University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2020 Jun;217:106459. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106459. Epub 2020 Apr 25.
Assisted reproduction of endangered equids, such as Persian onagers (Equus hemionus onager), is vital for species conservation. Little is known about Persian onager reproductive functions, including functions of the uterine endometrium. Recently, successful cryopreservation of the domestic mare endometrium was reported, but there is no information on cryo-sensitivity or in vitro culture of endometrial tissues of any non-domestic equid. In the present study, endometrial explants from Persian onagers were cryopreserved and cultured in vitro for 5 days. There was no difference between endometrial explants when 10% and 20% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used for cryopreservation. Cell viability and structural integrity were comparable to fresh tissue. Abundance of estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) mRNA transcript in endometrial explants was less in most treatment groups compared to the fresh tissue control. There was variation in E-cadherin mRNA abundance in endometrial explants among treatment groups with some treatment groups having a lesser abundance compared to the control group. The abundance of Ki67 mRNA transcript of endometrial explants was not different among treatment groups compared to the control group. Results indicate that DMSO is a suitable cryoprotectant for the Persian onager endometrium, and in vitro culture in a liquid-gas interface can maintain Persian onager endometrial explants for as long as 5 days. Findings allow for a greater understanding of reproductive mechanisms in vitro for this endangered species and other domestic equids including donkeys.
濒危马科动物（如伊朗野驴（Equus hemionus onager））的辅助繁殖对于物种保护至关重要。关于伊朗野驴的生殖功能，包括子宫子宫内膜的功能，人们知之甚少。最近，成功地对家马的子宫内膜进行了冷冻保存，但对于任何非家马种的子宫内膜组织的冷冻敏感性或体外培养，尚无信息。在本研究中，对伊朗野驴的子宫内膜进行了冷冻保存并在体外培养了 5 天。使用 10%和 20%二甲基亚砜（DMSO）进行冷冻保存时，子宫内膜的活力和结构完整性没有差异。与新鲜组织相比，子宫内膜的细胞活力和结构完整性可与新鲜组织相媲美。与新鲜组织对照组相比，大多数治疗组中子宫内膜中雌激素受体-α（ESR1）和孕激素受体（PGR）mRNA 转录的丰度较低。与对照组相比，一些治疗组中子宫内膜中 E-钙粘蛋白 mRNA 的丰度存在差异。与对照组相比，子宫内膜中 Ki67mRNA 转录物的丰度在治疗组之间没有差异。结果表明，DMSO 是伊朗野驴子宫内膜的合适冷冻保护剂，在气液界面的体外培养可以维持伊朗野驴子宫内膜组织长达 5 天。这些发现有助于更好地了解该濒危物种和其他包括驴在内的家马的生殖机制。
