Animal Reproduction Science最新文献

{"title":"Ferroptosis-driven cryoinjury in porcine testicular tissue: Mechanisms, antioxidant-based cryoprotection, and translational strategies for fertility preservation","authors":"Jesse Oluwaseun Ayantoye ,&nbsp;Baigao Yang ,&nbsp;Hang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianhua Dong ,&nbsp;Xiaomeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Haoran Song ,&nbsp;Muhammad Shahzad ,&nbsp;Hubdar Ali Kolachi ,&nbsp;David Olusola Aderibigbe ,&nbsp;Osamede Henry Osaiyuwu ,&nbsp;Pengcheng Wan ,&nbsp;Hongmei Pan ,&nbsp;Xueming Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porcine testicular tissue cryopreservation underpins genetic resource banking and fertility preservation. However, conventional dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) protocols recover only a fraction of viable spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and often compromise downstream function. This review synthesizes mechanistic evidence showing that cryoinjury is not solely a problem of ice formation and osmotic stress; it is amplified by a surge of reactive oxygen species that peroxidize the exceptionally polyunsaturated, low-cholesterol membranes of porcine germ cells. Together with high testicular iron flux, these features create conditions in which ferroptosis dominates freeze–thaw lethality. In contrast to previous reviews that chiefly attribute cryodamage to generic oxidative stress and advocate broad antioxidant supplementation, this review defines ferroptosis as the dominant mechanism of regulated cell death and proposes targeted antioxidant strategies accordingly. We summarize how glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4) insufficiency, labile Fe²⁺, and lipid radical propagation converge during cryostress, and we compile emerging evidence from large animals that targeting this pathway improves outcomes. Lipid-directed radical-trapping agents (ferrostatin-1, liproxstatin-1), vitamin-E analogs, selenium (to support GPX4 activity), and iron chelators each reduce post-thaw lipid peroxidation, preserve membrane and mitochondrial integrity, and enhance sperm/SSC performance. We discuss synergistic combinations and practical delivery considerations, including nano- and liposomal carriers for poorly soluble antioxidants. Translational sections integrate data from xenografting/autografting models showing that cryopreserved testicular tissue can reinitiate spermatogenesis and yield fertile gametes, underscoring the value of mechanism-informed media for both livestock and human fertility biobanking. Finally, we outline priorities for porcine-specific ferroptosis assays, standardized antioxidant-enriched freezing protocols, dose optimization, and long-term reproductive endpoints. Collectively, the evidence supports a paradigm shift: ferroptosis is a central driver of cryodamage in porcine testicular tissue, and ferroptosis-targeted, antioxidant-based cryoprotection offers a rational path to higher SSC survival, improved graft architecture, and better translational fertility outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108113"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036079","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":"Phosphatidylcholine promotes sperm motility by regulating sperm membrane phospholipid homeostasis","authors":"Jiwei Li ,&nbsp;Yuzhu Cao ,&nbsp;Juan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yadong Tian ,&nbsp;Guirong Sun ,&nbsp;Yaling Gu ,&nbsp;Xiangtao Kang ,&nbsp;Donghua Li","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effect of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine on the maintenance of sperm motility in vitro was investigated. Sperm motility is a key determinant of reproductive efficiency in poultry production, influenced by seminal plasma factors. This study characterized phenotypic distinctions between high- and low-motility sperm from 40-week-old Yufen 1 roosters and elucidated underlying molecular mechanisms. Metabolomics analysis showed that seminal plasma was enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway, phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine were the main metabolites. The effect of phosphatidylcholine on the maintenance of sperm motility in vitro was tested and verified by sperm co-incubation experiments. Herein, the high-motility group showed significantly higher fertilization capacity when compared to the low-motility sperm (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the removal of seminal plasma impaired motility, while cross-exchange between high- and low-motility groups restored motility (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and marginally improved membrane integrity in low-motility sperm. Metabolomic profiling of seminal plasma revealed the effects of seminal plasma on sperm motility were associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism, lysine degradation, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. Among these pathways, The conversion from phosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidylcholine, mediated by glycerophosphatidylcholine metabolism, becomes the key mechanistic driver. The content of phosphatidylcholine in seminal plasma significantly affects the motility, membrane integrity, and fertilization characteristics (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), respectively. These findings underscore the importance of seminal plasma in sperm motility, as well as that phosphatidylcholine probably serves as a key regulator for sperm properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108108"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957742","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":"Application of zona-free cloning technologies to livestock breeding programmes","authors":"Muren Herrid ,&nbsp;Alison Van Eenennaam","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Advanced reproductive technologies are powerful tools for accelerating genetic gain because they enable both increased selection intensity and the generation of large numbers of offspring from elite animals. Among these, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning offers a means to rapidly multiply elite genetics from nucleus herds into commercial populations. Genomic estimated breeding values allow for the accurate assessment of genetic merit in embryos and newborns, creating opportunities to identify elite young stock for cloning. Cloning will also be an important complement to gene-editing as a way to generate animals from cell lines carrying targeted genetic modifications. Nevertheless, the widespread application of cloning remains constrained by low efficiency and high costs, underscoring the need for continued optimisation. Zona-free cloning, also known as handmade cloning, has potential as a simpler and more scalable alternative to conventional micromanipulator-based methods to prepare cloned embryos, and has demonstrated promising improvements in pregnancy and live birth rates across several livestock species. This review summarises advances in zona-free cloning, tracing its development from the microblade to the two-pipette and micropipette methods, and evaluates their relative advantages and limitations. Approaches to improve the health and welfare of clones are examined, and potential applications of cloning in livestock breeding programmes, along with associated regulatory considerations, are discussed. Cloning may become increasingly important as a crucial bridge between lines of genetically elite and possibly gene-edited embryonic cells, and their manifestation as breeding animals in livestock improvement programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108107"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075091","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":"Graphene oxide enhances post-thaw sperm quality in tropically-adapted rams","authors":"Francisca N.M. Almeida ,&nbsp;Denise D. Guerreiro ,&nbsp;Alan M. Araújo ,&nbsp;Bruno R.M. Costa ,&nbsp;Eduardo R. Pessoa ,&nbsp;Gaby J.Q. Palomino ,&nbsp;Aderson M. Viana Neto ,&nbsp;Luciano P. Silva ,&nbsp;Valder N. Freire ,&nbsp;Arlindo A. Moura","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the effects of graphene oxide (GO) on the quality of frozen-thawed ram semen. Each of 30 ejaculates from five rams were cryopreserved with a control extender (Optidux®, Reprodux Inc., Brazil) or extender containing GO concentrations at 5, 50, or 100 µg/mL. Post-thaw data were analyzed using Tukey’s or Dunn’s t test (p &lt; 0.05). Graphene oxide at 5 and 50 µg/mL increased frozen-thawed total (50.4 ± 3.15; 52^.0 ± 2.76 %), and progressive sperm motility (44.2 ± 3.06; 45^.7 ± 2.68 %) vs control (42.0 ± 2.75; 36.7 ± 2.58 %), and sperm viability (56.3 ± 2.17; 57.8 ± 2.82 %) vs control (48.8 ± 2.60 %); and decreased immotile spermatozoa (49.6 ± 3.15; 48.0 ± 2.76 %) vs control (58.0 ± 2.75 %). Both 5 and 100 µg/mL treatments improved DNA integrity (90 ± 0.34; 90.5 ± 0.44 %) vs control (89.1 ± 0.37 %). There were no GO effects on sperm morphology, VCL, VAP. Local motility, an undesirable parameter, increased significantly from 5.42 ± 0.52 % (control) to 6.77 ± 0.43 % (100 µg/mL GO). Supplementation with GO improved post-thaw sperm progressive motility (by up to 24.5 %) and viability (up to 18.4 %), reducing immotile sperm (up to 17.2 %), compared to extender alone. This potentially supports the practical use of GO as an additive to semen extenders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108119"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111856","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":"Comprehensive characterization of transcriptional regulation during HCG-induced follicle maturation in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi): Insights from transcriptomics","authors":"Mingqing Zhang ,&nbsp;Zixuan E ,&nbsp;Han Wen,&nbsp;Yingshi Tang,&nbsp;Shujia Liao,&nbsp;Lin Tang,&nbsp;Fengying Yan,&nbsp;Yong Zhang,&nbsp;Shuisheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Follicle maturation is critical for egg quality and fry production, yet its transcriptional regulation remains poorly defined. In this study, we employed comparative transcriptomics across five developmental stages (SCS1–SCS5) following HCG induction to resolve stage-specific transcriptional dynamics in mandarin fish (<em>Siniperca chuatsi</em>) follicle. A total of 15 libraries yielded high-quality data with mapping rates of 92.50–96.79 %, identifying 17,320 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with a pronounced increase in later maturation stages. Functional enrichment highlighted stage-specific activation of key biological processes, including oocyte maturation, steroid biosynthesis, meiotic regulation, lysosomal proteolysis, fatty acid degradation, and immune responses. Notably, core cell-cycle regulators (<em>CDC20</em>, <em>BUB1Bb</em>, <em>PKMYT1</em>, <em>YWHAE1</em>) exhibited dynamic patterns consistent with meiotic resumption, indicating activation of the maturation-promoting factor (MPF) and APC/C pathways. Yolk hydrolysis was mediated by lysosomal proteases (<em>CTSBa</em>, <em>CTSC</em>) and ubiquitin–proteasome system genes (<em>CDC34a</em>), while lipid metabolism supported lipid droplet formation. Stage-specific immune activation further suggested complex immune–reproductive crosstalk. Co-expression network analysis further identified key hub genes positively (e.g., <em>CDC20</em>, <em>BUB1Bb</em>, <em>SETD2</em>) or negatively (e.g., <em>MRPL4</em>, <em>RPS3</em>) associated with maturation. Collectively, this study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic resource and reveals critical pathways and regulators, offering molecular insights to refine hormonal induction and selective breeding strategies in aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075092","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":"Heat stress disrupts the ovarian microenvironment in cattle: An in vivo analysis of hormonal alterations, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, and reduced pregnancy outcomes","authors":"Tae-Gyun Kim ,&nbsp;Sung-Ho Kim ,&nbsp;Seung-Joon Kim ,&nbsp;Won-Jae Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heat stress during summer impairs reproductive function in cattle. Since previous studies have largely employed <em>in vitro</em> models to examine heat stress effects on oocytes and mural granulosa cells (MGCs), comprehensive <em>in vivo</em> research is required to elucidate its multifaceted impact on cattle fertility. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms of heat stress-induced reproductive changes by comparing ovarian microenvironment, hormone levels, and pregnancy rates in cattle across seasons. Compared with the control group (temperature–humidity index [THI] &lt;72, <em>n</em> = 87), the heat-stressed group (HS; THI ≥72, <em>n</em> = 86) exhibited significant alterations in reproductive physiology, including increased serum cortisol concentration, and a reduced pregnancy rate (60.3 % vs. 43.5 %). In the HS group, MGCs showed reduced expression of steroidogenic-related proteins (StAR, LHR, and aromatase), accompanied by reduced estradiol concentrations in follicular fluid. A significant upregulation of oxidative stress-related proteins (SOD1 and SOD2) and the apoptosis marker (caspase-3) was observed, with a positive correlation identified between these factors. These findings suggest that MGCs exposed to heat stress undergo late-stage apoptosis driven by oxidative stress. In the HS group, gene expression in dominant follicle-derived cumulus–oocyte complexes presented an impaired oocyte maturation (decreased GDF9 and BMP15), while immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased HSP70 signal intensity in oocytes. Collectively, these findings suggest that heat stress triggers molecular and hormonal alterations in the ovarian microenvironment, leading to impaired oocyte maturation and reduced fertility. This study provides essential insight for the development of effective strategies to mitigate heat stress and enhance reproductive outcomes in livestock.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146008762","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":"The effect of hibernation on reproduction performance of Alligator sinensis, Chinese Alligator is not limited to maintenance of matural follicle, but also involves the fundamental resource of germ cells","authors":"Haitao Nie ,&nbsp;Fuyong You ,&nbsp;Shi Wang ,&nbsp;Yunlu Xu ,&nbsp;Shaofan Li ,&nbsp;Jixiang Zhan ,&nbsp;Yuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Peng Liu ,&nbsp;Yue Wen ,&nbsp;Yongkang Zhou ,&nbsp;Song Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaobing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hibernation, acknowledged as a survival strategy under low-temperatures, is regarded as exert a substantial impact on reproductive performance. However, numerous enigmas remain concerning the underlying mechanisms of this interaction. Ultrasound scanning was employed to quantify follicle numbers, and assay of plasma neurotransmitters and steroid hormones were conducted to elucidate the dynamic correlations between follicle development and endocrine fluctuations during the hibernation period, encompassing onset of hibernation (OH), deep hibernation (DH), and ending of hibernation (EH). The findings demonstrated that a cycle of follicular development commenced prior to the OH, and an additional cycle of yolk deposition occurred subsequent to hibernation. Furthermore, a notable correlation was identified between the quantity of follicles larger than 20 mm (PF, the one closest to mature size) and the plasma GABA/glutamine concentration. This strongly suggests that the maintenance of follicles nearing maturity might be associated with the fluctuations of neurotransmitters during hibernation. The RNA-seq results indicate that the down-regulation of GABA receptors in PF may imply a reduced neurotransmitter responsiveness, a phenomenon that is temporally congruent with the hibernation period. We postulate that this phenomenon might function to prevent excessive cell proliferation and apoptosis, potentially facilitating their continuous existence during hibernation. The findings from MeRIP-seq in conjunction in vitro molecular responses following sh-METTL3 treatment, further indicate that the suppression of oocyte recruitment into vitellogenic growth during hibernation is correlated with the M⁶A methylation modification. Additionally, the corresponding results imply that, beyond the initiation and recruitment of primordial follicles, the ovarian reserve may also been potentially influenced by the hibernation depth through crucial biological events such as double-strand breaks (DSBs) and the synapsis of homologous chromosomes during oogenesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108115"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075090","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":"The Pma-PABP4 gene, regulated by Pma-miR-1444, participates in Pinctada fucata gonad development","authors":"Ying Guo ,&nbsp;Lirong Bai ,&nbsp;Pei Wang ,&nbsp;Tangrongjun Guo ,&nbsp;Ruolin Zhu ,&nbsp;Weiwei Chen ,&nbsp;Xiuxiu Sang ,&nbsp;Xianwei Fan ,&nbsp;Dahui Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108106","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108106","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study cloned and characterized the full-length cDNA of the <em>Pma-PABP4</em> gene from <em>Pinctada fucata</em>, which is 3123 bp in length and encodes a 641-amino acid protein. The protein exhibited typical RNA-binding protein characteristics, including four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a poly(A)-binding domain. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that Pma-PABP4 is hydrophobic and contains multiple predicted phosphorylation sites. Phylogenetic analysis showed that <em>Pma-PABP4</em> is highly homologous to <em>PABP4</em> from other mollusks and shares evolutionary conservation with human <em>PABP1</em>. Additionally, <em>Pma-PABP4</em> was widely expressed in many tissues in <em>P. fucata</em> with sex-biased expression, where expression levels varied significantly during early embryonic development and specific stages of gonadal development. It was also localized in the gonadal tissues, and RNA interference experiments confirmed that silencing <em>Pma-PABP4</em> resulted in abnormal gonadal development and reduced gamete production. This study also showed that Pma-miR-1444 directly targets the coding sequence of <em>Pma-PABP4</em> at the 1371-bp site, negatively regulating its expression. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of Pma-miR-1444 were also closely associated with gametogenesis and embryonic development. Overexpression of <em>Pma-miR-1444</em> led to gonadal atrophy and a significant reduction in gamete numbers. In conclusion, Pma-miR-1444 and <em>Pma-PABP4</em> play crucial regulatory roles in the reproductive development and embryogenesis of <em>P. fucata</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108106"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976054","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":"Dihydrotestosterone binding to the androgen receptor inhibits apoptosis in ovine undifferentiated granulosa cells via AMH signaling","authors":"Yufen Zhao ,&nbsp;Haijiang Liu ,&nbsp;Zhe Mu ,&nbsp;Haijun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108105","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108105","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androgen receptor (AR), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) play key roles in ovarian function, their precise contributions and synergistic roles in mammalian follicular development remain unclear. In this study, we first evaluated whether ovine granulosa cells (GCs) undergo differentiation during vitro culture and then determined methods for inhibiting differentiation. Following the culture of GCs with DHT (10⁻⁷ mol/L) and the AR antagonist enzalutamide (ENZ) (10⁻⁶ mol/L) separately or in combination for 48 h, an apoptosis assay revealed that the interaction between DHT and AR decreases sheep GC apoptosis. DHT significantly increased the AMH concentration through AR signaling. In addition, DHT and AR significantly increased the intracellular AMH level, and the use of rAMH (70 pg/mL), a sheep recombinant AMH, significantly upregulated the expression of the <em>BCL2</em> mRNA in GCs. In summary, GCs undergo spontaneous differentiation during in vitro culture, and the use of the specific luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) antagonist BAY-899 to inhibit their differentiation establishes an in vitro culture model that maintains GC characteristics. Thus, the interaction between DHT and AR may be involved in the accumulation of AMH signals, affecting GC apoptosis. We provide new mechanistic insights into the roles of DHT and AR in attenuating sheep GC apoptosis. The finding that potential cross-points between DHT/AR-induced intracellular signals affect GC apoptosis will help elucidate the mechanisms regulating early follicular development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108105"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976053","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 rearing environment and age on spermatophore quality in Penaeus indicus and validation of short term storage extenders","authors":"Biju Francis ,&nbsp;C.P. Balasubramanian ,&nbsp;P.S. Shyne Anand ,&nbsp;Akshaya Panigrahi ,&nbsp;Jose Antony ,&nbsp;N.S. Sudheer ,&nbsp;R. Aravind ,&nbsp;K.K. Vijayan","doi":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The reproductive development of male <em>Penaeus indicus</em> was studied in indoor tanks at three stocking densities (T1–15, T2–30 and T3–60/m²) and outdoor polythene lined ponds (SD-10/m²) for 180 days. Spermatophore development and the quality changes in relation to age was studied and compared with wild caught shrimps. Pond-reared males exhibited fused petasma and presence of visible spermatophores in the terminal ampoulle, at a body weight of 12.23 ± 0.13 g (90 DOC) indicating morphological maturity. Tank reared males exhibited poor growth and inferior spermatophore quality was observed irrespective of stocking density. Spermatophore weight (0.146 ± 0.015 g) and sperm count (21.47 ± 1.97 × 10⁶ cells) increased significantly with age (180 DOC) in pond-reared males indicating superior sperm quality than tank reared males (180 DOC). Wild males exhibited significantly higher sperm count (43.05 ± 8.05 × 10⁶ cells), morphologically normal cells, and acrosome reaction than pond reared males (180 DOC), while spermatophore weight remained statistically similar between the groups. Spermatophore preservation in three extenders (mineral oil, phosphate buffer (PBS), and calcium-free saline (CFS)) were evaluated during 15 day period. Mineral oil showed superior preservation of sperm viability and acrosome integrity during the first 5–10 days. The findings conclude that, outdoor pond rearing enhances male reproductive quality in <em>P. indicus</em> compared to indoor tank rearing, particularly in males at 180 DOC and using mineral oil as extender can improve retention of sperm cell viability during short term preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7880,"journal":{"name":"Animal Reproduction Science","volume":"287 ","pages":"Article 108114"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146046038","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}