Biology of Reproduction最新文献

{"title":"Production of calf anterior pituitary progenitor cell line for conditional regulation of gonadotroph differentiation†.","authors":"Chihiro Iwamoto, Ai Oguchi, Suzuka Yoshimoto, Masashi Higuchi","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag162","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pituitary stem/progenitor cells are essential for regulating the physiological functions mediated by anterior pituitary hormones. Studying the molecular mechanisms governing their differentiation of these cells is crucial for improving the cattle productivity, an agriculturally and industrially important animal. However, elucidating such mechanisms remain a challenge, as maintaining pituitary stem/progenitor cells in vitro is difficult. Here, we attempted to establish immortalized cells for continuous utilization of cattle pituitary stem/progenitor cells. The pituitary stem/progenitor cell marker Sox2 was constitutively expressed in the cattle pituitary gland regardless of age. Calf anterior pituitary cells expressing multiple stem/progenitor cell markers (Sox2, Pitx1, Prrx1, and/or Prop1) were immortalized by introducing temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T antigen. Hormonal gene expression was not detected in any cell line. Among these SOX2-positive calf anterior pituitary cell lines, a pituitary-specific marker PROP1-positive cell proliferated when the immortalization was switched on, and differentiated into gonadotroph positive for luteinizing hormone when it was off, a finding supported by the increased expression of transcription factors (Pitx1 and Egr1) that upregulate Lhb expression. However, in this cell line, no changes were observed in the differentiation lineage even when a Notch signaling inhibitor was used. Thus, we established a unique calf anterior pituitary progenitor cell line to study the mechanisms of gonadotroph differentiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1200-1211"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148629452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responsible use of artificial intelligence in manuscript preparation guidance from the editors of Biology of Reproduction.","authors":"Aleksandar Rajkovic, Jeremy Wang","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag098","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag098","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1005-1008"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148987883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Image-aware mixture-of-experts automates the detection of ovarian follicle rupture in a high-throughput ex vivo ovulation assay †.","authors":"Mahdi Babaei, Jiyang Zhang, Shuo Xiao, Yu Gan","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag189","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag189","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1009-1012"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Connecting primate spermatogonial development with stem cell function.","authors":"Kun-Wei Xie, Xue-Ming Zhang","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioag231","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149191383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developmental short photoperiod exposure impairs sperm motility in Brandt's voles via antioxidant enzyme-mediated ROS dysregulation.","authors":"Xiang Li, Xiaocui Ma, Jiajia Shi, Junping Zhao, Yizhuo Xu, Jiaqi Xi, Chunrui Xu, Hong Sun, Lijuan Zhao, Zhenlong Wang","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag232","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioag232","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Photoperiod serves as a critical environmental signal that orchestrates seasonal reproduction in mammals, influencing not only sperm production but also sperm activity. Nevertheless, the molecular basis of this photoperiodic regulation of sperm activity during development remains poorly understood. Here, we show that short photoperiod (8L:16D) exposure during jucenile stage significantly impairs sperm motility in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), reducing motile sperm percentage, progressive motility, and straight-line velocity, without altering gross sperm morphology. Quantitative proteomics identified 38 differentially expressed proteins between long- and short-photoperiod groups, with Gene Ontology and Gene Set Enrichment Analyses revealing prominent enrichment of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related pathways. Five core antioxidant proteins-catalase (CAT), peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), thioredoxin 1 (TRX1), and glutaredoxin 2 (GLRX2)-were significantly downregulated in sperm under short photoperiod, as confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. This downregulation led to elevated ROS and superoxide anion levels, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased malondialdehyde content, protein carbonylation, and DNA fragmentation, ultimately culminating in oxidative damage and impaired sperm motility. Our findings demonstrate that photoperiod governs sperm motility in Brandt's voles primarily through modulating antioxidant enzyme expression and ROS homeostasis, providing novel mechanistic insights into seasonal reproductive regulation and identifying potential molecular targets for fertility control and rodent pest management.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149191328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Light sheet fluorescence microscopy pipelines for imaging and analysis of the human placental vasculature across gestation†.","authors":"Mary E Spring, Isha Ramanlal, Adrienne K Scott, Toby E Jackson, Jacqueline M Ross, Alys R Clark, Anna L Boss, Joanna L James","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag166","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the first trimester, vasculogenesis (the de novo formation of blood vessels) and angiogenesis (creation of new vessels from existing vessels) together create the backbone of the placental vascular network, which becomes increasingly complex as gestation progresses to term. Many different ex vivo imaging modalities, including computed tomography, synchrotron X-ray tomography, confocal, and electron microscopy, and traditional histology and stereology, have been used to study the vascularity of the human placenta in detail. However, many of these techniques often come with trade-offs between resolution, maximum sample size and cost. Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) is an attractive method capable of imaging placental 3D morphology at the micro-scale, whilst also enabling imaging of comparatively larger placental explants than other microscopy techniques, allowing capture of more generations of villous and vascular trees. Advances in tissue clearing for optical imaging have led to a multitude of different published LSFM protocols across tissue types. However, optimizing placenta-specific protocols is imperative for high-quality imaging and downstream three-dimensional analysis of this unique tissue. Finally, the placental vascular architecture is notoriously disorganized, heterogenous, and convoluted, making it more challenging to segment and obtain meaningful data than from vasculature in other organ systems. Here, we present a comprehensive pipeline for placental tissue preparation, light sheet fluorescence imaging and image segmentation of first trimester and term human placental villous explants, enabling physiologically relevant quantitative analysis of vascularity at different stages of gestation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1048-1061"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13669404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148629399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic protein expression in golden hamster oocytes and embryos reveals extensive post-translational regulation of PIWIL1 during the oocyte-to-embryo transition†.","authors":"Shuang Liang, Jiahui Lu, Ruixin Qin, Jinwei Zhang, Jichen Xie, Xin Gao, Jianmin Li, Chen Qiu","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag167","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The golden hamster, renowned for its representative PIWI-piRNA pathway profile among mammals, has emerged as a promising animal model for investigating female mammalian fertility. Prior research uncovered that the disruption of Piwil1 leads to female infertility of golden hamsters, with embryos derived from homozygous knockout (Piwil1-/-) females mated with wild-type (WT) males arresting at the two-cell stage. However, the underlying deep mechanisms remain unexplored. In the current study, we utilized highly sensitive single-cell mass spectrometry to generate proteome data of five developmental stages from oocytes to embryos in both WT and Piwil1-deficient golden hamsters, thus profiling the dynamic proteome landscape during oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET). Integrative analyses highlighted the temporal dynamics and complexity of hamster oocytes and embryos. Notably, we observed that classical maternal proteins in hamsters exhibit a more intricate pattern compared to mice, while PIWIL1 deficiency led to aberrant expression of proteins with diverse functions in oocytes and early embryos. Analysis of multi-omics data indicated that PIWIL1 primarily regulates differentially expressed proteins at the post-translational level during OET. Specifically, the stability of TDRD1, essential for embryogenesis and gametogenesis, is modulated by PIWIL1, and could be its downstream target. Our study provides an extensive database that offers valuable insights into mammalian oocyte and early embryo development, and represents an invaluable resource for further mechanistic studies to deepen the understanding of developmental regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1062-1077"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148677049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficient production of cynomolgus monkeys via transabdominal uterine puncture embryo transfer†.","authors":"Zifan Li, Yu Dong, Xinglong Chen, Baohong Tian, Chenyang Si, Weizhi Ji, Yuyu Niu, Yu Kang","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag160","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Embryo transfer is a key application of assisted reproductive technology in non-human primates, underpinning research in reproductive biology, disease modeling, and conservation. The conventional approach-tubal embryo transfer-typically requires a laparoscopy system and abdominal incision to expose the oviducts and reproductive tract for embryo transfer, and is associated with complex procedures, a high cost, and cumulative reproductive tract injury following repeated surgeries. Moreover, implantation and pregnancy rates decline with increasing recipient age and surgical history, highlighting the need for a rapid, simple, and minimally invasive alternative. Here, using cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) as a model, we implemented a transabdominal uterine puncture method. This technique involves the direct introduction of in vitro cultured embryos into the uterine cavity by means of an ultrasound-guided needle. In a cohort of 37 recipients, transabdominal uterine puncture yielded confirmed implantation in 19 animals (51.35%). Importantly, implantation and pregnancy outcomes in older animals and in those with prior reproductive surgeries were substantially higher than rates historically observed with tubal embryo transfer. Gestation assessments and neonatal examinations revealed no discernible abnormalities or increased perinatal complications in offspring produced via transabdominal uterine puncture, compared with controls, supporting the method as an efficient and safe embryo transfer strategy for non-human primates.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1292-1298"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13669398/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148629219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adropin effects on granulosa cell function and oocyte maturation in pigs†.","authors":"Patrycja Kurowska, Alicja Łapa, Jakub Chatys, Konrad Król, Michalina Cielińska, Karolina Kubicka, Marek Skrzypski, Monika Trzcińska, Lechosław Gajda, Joelle Dupont, Agnieszka Rak","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag174","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adropin, a peptide involved in energy homeostasis, acts via G protein-coupled receptor 19 (GPR19). This study examined the expression of adropin/GPR19 in porcine ovarian follicles and assessed the effects of adropin on granulosa cells (Gc) function and oocyte maturation in vitro. Levels of adropin/GPR19 were analyzed in porcine ovarian follicles and follicular fluid during the estrous cycle. Then, Gc isolated from medium-sized follicles were cultured with gonadotropins, steroids, or adropin (0.1-100 nM) to evaluate adropin/GPR19 expression, Gc function, and signaling pathways using pharmacological inhibitors. Additionally, the effect of adropin on oocyte maturation was assessed after in vitro maturation of cumulus-oocyte complexes from prepubertal pigs. We noted that adropin expression increased in the whole porcine ovarian follicle, while GPR19 decreased during the estrous cycle. Adropin protein expression and secretion to culture medium and GPR19 protein increased with gonadotropin and steroid treatment. Both proteins are localized to Gc and theca cells. Functionally, adropin reduced Gc viability via AKT signaling, inhibited proliferation and cell cycle progression via ERK1/2, suppressed estradiol secretion and CYP19A1 expression via PKA, increased progesterone secretion, cleaved caspase-3 expression and its activity, and inhibited autophagy-related markers. Adropin simultaneously enhancing oocyte maturation, progesterone secretion, and lipid utilization in cumulus-oocyte complexes. These findings indicate that adropin may regulate porcine follicular development through its actions on Gc and oocytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1184-1199"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13669399/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148700758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LncRNA THOR regulates spermatogenesis by interacting with and stabilizing Sycp3 protein in zebrafish†.","authors":"Jiayi Zhao, Chaolin Jiang, Yiran Luo, Xing Lin, Yifan Bai, Kaifeng Meng, Yuanli Zhao, Fei Liu, Daji Luo","doi":"10.1093/biolre/ioag185","DOIUrl":"10.1093/biolre/ioag185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Testis-associated highly conserved oncogenic long non-coding RNA (THOR) is a highly conserved and testis-enriched long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) across vertebrates that plays diverse roles in various cancers. However, its physiological function and regulatory mechanism in testes remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the genomic location and expression pattern of THOR in the model organism zebrafish, and generated a homozygous THOR knockout model using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 technology. Loss of THOR in zebrafish impaired spermatogenesis, leading to oligospermia (38.7% reduction in sperm count), reduced sperm motility, sperm ultrastructural defects, and decreased fertilization rates. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of wild type (WT) and THOR knockout testes revealed dysregulation of cell cycle-related genes, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1D (cdkn1d), forkhead box O1 a (foxo1a), TSC complex subunit 1a (tsc1a), TSC complex subunit 2 (tsc2), ATRX chromatin remodeler (atrx), and RAD21 cohesin complex component b (rad21b). RNA pulldown assays in zebrafish testes identified 486 potential THOR-interacting proteins primarily involved in ribosome biogenesis, RNA splicing, chromatin architecture, and meiotic progression. Notably, the core synaptonemal complex components synaptonemal complex protein 1 (Sycp1), synaptonemal complex protein 2 (Sycp2), and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (Sycp3) were all captured as THOR-binding partners. We further demonstrated that THOR directly interacts with Sycp3 and positively regulates its protein levels. Immunostaining assays on chromosome spreads revealed a significantly higher frequency of discontinuous Sycp3 signals in THOR-/- testes, suggesting the presence of meiosis defects caused by Sycp3 downregulation. Our findings expand the understanding of lncRNA-mediated control of spermatogenesis and male infertility by providing the first evidence that lncRNA THOR interacts with the synaptonemal complex to regulate meiosis progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":8965,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Reproduction","volume":" ","pages":"1331-1350"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13669401/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148863333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}