Regulation of bone morphogenetic proteins in early embryonic development

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a large subgroup of the TGF- family of secreted growth factors, control fundamental events in early embryonic development, organogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis. The plethora of dose-dependent cellular processes regulated by BMP signalling demand a tight regulation of BMP activity. Over the last decade, a number of proteins have been identified that bind BMPs in the extracellular space and regulate the interaction of BMPs with their cognate receptors, including the secreted BMP antagonist Chordin. In the early vertebrate embryo, the localized secretion of BMP antagonists from the dorsal blastopore lip establishes a functional BMP signalling gradient that is required for the determination of the dorsoventral – or back to belly – body axis. In particular, inhibition of BMP activity is essential for the formation of neural tissue in the development of vertebrate and invertebrate embryos. Here we review recent studies that have provided new insight into the regulation of BMP signalling in the extracellular space. In particular, we discuss the recently identified Twisted gastrulation protein that modulates, in concert with metalloproteinases of the Tolloid family, the interaction of Chordin with BMP and a family of proteins that share structural similarities with Chordin in the respective BMP binding domains. In addition, genetic and functional studies in zebrafish and frog provide compelling evidence that the secreted protein Sizzled functionally interacts with the Chd–BMP pathway, despite being expressed ventrally in the early gastrula-stage embryo. These intriguing discoveries may have important implications, not only for our current concept of early embryonic patterning, but also for the regulation of BMP activity at later developmental stages and tissue homeostasis in the adult.     

Musterbildung bei Drosophila

Drosophila proved an excellent system to study molecular processes in establishing the body pattern of an embryo. Genes which are active during oogenesis provide localized cues which regulate a cascade of zygotic genes that determines the developmental fate of the blastoderm cells along the longitudinal axis of the embryo.     

Developmental abnormalities in Glomeris marginata (Villers 1789) (Myriapoda: Diplopoda): implications for body axis determination in a myriapod

Abnormally developing embryos (ADEs) of the common pill millipede Glomeris marginata have been investigated by means of nuclear staining and mRNA in situ hybridization. It showed that all ADEs represent cases of Duplicitas posterior, which means that the posterior body pole is duplicated. The severity of the duplication ranges from duplicated posterior trunk segments in one specimen to an almost completely duplicated specimen that only shares the very anterior head region. Remarkably, none of the encountered ADEs represents a case of Duplicitas anterior (duplicated anterior pole) or a case of Duplicitas cruciata (cruciate duplication with two anterior and two posterior poles). This observation is discussed in the light of earlier reports on G. marginata ADEs that claim to have found these abnormalities. The lack of any other axial abnormality aside from D. posterior implies that early axis determination in G. marginata, and possibly myriapods in general, underlies the developmental mechanisms that prevent the formation of any other type of axial duplication. It is proposed that the formation of D. posterior-type embryos could be caused by the formation of two instead of only one posterior cumulus early during development.     

锌对酒精发育毒性的拮抗作用

孕期饮酒导致胚胎和胎儿出生前后一系列机体发育异常及功能缺陷，孕期饮酒还可导致微量元素锌大量丢失。该文应用已建立的体外酒精致畸模型，以全胚胎培养技术探讨了锌对酒精发育毒性的拮抗作用。结果表明，２μｇ／ｍｌ的锌，对２００ｍｇ／ｄｌ的酒精所致的胚胎生长发育指标无明显作用；５μｇ／ｍｌ锌，能显著改善胚胎的蛋白质、ＤＮＡ含量、ＶＹＳ直径等指标；１０μｇ／ｍｌ锌，对胚胎的生长发育和胚胎器官形态分化无明显改善作     

胚胎绒毛膜对微塑料颗粒与镉联合作用的影响

利用胚胎发育技术和代谢组学技术,以100nm（n-PS）和70~250μm（μ-PS）两种粒径的聚苯乙烯（Polystyrene,PS）颗粒为研究对象,从微塑料与胚胎绒毛膜相互作用这个角度,探讨了不同粒径微塑料颗粒和镉（Cd）对斑马鱼胚胎发育联合毒性的差异.结果表明,Cd单独暴露、及其与n-PS和μ-PS联合暴露中,胚胎绒毛膜上Cd的蓄积量分别为3.82,13.66,11.35mg/g,而这三个暴露组中Cd在胚胎体内的含量分别为0.24,0.16,0.20mg/g.n-PS更为显著地增加了Cd在胚胎绒毛膜上的蓄积、降低了Cd在胚胎中的含量（P<0.01）.但是μ-PS却更大程度地降低了Cd的胚胎发育毒性（P=0.006）.代谢组学的数据证实,由于PS颗粒对胚胎绒毛膜堵塞作用,纳米PS颗粒能够促进Cd作用下胚胎的氧化压力和细胞的能量需求.因此,胚胎绒毛膜在微塑料对水生生物早期发育的毒性研究中起着重要作用.本研究能够为微塑料在环境中的生物可利用性和效应研究提供一些新的思考方向.     

Aspects of biopsy procedures prior to preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Today, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is offered in over 40 centres worldwide for an expanded range of genetic defects causing disease. This very early form of prenatal diagnosis involves the detection of affected embryos by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) (sex determination or chromosomal defects) or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (monogenic diseases) prior to implantation. Genetic analysis of the embryos involves the removal of some cellular mass from the embryos (one or two blastomeres at cleavage-stage or some extra-embryonic trophectoderm cells at the blastocyst stage) by means of an embryo biopsy procedure. Genetic analysis can also be performed preconceptionally by removal of the first polar body. However, additional information is then often gained by removal of the second polar body and/or a blastomere from the embryo. Removal of polar bodies or cellular material from embryos requires an opening in the zona pellucida, which can be created in a mechanical way (partial zona dissection) or chemical way (acidic Tyrode's solution). However, the more recent introduction of laser technology has facilitated this step enormously. Different biopsy procedures at different preimplantation stages are reviewed here, including their pros and cons and their clinical applications. The following aspects will also be discussed: safety of zona drilling by laser, use of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-free medium for decompaction, and removal of one or two cells from cleavage-stage embryos. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

通过多阶段暴露试验评价嘧菌酯对斑马鱼的急性毒性与发育毒性

嘧菌酯作为最畅销的甲氧丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂,是防治水稻病害的常用农药,其对水生生态环境的负面效应值得重视.为研究嘧菌酯对水生生物的危害,进行多阶段(成鱼、仔鱼、胚胎)斑马鱼毒性试验,分析了嘧菌酯对鱼类的急性毒性,同时,通过6 d胚胎发育试验,研究了嘧菌酯对鱼类早期发育阶段的影响.结果表明,斑马鱼3个生命阶段对嘧菌酯的敏感性(以96 h-LC50(致死中浓度)表示)顺序为:仔鱼(0.39 mg·L~(-1))胚胎(0.61 mg·L~(-1))成鱼(1.37 mg·L~(-1)).6 d胚胎发育试验结果发现,嘧菌酯可诱导斑马鱼胚胎出现一系列不良症状,包括孵化率下降、心率异常、生长抑制和心包水肿等.0.25 mg·L~(-1)的嘧菌酯可显著促进斑马鱼胚胎自主运动和心率,并能明显抑制孵化仔鱼的体长.0.6 mg·L~(-1)及更高浓度的嘧菌酯可明显抑制斑马鱼胚胎眼睛、体节、尾部和心脏的发育.研究显示,嘧菌酯对斑马鱼多个生命阶段均具有一定毒性,但对早期生命阶段毒性更强,因此,其对鱼类早期生命阶段的影响值得重视.     

Development of the vertebrate central nervous system: formation of the neural tube

The developmental process of neurulation involves a series of coordinated morphological events, which result in conversion of the flat neural plate into the neural tube, the primordium of the entire central nervous system (CNS). Failure of neurulation results in neural tube defects (NTDs), severe abnormalities of the CNS, which are among the commonest of congenital malformations in humans. In order to gain insight into the embryological basis of NTDs, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, it is necessary to understand the morphogenetic processes and molecular mechanisms underlying neural tube closure. The mouse is the most extensively studied mammalian experimental model for studies of neurulation, while considerable insight into underlying developmental mechanisms has also arisen from studies in other model systems, particularly birds and amphibians. We describe the process of neural tube formation, discuss the cellular mechanisms involved and highlight recent findings that provide links between molecular signaling pathways and morphogenetic tissue movements. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for aneuploidy screening in early human embryos: a review

Embryonic aneuploidies may be responsible for pregnancy failure in many IVF patients. In recent years, fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) for multiple chromosomes has been used to document a high frequency of chromosomal errors and aneuploidy in human preimplantation embryos and, after embryo biopsy, to select embryos that are more likely to implant. Such studies suggest that women with recurrent miscarriage and advanced maternal age may benefit most from preimplantation genetic diagnosis with aneuploidy screening (PGD-AS). The success of PGD-AS is likely to be enhanced by new technologies, such as comparative genomic hybridisation, which enable full karyotyping of single cells. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1,2,4-三氯苯对斑马鱼生殖和胚胎发育毒性效应

采用斑马鱼胚胎早期发育技术研究了1,2,4-三氯苯(1,2,4-TCB)对成年斑马鱼(Danio retio)和斑马鱼受精卵染毒后胚胎生命早期阶段生长发育的影响.结果发现,大于5mg/L 剂量的1,2,4-TCB有明显发育毒性,会导致胚胎致畸,引起胚胎凝集或死亡.1,2,4-TCB对成年斑马鱼和斑马鱼受精卵染毒后,胚胎的致死率均与1,2,4-TCB处理之间呈现时间-效应和剂量-效应关系.高浓度的(15 mg/L) 1,2,4-TCB对成年斑马鱼的染毒,其平均产卵量和受精率均降低.成年斑马鱼或者受精卵接触1,2,4-TCB后,胚胎发育中典型的非致死效应—心包囊水肿和脊柱畸形的比例均随着1,2,4-TCB的浓度升高而逐渐升高.同浓度1,2,4-TCB处理后,斑马鱼胚胎直接染毒造成的非致死毒性效应更强.结果表明,水体中残留的1,2,4-TCB对于鱼类的生殖和发育具有潜在的危害.     

邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基已)酯(DEHP)对马氏珠母贝(Pinctada maetensii)胚胎发育的影响及DNA损伤

邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己)酯(DEHP)是一种常用的增塑剂,在环境中广泛存在。本研究以马氏珠母贝胚胎为研究对象,揭示DEHP短期胁迫对胚胎发育的影响及胚胎DNA损伤。结果显示:DEHP对D型面盘幼虫的发育有显著影响,同一浓度组的死亡率与时间呈正相关。在(4~32)mg/L浓度范围内,不同胁迫时间段,幼虫的死亡率随染毒浓度升高而上升,表现出明显的剂量-效应关系,说明DEHP暴露能影响马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫的发育,并可能对其种群结构产生不利影响。DEHP胁迫还能对胚胎 DNA造成明显损伤,随着DEHP染毒浓度的增大,彗星尾长(TL)、尾矩(OTM)明显增加,尾部DNA含量(T-DNA)上升,3个指标表现出良好的相关性,DNA的损伤与暴露浓度间存在明显的剂量-效应关系。研究结果表明马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫的发育和形态学变化、胚胎细胞的DNA的损伤可以作为反映海洋环境中DEHP污染早期预警的敏感生物标志物。     

Preimplantation diagnosis

Research towards preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disease was initiated in the UK. in the mid 1980s with the aim of helping those couples who would prefer selection to occur at this stage rather than during pregnancy. Following in vitro fertilisation, (IVF), biopsy and removal of 1 or 2 of the totipotent cells from the cleavage stage 3 day old embryo provides the material for molecular genetic diagnosis without interfering with development. Earliest applications were in the avoidance of X-linked disease by sexing embryos and selecting females for transfer to the mother. Initially, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA from the biopsied blastomeres was performed using primers specific for sequences derived from the Y chromosome and this led to the birth of several normal girls. To reduce the risk of misdiagnosis due to amplification failure, PCR based methods for sexing the embryo now employ both X and Y specific sequences, but the preferred method is currently considered to be fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) with fluorochrome labelled DNA probes to the embryonic nuclei that have been fixed and spread on slides. Dual FISH with probes from X and Y chromosomes allows unequivocal diagnosis of sex and determination of chromosome copy number, avoiding transfer of embryos with abnormal numbers of sex chromosomes, including those with only the maternal X that would be at 50% risk for the X-linked disease. The application of FISH for preimplantation diagnosis has also led to the realisation that chromosomal mosaicism is common at the cleavage stage of development, a finding that has important implications for diagnosis of both dominant single gene disorders and trisomies, as well as for our understanding of early human development. Cloning and sequencing of the relevant genes has enabled the development of methods for the diagnosis of certain recessive single gene disorders in cleavage stage embryos. PCR based methods have to be developed for each condition, sometimes for each family if there is heterogeneity. Preimplantation diagnosis has been successful so far for cystic fibrosis, Tay Sachs disease, and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Worldwide, 32 pregnancies have been established following all types of preimplantation diagnosis and with 29 babies born, there is no evidence for any adverse effect on development.     

纺织印染废水及其底泥对太湖花早期发育的毒性研究

在(25±1)℃水温条件下,以纺织印染废水及其底泥水提液为试验相,采用半静止式生物毒性试验法,分析了纺织印染废水及其底泥对太湖花早期发育阶段的影响,计算了印染废水和底泥水提液对花早期发育各阶段的无可观察效应浓度(NOEC)、可观察效应浓度(LOEC)、可允许毒物浓度(MATC)、半数效应浓度(EC50)、LD50和安全浓度.结果表明,高浓度纺织印染废水和底泥水提液对花的胚胎发育和仔鱼具有明显的毒性效应,对初孵仔鱼的毒性效应最大,96h半数致死剂量(LD50)分别为19.61%和44.83%.胚胎发育前期对纺织印染废水及其底泥水提液的敏感性高于胚胎发育后期.印染废水和底泥水提液对花早期发育的各个阶段均有一定的致死和致畸毒性作用,且随着浓度的不断增加,花受精卵孵化率降低,胚胎发育延缓、畸形及仔鱼运动性差、死亡率增高.     

Preimplantation diagnosis: A patient perspective

A new dimension in the prevention of birth defects will be achieved when genetic diseases can be routinely diagnosed in embryos prior to implantation. The impressions and attitudes towards preimplantation diagnosis were studied in prospective patients, women at high reproductive risk for a genetic disease. Their perspective highlighted not only the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach, but also those changes necessary in order for preimplantation diagnosis to become a useful and practical technique. The data presented are based on information obtained by a mailed questionnaire answered by 58 women. The main benefit of preimplantation diagnosis for these high-risk women would be the ability to undertake a pregnancy without having to be subjected to the physical and/or emotional trauma of elective termination. Their major concerns related to possible damage to the embryo following biopsy, the cost of the procedure, and the low success rate of completed pregnancies. Other issues to be addressed before preimplantation diagnosis could begin to compare favourably with existing forms of prenatal testing were that the methods of obtaining oocytes or embryos should be simple, well tolerated, highly efficient, and low in maternal risk, and that the genetic analysis of embryonic or extraembryonic cells should be unequivocally accurate.     

CdSe/ZnS量子点对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育的影响及其氧化应激作用

本研究以稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)为对象,研究了不同浓度CdSe/ZnS量子点(QDs)暴露下,稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育过程中自主运动频率、内心率和体长的变化,以及利用体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)作为毒性指标,反映CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育的氧化应激作用.结果显示:CdSe/ZnS QDs对稀有鮈鲫胚胎72 hpf(hours post fertilization)的半致死浓度(LC50)为319.629 nmol·L-1,96 hpf的半致畸浓度(EC50)为203.312 nmol·L-1.CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露不仅影响稀有鮈鲫胚胎死亡率、畸形率、自主运动频率、孵化时间和孵化率,而且使其内心率减缓、体长缩短,导致胚胎卵凝结,心包囊肿,出现脊椎弯曲等多种毒性现象.同时发现,CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露导致稀有鮈鲫体内MDA含量增加以及SOD活力的降低.这表明CdSe/ZnS QDs对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育具有致畸、致死作用,而氧化应激可能是引起其胚胎致畸、致死的重要机制之一.     

β-Glucuronidase activity in mouse oocytes,mouse preimplantation embryos,and human gametes

A microfluorimetric assay was designed to monitor β-glucuronidase (β-gluc) activity during the early development of mouse embryos and was also applied to measure β-gluc activity in human sperm cells and single human oocytes. Mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos at different stages of development, failed fertilized human oocytes, and human sperm cells were collected, and β-gluc activity was analysed. In the mouse, β-gluc activity could be measured starting from the morula stage on in a pooled sample of 15 embryos and at blasto-cyst formation in one single embryo. β-Gluc activity was low in human sperm cells. The enzyme could be readily demonstrated in 87 per cent of non-fertilized human oocytes. Considerable variation in β-gluc activity was noticed between individual oocytes.     

Effects of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos

In recent years, with the wide applications and mineral exploitation of rare earth elements, their potential environmental and health effects have caused increasing public concern. Effect of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos were studied. The embryos were exposed to La³⁺ or Yb³⁺ at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mmol/L, respectively. Early life stage parameters such as egg and embryo mortality, gastrula development, tail detachment, eyes, somite formation, circulatory system, pigmentation, malformations, hatching rate, length of larvae and mortality were investigated. The results showed La³⁺ and Yb³⁺ delayed zebrafish embryo and larval development, decreased survival and hatching rates, and caused tail malformation in a concentration-dependent way. Moreover, heavy rare-earth ytterbium led to more severe acute toxicity of zebrafish embryo than light rare-earth lanthanum.     

高氯酸钠对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应

采用斑马鱼胚胎发育技术方法研究高氯酸钠对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性效应,配制一系列高氯酸钠的浓度,对受精1h的胚胎进行染毒暴露,最后对斑马鱼胚胎的心率,孵化率,死亡率,畸形率进行统计分析。研究结果显示,高氯酸钠(NaClO4)浓度的增加,斑马鱼胚胎的心率和孵化率降低、死亡率和畸形率增加。斑马鱼48hpf的胚胎心率高浓度组比对照组下降了35%;72 h的孵化率由对照组的88%降低到高浓度组的36%;144 h的死亡率由对照组的5%增加到72%;144 h的畸形率由对照组的2%增加到91%,主要畸形表现为心包囊肿(PE),脊柱弯曲(AM),鱼鳔缺失(SBD)等。结果表明,高浓度的高氯酸钠(NaClO4)对斑马鱼胚胎发育有明显的剂量效应作用。     

Exome sequencing for gene discovery in lethal fetal disorders – harnessing the value of extreme phenotypes

Massively parallel sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of Mendelian disorders, and many novel genes have been discovered to cause disease phenotypes when mutant. At the same time, next-generation sequencing approaches have enabled non-invasive prenatal testing of free fetal DNA in maternal blood. However, little attention has been paid to using whole exome and genome sequencing strategies for gene identification in fetal disorders that are lethal in utero, because they can appear to be sporadic and Mendelian inheritance may be missed. We present challenges and advantages of applying next-generation sequencing approaches to gene discovery in fetal malformation phenotypes and review recent successful discovery approaches. We discuss the implication and significance of recessive inheritance and cross-species phenotyping in fetal lethal conditions. Whole exome sequencing can be used in individual families with undiagnosed lethal congenital anomaly syndromes to discover causal mutations, provided that prior to data analysis, the fetal phenotype can be correlated to a particular developmental pathway in embryogenesis. Cross-species phenotyping allows providing further evidence for causality of discovered variants in genes involved in those extremely rare phenotypes and will increase our knowledge about normal and abnormal human developmental processes. Ultimately, families will benefit from the option of early prenatal diagnosis. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.