PGI_2对缺少内源性PGs的绵羊早期胚胎体外发育的影响

试验旨在探讨添加外源Iloprost(PGI2的稳定类似物)对缺少内源性前列腺素(PGs)的绵羊早期胚胎体外发育的影响。常规体外受精,通过在体外培养液中单独或联合添加前列腺素合成限速酶COX-1和COX-2的特异性抑制剂SC560和NS398,观察COX-1和COX-2对绵羊早期受精胚胎体外发育的影响。添加抑制剂NS398后,再协同添加不同浓度Iloprost,观察PGI2对绵羊早期体外胚胎发育的具体作用,并对孵化囊胚的细胞数进行分析。结果显示,在卵裂率和囊胚率方面,单独添加NS398与同时添加SC560和NS398组间差异不显著(P0.05),而与对照组间差异显著(P0.05)。添加NS398后,再添加不同浓度的外源性Iloprost可代替胚胎内源性PGI2的作用,基本消除COX-2抑制剂对绵羊早期胚胎体外发育的不利影响。Iloprost的浓度以1×10-6 mol/L为宜,H33342染色结果差异不显著(P0.05)。本试验结果表明,胚胎内源性COX-2对绵羊早期胚胎中PGI2的合成起主要调控作用。外源添加Iloprost可补偿胚胎内源性PGI2的缺失作用,解除NS398对COX-2的特异性抑制作用,最终促进绵羊早期胚胎的体外发育。     

虾青素对小鼠早期胚胎发育及相关基因表达的影响

试验旨在研究培养液中添加虾青素（AX）对小鼠胚胎体外发育和相关基因表达的影响。试验选用23~25 g的ICR系雌性小鼠,利用超数排卵,取卵母细胞进行体外受精,受精1 h后将受精卵随机分组、分别移入浓度为0、5、10、25、50 μmol/L的虾青素培养液中进行体外发育培养,在培养24和96 h后分别观察并统计各组的卵裂率和囊胚率;体外培养至96 h后,对囊胚进行细胞计数,统计囊胚细胞数差异;提取各组囊胚总RNA,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术对各组胚胎的TGF-β和Bcl-2基因的相对表达量进行检测。结果显示,添加10 μmol/L虾青素能够改善小鼠胚胎体外发育环境且显著提高胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率（P<0.05）;显著提高囊胚的细胞数（P<0.05）;极显著提高TGF-β基因表达量（P<0.01）。结果表明,添加10 μmol/L虾青素有利于小鼠胚胎体外发育,可用于改善小鼠胚胎体外发育环境;TGF-β和Bcl-2基因很可能参与了胚胎发育过程中的相关调控。     

细胞松弛素B对猪孤雌胚胎和体外克隆胚胎发育能力的影响

为探讨细胞松弛素B（cytochalasin B,CB）对猪孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎发育能力的影响,本研究通过在猪体外胚胎培养基中添加不同浓度CB以及不同孵育时间的处理,筛选出CB对猪早期胚胎发育的最适浓度和最佳孵育时间,同时通过Hoechst33342染色检测猪体外囊胚孵化期的细胞数差异,进一步研究CB对孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎发育的影响。结果显示,培养基中添加CB浓度为7.5 μg/mL时孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎的卵裂率分别为85.00%和90.23%,囊胚率为35.68%和42.58%,均显著高于其他各组（P < 0.05）;采用7.5 μg/mL CB处理电激活后的孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎,孤雌胚胎孵育4 h组的卵裂率（83.80%）和囊胚率最高（35.39%）,与其他各组差异显著（P < 0.05）,而克隆胚胎孵育6 h组的卵裂率（83.98%）和囊胚率最高（55.62%）,与其他各组差异显著（P < 0.05）。此外,Hoechst33342染色结果显示,未添加CB处理的孤雌胚胎在囊胚孵化期的细胞平均数为28个,CB处理组的孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎细胞平均数分别为36和52个,处理组和未处理组细胞数差异显著（P < 0.05）。结果表明,猪体外孤雌胚胎用7.5 μg/mL CB 处理4 h可获得较高的卵裂率和囊胚率;体外克隆胚胎用7.5 μg/mL CB 处理6 h卵裂率及囊胚率最高,且囊胚期内细胞团细胞总数最多。CB处理有利于体外胚胎早期发育,提高克隆胚胎移植受孕率。     

细胞因子对绵羊体外受精胚胎发育的影响

绵羊卵巢采自乌鲁木齐市屠宰场，卵母细胞体外成熟24－25h后，由体外获能的附睾精子授精，50h后，将卵裂至2－8细胞的绵羊胚胎移入添加了不同浓度细胞因子的培养液中继续培养，结果表明，加入5、10、15μg/ml胰岛素（Insulin)分别得到17.46%、23.81%、22.95%的囊胚率，与对照组9.52%相比差异显著（P＜0.05)。高浓度（500μg/ml)的粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor,GM-CSF)可获得21.82%的囊胚率，与对照组7.27%相比差异显著（P＜0.05)。胚胎培养液中分别加入10、100、500ng/ml的白细胞介素－3（Interleukin-3,IL-3)、白细胞介素－8（IL－8）和神经生长因子（Nuclear growth factor,NGF)与对照组相比，囊胚率差异不显著。本研究表明，胰岛素、GM－CSF对绵羊体外受精胚胎早期发育有促进作用，IL－3、IL－8、NGF对绵羊胚胎的早期发育无明显作用。     

氨基酸和半胱胺对绵羊胚胎体外发育的影响

将从绵羊卵巢采集的卵母细胞成熟培养22-24h;成熟卵母细胞去除颗粒细胞,选择排出第一极体的卵母细胞,用5μmol／LA23187（5min）联合2mmol／L 6-DMAP（4h）进行孤雌激活;激活后的卵母细胞在培养液中进行培养。研究氨基酸和半胱胺对绵羊胚胎早期体外发育的影响。结果显示：（1）氨基酸能促进胚胎体外发育,0-24h培养添加抑制卵母细胞的卵裂,24h后培养添加比全过程培养添加更能促进胚胎体外发育;（2）24～72h培养添加必需氨基酸（EAA）,能促进胚胎体外发育;（3）半胱胺添加量0～100μmol／L,随浓度增高各项发育指标呈增高趋势,添加100～200μmol／L,随浓度增高各项发育指标呈下降趋势。     

PLCγ1基因对绵羊早期胚胎体外发育的影响

旨在探究磷脂酶Cγ1（phospholipase Cgamma 1,PLCγ1）基因对绵羊早期胚胎体外发育的影响,为揭示PLCγ1基因在早期胚胎发育过程中的作用机制奠定基础。本研究选取包裹3层以上颗粒细胞的绵羊卵母细胞为试验材料,体外培养成熟后将其分为两组,利用显微注射技术将PLCγ1基因导入MⅡ期（减数第二次分裂中期）卵母细胞（n=127）中为试验组,以显微注射空载体pcDNA3.1-EGFP作为对照组（n=120）,经48 h后统计其卵裂率;并利用Ca²⁺探针Rhod 2-AM监测MⅡ卵母细胞和显微注射后16、48、72、96、120 h时各时期卵母细胞以及早期胚胎内Ca²⁺波动。结果显示,PLCγ1基因显微注射后卵母细胞被激活,卵裂率为（（19.67±0.2）%,P<0.01）,桑椹胚发育率为（（9.00±0.17）%,P<0.05）;PLCγ1基因注射后,卵母细胞和早期胚胎不同发育时期有Ca²⁺浓度变化,可观察发现Ca²⁺主要分布在胞质中且注射48 h时可达到峰值（P<0.01）。结果表明,PLCγ1基因可以引起绵羊卵母细胞发育过程中发生Ca²⁺振荡,启动其卵裂,并促使早期胚胎的继续发育。     

氨基酸和牛磺酸对绵羊体外受精胚胎体外培养的影响

本文在KSOM培养液中添加牛磺酸和NEAA、EAA ,研究氨基酸对绵羊胚胎体外培养的影响。研究表明 :①牛磺酸、NEAA可以显著提高胚胎的桑椹胚和囊胚发育率 ;②EAA能促进胚胎由囊胚向孵化囊胚发育 ;③NEAA和EAA可促进胚胎的囊胚发育和孵化囊胚的发育。     

不同浓度雌二醇对猪卵母细胞体外成熟和孤雌激活胚胎的影响

为了探讨雌二醇（17β-estrodiol,E2）对猪卵母细胞体外成熟及孤雌激活后胚胎早期发育的影响,在卵母细胞体外成熟培养基中添加不同浓度雌二醇,研究卵裂率和囊胚率的变化。以未添加雌二醇的基础液为对照组,比较分析各组卵母细胞核成熟效率、孤雌激活后胚胎的卵裂率、囊胚发育率。结果表明,成熟液中添加1μg／mL雌二醇（E2）对猪卵母细胞的体外成熟具有明显的促进作用,而添加100μg／mL雌二醇（E2）对猪卵母细胞体外成熟具有明显的抑制作用。     

芝麻素对小鼠早期胚胎体外发育的影响

本试验旨研究在体外培养（in vitro culture，IVC）中添加芝麻素（sesamin，SES）对小鼠早期胚胎体外发育的影响。采集6周龄雌性昆明小鼠受精卵，随机分为对照组和不同浓度（10、50、100 μmol/L）SES组。采用Fluorescein-dUTP和Hoechst 33342免疫荧光染色分别检测囊胚内细胞凋亡率和总细胞数；采用DCFH-DA检测早期胚胎内活性氧（reactive oxygen species，ROS）水平；采用CMF₂HC检测早期胚胎内谷胱甘肽（glutathione，GSH）水平；采用JC-1检测早期胚胎线粒体膜电位强度。结果显示，不同浓度SES组分裂率和囊胚率较对照组均有提高，但无显著差异（P>0.05）；50 μmol/L SES组细胞数较对照组显著提高（P<0.05），细胞凋亡率较对照组显著降低（P<0.05）；与对照组相比，50 μmol/L SES组ROS水平显著降低（P<0.05），GSH水平和线粒体膜电位水平显著提高（P<0.05）。结果表明，在IVC中添加SES可提高囊胚内细胞数、减少细胞凋亡率，降低细胞内ROS水平，提高细胞内GSH水平，改善早期胚胎线粒体功能，减少胚胎氧化应激的损伤，提高小鼠早期胚胎发育质量。     

白藜芦醇对绵羊卵母细胞体外受精的影响

本试验旨在研究不同浓度（0、0.5、2.0、5.0 μmol/L）白藜芦醇（resveratrol,RES）对绵羊卵母细胞体外受精（in vitro fertilization,IVF）、卵母细胞抗氧化能力及卵丘细胞分泌类固醇激素的影响。绵羊卵母细胞在含不同浓度RES的体外成熟（in vitro maturation,IVM）液中培养24 h以后进行体外受精,并收集IVM液,测定超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px）的活性及脂质过氧化产物丙二醛（monochrome display adapter,MDA）的含量;用酶联免疫法测定雌二醇（estradiol,E₂）和孕酮（progesterone,P₄）的浓度。研究结果表明,与对照组相比,在IVM液中添加0.5 μmol/L RES显著提高卵裂率（P<0.05）,但对受精率和囊胚率没有显著影响（P>0.05）;5.0 μmol/L RES显著降低受精率、卵裂率和囊胚率（P<0.05）,对胚胎发育有抑制作用;在IVM和体外培养（in vitro culture,IVC）液中分别添加0.5 μmol/L RES均显著提高受精率、卵裂率和囊胚率（P<0.05）。与对照组相比,在IVM液中添加RES对卵丘细胞分泌E₂有一定的抑制作用,5.0 μmol/L RES显著降低E₂浓度（P<0.05）;0.5 μmol/L RES显著提高卵丘细胞P₄分泌量（P<0.05）。0.5和2.0 μmol/L RES增加SOD和GSH-Px等酶的活性,但与对照组相比无显著差异（P>0.05）,却显著降低MDA含量（P<0.05）;而5.0 μmol/L RES显著降低抗氧化酶活性并增加MDA含量（P<0.05）。综上所述,在IVM和IVC液中同时添加0.5 μmol/L RES,通过增强卵母细胞抗氧化能力和P₄的浓度,并降低MDA含量,从而提高胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率。     

In vitro and ex vivo pharmacodynamics of selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in equine whole blood

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenases (COX), and the inhibition of COX-2 rather than COX-1 can limit the onset of NSAID-related adverse effects. The pharmacodynamic properties of eltenac, naproxen, tepoxalin, SC-560 and NS 398 in healthy horses were investigated using an in vitro whole blood assay. To predict COX selectivity in clinical use, eltenac and naproxen were also studied ex vivo after intravenous administration. SC-560 acted as a selective COX-1 inhibitor, tepoxalin as a dual inhibitor with potent activity against COX-1, and NS 398 as a preferential COX-2 inhibitor. Eltenac was a preferential COX-2 inhibitor in vitro but un-selective in the ex vivo study. Naproxen maintained its non-selectivity both in vitro and ex vivo. These findings have demonstrated that in vitro studies may not accurately predict in vivo NSAID selectivity for COX and should be confirmed using an ex vivo whole blood assay.     

前列腺素E2和F2α对LPS刺激后奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞COX-1和COX-2表达的影响

试验旨在阐明前列腺素E₂（prostaglandin E₂,PGE₂）和F_2α（prostaglandin F_2α,PGF_2α）对体外培养的奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞中环氧合酶-1（cyclooxygenase-1,COX-1））与环氧合酶-2（cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）表达的影响。培养奶牛子宫内膜上皮原代细胞和传代细胞,第4代细胞以1×10⁶个/孔接种于6孔板,以10^-7mol/L PGE₂和PGF_2α分别预处理细胞24 h,以100 ng/mL细菌脂多糖（lipopolysaccharides,LPS）刺激细胞4、8和12 h后分别提取RNA和总蛋白质,采用实时荧光定量PCR与Western blotting等技术检测COX-1与COX-2 mRNA和蛋白质的表达量。结果表明,与对照组相比,COX-1 mRNA表达量在PGE₂单独作用4、8和12 h后显著上调（P<0.05）;COX-2 mRNA表达量在PGE₂单独作用4和12 h后显著上调（P<0.05）,PGE₂单独处理使COX-1、COX-2蛋白表达量均显著上调（P<0.05）。与对照组相比,LPS刺激8和12 h时COX-1 mRNA表达量显著下调（P<0.05）,LPS刺激后COX-1蛋白表达量无显著变化（P>0.05）;LPS刺激后4、8和12 h时COX-2 mRNA表达量显著上调（P<0.05）,LPS刺激后COX-2蛋白表达量显著上调（P<0.05）。与LPS单独处理组相比,LPS+PGE₂处理组在8和12 h时COX-1和COX-2 mRNA表达量均显著上调（P<0.05）,同时COX-1和COX-2蛋白表达量也显著上调（P<0.05）。PGF_2α在LPS未刺激和刺激后对COX-1和COX-2 mRNA的表达无显著影响（P>0.05）,仅在PGF_2α单独处理8和12 h后COX-1 mRNA表达量上调（P<0.05）。两种激素联合处理与各自单独处理及LPS单独刺激相比,对COX-1和COX-2 mRNA表达具有一定的协同诱导作用。     

Comparison of the Effects of Active Dry Yeast and Yeast Culture on Rumen Fermentation Parameters

This study was conducted to compare the effect of active dry yeast（ADY)and yeast culture（YC）on gas production,dynamics of gas production,methane content and rumen fermentation parameters by in vitro gas production technique,and the values of ME,OMD and yield of MP were also predicted according to 24 h gas production,in order to further reveal the mechanism of the difference effect and lay a foundation for those reasonable application.The results showed that ADY and YC had similiar effect on gas production, however,the gas production of YC group at 12,24 and 48 h were higher than that of ADY;Compared to CON group,the rate of gas production in earlier fermentation period was increased by 19.4% in YC group and decreased by 15.3% in ADY group（P>0.05),and that of YC group was significantly increased by 41.0% than that of ADY group（P<0.05);The content of CH₄ of YC group was significantly increased and content of H₂ and CO₂ were significantly decreased（P<0.05).The content of H₂ in ADY group was significantly decreased（P<0.05),while the content of CH₄ and CO₂ were not significantly changed（P>0.05);The pH and total VFA of rumen fermentation fluid in ADY and YC groups were not significantly changed（P>0.05),while the concentration of NH₃-N of the two groups was significantly increased（P<0.05).ADY had no significant effect on individual VFA（P>0.05),whereas YC tended to increase the ratio of acetic acid and decrease the ratio of isobutyric acid;Comparing to CON group,the OMD,ME and MP of ADY and YC groups were not significantly affected（P>0.05), while that of YC group were all significantly increased than ADY group（P<0.05).In conclusion,there were certain differences in the effect of ADY and YC on gas production,concentrate of gas,the rate of gas production and parameter of rumen fermentation.     

CYP19A1调控内源性雌激素合成促进牦牛COCs细胞自噬和早期发育能力

旨在探索牦牛卵母细胞成熟过程中细胞色素P450芳香化酶(cytochrome P450arom, CYP19A1)对内源性雌激素(17β-estradiol, E₂)分泌、卵母细胞自噬和后续胚胎发育能力的影响。本研究在牦牛卵丘卵母细胞复合体(cumulus-oocyte complexes, COCs)体外成熟过程中,分别用等体积生理盐水、最佳浓度E₂(10^-7 mol·L^-1)、CYP19A1诱导剂黄曲霉毒素B1(aflatoxin B1, AFB1)、CYP19A1抑制剂双酚A(bisphenol A, BPA)处理,实时荧光定量PCR(real-time quantitative PCR, qRT-PCR)、Western blot和免疫荧光技术检测各组成熟COCs中CYP19A1表达水平,酶联免疫吸附方法(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA)检测诱导和抑制CYP19A1处理组牦牛成熟COCs培养液中E₂水平;分析不同处理组C...     

不同品种受体对绵羊胚胎移植效果及羔羊早期生长性能的影响

旨在探讨以小尾寒羊和蒙古羊作为受体时,二者的胚胎移植效果及所产羔羊的早期生长性能之间的差异。选用南非肉用美利奴羊(n=11)和澳洲白绵羊(n=110)作为供体,以小尾寒羊(n=196)和蒙古羊(n=504)作为受体;对供体母羊进行超数排卵以及人工授精处理,记录供体母羊的收集胚胎总数和可用胚胎数,计算平均每只羊收集的可用胚胎数以及胚胎合格率;对小尾寒羊和蒙古羊进行同期发情及胚胎移植处理,记录受体母羊的产羔数,计算繁殖率;计算并比较不同受体母羊所产羔羊的平均初生重、成活率以及70日龄断奶羔羊数、70日龄断奶重、平均日增重、平均每只母羊提供的断奶羔羊数。结果表明,从供体母羊中共获得可用胚胎549枚,平均每只羊收集可用胚胎4.54枚,胚胎合格率为82.56%;利用胚胎移植技术,移植受体母羊529只,所产羔羊240只,平均繁殖率为45.37%;小尾寒羊的发情率和繁殖率明显高于蒙古羊;共获得70日龄断奶羔羊211只,羔羊成活率为87.92%,平均日增重为280.00g;小尾寒羊和蒙古羊所产的羔羊初生重没有显著差异(P>0.05),小尾寒羊所产羔羊的70日龄断奶重和平均日增重分别极显著(P<0.01)和显著(P<0.05)高于蒙古羊,而蒙古羊所产羔羊的成活率显著高于小尾寒羊(P<0.05);平均每只小尾寒羊母羊可提供的断奶羔羊数(0.42只)略高于蒙古羊(0.39只),小尾寒羊作为胚胎移植受体略具有优势。综合分析表明,在内蒙古兴安盟地区小尾寒羊和蒙古羊均可以作为胚胎移植的受体来使用。     

杜泊羊和巴彦淖尔多胎羊杂交后代肉品质分析研究

为了评价杜泊羊与巴彦淖尔多胎羊杂交后代的肉品质,以杜泊羊×巴彦淖尔多胎羊杂交F₁代羔羊和新疆维吾尔自治区库尔勒市当地绵羊羔羊为研究对象,采用常规方法测定2种羔羊肌肉组织的理化指标、营养成分含量以及矿物质含量,利用统计学方法比较二者相关指标的差异。结果表明,杜泊羊×巴彦淖尔多胎羊杂交F₁代羔羊肌肉组织的pH_{45 min}值和熟肉率显著高于当地绵羊羔羊（P<0.05）,剪切力和失水率显著低于当地绵羊羔羊（P<0.05）;杂交F₁代羔羊肌肉中的粗灰分含量显著低于当地绵羊羔羊（P<0.05）,粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量均显著高于当地绵羊羔羊（P<0.05）;杂交F₁代羔羊肌肉中的铁含量极显著高于当地绵羊羔羊（P<0.01）,且铜、锰、镁、钙、锌含量均显著高于当地绵羊羔羊（P<0.05）。综上表明,杜泊羊×巴彦淖尔多胎羊杂交F₁代羔羊的肉品质优于当地绵羊羔羊。     

非繁殖季节胚胎移植受体绵羊妊娠效果影响因素的研究

在非繁殖季节应用CIDR法和Progestagen Sponge法对受体绵羊进行同期发情处理后,进行冷冻胚胎移植,研究不同同期发情处理方法、卵巢状况、胚龄、移植方法和移植时间对冷冻胚胎移植妊娠率的影响,以期为当地实现绵羊胚胎移植产业化提供理论依据和技术参考。结果表明:经同期发情处理后,绵羊在去栓后24~72 h集中发情,在去栓后36~48 h发情最为集中;CIDR法和Progestagen Sponge法的同期发情率分别为91.11%和87.78%(P>0.05),同期发情绵羊移植利用率分别为82.93%和78.48%(P>0.05);单侧卵巢上含有1个和2个黄体其妊娠率分别为46.07%和48.78%(P>0.05);桑椹胚和囊胚的妊娠率分别为49.25%和42.11%(P>0.05);腹腔镜法和手术法的妊娠率分别为45.16%和48.52%(P>0.05);11月和12月进行冷冻胚胎移植的妊娠率分别为50.76%和43.08%(P>0.05),该试验的绵羊冻胚移植妊娠率为46.92%,基本接近国内冻胚移植水平,但低于目前国内羊鲜胚移植妊娠率(50%~60%)。由此可以得出,不同同期发情处理方法、卵巢状况、胚龄、移植方法和移植时间对胚胎移植妊娠率的影响均无显著性差异(P>0.05),大规模群体羊同期发情时,可选价格便宜的Progestagen Sponge法;只要受体绵羊黄体质量好即可移植胚胎;为了减轻受体绵羊的应激反应,降低术后子宫粘连的发病率,可广泛应用腹腔镜法进行胚胎移植;该试验的绵羊冻胚移植妊娠率低于目前国内羊鲜胚移植妊娠率,通过筛选高效低毒的抗冻保护剂,以及提高基层技术人员操作水平,则有望进一步提高绵羊冷冻胚胎移植妊娠率。     

Inhibition of FGF Signalling Pathway Augments the Expression of Pluripotency and Trophoblast Lineage Marker Genes in Porcine Parthenogenetic Blastocyst

The consistent failure to isolate bona fide pluripotent cell lines from livestock indicates that the underlying mechanisms of early lineage specification are poorly defined. Unlike other species, the contrivances of segregation have been comprehensively studied in the mouse. In mouse, FGF/MAPK signalling pathway dictates the segregation of hypoblast (primitive endoderm). However, it is not evident whether this mechanism is also conserved in livestock. Here, in this study, we examined the roles of FGF/MAP kinase signalling pathways in porcine parthenogenetic embryos during the early development. Porcine parthenogenetic embryos were cultured in the medium addition with FGFR inhibitor BGJ398 (10 μm ) or DEMOS. Pluripotency‐ and lineage‐related gene expressions in the early porcine embryos were determined. Compared to control, total cell numbers on day 7 were significantly higher (55 ± 5.96 vs 47 ± 1.97, p < 0.05) in embryos cultured in the presence of BGJ398, but had no significant effect on the rate of blastocyst development (47% vs 44%, p > 0.05). Nonetheless, BGJ398 treatment significantly augmented the expression of pluripotency and trophoblast marker genes (SOX2, OCT4, KLF4 and CDX2), but did not significantly change the expression of NANOG and hypoblast marker gene (GATA4). Furthermore, the addition of FGF signalling agonist (FGF2) during the embryo development significantly decreased the expression of pluripotency and trophoblast marker genes (SOX2, NANOG, KLF4 and CDX2), but no significant effect on the expression of OCT4 and GATA4 was observed. Here, we exhibit that inhibition of FGF signalling could improve the quality of the porcine embryo and escalate the chance to capture pluripotency. Besides, it also promotes the trophoblast development of porcine parthenogenetic embryo. In addition, the data suggested that FGF signalling pathway is dispensable for the segregation of hypoblast and epiblast lineages in porcine embryo during the early development.     

Effects of endotoxin and influence of cyclooxygenase-2 on β-adrenergic mediated relaxation in isolated equine digital artery

The effects of endotoxin on β-adrenergic-mediated relaxation were investigated in the equine digital artery (EDA). Possible involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in endotoxin-induced effects and basal EDA β-adrenoceptor functionality was also evaluated. Endothelium-intact (e(+)) and/or -denuded (e(-)) EDA rings were incubated overnight with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS+NS398 (selective COX-2 inhibitor) or NS398 alone. Vessel rings were then mounted in organ baths and relaxant responses to isoproterenol (ISOP) recorded on U44069-induced pre-contraction. Response to ISOP was further evaluated in either incubated or freshly isolated (e(-)) rings acutely exposed to NS398. Fresh and incubated (e(-)) EDAs were also analysed for COX-2 expression by Western blotting. LPS caused endothelium-dependent enhancement of β-adrenergic mediated relaxation. NS398 did not reverse endotoxin effects, suggesting that COX-2 did not have a mediating role. In the absence of LPS, NS398 significantly increased ISOP-induced relaxation. This finding, together with immunoblot detection of COX-2 in both fresh and incubated (e(-)) vessels, revealed the existence of a constitutive COX-2 exerting tonic inhibitory modulation on EDA β-adrenergic-mediated relaxation. The results support the possible role of endotoxin in the vascular disturbances associated with equine laminitis. Moreover, the involvement of COX-2 in the physiological regulation of EDA tone warrants further clinical investigation into the efficacy and safety of selective COX-2 inhibitors on digital circulation in horses.