Designing 3-Dimensional In Vitro Oviduct Culture Systems to Study Mammalian Fertilization and Embryo Production

Abstract

The oviduct was long considered a largely passive conduit for gametes and embryos. However, an increasing number of studies into oviduct physiology have demonstrated that it specifically and significantly influences gamete interaction, fertilization and early embryo development. While oviduct epithelial cell (OEC) function has been examined during maintenance in conventional tissue culture dishes, cells seeded into these two-dimensional (2-D) conditions suffer a rapid loss of differentiated OEC characteristics, such as ciliation and secretory activity. Recently, three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture systems have been developed that make use of cell inserts to create basolateral and apical medium compartments with a confluent epithelial cell layer at the interface. Using such 3-D culture systems, OECs can be triggered to redevelop typical differentiated cell properties and levels of tissue organization can be developed that are not possible in a 2-D culture. 3-D culture systems can be further refined using new micro-engineering techniques (including microfluidics and 3-D printing) which can be used to produce ‘organs-on-chips’, i.e. live 3-D cultures that bio-mimic the oviduct. In this review, concepts for designing bio-mimic 3-D oviduct cultures are presented. The increased possibilities and concomitant challenges when trying to more closely investigate oviduct physiology, gamete activation, fertilization and embryo production are discussed.

Reproductive tract modifications of the boar sperm surface

“…This implies that sperm‐oviduct interactions and the presence of bioactive components in the oviduct fluid are able to suppress polyspermy. For this reason, we are establishing an oviduct‐on‐chip system for the pig, similar to what we made for the cow (Ferraz et al, ; Ferraz, Henning, Stout, Vos, & Gadella, ) and the mare (Leemans et al, ), in order to develop a better mimic of the oviduct. This will ultimately produce better embryos as well as reduce polyspermic fertilization and the incidence of parthenogenic activation.…”

Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cell-Derived Culture Media and Exosomes Improve Mitochondrial Health by Restoring Metabolic Flux during Pre-Implantation Development

“…The oviduct fluid microenvironment is composed of plethora of growth stimulatory factors, immunomodulatory components and extracellular-vesicles/exosomes (Exo), which all are known to play an important role during a series of crucial reproductive events [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The oviduct epithelium contains the population of several ciliated and secretory cells that makes the oviduct fluid, which influences the whole journey from embryonic development into a successful adult [ 1 ].…”

A 3D printed microfluidic perfusion device for multicellular spheroid cultures

“…However, the development of 3D printed microfluidic devices for organs-on-chip applications remains relatively under-explored. To date, a number of studies have already demonstrated the successful implementation of 3D printed microfluidic devices coupled with bioprinted [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] or photopatterned cell-laden hydrogels [21]. While this approach can recreate a 3D environment by supporting cells with synthetic or natural extracellular matrices and provide a means to probe cell-matrix interactions, it is limited in recapitulating multicellular interactions and organization, which is highly relevant to physiologically cell-dense tissues, such as tumors and hepatic tissues.…”