PMID- 28203704
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20180627
LR  - 20180627
IS  - 1529-7268 (Electronic)
IS  - 0006-3363 (Linking)
VI  - 96
IP  - 2
DP  - 2017 Feb 1
TI  - Blocking connexin channels improves embryo development of vitrified bovine 
      blastocysts.
PG  - 288-301
LID - 10.1095/biolreprod.116.144121 [doi]
AB  - Connexins (Cxs) are required for normal embryo development and implantation. They 
      form gap junctions (GJs) connecting the cytoplasm of adjacent cells and 
      hemichannels (HCs), which are normally closed but open in response to stress 
      conditions. Excessive HC opening is detrimental for cell function and may lead to 
      cell death. We found that hatching of in vitro-produced bovine embryos, matured 
      in serum-containing conditions, was significantly improved when 
      vitrification/warming was done in the presence of Gap26 that targets GJA1 (Cx43) 
      and GJA4 (Cx37). Further work showed that HCs from blastocysts produced after 
      oocyte maturation in the presence of serum were open shortly after 
      vitrification/warming, and this was prevented by Gap26. Gap26, applied for the 
      exposure times used, inhibited Cx43 and Cx37 HCs while it did not have an effect 
      on GJs. Interestingly, Gap26 had no effect on blastocyst degeneration or cell 
      death. We conclude that blocking HCs protects embryos during vitrification and 
      warming by a functional effect not linked to cell death.
FAU - Ortiz-Escribano, Nerea
AU  - Ortiz-Escribano N
AD  - Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
FAU - Szymanska, Katarzyna Joanna
AU  - Szymanska KJ
AD  - Physiology group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, 
      Belgium.
FAU - Bol, Melissa
AU  - Bol M
AD  - Physiology group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, 
      Belgium.
FAU - Vandenberghe, Lynn
AU  - Vandenberghe L
AD  - Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
FAU - Decrock, Elke
AU  - Decrock E
AD  - Physiology group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, 
      Belgium.
FAU - Van Poucke, Mario
AU  - Van Poucke M
AD  - Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 
      Belgium.
FAU - Peelman, Luc
AU  - Peelman L
AD  - Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 
      Belgium.
FAU - Van den Abbeel, Etienne
AU  - Van den Abbeel E
AD  - Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
FAU - Van Soom, Ann
AU  - Van Soom A
AD  - Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
FAU - Leybaert, Luc
AU  - Leybaert L
AD  - Physiology group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, 
      Belgium.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Biol Reprod
JT  - Biology of reproduction
JID - 0207224
RN  - 0 (Connexins)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Blastocyst/*physiology
MH  - Cattle/*embryology/physiology
MH  - Connexins/*antagonists & inhibitors
MH  - Cryopreservation
MH  - Embryo Culture Techniques/*veterinary
MH  - Embryonic Development
MH  - HeLa Cells
MH  - Humans
MH  - *Vitrification
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - connexins
OT  - hemichannels
OT  - vitrification
OT  - cryopreservation
OT  - blastocyst
EDAT- 2017/02/17 06:00
MHDA- 2018/06/28 06:00
CRDT- 2017/02/17 06:00
PHST- 2017/01/03 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2016/08/08 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2016/12/01 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2017/02/17 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2017/02/17 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2018/06/28 06:00 [medline]
AID - 2948760 [pii]
AID - 10.1095/biolreprod.116.144121 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Biol Reprod. 2017 Feb 1;96(2):288-301. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.144121.