Effect of selenium nanoparticles on the quality and fertility of short-term preserved boar semen.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different concentrations of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in the Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) extender on the semen quality and fertility of Hampshire crossbred pigs. For the study, semen was collected from four boars (10 ejaculates/boar) by the gloved hand method. Each ejaculate was extended @ 1:2 with the BTS extender and split into four aliquots.

Comparative serum proteome analysis reveals potential early pregnancy-specific protein biomarkers in pigs.

In this study, the comparative serum proteome profile of Day 5, 12 and 16 of gestation, representing three early embryonic events, namely formation, elongation and implantation of blastocysts, and non-pregnant control were explored by a label-free quantitation-based mass spectrometric approach to identify early pregnancy biomarkers in pigs. A total of 131 proteins were identified with respect to different groups, out of which 105 were found to be differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among the DEPs, 54 and 66 proteins were found to be up and downregulated respectively in early pregnancy groups (fold change >2) and the maximum number of upregulated proteins was observed in the Day 12 pregnancy stage.