Leptin supplementation in embryo culture medium increases in vivo implantation rates in mice

Leptin is a hormone-like protein consisting of 167 amino acids. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of differentleptin concentrations on in vitro and in vivo embryo development rates. In vitro development rates were investigated by embryo culturestudies, and in vivo implantation rates and the quality of embryos were assessed by embryo transfers to the recipient mice. The resultsshowed that addition of leptin into the embryo culture medium at 10 and 100 ng/mL doses supported the in vitro development ofmouse embryo. Moreover, leptin increased the total cell number of blastocyst, particularly the trophectoderm cells. In vivo assessmentshowed a significant increase in the proportion of the embryos implanted in 10 and 100 ng/mL groups, compared to the control group.In conclusion, leptin supplement in embryo culture medium increases implantation rates in mice.

PDF

___

1. Zhang Y, Proenca R, Maffei M, Barone M, Leopold L, Friedman JM. Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue. Nature 1994; 372: 425-432.
2. Ahima R, Prabakaran D, Mantzoros C, Qu D, Lowell B, Maratos-Flier E, Flier JS. Role of leptin in the neuroendocrine response to fasting. Nature 1996; 382: 250-252.
3. Chehab FF, Mounzih K, Lu R, Lim ME. Early onset of reproductive function in normal female mice treated with leptin. Science 1997; 275: 88-90.
4. Hardie L, Trayhurn P, Abramovich D, Fowler P. Circulating leptin in women: a longitudinal study in the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Clin Endocrinol 1997; 47: 101-106.
5. Henson MC, Castracane VD. Leptin in pregnancy: an update. Biol Reprod 2005; 74: 218-229.
6. Lukaszuk K, Liss J, Kusiak E, Wojcikowski C. Serum leptin concentration increase during luteal phase in healthy premenopausal women. Horm Metab Res 1998; 30: 172-173.
7. Kawamura K, Sato N, Fukuda J, Kodama H, Kumagai J, Tanikawa H, Nakamura A, Tanaka T. Leptin promotes the development of mouse preimplantation embryos in vitro. Endocrinology 2002; 143: 1922-1931.
8. Kawamura K, Sato N, Fukuda J, Kodama H, Kumagai J, Tanikawa H, Murata M, Tanaka T. The role of leptin during the development of mouse preimplantation embryos. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2003; 202: 185-189.
9. Herrid M, Nguyen VL, Hinch G, McFarlane JR. Leptin has concentration and stage-dependent effects on embryonic development in vitro. Reproduction 2006; 132: 247-256.
10. Fedorcsák P, Dale PO, Storeng R, Ertzeid G, Bjercke S, Oldereid N, Omland AK, Åbyholm T, Tanbo T. Impact of overweight and underweight on assisted reproduction treatment. Hum Reprod 2004; 19: 2523-2528.
11. Swain JE, Dunn RL, McConnell D, Gonzalez-Martinez J, Smith GD. Direct effects of leptin on mouse reproductive function: regulation of follicular, oocyte, and embryo development. Biol Reprod 2004; 71: 1446-1452.
12. Schulz LC, Widmaier EP. The effect of leptin on mouse trophoblast cell invasion. Biol Reprod 2004; 71: 1963-1967.
13. Craig JA, Zhu H, Dyce PW, Wen L, Li J. Leptin enhances porcine preimplantation embryo development in vitro. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2005; 229: 141-147.
14. Van Tol HT, Van Eerdenburg, FJ Colenbrander, B Roelen BA. Enhancement of bovine oocyte maturation by leptin is accompanied by an upregulation in mRNA expression of leptin receptor isoforms in cumulus cells. Mol Reprod Dev 2008; 75: 578-587.
15. Lange Consiglio A, Dellaquila ME, Fiandanese N, Ambruosi B, Cho YS, Bosi G, Arrighi S, Lacalandra GM, Cremonesi F. Effects of leptin on in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryonic cleavage after ICSI and early developmental expression of leptin (Ob) and leptin receptor (ObR) proteins in the horse. Reprod Biol Endocrin 2009; 16: 113.
16. Bagis H, Akkoc T, Taskin C, Arat S. Comparison of different cryopreservation techniques: higher survival and implantation rate of frozen-thawed mouse pronuclear embryos in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol in post-thaw culture. Reprod Domest Anim 2010; 45: 332-337.
17. Taskin AC, Akkoc T, Sagirkaya H, Bagis H, Arat S. Comparison of the development of mouse embryos manipulated with different biopsy techniques. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 2016; 40: 157- 162.
18. Thouas GA, Korfiatis, NA, French AJ, Jones GM, Trounson AO. Simplified technique for differential staining of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells of mouse and bovine blastocysts. Reprod Biomed Online 2001; 3: 25-29.
19. Mallol A, Santaló J, Ibáñez E. Comparison of three differential mouse blastocyst staining methods. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2013; 59: 117-122.
20. Jia, Z, Zhang, J, Wu, Z, Tian J. Leptin enhances maturation and development of calf oocytes in vitro. Reprod Domest Anim 2012; 47: 718-723.
21. Malik NM, Carter ND, Murray JF, Scaramuzzi RJ, Wilson CA, Stock MJ. Leptin requirement for conception, implantation, and gestation in the mouse. Endocrinology 2001; 142: 5198-5202.
22. Yang YJ, Cao YJ, Bo SM, Peng S, Liu WM, Duan EK. Leptindirected embryo implantation: leptin regulates adhesion and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts and receptivity of endometrial epithelial cells. Anim Reprod Sci 2006; 92: 155-167.
23. Noriyuki N, Yamamotoa S, Kiyonarib H, Satoa H, Sawadaa A, Otaa M, Nakaob K, Sasakia H. Tead4 is required for specification of trophectoderm in pre-implantation mouse embryos. Mech Dev 2008; 125; 270-283.