Animal Reproduction Science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Zinc oxide nanoparticles on llama sperm cryopreservation","authors":"Andrea Romina di Fonzo ,&nbsp;Mariana Lucía Bertuzzi ,&nbsp;María Victoria Amusquibar ,&nbsp;María Ignacia Carretero","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107994","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107994","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have been reported to enhance sperm cryopreservation in several species, but their effect on frozen llama semen remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effect of ZnO-NPs on sperm parameters in frozen/thawed llama semen. Fourteen ejaculates, obtained from seven male llamas, were each divided into three equal aliquots. Each aliquot was diluted with 1. AndroMed® with 20 % egg yolk and no ZnO-NPs (AM-EY0, Control); 2. AM-EY supplemented with 50 μg/ml of ZnO-NPs (AM-EY50) and 3. AM-EY supplemented with 100 μg/ml of ZnO-NPs (AM-EY100). Freezing was performed using an automatic machine. Evaluations were carried out on raw semen, immediately after dilution (0 h), and following the freezing/thawing process. Additionally, frozen/thawed samples were incubated at 37 °C and assessed at 15, 90, and 180 min. Data were analysed using Friedman tests, conventional ANOVA, or split-plot design models. The results showed no significant differences in sperm motility patterns, live sperm with intact acrosomes, membrane function, lipid peroxidation, sperm morphology, or DNA integrity among frozen/thawed groups (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). A trend toward higher sperm vigour was detected in frozen/thawed samples cryopreserved with 50 and 100 μg/ml of ZnO-NPs (<em>P</em> = 0.08). Moreover, ZnO-NPs did not enhance sperm survival during post-thaw incubation at 37 °C for up to 180 min. In conclusion, supplementation of the AM-EY extender with 50 or 100 μg/ml ZnO-NPs did not provide broad protection against cryodamage in llama sperm. Further studies testing a wider range of concentrations are needed to assess their potential benefits for sperm cryopreservation in this species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107994"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145091101","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":"Automated color Doppler ultrasound analysis of bull reproductive tissues using a machine learning-based image processing algorithm","authors":"Joedson Dantas Gonçalves ,&nbsp;Edilson Guimarães ,&nbsp;Rubens Paes Arruda ,&nbsp;Maria Emilia Franco Oliveira ,&nbsp;Leonardo Machestropa Arikawa ,&nbsp;Alexandre Rossetto Garcia","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107997","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107997","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Color Doppler ultrasound is effective for studying tissue perfusion of various organs, but current analysis methods are subjective and time-consuming. This study aims to develop and validate an algorithm for analyzing color Doppler images of the bull's testis and pampiniform plexus. For the study, we selected 2304 color Doppler images (1152 for both the testicular parenchyma and the pampiniform plexus) that were analyzed by a conventional method (CON Group), by pixel separation and counting using Adobe Fireworks® and ImageJ®, or by an algorithm developed in Python version 3.10 (ALGO Group) that can be set to analyze up to 35 variables simultaneously. The processing speed for the ALGO Group was 270 images/0.14 sec. The coefficients of determination (R²) for the variables analyzed by the conventional method and the algorithm were found to be considerably high (0.84–0.97, p &lt; 0.001 for testicular parenchyma images; 0.97–0.99, p &lt; 0.001 for pampiniform plexus). The high correlations indicate that the algorithm produces results consistent with the conventional method, demonstrating its reliability. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the conventional analyses and the algorithm were significant (0.92–0.98, p &lt; 0.001 for testicular parenchyma images; 0.98–0.99, p &lt; 0.001 for pampiniform plexus). In addition, Bland-Altman concordance analyses showed that most points fell within the 95 % confidence interval for both techniques in the organs evaluated. Given the strong correlations demonstrated, the reduced processing time, and the reliability of the results, it can be concluded that this algorithmic approach can effectively replace conventional methods for assessing vascular function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107997"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096029","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":"Irisin modulates granulosa cell function in chicken ovarian follicles: Effects on viability, gene expression, and progesterone secretion","authors":"Dorota Katarzyńska-Banasik,&nbsp;Anna Kozubek,&nbsp;Kinga Kowalik-Chanek,&nbsp;Andrzej Sechman","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107986","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107986","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Irisin, a myokine/adipokine released during physical activity, has attracted attention for its regulatory effects on various physiological processes, including metabolism and reproduction. This study was performed to investigate the presence of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) in chicken granulosa cells (GCs) using immunocytochemistry and to assess the effect of irisin, the extracellular fragment of FNDC5, on these cells, which play a crucial role in progesterone (P4) production and follicle maturation. We measured cell viability, mRNA expression of the luteinising hormone receptor (LHR), the expression of steroidogenic genes (<em>StAR</em>, <em>CYP11A1</em>, and <em>3BHSD</em>), and P4 secretion in GCs of chicken ovarian follicles. The results showed that irisin reduced the viability of all cultured GCs at different concentrations (0.5, 2.5, and 5 ng/mL). Real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR demonstrated decreased expression of <em>LHR</em> and <em>3BHSD</em> at 0.5 ng/mL irisin across GCs from preovulatory follicles of all stages (F3, F2 and F1), and elevated expression of <em>StAR</em>, <em>3BHSD</em>, and <em>LHR</em> at 5 ng/mL in GCs from F1 follicles. Furthermore, irisin decreased P4 secretion from GCs isolated from F3 and F2 follicles, but increased the release of this hormone from F1 follicles at a 5 ng/mL concentration. These findings suggest that irisin may play a modulatory role in the maturation and ovulation of chicken ovarian follicles by influencing cell proliferation, gene expression, and hormone production depending on the dose and stage of follicle development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107986"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145010028","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":"Management and reproductive parameters of a captive scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) population at low latitude","authors":"Camilo A.G. González ,&nbsp;Ricardo J.G. Pereira ,&nbsp;Allana Lais Alves Lima ,&nbsp;Regiane F. Feitosa ,&nbsp;Bruno S. Godoy ,&nbsp;Sheyla F.S. Domingues","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107992","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective captive breeding programs are essential for conserving threatened avian species. This study aimed to describe the breeding performance of a captive population of scarlet ibis over a three-year period (2022, 2023, and 2024). The breeding season varied between July and January over the three years. Both males and females began forming breeding pairs as early as two years old, with the oldest pairing ages being 20 years for males and 12 years for females. Higher enclosure densities appeared to improve laying rates and encourage earlier laying, while a 1:1 male-to-female ratio facilitated effective pair formation with minimal aggression. Egg removal led to an average of 7.6 ± 2.7 replacement lays per female. Advancement of the laying season was significantly associated with increased initial egg weight for Dezember (p &lt; 0.01). The median daily weight loss during incubation was 0.7 % (tau = 0.5), while the mean weight loss on day 21 was 19 ± 2 %. The findings from this study are relevant to enhance the efficiency of breeding programs for the species and may inform breeding strategies for other species within the Threskiornithidae family.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107992"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145060175","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":"Urinary levels of oestradiol and pregnanediol glucuronides reflect the ovarian function in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)","authors":"Tia M. Pennanen ,&nbsp;Heli Lindeberg ,&nbsp;Jaakko Mononen ,&nbsp;Jouko Vepsäläinen ,&nbsp;Mika Hujo ,&nbsp;Sari Viitala","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In many mammals, the reproductive cycle can be non-invasively monitored by measuring the concentrations of urinary steroid hormone metabolites. In domestic dogs, however, there is limited information available on the urinary excretion of oestrogens and progesterone. Oestradiol-3-glucuronide (E2G) and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG), the urinary metabolites of oestradiol-17β and progesterone, respectively, are commonly reported components of mammalian urine. In this study, we collected one to 28 daily urine samples of 43 female dogs after the onset of sanguineous vaginal discharge during 50 reproductive cycles. We developed an ELISA method for the measurement of urinary concentrations of E2G (nine cycles) and PdG (50 cycles). A linear mixed model was used to estimate the expected values and 95 % confidence intervals for the E2G and PdG concentrations. The expected urinary E2G was estimated to peak 6 days after the onset of sanguineous vaginal discharge and to decrease to one-third of the maximum concentration within a week. The estimates of the expected urinary PdG concentrations were low at the onset of sanguineous vaginal discharge and increased slowly thereafter, reaching maximum concentrations within three weeks. The similarity of the E2G and PdG models with existing literature suggested that urinary steroid metabolites could be a useful biomarker for detecting ovarian function in female dogs. Further detailed investigation is needed to enhance the suitability of E2G and PdG measurements in monitoring of oestrus. In summary, measurement of the urinary metabolites of steroid hormones is a promising non-invasive method for studying reproductive physiology in female dogs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107973"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144895903","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":"Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation: Insights into prostaglandin synthesis and in vitro embryonic development","authors":"Mariângela Bueno Cordeiro Maldonado ,&nbsp;Dayane Colhados Cabrini ,&nbsp;Lucas de Oliveira Bezerra ,&nbsp;Laura Chuba Machado Rolniche ,&nbsp;Valeska de Castro Lourenço ,&nbsp;Isabella Rio Feltrin ,&nbsp;Karine Galhego Morelli ,&nbsp;Adriano Felipe Mendes ,&nbsp;Cecilia Constantino Rocha ,&nbsp;Alessandra Bridi ,&nbsp;Guilherme Pugliesi ,&nbsp;Marcelo Fábio Gouveia Nogueira ,&nbsp;Claudia Maria Bertan Membrive","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Modulation of prostaglandin synthesis, specifically, decreasing prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and increasing prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and interferon<em>-</em>tau (IFNT), can support maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in cattle. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is known to influence prostaglandins (PG) synthesis in cell cultures; however, its effect on <em>in vitro</em>-cultured bovine oocytes and embryos remain unclear. We hypothesized that CLA supplementation in oocytes and embryo culture media would reduce PGF_2α synthesis, increases PGE₂ synthesis and PGE₂:PGF_2α ratio in embryos, modulate the expression of genes involved in PG and IFNT synthesis, and enhance embryo development. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different CLA (a mixture of cis- and trans-9,11- and −10,12-octadecadienoic acids) concentrations (50–150 μM) added during <em>in vitro</em> maturation (IVM) and/or <em>in vitro</em> culture (IVC) on <em>in vitro</em> embryo production, PGE₂ and PGF_2α synthesis, and the expression of genes related to PG synthesis (<em>AKR1B1</em>, <em>PTGS2</em>, <em>PTGES</em>) and MPR (<em>IFNT)</em> in embryos. Oocytes and embryos were treated with CLA (50, 100, and 150 μM) during IVM or during both IVM and IVC. PGE₂ and PGF_2α concentrations were quantified by ELISA, and transcript abundance in embryos at the end of IVC was assessed by qPCR. CLA supplementation at all tested concentrations during IVM and/or IVC reduced both PGE₂ and PGF_2α synthesis in embryos, without affecting the PGE₂:PGF_2α ratio, or the relative expression of the evaluated genes. These findings suggest that CLA modulates PG synthesis in bovine embryos and underscore the importance of PG regulation for the successful establishment of MRP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107990"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144997094","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":"Herbicide exposure impairs the morphofunctional parameters of bovine sperm","authors":"Diogo Ferreira Bicca ,&nbsp;Rafaela Dalmolin Menezes ,&nbsp;Luiza Gazeta Passos ,&nbsp;Clara de Carvalho Silva ,&nbsp;Mariana Gimenez dos Santos ,&nbsp;Laura Rohde Brondani ,&nbsp;Rogério Ferreira ,&nbsp;Fábio Gallas Leivas ,&nbsp;Daniela dos Santos Brum ,&nbsp;Francielli Weber Santos Cibin","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glyphosate (GLP), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and atrazine (ATZ) are the most commercialized herbicides in Brazil. Despite the damage to male fertility caused by pesticides, information on cattle remains limited. We evaluated the effects of exposing bovine sperm to concentrations of GLP, 2, 4-D, and ATZ. A semen pool from four bulls was incubated at 37°C for 1 and 3 h in TALP-Fert medium, and treated as follows: Control group (vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide); GLP at 5 (G5), 36 (G36), and 50 (G50) µg/mL; 2,4-D, at 0.5 (D05), 1 (D1), and 5 (D5) µM; and ATZ, at 0.05 (A005), 0.1 (A01), and 1 (A1) µM. Herbicide groups affected various kinematic parameters. Total motility was reduced by ATZ, while progressive motility decreased in all treatments compared to the control. Velocity-related kinematic parameters were significantly impaired by GLP treatment, and hyperactivity was negatively influenced by all three herbicide groups. Sperm morphology was altered in the G50, D5, and ATZ groups, with a higher incidence of major defects compared to the control. The hypo-osmotic swelling test revealed that plasma membrane integrity was compromised only in the A005 and A01 treatment groups. Regarding oxidative stress markers, although no differences were observed in reactive oxygen species generation or lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity was significantly reduced by the 2,4-D treatment. Moreover, fertilization rates declined in the D05 group, which corresponded to the lowest 2,4-D concentration. These findings demonstrate that herbicide concentrations can adversely affect bovine spermatozoa by impairing critical quality parameters, ultimately compromising sperm function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107993"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145079464","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":"Ovarian superstimulation for in vitro embryo production based on Anti-Müllerian hormone phenotype: Effect of FSH dose schedule","authors":"Jessica C.L. Motta ,&nbsp;Rodrigo V. Sala ,&nbsp;Cameron B. Hayden ,&nbsp;Daniela C. Pereira ,&nbsp;Vanessa C. Fricke ,&nbsp;Victor A. Absalón-Medina ,&nbsp;Pablo J. Ross ,&nbsp;Alvaro García-Guerra","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107980","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107980","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is positively associated with embryo production, yet it also reflects underlying physiological variability. While follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is typically administered using a decreasing dose schedule, the effects of alternative dosing strategies on <em>in vitro</em> embryo production (IVEP) outcomes remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FSH dose schedule on IVEP outcomes in the context of differing AMH concentrations. Pregnant heifers (<em>n</em> = 22) received 350 IU of FSH across six administrations using decreasing, constant, or increasing dose schedules in a crossover design. Superstimulation began at follicular wave emergence, and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were retrieved 44 h after the last FSH dose and subjected to IVEP. Circulating AMH was positively associated with total follicle number, whereas follicle count did not differ by treatment (<em>P</em> ≥ 0.20). The increasing dose schedule tended (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.10) to yield more COCs and resulted in a greater COC retrieval percentage (<em>P</em> = 0.02) than the decreasing schedule. Both COC number and retrieval percentage were positively associated with AMH (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.03), independent of dose schedule. Greater AMH was linked to greater cleavage (constant and decreasing, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and blastocyst percentages (constant only, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), while both parameters decreased with AMH under the increasing schedule (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.05). Despite these interactions, blastocyst yield was unaffected by FSH dose schedule (<em>P</em> = 0.84) but was positively associated with AMH (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). In conclusion, AMH was predictive of IVEP outcomes regardless of FSH dose schedule, and use of a constant dose schedule may simplify donor management without compromising embryo yield.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107980"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903157","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":"Effects of prolonged unsaturated fatty acid supplementation on reproductive competence and metabolic profiles in serum and follicular fluid of Holstein heifers","authors":"Lenita C. Verdurico ,&nbsp;Caio S. Takiya ,&nbsp;Alanne T. Nunes ,&nbsp;Tiago A. Del Valle ,&nbsp;Filipe Zanferari ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Gardinal ,&nbsp;Gustavo D. Calomeni ,&nbsp;Elmeson Ferreira de Jesus ,&nbsp;Guilherme G. Silva ,&nbsp;Larissa Vitória Franco da Cruz ,&nbsp;Francisco P. Rennó","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107989","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107989","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of a 120-d dietary supplementation with unsaturated fatty acids from soybean grain and flaxseed on oocyte quality, <em>in vitro</em> embryo quality and production, and the metabolic profiles of blood and follicular fluid in Holstein heifers. Twenty-four heifers were assigned to the following treatments: a control diet (CON) and diets supplemented with whole raw soybeans (WRS) or flaxseed (FLX), both formulated to increase ether extract content to approximately 4.5 % dry matter (DM). Growth performance, serum metabolites, follicular fluid composition, and in vitro embryo production were assessed. Data were analyzed as repeated measures modeling the fixed effects of treatment, time, and their interaction. Treatment means were compared through orthogonal contrasts (CON vs. WRS+FLX and WRS vs. FLX). Heifers in the supplemented groups exhibited reduced average daily gain compared to the control group. Serum glucose concentrations were lower, while total cholesterol tended to be lower and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol tended to be higher in supplemented groups, indicating shifts in lipid metabolism. Follicular fluid analyses revealed decreased triglyceride and a tendency to decreased urea levels in supplemented groups. Oocyte quality improved in heifers receiving fat supplementation, as indicated by a higher proportion of viable oocytes, while no differences were observed in the cleavage rates and embryo production. These findings suggest that unsaturated fatty acids can modulate metabolic parameters and enhance oocyte viability in Holstein heifers, although their effects on embryo production remain inconsistent. Further research is needed to optimize fatty acid supplementation strategies for improving reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107989"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019363","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":"PRM1 modulates proliferation, apoptosis, and testosterone synthesis in bovine Leydig cells","authors":"Xin Wang ,&nbsp;Xinqi Zhou ,&nbsp;Tongtong Tu ,&nbsp;Shuangshuang Cui ,&nbsp;Xiang Meng ,&nbsp;Yunhai Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Liu ,&nbsp;Ning Song","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107991","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.107991","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Testicular development is crucial for spermatogenesis and reproductive capacity of bulls. The synthesis and secretion of testosterone by Leydig cells influence testicular physiological functions. The protamine 1 (<em>PRM1</em>) gene is highly expressed in adult bull testes; however, its effects on bovine Leydig cells remain unclear. In this study, bovine Leydig cells were isolated and cultured, followed by overexpression and knockdown of <em>PRM1</em>. The effects of <em>PRM1</em> on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and testosterone synthesis were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU staining, flow cytometry, and ELISA. Overexpression of <em>PRM1</em> enhanced cell viability, increased the proportion of cells in the S phase, and upregulated the expression of proliferation-related genes proliferating cell nuclear antigen (<em>PCNA</em>) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (<em>CDK2</em>) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01); reduced the number of apoptotic cells and downregulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes <em>BAX</em> and <em>Caspase3</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05); and promoted testosterone secretion as well as the expression of testosterone synthesis-related genes cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1 (<em>CYP17A1</em>), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (<em>HSD17B3</em>), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (<em>STAR</em>) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Conversely, <em>PRM1</em> knockdown decreased cell viability, reduced the proportion of cells in the S phase, and downregulated the expression of <em>PCNA</em> and <em>CDK2</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01); increased the number of apoptotic cells and upregulated the expression of <em>BAX</em> and <em>Caspase3</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05); suppressed testosterone secretion along with the expression of <em>CYP17A1</em>, <em>HSD17B3</em>, and <em>STAR</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Overall, <em>PRM1</em> promotes cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis in bovine Leydig cells, while enhancing testosterone synthesis and secretion. This study provides a theoretical foundation and potential applications for improving semen quality in bulls.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 107991"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026591","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}