Effects of oocyte vitrification on gene expression in the liver and kidney tissues of adult offspring

Oocyte vitrification is an important assisted reproductive technology (ART) that preserves the fertility of unmarried patients with malignant tumors before radiotherapy and chemotherapy, cases where no sperm are available on ART oocyte collection day, and the development of the oocyte donation program. In recent years, the effects of ART, including the vitrification of oocytes and embryos on the health of offspring, have attracted much attention; however, it is difficult to conduct long-term follow-up and biochemical evaluation in humans. In this study, we detected the effect of oocyte vitrification on gene expression in the organs of adult mice offspring by RNA-sequencing for the first time. Our results showed that only a small amount of gene expression was affected. Seven genes (Tpm3, Hspe1-rs1, Ntrk2, Cyp4a31, Asic5, Cyp4a14, Retsat) were abnormally expressed in the liver, and ten genes (Lbp, Hspe1-rs1, Prxl2b, Pfn3, Gm9008, Bglap3, Col8a1, Hmgcr, Ero1lb, Ifi44l) were abnormal in the kidney. Several genes were related to metabolism and disease occurrence in the liver or kidney. Besides, we paid special attention to the expression of known imprinted genes and DNA methylation-related genes in adult organs, which are susceptible to oocyte cryopreservation only in the preimplantation stage. As a result, some of these transcripts were detected in the liver and kidney, but they were not affected by oocyte vitrification. In conclusion, we first report that oocyte vitrification did not significantly change the global gene expression in offspring organs, including imprinted genes and DNA methylation-related genes; nonetheless, it can still influence the transcription of a few functional genes. The potential adverse effects caused by oocyte vitrification need attention and further study.