Combination of FSH and testosterone could enhance activation of primordial follicles and growth of activated follicles in 1-day-old mice ovaries cultured for 12 days.

Treatment with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T2) and their combination have been observed to be influential on ovarian follicles of 1-day-old mice ovaries cultured for 8 days. Given that extension of the culture period could positively impact the development of follicles in cultured ovaries, the present study was conducted to evaluate the main and interaction effects of FSH by T2 on the development of ovarian follicles in 1-day-old mice ovaries cultured for 12 days. One-day-old mice ovaries were initially cultured with base medium for 4 days; thereafter, different hormonal treatments were added to the culture media, and the culture was continued for 8 additional days until day 12.

Developmental programming of reproduction in sheep and goat: Association of fraternity size and sex ratio with reproductive performance of ewes and does at the first pregnancy.

Various prenatal factors including the number of littermates (fraternity size) and exposure to male littermate (fraternity sex ratio) during fetal period have been reported to influence postnatal fertility in the mammals. The present research was conducted to study the association of fraternity size and sex ratio with reproductive performance of nulliparous ewes and does. To this end, data associated with number of littermates, exposure to male littermate, birth weight, age at first pregnancy, as well as litter size, sex ratio of offspring, litter weight, and birth weight of female and male offspring after the first parturition retrieved from the database of sheep (n = 536 Romane and 289 Blanche du Massif Central ewes) and goat (n = 174 Alpine and 267 Saanen does) flocks.

Developmental programming of production and reproduction in dairy cows: V. Association of the main and interactive effects of maternal level of milk production and milk fat to protein ratio with offspring's birth weight, survival, and productive and reproductive performance from birth to the first lactation period.

Level of dam milk production (DMP) and dam milk fat to protein ratio (DFPR), as an indicator of metabolic status in dairy cows, have been identified to be associated with productive and reproductive performance of the offspring. Yet whether the interaction of DMP by DFPR can be associated with performance of the offspring have not been studied to our knowledge. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the association of the main and interactive effects of DMP and DFPR with offspring's birth weight, survival, milk yield and fertility.

Developmental programming of the ovarian reserve in livestock.

Mammalian females are born with a finite number of follicles in their ovaries that is referred to as the ovarian reserve. There is a large amount of variation between females in the number of antral follicles that they are born with, but this number is positively correlated to size of the ovarian reserve, has a strong repeatability within a female, and a moderate heritability. Although the heritability is moderate, numerous external factors including health, nutrition, ambient temperature, and litter size influence the size and function of the ovarian reserve throughout life.

Developmental programming of reproduction in the female animal.

Successful reproduction is a cornerstone in food animal industry in order to sustain food production for human. Therefore, various methods focusing on genetics and postnatal environment have been identified and applied to improve fertility in livestock. Yet there is evidence indicating that environmental factors during prenatal and/or neonatal life can also impact the function of reproductive system and fertility in the animals during adulthood, which is called the developmental programming of reproduction.

Developmental programming of production and reproduction in dairy cows: IV. Association of maternal milk fat and protein percentage and milk fat to protein ratio with offspring's birth weight, survival, productive and reproductive performance and AMH concentration from birth to the first lactation period.

Although the association of maternal milk production with developmental programming of offspring has been investigated, there is limited information available on the relationship of maternal milk components with productive and reproductive performance of the offspring. Therefore, the present study was conducted to analyze the association of maternal milk fat and protein percentage and milk fat to protein ratio with birth weight, survival, productive and reproductive performance and AMH concentration in the offspring. In study I, data of birth weight, milk yield and reproductive variables of offspring born to lactating dams (n = 14,582) and data associated with average maternal milk fat percentage (MFP), protein percentage (MPP) and fat to protein ratio (MFPR) during 305-day lactation were retrieved.

Developmental programming of production and reproduction in dairy cows: III. Association of level of maternal milk production with offspring's birth weight, survival, productive and reproductive performance and AMH concentration from birth to the first lactation period.

Although some studies investigated the relationship of dam milk production (DMP) with offspring birth weight and productive performance, limited information is available on the association of level of DMP with reproductive performance in dairy cows. Therefore, the present study was conducted to understand whether dams with various levels of milk production produce offspring with different fertility. In study I, offspring were classified based on the level of DMP into five categories, including DMP1 (dams with <10.

Oocyte Vitrification Reduces its Capability to Repair Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Impairs Embryonic Development.

Oocytes play a crucial role in repairing sperm DNA damage, which can affect the next generation; however, certain factors can impair this ability. This study examined whether oocyte vitrification, a widely used method for fertility preservation, negatively affects repair ability. Male DBA/2 mice (n = 28) were injected with 101.

Optimisation of hormonal treatment to improve follicular development in one-day-old mice ovaries cultured under condition.

Context: Base medium containing knock-out serum replacement (KSR) has been found to support formation and maintenance of follicles in one-day-old mice ovaries, but has not been shown to properly support activation and growth of primordial follicles.

Aims: The present study was conducted to tailor the hormonal content of base medium containing KSR to enhance development of primordial follicles in neonatal ovaries.

Methods: One-day-old mice ovaries were initially cultured with base medium for four days, and then, different hormonal treatments were added to the culture media and the culture was proceeded for four additional days until day eight.

Evaluation of the effect of melatonin implantation in rams and eCG dose in ewes synchronized by a CIDR-eCG protocol on reproductive performance of Lacaune sheep breed during non-breeding season.

Sustainable production of milk is favorable in dairy sheep industry, which necessitates year-round reproduction of rams and ewes even during non-breeding season. Hence, protocols facilitating reproduction of rams and ewes during non-breeding season are of importance for this purpose. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of melatonin implantation in rams and administration of 400 IU eCG (E400) versus 300 IU eCG (E300) in ewes on reproductive performance of Lacaune sheep breed during non-breeding season.

Successful 3D culture and transplantation of mouse isolated preantral follicles in hydrogel of bioengineered Wharton's jelly.

Main Objective: Due to Human Wharton's Jelly (HWJ) could be applied in tissue engineering as a bio scaffold, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of HWJ hydrogel on in vitro culture and auto-transplantation of mouse ovarian follicles.

Materials And Methods: HWJ was isolated from umbilical cord and decellularized with SDS/Tris/EDTA. DNA, Collagen and Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were measured.

Developmental programming of production and reproduction in dairy cows: II. Association of gestational stage of maternal exposure to heat stress with offspring's birth weight, milk yield, reproductive performance and AMH concentration during the first lactation period.

Although the negative effect of maternal exposure to heat stress on production and reproduction of offspring has been reported, there are some discrepancies among various studies about which gestational stage is more critical in this regard. Therefore, the present research was conducted to identify during which stage(s) of pregnancy maternal exposure to heat stress would lead to more dramatic decrease in productive and reproductive performance of offspring. To this end, offspring were classified based on the gestational stage they were in utero exposed to heat stress into four categories, including heat stress exposure (HSE) during only the first trimester of gestation (HSE1), HSE during the first and second trimester of gestation (HSE2), HSE during the second and third trimester of gestation (HSE3) and HSE during only the third trimester of gestation (HSE4).

The study of a hermaphroditic sheep caused by a mutation in the promoter of gene.

In mammals, sex-determining region Y () gene plays vital role as a transcription factor to regulate the expression of the genes contributing to development of male genitals. Any mutation disrupting expression of gene can cause disorders of sex development (DSDs). In this study, the examination of a hermaphroditic (female-like) Shal sheep which was referred for infertility is described.

Developmental programming of production and reproduction in dairy cows: I. Association of maternal parity with offspring's birth weight, milk yield, reproductive performance and AMH concentration during the first lactation period.

Multiparous dams have been reported to produce offspring with greater fertility and higher AMH concentration, as a marker of ovarian reserves, as compared with nulliparous and primiparous dams. Yet it has remained to be addressed whether this phenomenon can still be true for old multiparous cows which might experience some geriatric changes in their reproductive system. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance of offspring with different maternal parity.

Replacement of the first GnRH by estradiol in the breeding Ovsynch of Double Ovsynch protocol could improve fertility in Holstein dairy cows.

Unlike GnRH, estradiol could induce emergence of a new follicular wave regardless of the size of follicle. Therefore, the present study was conducted to understand whether replacement of the first GnRH by estradiol in the breeding protocol of Double Ovsynch program could enhance fertility. Cows were randomly assigned to two groups, including Double Ovsynch protocol (Control; n = 120) and Ovsynch-estradiol-PGF2α-GnRH (EPG) protocol (Treatment; n = 120).

Evidence that elevation of maternal somatic cell count could lead to production of offspring with inferior reproductive and productive performance in dairy cows during the first lactation period.

Although the effect of mastitis on reproduction and production of lactating dairy cows has been vastly studied, little information is available about the association of maternal udder health status with offspring reproduction and production. Therefore, the present research was conducted to study the association between maternal average monthly somatic cell count (SCC) with reproduction, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration, udder health status and milk production in the offspring. Based on maternal average monthly SCC (MSCC), offspring were classified into five categories including MSCC1 (SCC <200,000; n = 3005), MSCC2 (200,000 ≤ SCC <400,000; n = 252), MSCC3 (400,000 ≤ SCC <600,000; n = 103), MSCC4 (600,000 ≤ SCC <800,000; n = 40) and MSCC5 (SCC ≥800,000; n = 61).

Effect of Mechanical Micro-Vibrations on The Efficiency of Leopard Inter-Species Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.

Objective: Scarcity of oocytes for assisted reproduction in endangered species can be bypassed by interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT). In Felids, domestic cat (Felis catus) oocytes can serve as recipients for the nucleus of the endangered Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor). However, oocyte maturation is still suboptimal in cats, whereas it has been reported to benefit from micro-vibration in non-felid species.

Evidence that Murciano-Granadina does with longer anogenital distance are more fertile and prolific and produce heavier and male-biased litters.

Anogenital distance (AGD) is related to fertility in cows, but there is little information on the association of AGD and reproduction in does. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the relationship between AGD and reproductive variables in Murciano-Granadina does. AGD was measured as the distance between anus and clitoris and does (n = 578) were divided into two categories of AGD, including short AGD (AGD ≤ median of AGD in studied does; n = 313) and long AGD (AGD > median of AGD in studied does; n = 265).

Effects of N-Acetyl-L-Cystein Antioxidant on Culture of Vitrified Premature Mouse Ovarian Tissue.

Optimization of practical ways to obtain mature follicles from cryopreserved ovarian tissues, especially in patients suffering from ovarian dysfunction, is very important. ovarian tissue culture allows faster screening of follicle development and reduces follicle isolation damage. During ovarian tissue culture, controlling oxidative stress is critical to support better follicular development and less damage.

High steroid content in conditioned medium of granulosa cells may disrupt primordial follicles formation in in vitro cultured one-day-old murine ovaries.

This study was conducted to investigate the main and interactive effects of two methods of culture medium preparation [base medium vs granulosa cells conditioned medium (GCCM)] and two nutrient supplements [fetal bovine serum (FBS) vs knock-out serum replacement (KSR)] on formation and activation of primordial follicles and gene expression of corresponding factors during a seven-day culture period. One-day-old mouse ovaries were cultured with four different culture media including base medium containing FBS (BMF), base medium containing KSR (BMK), GCCM prepared with FBS (CMF) and GCCM prepared with KSR (CMK), and samples for histological and molecular assessments were collected on days 3 and 7 of culture. Further, steroid content of media was measured.

Differences in expression of genes related to steroidgenesis in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of pregnant women with and without PCOS; a case control study.

Background: It was reported that steroid-related gene expressions in the adipose tissue (AT) of women differ between women affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS. Although association between PCOS in mother and offspring's health is a crucial issue, there are few studies focusing on AT of pregnant women suffering from PCOS. Our objectives were to determine the differences between mRNA expression levels of key steroid-converting enzymes in abdominal subcutaneous AT of pregnant women afflicted with PCOS and non-PCOS.

Supplementation of granulosa cells conditioned medium with pyruvate and testosterone could improve early follicular development in cultured 1-day-old mouse ovaries.

In vitro activation of primordial follicles could serve as a safe method to preserve fertility in patients with cancer subjected to ovarian tissue cryopreservation during oncotherapy, however the culture medium for this purpose requires to be optimized. Granulosa cell conditioned medium (GCCM) has been recognized to enhance primordial follicle activation and the present study was conducted to understand whether addition of pyruvate, a combination of insulin, transferrin and selenium (ITS) or testosterone to GCCM could improve its efficiency in this regard. To this end, 1-day-old mouse ovaries were cultured in four different media including CON (control; containing GGCM only), PYR (containing GCCM plus pyruvate), ITS (containing GCCM plus ITS) or TES (containing GCCM plus testosterone) for 11 days.

Effect of feeding male mice with palm, fish, and sunflower oils on sperm characteristics and sex ratio of offspring.

Several studies have indicated that feeding female animal with fatty acids could result in alteration of offspring sex ratio; however, there is little information available regarding the effect of feeding male animal with fatty acids on sex ratio of offspring. The aim of current study was to investigate the effect of paternal feeding with n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on sperm characteristics and sex ratio of offspring in mice. Male mice received 2.