports with promising results, an obvious problem in the research projects was the functionality of the produced GCs.

Amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into germ cells in vitro.

This is the first report on differentiation of mouse amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells (AM-MSCs) into male germ cells (GCs). AM-MSCs have the multipotent differentiation capacity and can be differentiated into various cell types. In the present study, AM-MSCs were induced for differentiation into GCs.

Transplantation of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells into the Testes of Infertile Male Rats and New Germ Cell Formation.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have been suggested as a potential choice for treatment of male infertility. Yet, the effects of MSCs on regeneration of germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules and recovery of spermatogenesis have remained controversial. In this research, we have evaluated and compared the fate of autologous bone marrow (BM)-MSCs during three different periods of time- 4, 6 and 8 weeks after transplantation into the testes of busulfan-induced infertile male rats.

Derivation of male germ cells from ram bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by three different methods and evaluation of their fate after transplantation into the testis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into germ cells (GCs). This research, for the first time, has evaluated the fate of in vitro MSC-derived GCs generated by three different induction methods and compared them after transplantation into the testes of rams. Passage-3 ram bone marrow (BM)-MSCs were divided into three treatment groups: (1) 14-d treatment with 10 μM retinoic acid (RA; RA14), (2) 21-d treatment with 10 μM RA (RA21), and (3) 21-d treatment with 10 ng/ml transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFb1).

Male and female rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are different in terms of the expression of germ cell specific genes.

Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), under appropriate conditions, can differentiate into cell types including germ cells (GCs). These studies also show that MSCs without any induction express some GC-specific genes innately. Moreover, one report suggests that female MSCs have a greater tendency to differentiate into female instead of male GCs.

Starvation is more efficient than the washing technique for purification of rat Sertoli cells.

Sertoli cells (SCs), one of the most important components of seminiferous tubules, are vital for normal spermatogenesis and male fertility. In recent years, numerous in vitro studies have shown the potential and actual activities of SCs. However, pure SCs are necessary for various in vitro studies.