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Equine veterinary journal2018; 51(2); 252-257; doi: 10.1111/evj.12995

Advanced mare age impairs the ability of in vitro-matured oocytes to correctly align chromosomes on the metaphase plate.

Abstract: Advanced mare age is associated with declining fertility and an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. Compromised oocyte quality is probably the primary reason for reduced fertility, but the defects predisposing to embryonic death are unknown. In women, advanced age predisposes to chromosome segregation errors during meiosis, which lead to embryonic aneuploidy and a heightened risk of miscarriage. Objective: To evaluate the effect of advanced mare age on chromosome alignment and meiotic spindle morphology in in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes. Methods: Morphometric and morphological analysis. Methods: To investigate differences in spindle organisation and chromosome alignment between young and old mares, oocytes collected from slaughtered mares were divided into two groups depending on mare age (young, ≤14 years and old, ≥16 years), IVM and stained to visualise chromatin and alpha-tubulin. Spindle morphology, morphometry and chromosome (mis)alignment were evaluated by confocal microscopy and 3D image analysis. Results: Oocytes from old mares showed a higher incidence of chromosome misalignment (47.4% vs. 4.5%; P<0.001) and a thicker metaphase plate (mean ± s.d.: 5.8 ± 1.0 μm vs. 4.9 ± 0.9 μm; P = 0.04) than oocytes from young mares. Although no differences in spindle morphometry were detected between old and young mares, an increased major spindle axis length was associated with chromosome misalignment (mean ± s.d.: 25.3 ± 6.1 μm vs. 20.8 ± 3.3 μm; P = 0.01) irrespective of age. Conclusions: The oocytes were IVM and may not exactly reflect chromosome misalignment in vivo. Conclusions: Advanced mare age predisposes to chromosome misalignment on the metaphase II spindle of IVM oocytes. The compromised ability to correctly align chromosomes presumably predisposes to aneuploidy in resulting embryos and thereby contributes to the age-related decline in fertility and increased incidence of early pregnancy loss. The Summary is available in Portuguese - see Supporting Information.
© 2018 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2018-08-09 PubMed ID: 30025174PubMed Central: PMC6585749DOI: 10.1111/evj.12995Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research examines the effects of advanced mare age on the ability of their in-vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes to correctly align chromosomes on the metaphase plate. The findings suggest that older mares are more prone to chromosome misalignment, which could potentially contribute to issues of fertility and an increased risk of early pregnancy loss.

Objective and Methods

  • The objective of the study was to analyze the impact of a mare’s advanced age on chromosome alignment in in-vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes and meiotic spindle morphology. This was undertaken due to the suspected correlation between increasing age and declining fertility, alongside an increased risk of early pregnancy loss in mares.
  • The researchers categorised oocytes collected from slaughtered mares into two groups based on the age of the mare (young was denoted as ≤14 years and old as ≥16 years). The oocytes were then matured in-vitro and stained to make the chromatin and alpha-tubulin visible.
  • Through the use of confocal microscopy and 3D image analysis, the morphology and morphometry of the spindles were evaluated and the chromosomes were checked for any misalignment.

Results

  • The study found that oocytes from older mares had a higher incidence of chromosome misalignment at 47.4% compared to 4.5% in young mares.
  • Moreover, oocytes from older mares exhibited a thicker metaphase plate.
  • Even though spindle morphometry did not vary significantly between the two age groups, an increased length of the major spindle axis was observed in those instances where chromosome misalignment was present, regardless of age.

Conclusion

  • Despite these novel insights, it should be noted that the oocytes were matured in-vitro, and may not perfectly represent the state of chromosome misalignment occurring in vivo.
  • Nonetheless, the study demonstrates that advanced mare age predisposes oocytes to chromosome misalignment during division, which can increase the risk of aneuploidy in embryos, leading to a decline in fertility rates and a higher likelihood of early pregnancy loss.

Cite This Article

APA
Rizzo M, Ducheyne KD, Deelen C, Beitsma M, Cristarella S, Quartuccio M, Stout TAE, de Ruijter-Villani M. (2018). Advanced mare age impairs the ability of in vitro-matured oocytes to correctly align chromosomes on the metaphase plate. Equine Vet J, 51(2), 252-257. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12995

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 2
Pages: 252-257

Researcher Affiliations

Rizzo, M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
Ducheyne, K D
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Deelen, C
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Beitsma, M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Cristarella, S
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
Quartuccio, M
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
Stout, T A E
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
de Ruijter-Villani, M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Animals
  • Chromosomes
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / veterinary
  • Metaphase / physiology
  • Oocytes / physiology
  • Spindle Apparatus

Grant Funding

  • 141492 / Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie

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