Chitosan nanoparticles enhance developmental competence of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes

Oxidative stress is inevitable as it is derived from the handling, culturing, inherent metabolic activities and medium supplementation of embryos. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on oxidative damage in porcine oocytes. For this purpose, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from porcine slaughterhouse ovaries were exposed to different concentrations of CNPs (0, 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes treated with 25 µg/ml CNPs showed significantly higher levels of GSH, along with a significant reduction in ROS levels compared to control, CNPs10 and CNPs50 groups. In parthenogenetic embryo production, the maturation rate was significantly higher in the CNPs25 group than that in the control and all other treated groups. In addition, when compared to the CNPs50 and control groups, CNPs25-treated oocytes showed significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst development rates. The highest concentration of CNPs reduced the total cell number and ratio of ICM: TE cells in parthenogenetic embryos, suggesting that there is a threshold where benefits are lost if exceeded. In cloned embryos, the CNPs25 group, as compared to all other treated groups, showed significantly higher maturation and cleavage rates. Furthermore, the blastocyst development rate in the CNPs25-treated group was significantly higher than that in the CNPs50-treated group, as was the total cell number. Moreover, we found that cloned embryos derived from the CNPs25-treated group showed significantly higher expression levels of Pou5f1, Dppa2, and Ndp52il genes, compared with those of the control and other treated groups. Our results demonstrated that 25 µg/ml CNPs treatment during IVM improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.     

Developmental competence of heat stressed oocytes from Holstein and Limousine cows matured in vitro

The negative effects of heat stress on dairy cattle's fertility have been extensively studied, but the relevant knowledge for beef cattle is rather limited. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of HS during in vitro maturation on the developmental potential of oocytes derived from Limousine and Holstein cows and to estimate the effect of the differential gene expression of important genes in oocytes, cumulus cells and blastocysts in the growth competence between the breeds. In seven replicates, cumulus oocyte complexes from Holstein and Limousine cows were matured for 24 hr at 39°C (controls C; Hol_39, Lim_39) or at 41°C from hour 2 to hour 8 of IVM (treated T; Hol_41, Lim_41), fertilized, and presumptive zygotes were cultured for 9 days at 39°C. Cleavage and embryo formation rates were evaluated 48 hr post-insemination and on days 7, 8 and 9, respectively. From all groups, subsets of cumulus cells, oocytes and blastocysts were analysed for the relative expression of genes related to metabolism, stress, apoptosis and placentation. No difference was detected in cleavage rate or in blastocyst formation rate among the control groups. In both breeds, heat stress reduced blastocyst yield, but at all days the suppression was higher in Limousines. In Holsteins, altered gene expression was detected in cumulus cells (G6PD, GLUT1) and blastocysts (PLAC8), while in Limousines, differences were found in oocytes (G6PD, HSP90AA1), in cumulus cells (CPT1B, HSP90AA1, SOD2) and blastocysts (DNMT, HSP90AA1, SOD2). It appears that Holstein COCs are more tolerant than Limousine COCs, possibly due to compulsory, production driven selection.     

Effect of relationships among clinical mastitis incidence,reproductive performance,and culling rate on the lifetime of dairy cows at Hiroshima University Farm

Farm managers' decision to cull dairy cows is based on the cows' milk production, history of disorder(s), and reproductive performance, each of which affects dairy cows' lifetime (herd life and productive lifespan). We investigated the relationships among the incidence of clinical mastitis (CM), the reproductive performance, and the culling rate. We also assessed the effects of these relationships on the lifetimes of dairy cows, using the records made before and after the introduction of an automatic milking system (AMS) at Hiroshima University Farm. Milk yield, CM incidence density, and culling rate of dairy cows increased after the AMS introduction. The CM incidence was associated with an elongation of the calving interval in cows with the same parity. CM in the 1st parity might have caused the reductions of the cows' lifetime and their parity at culling. A higher age at first calving (AFC) was associated with an increase in culling rate but did not lead to a significant decrease in lifetime. Investigations of the factors mediating CM in the 1st parity or AFC with CM incidence or culling rate in the later stages might contribute to the control of lifetime of dairy cows.     

单宁酸对猪卵母细胞体外成熟及胚胎发育能力的影响

研究旨在探讨单宁酸对猪卵母细胞体外成熟质量及其胚胎发育能力的影响。在猪卵丘卵母细胞复合体（COCs）体外成熟培养液中添加不同浓度（0、1、10、100 μg/mL）单宁酸培养42 h后,检测COCs的扩散程度和卵丘细胞扩散指数,统计COCs的体外成熟率,检测成熟卵母细胞内谷胱甘肽（glutathione,GSH）、活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）和生长分化因子9（growth differentiation factor 9,GDF9）的水平,并统计孤雌激活及体外受精胚胎48和168 h的卵裂率、囊胚率及囊胚总细胞数。结果显示,与对照组相比,10 μg/mL单宁酸组卵丘细胞扩散指数显著提高（P<0.05）,100 μg/mL单宁酸组显著降低（P<0.05）;1和10 μg/mL单宁酸组卵母细胞成熟率差异不显著（P>0.05）,100 μg/mL单宁酸组卵母细胞成熟率显著降低（P<0.05）;1和10 μg/mL单宁酸组GSH和GDF9水平显著提高（P<0.05）,ROS水平显著降低（P<0.05）。孤雌胚胎和体外受精胚胎发育能力结果显示,与对照组相比,各单宁酸组卵裂率差异不显著（P>0.05）,10 μg/mL单宁酸组孤雌胚胎囊胚率及体外受精胚胎囊胚率显著提高（P<0.05）,100 μg/mL单宁酸组孤雌胚胎囊胚细胞数及体外受精胚胎囊胚细胞数均显著低于其他各组（P<0.05）。以上结果表明,10 μg/mL单宁酸可通过提高卵丘细胞扩散能力及GSH和GDF9水平、降低卵母细胞内ROS水平,改善猪卵母细胞成熟质量,提高孤雌胚胎及体外受精胚胎的发育能力。     

鸡白痢沙门氏菌鸡胚感染模型建立方法的筛选

为筛选出理想的鸡白痢沙门氏菌宿主感染模型的建立方法,本研究通过选择不同接种方式配合不同菌液浓度接种不同胚龄鸡胚建立感染模型,将90枚SPF鸡胚随机分成9组,每组10枚,分别为A、B、C、D、E、F、G、H、I组,A组为空白对照组,其余各组为模型组,模型组分别以气室接种、蛋壳接触接种的方式对不同胚龄（11和14胚龄）SPF鸡胚接种不同浓度（1×10³、3×10³、9×10³、3×10⁵、9×10⁵ CFU/mL）的鸡白痢沙门氏菌C79-3菌株。每天观察情况直至出雏,待雏鸡孵出后按组分笼饲养,每隔12 h观察1次,连续观察7 d,观察各组雏鸡的临床症状、死亡情况,观察期结束对死亡和存活雏鸡进行剖检、组织病理学检查及鸡白痢沙门氏菌的分离鉴定。结果显示,各模型组均有雏鸡出现明显的鸡白痢病症状并死亡,相较于其他模型组,以11胚龄蛋壳接触感染方式接种9×10⁵ CFU/mL的C79-3菌液的F组和14胚龄气室感染方式接种3×10³ CFU/mL C79-3菌液0.1 mL的H组,鸡胚出壳率较高,可分别达到80%和90%,出壳雏鸡呈现明显鸡白痢病特征,剖检可见肝脏出血、盲肠膨大、卵黄囊吸收不良;组织病理切片可观察到肝脏、盲肠、心脏各有不同程度的损伤,发病率分别100%和88.8%,并且鸡白痢沙门氏菌阳性检出率分别达70%和90%。本研究结果表明,以11胚龄蛋壳接触感染方式接种0.1 mL 9×10⁵ CFU/mL的C79-3菌液和14胚龄以气室感染方式接种0.1 mL 3×10³ CFU/mL的C79-3菌液的两种方法均可用于建立稳定的鸡白痢沙门氏菌宿主感染模型。     

马早期流产相关功能基因挖掘的研究

旨在探究与马早期流产相关的功能基因。在同一舍饲马群体中筛选配种后45 d能够检查到胚胎,但2~4个月后发生流产的母马10匹（流产组）,以及能正常分娩的母马10匹（分娩组）。采集马匹血液样本,提取基因组DNA。全基因组平均测序深度为10×,基因组覆盖度97%以上,每个样本大约测得4×10⁶个SNP。对流产组和分娩组的全基因组重测序数据进行比较。结果表明：通过Fst分析获得1 381个SNP位点,π分析获得1 614个SNP位点,联合分析得到203个SNP位点;过滤掉突变基因间区域、非编码区域、内含子和同义SNV后得到82个SNP位点,定位于69个基因上;通过GO term、信号通路富集分析以及文献查阅,筛选出其中的12个基因为马早期流产和胚胎着床的重要候选基因,这些候选基因通过参与激素调节、胚胎侵入、维生素合成代谢等影响胚胎着床。研究结果为揭示引起马匹早期流产的原因提供了生物信息学方面的参考。     

苹果树种植对黄土旱塬土壤蒸发的影响

以陕西长武旱塬为例,分别对研究区农地和5个不同林龄(9、12、16、19 a和23 a)苹果园的土壤剖面氢氧稳定同位素进行测定,利用Craig-Gordon模型定量估算其土壤平均蒸发量,并基于“空间换时间”方法分析果园种植及生长对土壤蒸发的影响。结果表明：农地及9、12、16、19、23 a林龄苹果园的土壤蒸发量均随苹果树的种植及生长呈现先减少再增大的趋势,年均蒸发量分别为129、104、89、119、128、136 mm;苹果园的土壤蒸发量变化与叶面积指数呈显著负相关(R=-0.713);苹果园种植的前中期(9～12 a)土壤蒸发量随叶面积指数增加逐渐减小,而在中后期(12～23 a)深层土壤水被大量消耗造成的干旱胁迫使得果树叶面积减少,从而导致林下土壤蒸发量又逐渐增大。     

Current knowledge about the processes of luteolysis and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids

Camelids have many unique reproductive features that considerably differ from those of other domestic species. Females are induced ovulators with subsequent development of a corpus luteum (CL) with a short lifespan. Plasma progesterone concentration starts to increase on day 4, peaks on day 8–9 and, in non-pregnant animals, basal concentration is reached around day 10–11 post-induction of ovulation. Luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) are firstly detected on day 7 or 8 (approximately on day 5–6 after ovulation), with maximal luteolytic peaks observed between days 9 and 11 post-mating, in coincidence with a high endometrial expression of cyclooxygenase 2, a limiting enzyme in prostaglandins synthesis. Unlike other species, oxytocin seems not to be involved in the luteolytic process in these species. The CL is the main source of progesterone secretion, and its function is required to support pregnancy. Despite constant research efforts, aspects of reproduction and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids remain not fully understood. A transient decrease and subsequent recovery in plasma progesterone concentration are observed after day 9 post-mating in pregnant animals in association with a pulsatile release of PGF_2α and a transitory decrease in CL vascularization. Thus, embryo recognition should occur between days 8 and 12 post-mating. In camels, conceptus tissues exhibit aromatizing activity with the capacity to synthesize large amounts of oestradiol. Similarly, llama blastocysts secrete oestradiol-17β during the preimplantation stage, with a higher production during the elongation period. An increase in the endometrial expression of oestrogen receptor α is also observed on day 12 post-mating. All these evidences suggest that oestrogen could be the signal released by the embryo at the time of its recognition in camelids. Besides, nearly 98% of pregnancies are carried out in the left horn. A decrease in the endometrial expression of mucin 1 and 16 genes has been reported, suggesting that these changes are crucial for successful embryo implantation; however, no differences have been observed between horns. Thus, maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids is a particularly complex process that must occur in a concise time to allow the rescue of the CL and embryo survival.