Theriogenology最新文献

{"title":"Oleanolic acid promotes porcine oocyte maturation by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the potential role and underlying mechanisms of oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in porcine oocytes during <em>in vitro</em> maturation (IVM). The results showed that supplementation with 5 μM OA during IVM resulted in a greater percentage of mature oocytes, parthenogenetically activated embryos and somatic cell nuclear-transferred embryos. This was evidenced by significant increases in the rate of first polar body expulsion, the expansion of cumulus granulosa cells and the total cell number in blastocysts. Further analysis revealed that OA promoted fatty acid accumulation and upregulated the mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation. OA significantly increased the intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels and effectively inhibited BAX/BCL2 and Cleaved Caspase3 protein expression. Notably, OA increased the protein levels of intracellular Nrf2 and HO-1, and the GSH levels and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and catalase (CAT), while reducing ROS levels. Mechanistically, OA activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway, which is crucial for regulating the expression of antioxidant-related targets in IVM porcine oocytes. Our findings indicated that OA improved antioxidant capacity by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway, thereby promoting porcine oocyte maturation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142323150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perspectives for reproduction and production in grazing sheep and cattle in Australasia: The next 20 years","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We offer a perspective on the major challenges that are confronting the management of reproduction in sheep and cattle in Australia and New Zealand, over the next two decades. An important context is the dominance of grazing systems in which large flocks or herds are managed over large areas where it is challenging to manage reproduction with precision. Consequently, the variable forage supply usually dominates reproductive outcomes, a problem that will be exacerbated by global heating. Thus, in extensive grazing systems, there is a great need for technological solutions to improve the management of nutrition. Global heating will also exert direct effects on reproductive function. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, reproduction will remain a focus for industry. In addition, as the industries develop, we foresee continued societal pressure to reduce medication, mitigate environmental damage, and improve animal well-being.</p><p>Management solutions for extensive grazing systems must involve minimal interventions with the animals and be applicable to diverse genotypes and environments. Clearly, genetics and breeding will be at the heart of solutions and elegant strategies will be needed that focus on developing animals that are robust, if perhaps a little less productive. A high rate of genetic gain is the main reason for pursuing reproductive technologies, but highly advanced reproductive technology is not likely to be the best fit in extensive management systems. Even for AI, the simplest technology, uptake is limited and lateral thinking is needed to find ways to improve the rates of genetic gain.</p><p>We conclude that there are many opportunities for improving reproductive performance in sheep and cattle in Australia and New Zealand. As we gain deeper understanding of the processes involved, we should be able to make progress in fertility and fecundity, embryo survival, and postnatal survival. Improvements in reproductive performance will increase productivity, and should also be associated with significantly improved animal well-being and a reduction in methane emissions intensity. To capture these benefits, the development of new management options will require lateral thinking about reproductive technology for extensive grazing systems, and a transdisciplinary approach that brings together the systems biology of grazing animals with an understanding of the barriers to adoption by farmers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142270740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biostimulation methods based on chemical communication improve semen quality in male breeder rabbits","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biostimulation aims to optimize reproductive parameters as part of animal management practices by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term male rabbit exposure to different biological secretions, potentially pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of males. Four groups of 18 males each were exposed to A) doe urine, B) 2-phenoxyethanol, C) doe vaginal swab, and D) distilled water (control), three times over a 2.5h exposure window, just before semen collection. Semen volume, sperm concentration and motility, as well as subpopulation analysis of the spermatozoa were assessed for each condition. Additionally, testosterone levels in blood samples were monitored at five time points over the 2.5 h exposure window. We found a higher percentage of motile, progressive, fast progressive and mid-progressive spermatozoa in any of the three experimental groups compared to the control group. In contrast, the semen volume and the percentage of immotile and non-progressive spermatozoa was generally higher in the control group. We then identified a higher proportion of a subpopulation of fast and progressive spermatozoa in groups A, B, and C compared to group D. Our data indicates that sperm motility increases when animals are exposed to specific biological fluids potentially containing pheromones, and that an increase in sperm volume does not correlate with an increase in spermatozoa concentration, progressiveness, and speed. Finally, no differences in testosterone levels were found among comparisons, although males of groups A and C (exposed to natural female biological fluids) showed a tendency towards higher testosterone levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that rabbit sperm quality increases upon exposure to the biological secretions proposed, thereby supporting further investigation into their molecular identity. This exploration could eventually pave the way for implementing the use of pheromones in rabbit husbandry to enhance reproductive and productive parameters in farmed rabbits.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X24003856/pdfft?md5=c47483db75375a6b8dc1e29c0c6ea3fd&pid=1-s2.0-S0093691X24003856-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142270739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of intrafollicular administration of PGE2 or PGF2α in early estrus on ovulation, hemorrhagic anovulatory follicles formation, progesterone secretion and pregnancy outcome in the mare","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This experiment was performed to evaluate whether intrafollicular treatment of PGE2 or PGF2α administered in early estrus would induce normal ovulation, progesterone production (Experiment 1) and pregnancy (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, mares in estrus after 2 days of endometrial edema were injected in all largest dominant follicles (28–35 mm in diameter) with 0.5 mL of sterile water containing 500 μg PGE2 (n = 6), 125 μg PGF2α (n = 6) or placebo (n = 7) (Hour 0). Ultrasound examinations were performed daily, until ovulation or anovulation was detected, and daily blood samples were taken for 8 days. In Experiment 2, mares with a dominant follicle ≥35 mm after at least three days of slight-to-moderate endometrial edema, were injected with 500 μg PGE2 diluted in 0.5 mL of sterile water for injection in the follicle (PGE2 group; n = 9 mares and 11 dominant follicles). No puncture was performed in the control group (n = 9 mares and 11 dominant follicles). Mares from both groups were inseminated. In Experiment 1, all mares (6/6) in the PGE2 group ovulated within 24 h of treatment. The mean interval from intrafollicular injection to ovulation was shorter (P &lt; 0.001) in PGE2 mares (24 ± 0 h) than in control mares (77 ± 9 h). Mares from the PGF2α group developed hemorrhagic anovulatory follicles (HAF) more often (7/7) than control mares (2/7); P &lt; 0.05). The progesterone concentration in mares from the PGF2α group was lower (P &lt; 0.004) than control mares in the early post-ovulatory period. The first significant increase in post-ovulatory progesterone concentration occurred earlier (P &lt; 0.05) in mares from the control group than in mares from the PGF2α and PGE2 groups. In Experiment 2, more mares from the control group (7/9, 78 %) became pregnant than from the PGE2 group (2/9, 22 %) (P = 0.015). In conclusion, PGE2 alone induced follicle collapse in all treated mares within 24 h of administrations, while PGF2α blocked ovulation and induced formation of HAFs. However, the post-ovulatory rise in progesterone production was delayed and the fertility reduced in mares with ovulation induced by PGE2 compared to control mares.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142270732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of the world farm animal embryo industry over the past 30 years","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Embryo technologies have been used over the past three decades globally in most relevant farm species. From a sanitary perspective, embryos collected <em>in vivo</em> have long been recognized as the safest way to trade livestock germplasm, as long as the IETS washing and, if recommended, trypsin-decontaminating procedures are adopted. On the other hand, a number of questions have been raised about the safety of embryos produced <em>in vitro</em>, frequently inhibiting the international commerce of these embryos. In the major players of the world embryo industry, however, <em>in vitro</em> embryo production (IVEP) has become the technology of choice in cattle, and its adoption on a large-scale has caused the world embryo records to be scaled up exponentially. Nowadays, over a million cattle embryos are produced and transferred worldwide, of which approximately 80 % are <em>in vitro</em> produced. Moreover, the same trend is currently being observed in small ruminants and horses. In the present review, we describe the development of the world embryo industry over the past few decades and speculate on how this contributed to the apparent dichotomy between the perceived and the actual risk of transmission of infectious diseases by the transfer of <em>in vitro</em> produced embryos. Additionally, we discuss the future trends of the international market of livestock germplasm, in the light of the changes driven by emerging embryo technologies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142270730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of lipofection protocols for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery in porcine zona pellucida intact oocytes: A study of coincubation duration and reagent efficacy","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A priority to facilitate the application of lipofection to generate genetically modified porcine embryos and animals will be the use of <em>zona pellucida</em> (ZP)-intact oocytes and zygotes. Recently, our group produced genetically modified embryos by lipofection of ZP-intact oocytes during <em>in vitro</em> fertilization (IVF). This study investigates the effect of two commercial lipofection reagents, Lipofectamine 3000 and Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX, on embryo development and mutation efficiency in ZP-intact porcine oocytes. We compared these reagents with the electroporation method and a control group using two sgRNAs targeting the CAPN3 and CD163 genes. The detrimental effects on cleavage rates were observed in both lipofection treatments compared to the control and electroporated groups. However, blastocyst rates were higher in the Lipofectamine 3000 group than in the electroporated group for both genes. Mutation parameters varied by target gene, with Lipofectamine 3000 achieving higher mutation rates for CD163, while all groups were similar for the CAPN3 gene. Overall efficiency was similar for both lipofectamines, confirming their feasibility for use. In addition, we evaluated the effect of coincubation time (4, 8, and 24 h) on IVF outcomes, embryo development, and mutation parameters. Results indicated that an 8-h coincubation period optimized fertilization and mutation efficiency without significant toxic effects. This study demonstrates that lipofection with either Lipofectamine 3000 or CRISPRMAX during IVF is an effective method for generating genetically modified porcine embryos without the need for specialized equipment or trained personnel, with efficiencies similar to or greater than electroporation. This study also highlights the importance of optimizing reagent selection and coincubation times. There is no difference between Lipofectamine 3000 and CRISPRMAXTM in terms of embryo development and mutation efficiency, and under our experimental conditions, the optimal coincubation time with lipofectamine is 8 h.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X24003832/pdfft?md5=4ac151fb9988762414bcfb42d4b0bbdc&pid=1-s2.0-S0093691X24003832-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142243913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sirtuin 1-mediated autophagy regulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells of piglets","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Testosterone is secreted by Leydig cells (LCs), which play an important physiological role in preserving male secondary sex characteristics, protecting male reproductive function, and establishing the blood-testis barrier. Studies have shown that autophagy is particularly active in LCs; however, its involvement in testosterone synthesis in porcine LCs has not been fully explored. Therefore, this experiment aimed to investigate the influence of autophagy on testosterone secretion in porcine LCs and its potential regulatory mechanism. Our results demonstrated that both testicular autophagy and serum testosterone levels increased in piglets during postnatal development from 4 to 18 weeks. In addition, autophagy was found to degrade the Na⁺/H⁺ exchange regulatory factor 2 (NHERF2), leading to the up-regulation of scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SRB1). This process resulted in increased cholesterol intake and enhanced testosterone production. The observable level of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was directly proportional to the level of autophagy. In vitro investigations have shown that SIRT1 can affect the level of autophagy, cholesterol uptake as well as testosterone release. In conclusion, testosterone synthesis during pig development is regulated by SIRT1. SIRT1 mediates the degradation of NHERF2 through autophagy, thereby weakening its negative regulatory effect on the high-density lipoprotein receptor SRB1 in Leydig cells. This process increases cholesterol uptake and enhances testosterone synthesis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142243914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of donor cell production for somatic cell nuclear transfer in the critically endangered Vietnamese Ỉ pig","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We aimed to establish efficient donor cells to produce piglets by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) of the endangered Vietnamese Ỉ pig. In <em>Experiment 1</em>, we assessed the effects of cell passages on the <em>in vitro</em> development of SCNT embryos. Cells with five and six passages showed significantly cleaved and blastocyst formation rates (86.72 and 86.64; 35.68 and 35.51, respectively, P &lt; 0.05). The highest average total cell number per blastocyst was observed in groups of cells with five and six passages (50.45 and 50.18, respectively). <em>Experiment 2</em> was performed to assess the sex of donor cells on the subsequent development of SCNT embryos. There was no significant difference in the cleaved and blastocyst formation rates, and the average total cell between female and male groups (86.51 % vs 86.94 % and 35.31 % vs 35.08 %, 50.29 % vs 50.67 %, respectively, P &gt; 0.05). <em>Experiment 3</em> was performed to assess the effect of cell lines on the development of SCNT embryos. Our results showed no significant difference in the success rate of fibroblast nuclear transfer into recipient oocytes, the cleaved and blastocyst formation rates, and the average total cell number per blastocyst among the cell lines 6004, 9154, 9155, 9156 and 9157 (P &gt; 0.05). <em>Experiment 4</em> was performed to assess the ability of SCNT embryos to induce pregnancy and to develop term. SCNT embryos were produced from Ỉ fibroblast cells established based on the results of <em>Experiments 1, 2</em> and <em>3</em>. Transfer of blastocyst stage embryos into 19 recipients (100–120 embryos in each) resulted in 14 pregnancies, in which 8 pregnant females terminated on Day 22–42 and 6 others produced 20 cloned piglets from donor cells of a female pig but 5 piglets died before birth and 15 healthy cloned piglets. However, 3 out of 15 healthy piglets died of unknown causes within 24h of birth and 3 out of 15 healthy piglets died at 3–5 days of age due to diarrhoea, 9 out of 15 healthy piglets are now 3 months of age. Finally, we established a protocol for the donor cell production which enabled the production of the endangered Ỉ pig embryos by SCNT and maximized blastocyst production rate by more than 35 % and pregnant rate after the transfer of cloned Ỉ pig embryos to recipients at 73.68 % for the first time in Vietnam.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142243912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive outcomes of prepubertal Bos indicus beef heifers raised in a pasture-based feeding system submitted to ovulation induction strategies prior to a timed-artificial insemination protocol","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.011","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Reproductive outcomes were evaluated in Nelore (&lt;em&gt;Bos indicus&lt;/em&gt;) heifers submitted to one, two or no ovulation induction protocols based on progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) prior to a timed-artificial insemination (TAI) protocol. A total of 1,437 heifers (13.0 ± 0.8 mo old; 3.1 ± 0.1 of body condition score [BCS] and 279.9 ± 25.8 kg of body weight [BW]) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: &lt;strong&gt;0IND&lt;/strong&gt; (n = 486): no ovulation induction protocol; &lt;strong&gt;1IND&lt;/strong&gt; (n = 481): one ovulation induction protocol; or &lt;strong&gt;2IND&lt;/strong&gt; (n = 470): two ovulation induction protocols. On Day −47, heifers from 2IND received a disinfected intravaginal P4 device (2 g, previously used for 21 d), kept until Day −40, when 0.5 mg of E2 cypionate (EC) was given. On Day −19, heifers from 2IND and 1IND underwent the same protocol. On Day 0, all heifers were submitted to the same TAI protocol, starting with a P4 device (0.5 g), 0.5 mg of cloprostenol sodium (PGF), and 1.5 mg of E2 benzoate. On Day 7, P4 device was removed, 0.5 mg of PGF, 0.5 mg of EC, and 200 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) were administered. The TAI was performed 2 d later (Day 9). Blood samples were collected on Days −47 and 0, to determine the presence of CL (circulating P4 concentrations ≥ 1.0 ng/mL). Ultrasound was performed on Days 40, 75 and between Day 150 and parturition to assess pregnancy per AI (P/AI) and pregnancy loss (PL). Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.4 (&lt;sup&gt;a-c&lt;/sup&gt;P ≤ 0.05; &lt;sup&gt;A,B&lt;/sup&gt;0.05 &lt; P ≤ 0.10). The proportion of heifers with CL on Day −47 was similar among groups (3.4%). A greater proportion of heifers from 1IND had CL on Day 0, followed by 2IND, then 0IND (87.9&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 80.4&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;; 28.8&lt;sup&gt;c&lt;/sup&gt;%). There was an effect of treatment on expression of estrus (2IND: 66.6&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 1IND: 67.2&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 0IND: 57.4&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;%), P/AI on Day 40 (2IND: 53.4&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 1IND: 43.9&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;; 0IND: 46.5&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;%), P/AI on Day 75 (2IND: 49.8&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 1IND: 40.5&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;; 0IND: 44.4&lt;sup&gt;ab&lt;/sup&gt;%) and final P/AI (2IND: 45.5&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 1IND: 35.8&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;; 0IND: 40.5&lt;sup&gt;ab&lt;/sup&gt;%). No differences were observed in PL (40–75 = 6.3%; 75-final = 9.6%; Total = 15.3%). Particularly within lighter heifers, there was an effect of treatment on P/AI on Day 40 (0IND: 39.2&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;; 1IND: 43.3&lt;sup&gt;ab&lt;/sup&gt;; 2IND: 53.9&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;%) and on Day 75 (0IND: 36.6&lt;sup&gt;B&lt;/sup&gt;; 1IND: 39.0&lt;sup&gt;AB&lt;/sup&gt;; 2IND: 48.5&lt;sup&gt;A&lt;/sup&gt;%). At the first pregnancy diagnosis, more nonpregnant heifers from 2IND had CL on Day 40 than 0IND, but 1IND did not differ from the other groups (85.4&lt;sup&gt;a&lt;/sup&gt;; 74.8&lt;sup&gt;b&lt;/sup&gt;; 80.8&lt;sup&gt;ab&lt;/sup&gt;%). In conclusion, ovulation induction protocols performed prior to the TAI protocol increased the proportion of heifers with CL on Day 0. The use of two induction protocols resulted in greater fertility, particularly in lighter heifers, and increased cyclicity among nonpreg","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142271033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of the LIF gene on the cell cycle and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in white Muscovy ducks","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a member of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family, is a multifunctional cytokine. The maturation-to-ovulation process of poultry follicles is determined by granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation. Granulosa cell apoptosis and degeneration lead to follicular atresia, which reduces the number of normally developing follicles and leads to a decrease in the poultry egg production rate, thus affecting the large-scale development of poultry breeding. In this study, the <em>LIF</em> gene overexpression vector pCDH-CMV-LIF and a siRNA that inhibits <em>LIF</em> gene expression were transfected into primary granulosa cells from white Muscovy duck ovaries for functional study. Compared with that in the control group, <em>LIF</em> gene expression was confirmed to be significantly decreased or increased in the transfection groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). After LIF overexpression, the expression of the cell cycle-related genes CCND1, CDK-1 and PCNA was decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05); apoptosis was promoted; the proapoptotic genes Bax and caspase-3 were significantly upregulated (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01); and the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). After LIF interference, the expression of the cell cycle-related genes CCND1, CCNE1, CDK-1 and PCNA and the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 significantly increased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), whereas the expression of the proapoptotic genes Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 significantly decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). In summary, the <em>LIF</em> gene is involved in regulating the biological function of ovarian granulosa cells in white Muscovy ducks. <em>LIF</em> gene expression promotes granulosa cell apoptosis and inhibits cell cycle progression. These experimental results provide insights into the follicular development mechanism of white Muscovy ducks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142232987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}