Reproduction最新文献

{"title":"The late chromatoid body component TSSK2 is involved in translational regulation in elongating spermatids in mice.","authors":"Mari S Lehti, Lin Ma, Salli Kärnä, Samuli Laasanen, Ammar Ahmedani, Opeyemi Olotu, Matthieu Bourgery, Panyi Tran, Anu Sironen, Noora Kotaja","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-25-0297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Temporally regulated translation is critical for late steps of spermatogenesis due to transcriptional silencing during chromatin condensation. This study shows that the function of the cytoplasmic granule, the late chromatoid body, is connected to the translational regulation in condensing spermatids.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Spermatogenesis culminates in a dramatic morphological transformation, including a tight compaction of the chromatin and nuclear re-shaping that largely silences transcription. Due to transcriptional silencing, the production of the sperm-specific proteins needed for the morphological transformation requires active storage and translational regulation of mRNAs transcribed in earlier cell types. The germline-specific ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule, the chromatoid body (CB), accumulates RNAs and has a role in RNA regulation in early haploid cells (round spermatids). In late haploid cells (elongating spermatids), the CB is transformed to so-called late-CB, whose function in RNA regulation has remained elusive. Here we characterized the function of the late-CB by identifying proteins and RNAs interacting with the known late-CB marker, Testis-Specific Serine Kinase 2 (TSSK2). We showed that TSSK2 and the late-CB associates with translation initiation factors and ribosomal proteins. Furthermore, we revealed an association of TSSK2 with a specific set of mRNAs that are enriched in polysome fractions in elongating spermatids, supporting the role of the late-CB in the temporally regulated translation. These results link the function of the late-CB to the RNA regulation during late spermatogenesis for the first time, providing important novel information about the RNA regulatory processes required for spermatogenesis and male fertility.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sperm capacitation triggers transcriptomic changes linked to the proteasome-mediated ubiquitin-dependent catabolic pathway.","authors":"Pedro Caballero-Campo, Cinthya Casas-Ortega, Gabriela Hernández-Silva, Saúl Lira-Albarrán, David Barrera, Fernando Larrea, Mayel Chirinos","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-25-0168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Molecular changes during human sperm in vitro capacitation were investigated through RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process emerged as a key pathway, and proteomic analysis supported that the ubiquitin-proteasome system plays a regulatory role in human sperm capacitation.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Capacitation involves a series of biochemical and physiological changes that spermatozoa undergo during their transit along the female reproductive tract, which are essential for fertilizing the oocyte. While several processes associated with capacitation, such as increased tyrosine phosphorylation, have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms regulating this process remain unclear. This study aimed to identify biological processes associated with human sperm in vitro capacitation using next-generation RNA sequencing. Our findings revealed that sperm capacitation is associated with transcriptomic changes, characterized by 337 differential gene transcripts. Notably, one of the primary biological processes associated with capacitation was the ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process. To explore this further, we compared the ubiquitinated protein profiles of non-capacitated and capacitated spermatozoa using Western blot analysis after protein separation by denaturing gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results showed increased protein ubiquitination during capacitation, which paralleled the expected increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Interestingly, inhibition of proteasome activity with 50 μM MG132 avoided the degradation of ubiquitin conjugates, whereas tyrosine phosphorylation levels remained constant. These findings suggest that ubiquitin-conjugated sperm proteins and their subsequent degradation by the proteasome may play a role in sperm capacitation. Further investigation of ubiquitin-mediated mechanisms during capacitation could provide valuable insights into the signaling pathways essential for fertilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":"170 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144966821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Major depressive disorder and anti-depressant therapy markedly alters the human follicular niche DNA methylome.","authors":"Noga Fuchs Weizman, Brandon A Wyse, Cyntia Duval, Clifford L Librach","doi":"10.1530/REP-24-0467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-24-0467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and their treatment selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) impact 4-17% of pregnancies worldwide and alter the epigenome of numerous tissues, but their effects on the ovarian follicle are unknown. This study profiles the methylome of granulosa cells, revealing novel epigenetic pathways and molecular mechanisms altered by mental health conditions and their treatments.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Generalized anxiety and major depressive disorders (GAD/MDD) impact 4-17% of pregnancies worldwide. GAD/MDD and SSRIs alter the epigenome of numerous tissues; however, their effect on the ovarian follicular niche is unknown. In this study, we determined SSRI concentrations in the follicular fluid and matched patients by clinical and stimulation characteristics, and then grouped them into three groups: i) treated GAD/MDD (n = 10), ii) untreated GAD/MDD (n = 4), and iii) control (n = 10). DNA methylation sequencing was performed on granulosa cells using the Illumina TruSeq Methyl Capture EPIC kit. For patients with untreated GAD/MDD, we identified 3,829 differentially methylated sites (DMSs). Pathway analysis revealed an enrichment in genes involved in catabolism and immune response for the hypomethylated DMSs and hypermethylated DMSs were associated with protein localization and cellular transport. When assessing the effect of SSRI treatment, we identified 3,690 DMSs. Hypomethylated DMSs were associated with genes involved in cytoskeleton organization and cellular transport, whereas hypermethylated DMSs were associated with apoptosis and cell cycle. This is the first study profiling the methylome of human granulosa cells from patients with treated or untreated GAD/MDD. This study provides a valuable dataset describing the effects of SSRI on cells in the ovarian follicular niche.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":"170 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12365779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144966809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The timing of maternal protein degradation during mammalian preimplantation development is species-specific.","authors":"Veronika Kinterova, Alexandra Rosenbaum Bartkova, Shanjida Afrin, Jiri Kanka, Andrej Susor, Radek Prochazka, Tereza Toralova","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0007","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-25-0007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Proper degradation of maternally inherited proteins is a prerequisite for successful embryonic development. This study shows the species-specificity of this process.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The mechanism of targeting maternal proteins for degradation during preimplantation development is an unexplored process. Only a few proteins that need to be degraded for the proper course of the maternal-to-zygotic transition have been described in mice, and a few more in non-mammalian species. However, it is not well known whether the need for degradation is conserved across species or if it is driven in a species-specific way. Therefore, we selected six proteins that need to be degraded for the proper course of the maternal-to-zygotic transition in mice or Xenopus, and thoroughly characterized their expression at both the mRNA and protein level during bovine embryogenesis. Further, we analysed the protein expression in mice and pigs and compared it to bovine embryos. Thus, we provide a unique interspecies comparison of three mammalian representatives. We found that the degree of conservation between species is low and does not depend on the evolutionary relatedness of the species. This paper suggests that protein degradation during preimplantation development is controlled by a combination of species-specific factors from the embryo and the sequences of protein homologues.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":"170 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12358800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144856161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of three modified mouse models of adenomyosis based on invagination theory.","authors":"Song Guo, Di Zhang, Yilin Guo, Hao Wang, Jinxia Zhou, Yuewen Zhao, Li Yan, Fang Lian","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0158","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-25-0158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>There is no ideal animal model of adenomyosis, which reflects the imperfect understanding of complex human pathogenesis. In this study, we successfully induced adenomyosis in a mouse model via sharp-blunt trauma, which more closely mimics clinical observations in humans than previous models.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Adenomyosis is a common gynecological disease in women of reproductive. To date, a satisfactory animal model of adenomyosis has not been established. In this study, 51 female mice were divided into four groups: negative control, an abdominal skin incision was made and sutured without uterine injury; puncture, the uterine horn was punctured using a needle; dilation & curettage, a self-made curette was used to simulate D&C; puncture + dilation & curettage, the uterine horn was punctured, and dilation & curettage were performed. The mice were euthanized 2 weeks, 1 month, or 2 months post-surgery, and the uteruses were harvested. Validity was assessed by histopathological examination. The levels of EMT markers were also detected among the groups. The success rate of adenomyosis induction was higher in the Punct + D&C group than in other groups at all three time points. The highest success rate was observed in the Punct + D&C group 2 months post-surgery. Significantly increased VIM expression was observed in ectopic lesions compared with eutopic endometrium in the Punct + D&C group 2 weeks post-surgery. In addition, VIM expression in eutopic endometrium in the Punct + D&C group was significantly higher than that in the sham group 2 months post-surgery. CDH1 expression was downregulated in the Punct + D&C group compared with the sham group at 2 weeks and 2 months post-surgery. In this study, we successfully established a mouse model of adenomyosis based on invagination theory, which is low cost, quick to establish, and does not interfere with hormone secretion.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144576205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gene expression pattern predictive of human ovarian follicle development and maturation.","authors":"Samantha Sperduti, Lara Baschieri, Danilo Cimadomo, Clara Lazzaretti, Federica Davolio, Federica Innocenti, Marilena Taggi, Laura Albricci, Laura Rienzi, Alberto Vaiarelli, Filippo Maria Ubaldi, Manuela Simoni, Livio Casarini","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0176","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-25-0176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Granulosa cells from small antral follicles (SFs; diameter <10 mm), collected at the end of controlled ovarian cycles, differ from large ovarian follicles (LFs; >16 mm) for their molecular signatures. SFs retain characteristic of early antral follicles and the ratio between follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and G protein-coupled receptor (GPER) discriminates between mature and immature-like follicles.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Ovarian follicle maturation is regulated by a network of genes involved in cell growth, differentiation, oocyte selection, and steroidogenesis. In this study, we compared the expression of developmental markers and intrafollicular steroid levels in granulosa cells from small (SFs; diameter <10 mm) vs large human ovarian follicles (LFs; >16 mm). Since samples were collected from both conventional ovarian stimulation cycles and the second phase of DuoStim protocol, differences between follicles of follicular and luteal origin were also evaluated. Although both SFs and LFs displayed periovulatory markers, such as LHCGR gene expression, SFs exhibited relatively high expression levels of early antral markers, i.e., FSHR, GPER, AMHR2, CCND2 and CYP19A1 genes. This was different in LFs, which have overall homogeneous gene expression pattern. Gene expression data reflect the capability to convert androgens to estrogens, which is higher in SFs than LFs. These differences did not change when follicles from conventional and the second stimulation of DuoStim protocol were compared, confirming previous clinical observations that suggested similar quality and outcomes from oocytes collected in different follicular waves. In conclusion, SFs and LFs exhibit distinct characteristics, including specific size, gene expression patterns, and steroidogenic capabilities, regardless of their follicular or luteal origin. According to previous reports, the FSHR/GPER ratio could discriminate between mature and immature-like follicles collected at the end of controlled ovarian cycles, and between two sub-populations of LFs.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144637892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustained YAP1 signaling alters the fates of lutein and Müllerian mesenchymal cells in mice.","authors":"Michael Bérubé, Samuel Gusscott, Junhao Mao, Gustavo Zamberlam, Alexandre Boyer, Guillaume St-Jean, Julie Brind'Amour, Derek Boerboom","doi":"10.1530/REP-24-0450","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-24-0450","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>The Hippo signaling pathway plays crucial roles in various processes related to development and tissue homeostasis. This study demonstrates that sustained YAP1 activity can influence cell fate within the reproductive system, specifically in lutein and Müllerian mesenchymal cells, causing them to transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Recent reports have suggested that the Hippo intracellular signaling pathway is required for homeostasis in a variety of tissues, including the ovary and female reproductive tract. To further define the role of the Hippo effector YAP1 in the female reproductive system, transgenic mouse models were designed to direct the expression of a dominant stable mutant form of YAP1, termed YAP5SA, to the granulosa cells of antral follicles (R26YAP5SA ;CYP19-cre) and Müllerian mesenchymal cells (R26YAP5SA ;Amhr2 cre/+). Unexpectedly, YAP5SA expression in the ovaries of R26YAP5SA ;CYP19-cre mice was not detected in granulosa cells, but rather in a subset of lutein cells. This caused the lutein cells to transdifferentiate into cells having the morphologic and functional properties of myofibroblasts, including collagen deposition. These cells coalesced into roughly spherical lesions that persisted in the ovaries, but did not interfere with ovarian function or fertility. Seminiferous tubule-like structures also formed in the ovaries of adult R26YAP5SA ;CYP19-cre mice, containing SOX9-positive Sertoli-like cells but no germ cells. Although multi-lineage transdifferentiation had been reported in mice lacking the Hippo kinases Lats1 and -2 in their granulosa cells, comparative transcriptomic analyses of granulosa cells expressing YAP5SA vs granulosa cells lacking Lats1/2 showed few similarities in transcriptome alterations. R26YAP5SA ;Amhr2 cre/+ mice had severe developmental defects of their reproductive tracts, which were attributed to the transdifferentiation of Müllerian mesenchymal cells into myofibroblasts during embryogenesis. Together, these results indicate that sustained YAP1 signaling induces transdifferentiation in lutein and Müllerian mesenchymal cells, and further underscores the role of Hippo signaling in the maintenance of their fates.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12329688/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144637894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PAPPA's role in female reproduction.","authors":"Aubrey M Schaab, Kelsey L Stroud, Dieu Thao Nguyen, Jakayla C Moses, Jayda Hart, Zola Jane Aplin, Renee J Chosed, Chelsea W Fox, Lisa J Green, Holly A LaVoie, Richard J Kordus","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0012","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-25-0012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>This review represents a multispecies summary of the role of pappalysins in female reproductive health. It discusses the potential use of PAPPA and PAPPA2 as biomarkers for oocyte and embryo quality and fetal development.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Pappalysin 1 and 2 (PAPPA and PAPPA2) are metzincin metalloproteinases expressed in the ovaries, endometrium, placenta, and several other organs. These enzymes are responsible for the liberation and regulation of localized bioactive insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF1 and IGF2) via the proteolytic cleavage of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Several studies have implicated pappalysins as vital components for female fecundity. During the reproductive cycle, PAPPA peaks in dominant ovarian follicles before ovulation due to its response to gonadotropins, increasing follicular IGF availability. In human in vitro fertilization studies, PAPPA has been tested as a biomarker of oocyte and embryo quality. Studies with null mice resulting in offspring with reduced body weight and bone density have demonstrated the requirement of PAPPA for normal fetal development. Evidence supports a role for PAPPA in the establishment and maintenance of viable pregnancies through its influence on endometrial receptivity. Under the influence of PAPPA within the placenta, IGF1 and IGF2 influence mitogenic activity, trophoblastic invasion, and placental development. In addition, PAPPA has been proposed as a biomarker to identify aneuploidies in utero as well as a biomarker to recognize ectopic pregnancies. This narrative review examines PAPPA and PAPPA2 expression and localization, regulation, and function in the female reproductive tract in multiple species. Furthermore, it examines the role of PAPPA and PAPPA2 preceding and throughout pregnancy and as a molecular marker of oocyte maturation, embryo quality and development.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":"170 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12380203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epigallocatechin-3-gallate mitigates postovulatory oocyte aging by reducing oxidative stress and promoting embryonic development.","authors":"Ling Gong, Ruo-Nan Fan, Jia Peng, Xin-Yi Ni, Yu-Qing Liu, Dan-Ni Zhang, Xiang-Zhu Yan, Shui-Lian Wang, Hai-Long Wang","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0125","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-25-0125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Postovulatory oocyte aging significantly compromises oocyte quality, resulting in fertilization failure, abnormal embryonic development, and unfavorable outcomes in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenolic compound found in green tea, demonstrates the ability to effectively reduce excessive oxidative stress in oocytes and improve the quality of aged oocytes both in vitro and in vivo, offering promising potential for enhancing the success of ART and efficiency in livestock breeding.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Oxidative stress-mediated postovulatory aging (POA) significantly compromises oocyte quality and impairs subsequent embryonic developmental competence, thereby reducing the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and livestock breeding. As the most abundant polyphenolic compound in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has demonstrated notable antioxidant activity. However, the mechanisms by which EGCG modulates POA remain largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether EGCG delays POA both in vitro and in vivo by alleviating oxidative stress. During in vitro aging, metaphase II (MII) stage mouse oocytes were treated with various concentrations of EGCG for 12 h. EGCG treatment attenuated abnormal spindle formation and restored mitochondrial function. Furthermore, EGCG reduced reactive oxygen species levels and apoptosis, thereby mitigating oxidative damage associated with postovulatory aging. Notably, these improvements led to significantly enhanced embryonic developmental potential. In the in vivo experiments, mice received daily EGCG injections for 6 consecutive days. The results demonstrated that EGCG significantly improved oocyte quality during POA and alleviated adverse pregnancy outcomes. Taken together, our findings suggest that EGCG is a promising agent for preventing postovulatory oocyte aging and provides a basis for further strategies aimed at improving the success of ART and livestock breeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144258841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Divergence in the sow vaginal microbiota is associated with fertility.","authors":"Lauren Fletcher, Xiaoshu Zhan, Yashu Song, Julang Li","doi":"10.1530/REP-25-0044","DOIUrl":"10.1530/REP-25-0044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>In brief: </strong>Vaginal microbiota composition influences female fertility, however it has not been studied for measuring fertility level in female pigs. This study reveals significant vaginal microbiota composition differences between high reproductive performance and infertile sows, and demonstrates that the vaginal microbiota has promise for improving female pig selection using machine learning modeling.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>There is a need for reliable and effective biomarkers of female fertility and reproductive potential in the pork industry, as current selection protocols are not keeping up with the rate of improvement for other production-related traits. This study aimed to investigate the vaginal microbiota composition between sows of differing fertility status and identify candidate vaginal microbiota biomarkers of sow fertility. The vaginal microbiota of high reproductive performance sows (HRP, n = 52) with number of piglets born alive ≥13 and infertile sows (INF, n = 23), that remained nonpregnant after two consecutive rounds of artificial insemination, were investigated. Sequencing results revealed significantly different (P < 0.05) beta diversity at the genus level between HRP and INF vaginal microbiota communities. Accordingly, the composition of the vaginal microbiota diverged between HRP and INF sows, with INF sows having increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae XPB1014 group and HRP sows having increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Aerococcus and Staphylococcus at the genus level. Forty-two genera were selected as candidate biomarkers of sow fertility via partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and recursive feature elimination. The support-vector machine model classified sow fertility with 93.3% accuracy, supporting potential industry application to improve upon current methods for selection and recruitment in the breeding herd. Future investigations should validate the candidate vaginal microbiota biomarkers in a large, independent population of sows and gilts to evaluate their application for predicting future reproductive performance and assess their true industry applicability.</p>","PeriodicalId":21127,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177788/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}