Impact of litter size on the hematological and iron status of gilts, sows and newborn piglets: a comparative study of domestic pigs and wild boars.

Background: The critically low hepatic iron stores of newborn piglets are considered to be a major cause of neonatal iron deficiency in modern breeds of domestic pig (Sus domestica). The main factor believed to contribute to this phenomenon is large litter size, which has been an objective of selective breeding of pigs for decades. As consequence, iron transferred from the pregnant sow has to be distributed among a greater number of fetuses.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species level and developmental competence of cultured pig embryos.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) has been previously used to increase mammalian oocyte and embryo tolerance on subsequent stresses related with different assisted reproductive technologies. Nevertheless, the mechanisms for HHP-induced stress responses in early embryos have not been yet well understood. Previous studies focused mainly on HHP-modified gene expression while possible changes in cellular functions, including modification of energy metabolism and oxidative stress were neglected.

Correction to: The production of UL16-binding protein 1 targeted pigs using CRISPR technology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1107-4.].

The production of UL16-binding protein 1 targeted pigs using CRISPR technology.

Two sgRNAs were designed to target the region of exon 2 of the pULBP1 gene by microinjection. The co-injection of modified Cas9-D10A nickase with a pair of sgRNAs into the zygote's cytoplasm easily and efficiently generated biallelic modification of the pULBP1 gene in one step. Five out of nine F0 generation piglets showed insertions or deletions in the targeting site of the pULBP1 gene, indicating that pULBP1 mutation efficiency reached about 56% (5/9).

Improved quality of porcine embryos cultured with hyaluronan due to the modification of the mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species level.

Although considerable progress has been made in pig embryo culture systems, the developmental competence and quality of the produced embryos are still lower than their in vivo-derived counterparts. Because hyaluronan (HA) regulates various cellular processes and possesses antioxidant properties, this glycosaminoglycan seems to be a promising supplement in culture media. However, until now, its beneficial influence on in vitro pig embryo development has been debatable.

Successful production of piglets derived from mature oocytes vitrified using OPS method.

Objective: Examination of effect of vitrification solution with or without foetal calf serum (FCS) on the in vitro and in vivo survival of matured pig oocytes.

Materials And Methods: Exp. 1: oocytes were exposed to vitrification solutions: VSa (15% DMSO, 15% EG, 0.

Fertility of boar semen cryopreserved in extender supplemented with butylated hydroxytoluene.

The present study was to determine the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on quality and fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed boar semen. In the first experiment, five crossbreds of Polish Landrace and Large White boars (five ejaculates per boar) were frozen in 0.5 mL straws after dilution with lactose-egg yolk-glycerol extender supplemented with 0 (control), 0.

Influence of embryo transfer on embryo preimplantation development.

Objective: To investigate the impact of injection speeds of the transferred load on embryo development.

Design: A laboratory model for in vitro simulation of ET was developed to investigate the impact of varying injection speeds of the transferred load on embryo development.

Setting: Academic research institutes of reproduction biotechnology and private centers of reproductive medicine.

Fluid dynamics during embryo transfer.

Objective: To study fluid dynamics during ET.

Design: Computational fluid dynamics were applied to calculate fluid velocity changes, dynamic pressure differences, and shear stress in the transferred load for the following injection speeds: 0.1, 1, 6, 12, and 20 m/sec.

Lipid content in pig blastocysts cultured in the presence or absence of protein and vitamin E or phenazine ethosulfate.

In the present study, total lipid content and content of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol were determined in pig blastocysts cultured in medium without protein, supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA), with fetal calf serum (FCS), vitamin E or phenazine ethosulfate (PES). In comparison to blastocysts cultured in NCSU-23 with BSA, we observed a decrease of the total lipid content in PES-treated embryos. Triglyceride content in FCS-, vitamin E- and PES-treated embryos as well as in blastocysts cultured without protein was 81.

Pressure induced nucleus DNA fragmentation.

Purpose: The present study was designed to investigate the impact of pressure on nuclear DNA integrity in viable cells of mouse blastocysts.

Methods: The blastocysts of hybrid F1 females [(C57Bl/10 J × CBA-H);N = 15] aged 2-3 months were exposed into the pressure impulse lasting ~0.021 s and characterized by a positive pressure peak of ~76 mmHg.

New technique to quantify the lipid composition of lipid droplets in porcine oocytes and pre-implantation embryos using Nile Red fluorescent probe.

The principal objective of this study was to develop a novel method based on confocal microscopy and a solvatochromic fluorescent dye, Nile red (NR) to quantify the main types of lipids in a single mammalian oocyte and embryo. We hypothesize that NR staining followed by the decomposition of NR-spectra identifies and quantifies the triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol in a single oocyte and embryo. We analyzed the lipid droplets in porcine oocytes and pre-implantation embryos up to the hatched blastocyst stage developed in vivo and in cultured blastocysts.

Influence of embryo transfer on blastocyst viability.

Objective: To investigate the impact of injection speeds of the transferred load on embryo viability.

Design: Laboratory model for in vitro simulation of embryo transfer (ET).

Setting: Academic research institutes of reproduction biotechnology and private centers of reproductive medicine.

Factors and methods of pig oocyte and embryo quality improvement and their application in reproductive biotechnology.

Compared to other mammalian species, pig oocytes and embryos are characterized by high lipid contents stored mainly as lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. This fact has a negative influence on manipulations on oocytes and embryos and, in general, biotechnological procedures are much less advanced in pigs than in cows. This paper discusses current methods for modifying porcine oocytes and embryos using in vitro culture or microsurgical manipulation, chemical agents such as cytochalasin B or D, physical means such as centrifugation or increased pressure and the biotechnological implications of these procedures.

Effects of protein source, vitamin E and phenazine ethosulfate on developmental competence and quality of porcine embryos cultured in vitro.

Effects of fetal calf serum (FCS) or bovine serum albumin (BSA), with or without vitamin E (vit. E) or phenazine ethosulfate (PES) supplementation on developmental competence and quality of cultured porcine embryos were examined. The experiment was done on zygotes and 2-cell embryos obtained from superovulated gilts.

Animal reproduction biotechnology in Poland.

The key research areas of the Department are: in vitro production of embryos, embryo cryopreservation, animal transgenesis, cloning, cytometric semen sexing and evaluation. Research has been focused on the in vitro production of animal embryos, including the development of complex methods for oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo culture. Moreover, experiments on long-term culturing of late preantral and early antral bovine ovarian follicles have been developed.

Survival of bovine fibroblasts and cumulus cells after vitrification.

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of vitrification on viability and the cell cycle of bovine cumulus cells and fibroblasts after culture with or without serum starvation. In all vitrified-thawed bovine somatic cells, the number of samples that reached the confluence stage was high (50 to 100%). The viability of vitrified somatic cells depended on the concentration of the cells.

Effect of atosiban on rabbit embryo development and human sperm motility.

Objective: To investigate embryotoxic potential and effects on human sperm motility of the mixed vasopressin V(1a)/oxytocin receptor antagonist atosiban considered for novel indication of improvement of uterine receptivity in embryo-transfer recipients.

Design: One-cell rabbit embryo bioassay and human sperm motility bioassay were performed in control media or in media containing atosiban.

Setting: Private center of reproductive medicine and academic research institute of reproduction biotechnology.

Distribution of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) DNA in organs of a domestic pig.

Objectives: Domestic pig may serve as the most appropriate organ source for human xenotransplantation in the future. However, there is a serious threat of xenogeneic pathogens transmission, especially porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) which are present in genomes of all pigs. The aim of this study was to monitor the prevalence and distribution of PERV DNA in organs of a domestic pig.

Effect of donor stimulation, frozen semen and heparin treatment on the efficiency of in vitro embryo production in goats.

Investigations on in vitro embryo production in goats in comparison with other domestic species, especially cattle, have been the subject of few reports despite their usefulness for both basic research and commercial application. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficiency of IVP in goats using immature follicular oocytes recovered from FSH-primed and control goats. After IVM, oocytes were fertilized with fresh or frozen-thawed semen capacitated with or without heparin.

Timing of nuclear maturation of nonstored and stored domestic cat oocytes.

In this study we compared the effects of preculture storage of ovaries, IVM medium, a reduced O(2) atmosphere and duration of culture on in vitro maturation (IVM) of domestic cat oocytes. One randomly selected ovary of each pair (69 pairs) was stored in PBS at 10 degrees C for 16-24h before oocyte recovery. The second ovary from each pair was used as a nonstored control.

Vitrification of cultured and non-cultured expanded and hatched porcine blastocysts.

The aim of this experiment was to examine the survival of porcine embryos following exposure or vitrification in EFS solution. The work was carried out on cultured and non-cultured expanded and hatched blastocysts. The viability of treated embryos was assessed by their ability to develop in in vitro culture.