In vitro culture of ovine embryos up to early gastrulating stages

Ramos-Ibeas, Priscila; González-Brusi, Leopoldo; Used, María Torres; Cocero, María Jesús; Marigorta, Pilar; Alberio, Ramiro; Bermejo-Álvarez, Pablo

Abstract

Developmental failures occurring shortly after blastocyst hatching from the zona pellucida constitute a major cause of pregnancy losses in both humans and farm ungulates. The developmental events occurring following hatching in ungulates include the proliferation and maturation of extra-embryonic membranes - trophoblast and hypoblast - and the formation of a flat embryonic disc, similar to that found in humans, which initiates gastrulation prior to implantation. Unfortunately, our understanding of these key processes for embryo survival is limited because current culture systems cannot sustain ungulate embryo development beyond hatching. Here, we report a culture system that recapitulates most developmental landmarks of gastrulating ovine embryos: trophoblast maturation, hypoblast migration, embryonic disc formation, disappearance of the Rauber's layer, epiblast polarization and mesoderm differentiation. Our system represents a highly valuable platform for exploring the cell differentiation, proliferation and migration processes governing gastrulation in a flat embryonic disc and for understanding pregnancy failures during the second week of gestation. This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.

Citation

Ramos-Ibeas, P., González-Brusi, L., Used, M. T., Cocero, M. J., Marigorta, P., Alberio, R., & Bermejo-Álvarez, P. (2022). In vitro culture of ovine embryos up to early gastrulating stages. Development, 149(6), Article dev199743. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.199743

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 23, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 23, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 12, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2022
• Journal: Development (Cambridge, England)
• Print ISSN: 0950-1991
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-9129
• Publisher: The Company of Biologists
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 149
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: dev199743
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.199743
• Keywords: Developmental Biology; Molecular Biology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7739524
• Publisher URL: https://journals.biologists.com/dev/article/149/6/dev199743/274801/In-vitro-culture-of-ovine-embryos-up-to-early