Extracellular Vesicles and Reproduction
Recently, we have become interested in providing a more natural microenvironment to support in vitro gamete function and embryo production. We have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from reproductive tissues, including granulosa cells of ovarian follicles (follicular fluid EVs), and oviductal epithelial cells (oviductal EVs) contain proteins associated with the actin cytoskeleton, cell metabolism, and several signaling pathways (including MAPK and calcium-signaling) which have important roles in meiosis and fertilization. Supplementation of follicular fluid EVs to domestic cat oocytes during vitrification/thawing improved their ability to resume meiosis compared with un-supplemented controls, and addition of oviductal EVs to cryopreserved red wolf and cheetah sperm during thawing and incubation supports acrosome integrity. Together, these studies support the potential of EVs to improve assisted reproductive technologies.
Published Manuscripts
Ferraz, M.D.A.M.M., Nagashima, J.B. (equal contributors), Noonan, M.J., Crosier, A.E., & Songsasen, N. (2020). Oviductal extracellular vesicles improve post-thaw sperm function in red wolves and cheetahs. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 3733. doi: 10.3390/ijms21103733. PMCID: PMC6103977
Ferraz, M.D.A.M.M., Fujihara M., Nagashima J.B., Noonan, M.J., Inoue-Murayama, M., & Songsasen, N. (2020) Follicular extracellular vesicles enhance meiotic resumption of domestic cat vitrified oocytes. Scientific Reports. 10:8619. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65497-w. PMCID: PMC4755440
Nagashima, J.B., Ferraz, M.D.A.M.M., Songsasen, N. (2020). Extracellular vesicles and assisted reproductive technology. Clinical Theriogenology. 12(2) p. 89-101.
