Uterine glands vital for embryo growth, successful pregnancies

"The majority of pregnancy losses occur during the first trimester, when biological communication between the embryo and mother is critical for the establishment of the pregnancy. Scientists and doctors have known for several years that glands within the uterus produce Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), which is vital for embryo implantation and successful pregnancies. 

Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that uterine glands have additional roles in promoting pregnancy beyond LIF. Tom Spencer, a professor of reproductive and developmental biology at MU, says this discovery is important for scientists and doctors to better understand how pregnancies develop and to prevent pregnancy loss and complications such as miscarriage and preeclampsia.

"Many serious problems that occur later in pregnancies, such as preeclampsia, are likely rooted in the early stages of pregnancy," Spencer said. "Understanding what factors in the uterus are vital for a healthy pregnancy is important in order to understand the causes of pregnancy loss. In the future, this will allow us to improve assisted reproduction and prevent issues that could pose serious health risks to babies and their mothers. This also is important in the agricultural world for improving reproduction in livestock, such as cattle and sheep..."

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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-02-uterine-glands-vital-embryo-growth.html

Vitamin E deficiency and embryo damage

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"Researchers for the first time have explained how deficient levels of vitamin E can cause neurologic damage to an embryo, failure to normally develop and ultimately death – a process that in women can be one cause of miscarriage.

The research was published by scientists from Oregon State University in Free Radical Biology and Medicine. It answers some questions about the biologic activities of vitamin E that have been debated since 1922, when this essential micronutrient was first discovered, in part for its role in preventing embryonic mortality.

The research also made clear the importance of vitamin E status for any woman who is planning to, or might become pregnant, scientists said.

The study, done with zebrafish embryos, showed that severe vitamin E deficiency causes the depletion of essential fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which has been shown to be of critical importance to health in multiple studies in recent years.

When this happens, cells use glucose to prevent or reduce damage. Lacking glucose for energy, many physical and neurologic features, especially the brain, simply don't get built, and death can be the result. Restoration of glucose can repair some of the damage, but some physical deformities remain..."

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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-01-vitamin-deficiency-linked-embryo-death.html

The importance of antioxidants for gametes and embryos

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"Although oxygen is used in the creation of ATP (the currency of energy in our cells), during this process Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are also created. Herein lies the problem; while low levels of specific ROS are involved in cell signalling pathways, at higher concentrations ROS (also refered to as oxidative stress) become toxic to cells quickly, and have a well-documented negative effect on sperm, eggs and embryos.

When ROS build up they are highly destructive and damage our DNA, our cell membranes and the organelles within our cells – especially our mitochondria, which are the “Power Plants” of our cells. 

Antioxidants protects from damaging effects of Reactive Oxygen Species

Fortunately for you and I, our bodies possess a rather sophisticated system for dealing with excess ROS in the form of antioxidants (either produced by the body itself or obtained directly in our diet), which in essence help to neutralise the damaging effects of ROS.

Antioxidants come in many forms, and we need to ensure we consume sufficient amounts of antioxidants such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol), in order to maintain a healthy body. Indeed, data is emerging that a diet high in antioxidants confers some protection against neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which typically are associated with some form of mitochondrial pathologies, possibly due to increased oxidative stress.

So to ensure your future cognitive function, the message instilled is to remember to consume plenty of carrots (beta-carotene), green vegetables such as spinach (vitamin E), a variety of fruits and berries (vitamin C, E…), as well as dairy products and liver (vitamin C). In other words, eat a well-balanced diet!..."

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http://blog.vitrolife.com/togetheralltheway/oxygen-dr-jekyll-or-mr-hyde

Insights into the development of sperm and egg cell precursors in the embryo

"Researchers at the Babraham Institute have investigated the early stages of the development of cells called primordial germ cells and developed strategies to generate 'lookalike' cells in the lab. The generation of human 'lookalike' primordial germ cells is of importance for future fertility studies and the analysis of potential transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans.

A bit like someone looking into a mirror reflected in another mirror, as one new life is developing as an embryo, the capacity to produce the next generation of life is already being established in that embryo. Research carried out between the groups of Wolf Reik and Peter Rugg-Gunn in the Epigenetics research programme at the Babraham Institute have investigated the early stages of the development of cells called primordial germ cells and developed strategies to generate these cells in the lab. Primordial germ cells give rise to sperm or egg cells and, in humans, are already present in embryos at the second week of development..."

Learn more:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161010131739.htm