The comparison of in vivo antigenotoxic and antioxidative capacity of two propylene glycol extracts of Calendula officinalis (marigold) and vitamin E in young growing pigs

The objective of the study was to evaluate the protective effect of Calendula officinalis propylene glycol extracts against oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake in young growing pigs. Forty young growing pigs were assigned to five treatment groups: control; oil (linseed oil supplementation); C. officinalis 1 and 2 groups (linseed oil plus 3 ml/day of C. officinalis propylene glycol extracts); and vitamin E group (linseed oil plus 100 mg/kg of vitamin E). Lymphocyte DNA fragmentation and 24-h urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) excretion were measured to determine DNA damage. Lipid peroxidation was studied by analysing plasma and urine malondialdehyde (MDA), and urine isoprostane concentrations (iPF2α-VI), total antioxidant status of plasma and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) assays. C. officinalis 1 (extract from petals) effectively protected DNA from oxidative damage. It indicated a numerical trend towards the reduction of plasma MDA and urinary iPF2α-VI excretion. Its effect was comparable with that of vitamin E. C. officinalis 2 (extract from flower tops) showed less antioxidant potential than the extract from petals. We can conclude that the amount of C. officinalis extracts proposed for internal use by traditional medicine protects the organism against DNA damage induced by high PUFA intake.     

Effect of Olive Leaves or Marigold Petal Extract on Oxidative Stress,Gut Fermentative Activity,and Mucosa Morphology in Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Rich in n-3 Polyunsaturated Fats

An experiment in broilers was conducted to investigate the effect of olive (Olea europea) leaves and marigold (Calendula officinalis) petal extract supplementation on oxidative stress, characteristics of intestinal contents, and on the morphology of the small intestine. Oxidative stress was induced by a n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids rich diet. 1-day-old male broiler chickens, Ross 308, were housed in a deep litter system. After the first 21 days, animals were randomly divided into three groups of 16 animals in two replicates and fed, until slaughter on day 39, a diet that contained 7% linseed oil. Control diet (Cont) remained unsupplemented, while both experimental diets were supplemented with olive leaves (OliveEx) or marigold petal (MarigEx) extracts. Oxidative stress was evaluated in blood and liver by measuring markers of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA), isoprostanes), rate of DNA damage in lymphocytes and in blood (comet assay, 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)), and activity of antioxidant and liver enzymes in blood. In different parts of the intestine, levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), and viscosity of intestinal contents were measured, and the health of the gastrointestinal tract was assessed using histological measurements. OliveEx significantly (p<0.05) decreased the MDA and 8-OHdG concentration in plasma, and the level of ethanoic acid in small intestinal contents and total SCFA in caecum, indicating improved oxidative status and increased microbial activity in the intestine. MarigEx significantly (p<0.05) decreased the rate of lymphocyte DNA damage and the crypt depth in duodenum, indicating potentially beneficial effects on the immune system and the health of the small intestine. In conclusion, dietary OliveEx and MarigEx supplementation improved some markers of oxidative stress and intestinal health. However, positive effects could be more pronounced in more unfavorable environmental conditions or in cases of diseases, but further studies are needed.     

DNA damage is a feature of feline injection‐site sarcoma

Feline injection‐site sarcoma (FISS) is commonly treated with surgery and radiation therapy. Despite aggressive therapy, FISS has a high recurrence rate. The true benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy is not known. DNA damage response mechanisms help protect against genomic instability but can also promote chemoresistance. In order to determine whether DNA damage is a feature of FISS, we evaluated tumour tissues with γH2AX immunohistochemistry. H2AX is phosphorylated to form γH2AX following DNA double strand breaks. Seventeen FISS specimens were evaluated prospectively. DNA damage ranged from 2.18 to33.7%, with a median of 16.2%. Significant differences were noted between cats (P < 0.0001). Mitotic index ranged from 0 to 57 with a median of 13 and did not correlate with γH2AX positivity (P = 0.2). Further studies are needed to determine if γH2AX expression may predict chemosensitivity and have independent value as a prognostic factor.     

Effect of melatonin on regulation of apoptosis and steroidogenesis in cultured buffalo granulosa cells

This study was aimed to address melatonin receptor expression, mRNA level of hypothalamus and hypophysis hormone receptors (GnRHR, FSHR, and LHR), steroidogenesis, cell cycle, apoptosis, and their regulatory factors after addition of melatonin for 24 hr in cultured buffalo granulosa cells (GCs). The results revealed that direct addition of different concentrations of melatonin (100 pM, 1 nM, and 100 nM) resulted in significant upregulation (p < 0.05) of mRNA level of melatonin receptor 1a (MT1) without affecting melatonin receptor 1b (MT2). Melatonin treatment significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) mRNA level of FSH and GnRH receptors, whereas 100 nM dose of melatonin significantly increased mRNA level of LH receptor. Treatment with 100 nM of melatonin significantly decreased the basal progesterone production with significant decrease (p < 0.05) in mRNA levels of StAR and p450ssc, and lower mRNA level of genes (Insig1, Lipe, and Scrab1) that affect cholesterol availability. Melatonin supplementation suppressed apoptosis (100 nM, p < 0.05) and enhanced G2/M phase (1 nM, 100 nM, p < 0.05) of cell cycle progression which was further corroborated by decrease in protein expression of caspase‐3, p21, and p27 and increase in bcl2. Our results demonstrate that melatonin regulates gonadotrophin receptors and ovarian steroidogenesis through MT1. Furthermore, the notion of its incorporation in apoptosis and proliferation of buffalo GCs extends its role in buffalo ovaries.     

氯化钴通过诱发DNA氧化损伤抑制猪卵泡颗粒细胞增殖的研究

旨在探究氯化钴（CoCl₂）诱导的DNA氧化损伤对猪卵泡颗粒细胞增殖的影响。本研究选取猪卵泡颗粒细胞作为试验材料，使用化学性低氧模型诱导剂CoCl₂处理猪卵泡颗粒细胞建立缺氧模型。前期研究已确定CoCl₂最适处理浓度，用200 μmol·L^-1 CoCl₂处理猪卵泡颗粒细胞12 h，将培养出的传代细胞分成4组处理，分别为：对照组、CoCl₂诱导缺氧处理组、GSH处理组、GSH+CoCl₂联合处理组。对照组为完全培养基培养12 h，CoCl₂诱导缺氧处理组给予终浓度200 μmol·L^-1 CoCl₂的培养基培养12 h，单独GSH处理组加入浓度为2 mmol·L^-1的GSH处理12 h，GSH+CoCl₂联合处理组加入200 μmol·L^-1 CoCl₂和2 mmol·L^-1的GSH联合处理细胞后培养12 h。12 h后检测各组细胞增殖活性、ROS水平、γH2AX蛋白活性水平和Oxo-8-G水平。采用CCK-8法检测其增殖活性；采用双氯荧光素（2’，7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate，DCFH-DA）检测ROS水平；Western blot检测γH2AX蛋白活性水平，采用FITC荧光小鼠单克隆抗体检测Oxo-8-G水平。为了进一步明确CoCl₂诱导的颗粒细胞增殖阻滞与DNA氧化损伤的关系，本试验在CoCl₂处理的基础上添加抗氧化物GSH处理12 h后检测细胞增殖、ROS水平、DNA氧化损伤等相关指标。与对照组相比，200 μmol·L^-1 CoCl₂处理猪卵泡颗粒细胞后，细胞增殖活力极显著降低（P<0.000 1），缺氧组ROS水平极显著升高（P<0.000 1），γH2AX蛋白表达极显著升高（P<0.000 1），Oxo-8-G水平极显著升高（P<0.000 1）。与缺氧组相比，在CoCl₂处理基础上添加GSH后，ROS、Oxo-8-G、γH2AX水平极显著降低（P<0.000 1），并伴随细胞增殖活性的显著恢复（P<0.000 1）。CoCl₂可抑制猪卵泡颗粒细胞增殖活性，机制与诱导DNA氧化应激损伤有关。     

N -ethyl- N -nitrosourea induces retinal photoreceptor damage in adult rats

Seven-week-old male Lewis rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) (100, 200, 400 or 600 mg/kg), and retinal damage was evaluated 7 days after the treatment. Sequential morphological features of the retina and retinal DNA damage, as determined by a TUNEL assay and phospho-histone H2A.X (γ-H2AX), were analyzed 3, 6, 12, 24 and 72 hr, 7 days, and/or 30 days after 400 mg/kg ENU treatment. Activation of the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was analyzed immunohistochemically by poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) expression in response to DNA damage of the retina. All rats that received ≥ 400 mg/kg of ENU developed retinal degeneration characterized by the loss of photoreceptor cells in both the central and peripheral retina within 7 days. In the 400 mg/kg ENU-treated rats, TUNEL-positive signals were only located in the photoreceptor cells and peaked 24 hr after ENU treatment. The γ-H2AX signals in inner retinal cells appeared at 24 hr and peaked at 72 hr after ENU treatment, and the PAR signals selectively located in the photoreceptor cell nuclei appeared at 12 hr and peaked at 24 hr after ENU treatment. However, degeneration was restricted to photoreceptor cells, and no degenerative changes in inner retinal cells were seen at any time points. Retinal thickness and the photoreceptor cell ratio in the central and peripheral retina were significantly decreased, and the retinal damage ratio was significantly increased 7 days after ENU treatment. In conclusion, ENU induced retinal degeneration in adult rats that was characterized by photoreceptor cell apoptosis through PARP activity.     

Detection of γ-H2AX,a Biomarker for DNA Double-strand Breaks,in Urinary Bladders of N -Butyl- N -(4-Hydroxybutyl)-Nitrosamine-Treated Rats

To evaluate the potential role of DNA repair in bladder carcinogenesis, we performed an immunohistochemical analysis of expression of various DNA repair enzymes and γ-H2AX, a high-sensitivity marker of DNA double-strand breaks, in the urothelium of male F344 rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN), a bladder-specific carcinogen. Our results clearly demonstrated that γ-H2AX aggregation was specifically generated in nuclei of bladder epithelial cells of BBN-treated rats, which was not found in untreated controls or mesenchymal cells. γ-H2AX-positive cells were detected not only in hyperplastic and neoplastic areas but also in the normal-like urothelium after BBN treatment. These data indicate that γ-H2AX has potential as a useful biomarker for early detection of genotoxicity in the rat urinary bladder. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating expression of γ-H2AX during bladder carcinogenesis.     

水牛卵泡GCs体外培养发生凋亡的生物学特征

为了解水牛卵巢卵泡中颗粒细胞（GCs）和卵母细胞在体外培养过程中发生凋亡的变化特征,通过体外培养、血清撤除法诱导水牛卵泡GCs凋亡,并应用苏木精伊红（HE）染色和DNA原位末端标记的TUNEL方法观察其病理特征;通过水牛腔前卵泡体外培养、诱导或等待其中的卵母细胞及卵泡细胞发生凋亡,然后应用透射电镜技术检查其超微结构改变。结果显示：凋亡卵泡GCs的HE染色特征包括细胞体积缩小,染色较深呈紫黑色,且多成簇分布。DNA原位末端标记检查的特征是DNA发生降解,其降解碎片呈TUNEL阳性。原始卵泡体外培养中调亡卵母细胞的超微结构表现为胞核碎裂成电子密度高的大碎片,或出现形态奇特的凋亡小体;初级卵泡中的调亡GCs,细胞内外均出现凋亡小体,细胞内还见有典型的螺层状内质网结构,其中包涵部分核质。     

Melatonin mitigates the adverse effect of hypoxia during myocardial differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells

BackgroundHypoxia causes oxidative stress and affects cardiovascular function and the programming of cardiovascular disease. Melatonin promotes antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase.ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the correlation between melatonin and hypoxia induction in cardiomyocytes differentiation.MethodsMouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were induced to myocardial differentiation. To demonstrate the influence of melatonin under hypoxia, mESC was pretreated with melatonin and then cultured in hypoxic condition. The cardiac beating ratio of the mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, mRNA and protein expression levels were investigated.ResultsUnder hypoxic condition, the mRNA expression of cardiac-lineage markers (Brachyury, Tbx20, and cTn1) and melatonin receptor (Mtnr1a) was reduced. The mRNA expression of cTn1 and the beating ratio of mESCs increased when melatonin was treated simultaneously with hypoxia, compared to when only exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein decreased with melatonin treatment under hypoxia, and Mtnr1a mRNA expression increased. When the cells were exposed to hypoxia with melatonin treatment, the protein expressions of phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) and Bcl-2-associated X proteins (Bax) decreased, however, the levels of phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins, and antioxidant enzymes including Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase were increased. Competitive melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole blocked the melatonin-induced effects.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that hypoxia inhibits cardiomyocytes differentiation and melatonin partially mitigates the adverse effect of hypoxia in myocardial differentiation by regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress through the p-AKT and PI3K pathway.     

水牛有腔卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡的生物形态学特征

为了解水牛有腔卵泡闭锁的起因和有腔卵泡中是否存在卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡，本研究选择青春期前水牛和成年（发情间期和发情期）水牛的卵巢，采用石蜡组织切片、HE染色技术进行光镜观察，并采用DNA原位末端标记（TUNEL）技术和透射电镜观察研究了卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡的特征。结果表明：青春期前水牛的健康有腔卵泡上无或仅有极个别凋亡的卵泡颗粒细胞（GCs），而闭锁有腔卵泡上存在有多量凋亡的GCs，凋亡的形式：GCs层内出现单个或多个凋亡细胞，卵泡腔内出现凋亡小体群。在成年水牛发情间期的闭锁大卵泡上，GCs层弯曲皱折，存在多量凋亡的GCs。发情期水牛成熟卵泡的GCs层也存在GCs凋亡，排卵前的GCs层细胞全部脱落到卵泡腔内。本研究首次在同一组织切片上先后分别应用HE染色和TUNEL检查细胞凋亡，且证实了水牛有腔卵泡GCs凋亡的存在。超微结构显示了GCs凋亡的核边集化、核浓缩及凋亡小体的形态。上述结果提示：在水牛闭锁有腔卵泡中存在着GCs凋亡，GCs凋亡是启动水牛有腔卵泡闭锁的潜在机理。     

Effect of melatonin on DNA damage of bovine cumulus cells during in vitro maturation (IVM) and on in vitro embryo development

The effect of melatonin during in vitro maturation (IVM) on DNA damage of cumulus cells (CCs) from bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and embryo development was evaluated. COCs from abattoir ovaries were cultured in maturation medium (MM) with 0.5μg/ml FSH and 5.0μg/ml LH (FSH-LH); 10(-9)M melatonin (MEL) or FSH-LH+MEL (FSH-LH-MEL). After 24h of in vitro maturation, the CCs surrounding the oocyte were subjected to DNA analysis by Comet assay. After in vitro fertilization and in vitro embryo culture, the embryo development rates were evaluated on day 2 post insemination (cleavage) and days 7-8 (blastocyst). The percentage of CCs with no DNA damage was significantly superior in MEL group (37.6±2.4) than in FSH-LH-MEL (28.0±2.4) and FSH-LH (17.8±2.41) groups. Cleavage and blastocysts rates were similar among groups. Melatonin during IVM protects the CCs from DNA damage but this effect did not influence embryo development in vitro.     

外源褪黑素对盐胁迫下燕麦幼苗生长及抗氧化系统的影响

褪黑素作为一种吲哚胺类生长激素，具有多种生物学功能，能够调节植物的逆境胁迫中的防御反应。为探究外源褪黑素对盐胁迫下耐盐饲用燕麦(Avena sativa L.)幼苗‘白燕7号’的表型和生理的调节作用。本研究在人工气候室进行，采用根灌水培培养，比较在单独盐胁迫和盐与褪黑素复合处理下，‘白燕7号’表型指标、渗透调节物质、膜脂过氧化程度、抗氧化系统活性、编码抗氧化物酶相关基因的表达量变化。研究结果表明：与盐胁迫处理相比，添加外源褪黑素后‘白燕7号’幼苗的株高和根长显著增高，氧化胁迫造成的膜损伤减轻，且脂氧合酶相关基因LOX表达水平下调，同时渗透失衡得到有效缓解；在清除活性氧方面，编码抗氧化物酶的相关基因表达量上调，酶活性显著提高，抗氧化系统活性显著提升，外源褪黑素最为适宜的浓度为150μmol·L^-1。这些结果说明外源褪黑素在缓解燕麦盐胁迫方面起重要作用。     

Ameliorative Effects of Melatonin against Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress on Boar Sperm Characteristics and Subsequent In Vitro Embryo Development

Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vivo and in vitro, indicating that melatonin is a potent function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on sperm characteristics (motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and mitochondria activity) and also to examine the developmental rates to the blastocysts stage of porcine oocytes fertilized in vitro with semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ). The sperm were treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h at 37°C and then analysed for the sperm characteristics. The porcine embryos were produced by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF) using semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ) for 6 h. The semen characteristics, including motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity and mitochondria activity, were higher in the groups that were treated with melatonin in comparison to other groups, irrespective of incubation periods. Malondialdehyde levels in control, melatonin and melatonin + H₂O₂ groups were lower than H₂O₂ only group. A positive correlation was shown among motility, viability, survival rate and membrane integrity, but a negative correlation was observed between LPO and the other evaluation methods. The developmental rates to blastocysts of IVM/IVF porcine oocytes fertilized by semen treated with melatonin were significantly increased compared with any other groups, with the cell number of blastocysts shown to have a similar trend to the developmental rates. These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the semen characteristics during in vitro storage and support the developmental ability of IVM/IVF embryos in pigs.     

颗粒细胞凋亡影响家禽卵泡闭锁的研究进展

卵巢是家禽的重要繁殖器官,会产生大量卵泡,而卵泡在生长发育的各个阶段中都可能因为不同因素的调控而发生闭锁,最终导致繁殖性能衰退。颗粒细胞对卵泡的生长发育有重要调控作用,其凋亡会诱导卵泡发生闭锁。诱导颗粒细胞发生凋亡的因素较多,包括激素、细胞因子、氧化应激、线粒体及其他体外因素。颗粒细胞凋亡主要由线粒体途径导致,其涉及到半胱天冬酶（Caspase）家族参与,当线粒体裂解时会释放细胞色素C （Cyt-C）,随后形成凋亡小体激活Caspase-3和Caspase-8,最终激活Caspase-9导致颗粒细胞凋亡;当颗粒细胞发生凋亡,家禽体内卵泡丧失生物功能并且卵泡细胞之间的调控失衡,促使卵泡内卵母细胞和膜细胞凋亡,最终导致卵泡发生闭锁;颗粒细胞在存活状态下所分泌的生长因子、性腺类固醇、细胞因子能减少卵母细胞氧化损伤,防止细胞内活性氧（ROS）水平过高导致的线粒体DNA损伤,从而避免线粒体功能障碍而造成的颗粒细胞凋亡。作者从颗粒细胞凋亡及其影响因素、颗粒细胞凋亡和卵泡闭锁的关系、颗粒细胞凋亡对卵泡闭锁的影响3个方面进行阐述,以期为减少卵泡闭锁、提高家禽繁殖性能提供理论依据。     

scRNA-seq of ovarian follicle granulosa cells from different fertility goats reveals distinct expression patterns

The new technology of high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (10 × scRNA-seq) was developed recently with many advantages. However, it was not commonly used in farm animal research. There are few reports for the gene expression of goat ovarian follicle granulosa cells (GCs) during different developmental stages. In the current investigation, the gene expression of follicle GCs at different stages from two populations of Ji'ning grey goats: high litter size (HL; ≥3/L; 2 L) and low litter size (LL; ≤2 /L; 2 L) were analysed by scRNA-seq. Many GC marker genes were identified, and the pseudo-time showed that GCs developed during the time course which reflected the follicular development and differentiation trajectory. Moreover, the gene expression difference between the two populations HL versus LL was very clear at different developmental stages. Many marker genes differentially expressed at different developmental stages. ASIP and ASPN were found to be highly expressed in the early stage of GCs, INHA, INHBA, MFGE8 and HSD17B1 were identified to be highly expressed in the growing stage of GCs, while IGFBP2, IGFBP5 and CYP11A1 were found to be highly expressed in late stage. These marker genes could be used as reference genes of goat follicle GC development. This investigation for the first time discovered the gene expression patterns in goat follicle GCs in high- or low-fertility populations (based on litter size) by scRNA-seq which may be useful for uncovering the oocyte development potential.     

Melatonin can improve viability and functional integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa

Melatonin is known to protect sperm against freezing-inflicted damage in different domestic species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of semen extender with melatonin on the quality and DNA integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. We also investigated whether the addition of melatonin to the semen extender could improve the fertility of rabbit does artificially inseminated with frozen/thawed semen. Semen samples collected from eight rabbit bucks were pooled and then diluted in INRA-82 supplemented either with (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mM) or without (0.0 mM) melatonin. Diluted semen was cooled at 5°C for 24 hr. For cryopreservation and based on the first experiment's best result, semen samples were diluted in INRA-82 in the presence or absence of 1.0 mM melatonin and then frozen in 0.25 ml straws. Following cooling or thawing, sperm quality and DNA integrity were evaluated. Furthermore, the fertility of frozen/thawed semen was investigated after artificial insemination. Supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved (p < .05) motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrities in cooled semen compared with other groups. Sperm quality and DNA integrity were higher (p < .05) in frozen/thawed semen diluted in 1.0 mM melatonin-supplemented extender than in the control group. Conception and birth rates were higher in does inseminated with 1.0 mM melatonin treated semen compared with the controls. In conclusion, supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved the quality of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. Melatonin can preserve DNA integrity and enhance the fertility of frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa.     

Beneficial Effect of Melatonin on Blastocyst In Vitro Production from Heat‐Stressed Bovine Oocytes

Melatonin may play an important role in protecting gametes and embryos from the potential harmful effects of oxidative stress. In this study, we first examined two different heat stress (HS) treatments for in vitro oocyte maturation (Experiment 1: 38.5 vs 41.0°C, during the first 20 h; Experiment 2: 38.5 vs 41.5°C, during the entire period) on bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development. Second, we tested different melatonin concentrations added to the maturation and culture medium (Experiment 3: 0, 10^?12, 10^?9, 10^?4 m ; Experiment 4: 0, 10^?3 m ), both with and without HS (38.5 or 41.5°C, respectively). In Experiment 1, the HS treatment resulted in a lower maturation rate and number of cells/blastocyst (C/B) and a higher blastocyst rate than that in the control group. In Experiment 2, oocytes/embryos from heat‐stressed oocytes (HSO) had a lower maturation, cleavage and blastocyst rates, as well as a lower C/B compared with the control. In Experiment 3, in HSO groups, 10^?4 m melatonin resulted in an increased blastocyst rate compared with 0 m melatonin, with a similar blastocyst rate to the non‐HSO without melatonin. Melatonin did not have any effect in embryos from non‐HSO groups compared with the control. In Experiment 4, 10^?3 m melatonin produced lower cleavage and blastocyst rates in HSO and lower blastocyst rate in non‐HSO when compared to melatonin‐untreated oocytes/embryos. In conclusion, 10^?4 m melatonin was found to alleviate bovine oocytes from the harmful effects of HS.     

Validation of a direct radioimmunoassay of melatonin in the blue fox

A direct radioimmunoassay procedure for the determination of melatonin in the blood of blue fox has been validated and applied.The assay required 50 μl of sample and standard, 100 ul of antiserum and 100 μl of (³H)melatonin. After overnight incubation at 4°C the antibody bound melatonin was separated from the free hormone with dextran-coated charcoal. Following centrifugation the antibody bound (³H)melatonin was determined in a beta scintillation counter.The antiserum bound 30–35 % of the (³H)melatonin at a final dilution of 1:36000. The non specific binding represented less than 5% of the total radioactivity in all assays. The lowest detectable amount of melatonin was 2.6 fmol/tube, corresponding to 52.5 pmol/1. The inter-assay coefficient of variation at 178 and 510 pmol/1 was 15.6 and 8.8%, respectively. The precision profile, calculated from a 10-replicate standard curve, showed that the coefficient of variation decreased from 43% at 84 pmol/1 to 15% at 336 pmol/1, and remainded at or below 10% for concentrations exceeding 670 pmol/1.Plasma was collected from 2 male blue foxes at about hourly intervals during a 24 h period in September and assayed for melatonin. Maximum (421 pmol/1) and minimum (97 pmol/1) concentrations of the hormone were inversely related to light intensity.     

The John Hughes Memorial Lecture: Aspects of Sperm Physiology—Oxidative Stress and the Functionality of Stallion Spermatozoa

Spermatozoa are vulnerable to oxidative attack because they contain an abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are susceptible to lipid peroxidation. In addition, functionally important proteins and DNA are also subject to oxidative modification and adduction by aldehydes, such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), generated as a consequence of the peroxidative process. The proteins adducted by 4HNE include elements of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, such as succinic acid dehydrogenase. The net result of such electrophilic attack is to stimulate generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a self-perpetuating lipid peroxidation–ROS generation cycle that ultimately triggers the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, leading to a rapid loss of motility and cell death. A major point of difference between apoptosis in spermatozoa and somatic cells is that in the former, nuclear DNA is located in a compartment (the head) separate from the mitochondria and most of the cytoplasm (the midpiece). As a result, nucleases activated and released in the midpiece during apoptosis cannot gain access to the DNA in the sperm head in order to cleave the DNA. However, the ROS generated during apoptosis can readily gain access to the sperm nucleus and generate oxidative base adducts, typically 8-hydroxy, 2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), which are converted into abasic sites by 8-oxoguanine glycosylase (OGG1), the only enzyme of the base excision repair pathway possessed by spermatozoa. These abasic sites subsequently become the foci of DNA fragmentation. Because defective sperm function and DNA damage are frequently associated with oxidative stress, there is a great deal of interest in the use of antioxidants in a therapeutic context. This presentation examines the fundamental relationships between oxidative stress and sperm function and considers the implications of recent findings for the management of sperm function and fertility in stallions.