Changes in histone H4 acetylation during in vivo versus in vitro maturation of equine oocytes.
Abstract: Epigenetic modifications are established during gametogenesis and preimplantation embryonic development. Any disturbance of the normal natural environment during these critical phases could cause alterations of the epigenetic signature. Histone acetylation is an important epigenetic modification involved in the regulation of chromatin organization and gene expression. The present study was aimed to determine whether the proper establishment of post-translational histone H4 acetylation at lysine 8 (AcH4K8), 12 (AcH4K12) and 16 (AcH4K16) of equine oocytes is adversely affected during in vitro maturation (IVM) when compared with in vivo matured oocytes collected from naturally cycling mares not undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation. The acetylation patterns were investigated by means of indirect immunofluorescence staining with specific antibodies directed against the acetylated lysine residues. Our results indicate that the acetylation state of H4 is dependent on the chromatin configuration in immature germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes and it changes in a residue-specific manner along with the increase of chromatin condensation. In particular, the levels of AcH4K8 and AcH4K12 increased significantly, while AcH4K16 decreased significantly from the fibrillar to the condensed state of chromatin configuration within the GV. Moreover, during meiosis, K8 and K12 were substantially deacetylated without any differences between in vivo and in vitro conditions, while K16 displayed a strong acetylation in oocytes matured in vivo, and in contrast, it was markedly deacetylated following IVM. Although the functional meaning of residue-specific acetylation during oocyte differentiation and meiotic resumption needs further investigation, our results support the hypothesis that IVM conditions can adversely affect oocyte ability to regulate the epigenetic reprogramming, critical for successful meiosis and subsequent embryonic development.
Publication Date: 2011-12-07 PubMed ID: 22155671DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gar077Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study focuses on investigating the effect of in vitro maturation on the natural epigenetic modification, specifically histone acetylation, of equine oocytes. The study indicates that in vitro conditions might impact the oocyte’s ability to control epigenetic reprogramming, which can potentially affect its successful meiosis completion and further embryonic development.
Research Goals
- The study’s primary objective was to establish whether the post-translational acetylation of histone H4 in equine oocytes is disrupted during in vitro maturation.
- This investigation was compared to in vivo matured oocytes harvested from naturally cycling mares that weren’t undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation.
Methodology
- Acetylation patterns were examined using indirect immunofluorescence staining with antibodies specific to the acetylated lysine residues.
- The investigation focused on the acetylation at lysine 8, 12, 16 (AcH4K8, AcH4K12, AcH4K16) positions of histone H4 in equine oocytes.
- The chromatin configurations of immature germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes were taken into account as the study identified that the acetylation state of H4 is dependent on these configurations.
Findings and Implications
- The acetylation patterns changed in a residue-specific manner with the increase in chromatin condensation.
- During meiosis, AcH4K8 and AcH4K12 increased significantly, while AcH4K16 decreased significantly from the fibrillar to the condensed state of chromatin configuration within the GV.
- Differences were observed in terms of K16 displaying strong acetylation in oocytes matured in vivo and marked deacetylation after in vitro maturation.
- These results suggest that in vitro maturation conditions may adversely impact the ability of oocytes to regulate epigenetic reprogramming, crucial for successful meiosis and subsequent embryonic development.
- The functional implications of residue-specific acetylation during oocyte differentiation and meiotic resumption need further exploration.
Cite This Article
APA
Franciosi F, Lodde V, Goudet G, Duchamp G, Deleuze S, Douet C, Tessaro I, Luciano AM.
(2011).
Changes in histone H4 acetylation during in vivo versus in vitro maturation of equine oocytes.
Mol Hum Reprod, 18(5), 243-252.
https://doi.org/10.1093/molehr/gar077 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Acetylation
- Animals
- Cell Culture Techniques
- Chromatin / metabolism
- Chromatin / ultrastructure
- Histones / metabolism
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / metabolism
- Oocyte Retrieval
- Oocytes / growth & development
- Oocytes / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Nagata S, Tatematsu K, Yamaguchi H, Inoue Y, Tanaka K, Tasaki H, Shirasuna K, Iwata H. Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on in vitro growth of bovine oocytes. Reprod Med Biol 2021 Oct;20(4):485-493.
- Lodde V, Luciano AM, Musmeci G, Miclea I, Tessaro I, Aru M, Albertini DF, Franciosi F. A Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Characterization of Bovine Oocytes Reveals That Cysteamine Partially Rescues the Embryo Development in a Model of Low Ovarian Reserve. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 29;11(7).
- Bogolyubova I, Bogolyubov D. Heterochromatin Morphodynamics in Late Oogenesis and Early Embryogenesis of Mammals. Cells 2020 Jun 19;9(6).
- Conti M, Franciosi F. Acquisition of oocyte competence to develop as an embryo: integrated nuclear and cytoplasmic events. Hum Reprod Update 2018 May 1;24(3):245-266.
- Franciosi F, Tessaro I, Dalbies-Tran R, Douet C, Reigner F, Deleuze S, Papillier P, Miclea I, Lodde V, Luciano AM, Goudet G. Analysis of Chromosome Segregation, Histone Acetylation, and Spindle Morphology in Horse Oocytes. J Vis Exp 2017 May 11;(123).
- Iwata H. Age-associated changes in granulosa cells and follicular fluid in cows. J Reprod Dev 2017 Aug 19;63(4):339-345.
- Adair P, Kim YC, Pratt KP, Scott DW. Avidity of human T cell receptor engineered CD4(+) T cells drives T-helper differentiation fate. Cell Immunol 2016 Jan;299:30-41.
- Shirakata Y, Hiradate Y, Inoue H, Sato E, Tanemura K. Histone h4 modification during mouse spermatogenesis. J Reprod Dev 2014;60(5):383-7.
- Luciano AM, Lodde V, Franciosi F, Tessaro I, Corbani D, Modina S. Large-scale chromatin morpho-functional changes during mammalian oocyte growth and differentiation. Eur J Histochem 2012 Aug 10;56(3):e37.
- Musmeci G, Franchi FF, Mossa F, Luciano AM, Lodde V, Franciosi F. Reversible Histone Acetylation During Preimplantation Embryo Development in Mammals. Results Probl Cell Differ 2025;75:165-188.
- Jia Y, Ye M, Bukulmez O, Norman RJ, Liu W, Chen M. Melatonin Rescues Hyperacetylation of Liver and Impaired Enzymatic Activities of Mitochondrial in IVF Offspring. Reprod Sci 2025 Aug;32(8):2717-2728.
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