年龄、温度、膘情对伊犁马卵泡发育的影响

【目的】 研究新疆昭苏地区伊犁马发情周期内卵泡发育变化规律,分析年龄、温度、膘情对伊犁马母马卵泡发育的影响,为掌握伊犁马母马卵泡发育规律提供理论依据。【方法】 选取伊犁哈萨克自治州昭苏县康苏马业配种站内,同一草场放牧情况下84匹母马作为研究对象监测发情期内卵泡发育,分析对比不同年龄、温度、膘情对伊犁马卵泡发育时长的差异性。【结果】 年龄Ⅱ组TF3-F5显著高于年龄Ⅲ组(P＜0.05)。年龄Ⅱ组TF4-5显著高于年龄Ⅲ组(P＜0.05)。平均高温对TF1-F2具有显著影响(P＜0.05),平均高温Ⅰ组TF1-F2显著高于平均高温Ⅱ组(P＜0.05)。平均低温对TF1-F2具有极显著影响(P＜0.01),平均低温Ⅰ组TF1-F2极显著高于平均低温Ⅱ组(P＜0.01)。积温对TF1-F2具有显著影响(P＜0.05),积温Ⅱ组TF1-F2极显著高于积温Ⅰ组(P＜0.01)。膘情对TF1-F2、TF3-F4、TF1-F5、TF2-F5、TF3-F5均具有极显著影响(P＜0.01),对TF2-F3具有显著影响(P＜0.05)。膘情Ⅰ组TF1-F2极显著高于膘情Ⅲ组(P＜0.01)。膘情Ⅰ组TF2-F3显著高于膘情Ⅲ组(P＜0.05)。膘情Ⅲ组TF3-F4极显著低于膘情Ⅰ组(P＜0.01),膘情Ⅲ组TF3-F4显著低于膘情Ⅰ组、膘情Ⅱ组(P＜0.05)。膘情Ⅰ组TF1-F5极显著高于膘情Ⅱ组、膘情Ⅲ组(P＜0.01),膘情Ⅱ组TF1-F5显著高于膘情Ⅲ组(P＜0.05)。膘情Ⅰ组TF2-F5极显著高于第Ⅲ组(P＜0.01),膘情Ⅰ组TF2-F5显著高于膘情Ⅱ组、膘情Ⅲ组(P＜0.05)。【结论】 年龄、温度、膘情均一定程度的影响伊犁马母马的卵泡发育,其中膘情对卵泡发育有极显著影响,体况较差可抑制母马卵泡发育。     

The localization and expression of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor in bovine ovary during oestrous cycle

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is one of the important regulatory factors of EGF family. EGF has been indicated to effectively inhibit the apoptosis of follicular cells, to promote the proliferation of granulosa cells and the maturation of oocytes, and to induce ovulation process via binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, little is known about the distribution and expression of EGF and EGFR in cattle ovary especially during oestrous cycle. In this study, the localization and expression rule of EGF and EGFR in cattle ovaries of follicular phase and luteal phase at different time points in oestrous cycle were investigated by using IHC and real-time qPCR. The results showed that EGF and EGFR in cattle ovary were mainly expressed in granulosa cells, cumulus cells, oocytes, zona pellucida, follicular fluid and theca folliculi externa of follicles. The protein and mRNA expression of EGF/EGFR in follicles changed regularly with the follicular growth wave both in follicular and in luteal phase ovaries. In follicular phase ovaries, the protein expression of EGF and EGFR was higher in antral follicles than that of those in other follicles during follicular growth stage, and the mRNA expression of EGFR was also increased in stage of dominant follicle selection. However, in luteal phase ovaries, the growth of follicles was impeded during corpus luteum development under the action of progesterone secreted by granular lutein cell. The mRNA and protein expressions of EGF and EGFR in ovarian follicles during oestrous cycle indicate that they play a role in promoting follicular development in follicular growth waves and mediating the selection process of dominant follicles.     

花䱻卵母细胞发育的组织学和超微结构观察

2015年7月至2017年10月在河南省驻马店宿鸭湖水库采集花?(Hemibarbus maculatus Bleeker)雌鱼样本190尾,体长7.12～32.21 cm,体重10.55～330.22 g,采用组织学和扫描电子显微镜技术观察了花?卵母细胞发育各时期的特征。结果表明,花?卵母细胞发育可分为5个时相,第I时相卵母细胞处于卵原细胞增殖阶段;第Ⅱ时相卵母细胞处于初级生长阶段,出现滤泡膜;第Ⅲ时相卵母细胞出现皮质液泡,细胞质膜之间形成放射带;第Ⅳ时相卵母细胞处于大生长后期,卵黄颗粒增多。电镜下观察发现放射带表面形成微孔状结构,核仁外排,可能与卵母细胞内营养物质积累有关;第Ⅴ时相卵母细胞中细胞核消失,卵母细胞发育为成熟卵子,与卵膜脱离,准备排卵。繁殖季节,花?卵巢成熟系数达到13.78%～17.04%。研究结果可为花?人工繁殖和育种工作提供参考。     

The effects analysis of two neonicotinoid insecticides on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes using hanging drop monoculture method

Acetamiprid (ACE) and imidacroprid (IMI) are known neonicotinoid insecticides with strong affinities for the insect-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These provide insect control by hyperstimulating insect nerves and are used for agricultural pest management. However, it has also been reported that ACE and IMI affect mammalian reproductive function. We determined the effects of ACE and IMI on the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. Significant decreases in nuclear maturation rates were observed in the ACE or IMI-exposed groups. Also, in matured oocytes from the ACE or IMI-exposed groups, irregular chromosomes were observed. Our results suggest that ACE and IMI exposure was detrimental to porcine oocytes and the extent of the effects depends on the concentration of exposure.     

No effect of exogenous melatonin on development of cryopreserved metaphase II oocytes in mouse

Background

This study was conducted to investigate effect of exogenous melatonin on the development of mouse mature oocytes after cryopreservation.

Results

First, mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes were vitrified in the open-pulled straws (OPS). After warming, they were cultured for 1 h in M₂ medium containing melatonin at different concentrations (0, 10⁻⁹, 10⁻⁷, 10⁻⁵, 10⁻³ mol/L). Then the oocytes were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels (fluorescence microscopy), and the developmental potential after parthenogenetic activation. The experimental results showed that the ROS level and cleavage rate in 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin group was significantly lower than that in melatonin-free group (control). The GSH levels and blastocyst rates in all melatonin-treated groups were similar to that in control. Based on the above results, we detected the expression of gene Hsp90aa1, Hsf1, Hspa1b, Nrf2 and Bcl-x1 with qRT-PCR in oocytes treated with 10⁻⁷, or 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin and untreated control. After warming and culture for 1 h, the oocytes showed higher Hsp90aa1 expression in 10⁻⁷ mol/L melatonin-treated group than in the control (P < 0.05); the Hsf1, Hsp90aa1 and Bcl-x1 expression were significantly decreased in 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin-treated group when compared to the control. Based on the above results and previous research, we detected the development of vitrified-warmed oocytes treated with either 10⁻⁷ or 0 mol/L melatonin by in vitro fertilization. No difference was observed between them.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the supplementation of melatonin (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻³ mol/L) in culture medium and incubation for 1 h did not improve the subsequent developmental potential of vitrified-warmed mouse MII oocytes, even if there were alteration in gene expression.     

A computer vision system for oocyte counting using images captured by smartphone

This work proposes a computer vision procedure for counting Twospot astyanax (Astyanax bimaculatus) oocytes in Petri dishes using images captured by smartphone. First, the proposed procedure uses simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) to divide the images into groups of pixels (superpixels). Then, based on their color and space characteristics, the images are classified into light background, dark background, dirt, or oocyte by a machine learning algorithm. Five different types of machine learning algorithms were tested: support vector machines (SVM), decision trees using the algorithm J48 and random forest, k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and Naive Bayes. To train the algorithms, 8.578 superpixels were classified by an expert into oocyte (n = 354), dirtiness (n = 651), dark background (n = 3.622), and light background (n = 3.951). Of the five learning algorithms, SVM obtained the best result with 97% correct oocyte recognition. Given the wide availability of smartphones, we therefore conclude that the presented procedure can be a valuable tool in future experiments and studies on fertilization and hatching success in Twospot astyanax.     

Association of RBP‐4 gene polymorphisms with follicular cysts in large white sows

Follicular cysts, which is a common infertility disease, can cause financial losses in pig breeding programmes. The pathogenesis and mechanisms of the formation of follicular cysts are not understood clearly. In our previous study, the concentration of retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP‐4) in the follicular fluid (FF) of the ovary with follicular cysts was found to be significantly higher than that of normal ovary, thereby suggesting that RBP‐4 may be a candidate biomarker for porcine follicular cysts. To study the association of RBP‐4 and follicular cysts further, we detected the polymorphisms of the RBP‐4 gene and the presence of follicular cysts by PCR‐Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. In this study, we screened the mutations of RBP‐4 gene in 79 sows with follicular cysts and 100 normal sows without cysts. Results showed that +249‐63G>C polymorphisms were significantly associated with follicular cysts, and sows with CC genotype in RBP‐4 gene had a high risk of developing follicular cysts. Hence, our findings further proved that RBP‐4 may be a novel biomarker for follicular cysts, which may be valuable for the diagnosis of follicular cysts and molecular breeding of pigs.     

绵羊卵泡发育过程中关键信号通路研究进展

卵泡从原始卵泡发育为成熟卵泡，直至排卵、黄体发育等过程都受到精密的调控，产生大量的优势卵泡是绵羊产多羔及实现快速扩繁的关键因素。研究发现，相关信号通路和转录因子通过影响绵羊卵泡中卵母细胞、颗粒细胞的生长，进而调控卵泡的发育成熟，对这些信号通路进行深入了解，有助于探索卵泡发育的调控机制，早日实现绵羊高效繁育。Notch是卵泡发育过程中发挥重要作用的高度保守信号通路，PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路各成员都是广泛存在于细胞内的信号转导分子，在卵泡发育早期发挥了主要作用，还有间隙连接（gap junction，GJ）和跨带突触（transzonal projections，TZPs）等物理连接方式，在细胞间的交流通讯起到重要作用。作者详细介绍了Notch信号通路、PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路、间隙连接及跨带突触的结构功能在绵羊卵泡发育中的调控作用，为进一步探明绵羊卵泡发育的调控机制提供参考。     

细胞自噬对动物卵泡发育调控的研究进展

卵泡是雌性哺乳动物发挥其繁殖能力的基础,其发育是一个动态的过程,主要涉及原始卵泡的形成、卵泡的募集、优势卵泡的选择、成熟卵泡的排卵以及排卵后卵泡的黄体化。卵泡发育的整个过程受内分泌系统、细胞自噬、细胞凋亡等的调控。自噬是一种进化上保守的应激反应过程,通过将细胞内物质包裹形成自噬体并传递到溶酶体中进行降解,以帮助细胞维持胞内物质代谢平衡,其在卵泡发育的过程中发挥着重要作用,一方面它能够通过降解或回收受损的蛋白质或有害代谢产物缓解应激造成的卵泡损伤,另一方面它又通过产生大量自噬体导致细胞器过度降解而引起卵泡闭锁。自噬对卵泡发育的调控需要PI3K-Akt-mTOR、MAPK-ULK1、ERK1/2、Sirt1-FOXO1-Atg7等多种经典信号通路的参与,这些信号通路在激素、氧化应激、细胞饥饿等的刺激下,通过独立作用或相互作用促进或抑制自噬调控卵泡细胞的生理活动。目前已知不同的自噬水平对卵泡细胞的存活具有不同作用,但关于决定细胞能否存活的自噬水平的研究还比较少。此外,自噬对卵泡发育调控的研究主要集中在颗粒细胞中,而对卵母细胞的成熟和卵泡膜细胞的作用的报道较少。文章简述了自噬在卵巢储备的形成、生长卵泡的发育、黄体的形成和退化及卵泡闭锁中的作用,并分析了一些常见的化工产品和应激诱导的自噬对卵泡发育的影响,以期为全面了解自噬在卵泡发育中的调控作用提供一定的参考。