Generation of Oviductal Glycoprotein 1 Cre Mouse Model for the Study of Secretory Epithelial Cells of the Oviduct.

The epithelial cell lining of the oviduct plays an important role in oocyte pickup, sperm migration, preimplantation embryo development, and embryo transport. The oviduct epithelial cell layer comprises ciliated and nonciliated secretory cells. The ciliary function has been shown to support gamete and embryo movement in the oviduct, yet secretory cell function has not been well characterized.

Knockdown of Esr1 from DRD1-Rich Brain Regions Affects Adipose Tissue Metabolism: Potential Crosstalk between Nucleus Accumbens and Adipose Tissue.

Declining estrogen (E2) leads to physical inactivity and adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction. Mechanisms are not fully understood, but E2's effects on dopamine (DA) activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) brain region may mediate changes in mood and voluntary physical activity (PA). Our prior work revealed that loss of E2 robustly affected NAc DA-related gene expression, and the pattern correlated with sedentary behavior and visceral fat.

ABT1 modifies SMARD1 pathology via interactions with IGHMBP2 and stimulation of ATPase and helicase activity.

SMA with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2S (CMT2S) are results of mutations in immunoglobulin mu DNA binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2). IGHMBP2 is a UPF1-like helicase with proposed roles in several cellular processes, including translation. This study examines activator of basal transcription 1 (ABT1), a modifier of SMARD1-nmd disease pathology.

Long-Term Effects of Developmental Exposure to Oxycodone on Gut Microbiota and Relationship to Adult Behaviors and Metabolism.

Opioid drugs are commonly prescribed analgesic to pregnant women. Direct exposure to such drugs may slow gut motility, alter gut permeability, and affect the gut microbiome. While such drugs affect gut microbiome in infants, no study to date has determined whether developmental exposure to such drugs results in longstanding effects on gut microbiota and correspondingly on host responses.

miRNA changes in the mouse placenta due to bisphenol A exposure.

To determine small RNA expression changes in mouse placenta induced by bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. Exposing female mice to BPA two weeks prior to conception through gestational day 12.5; whereupon fetal placentas were collected, frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C.

Gestational and lactational exposure to BPA, but not BPS, negatively impacts trabecular microarchitecture and cortical geometry in adult male offspring.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) and bisphenol-S (BPS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found primarily in plastics. Estrogen is a primary hormonal regulator of skeletal growth and development; however, the impact of gestational BPA or BPS exposure on skeletal health of offspring remains relatively unknown. Here, adult female mice were randomized into three treatment groups: 200 μg BPA/kg BW (BPA), 200 μg BPS/kg BW (BPS) or control (CON).

The Ighmbp2D564N mouse model is the first SMARD1 model to demonstrate respiratory defects.

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type I (SMARD1) is a neurodegenerative disease defined by respiratory distress, muscle atrophy and sensory and autonomic nervous system defects. SMARD1 is a result of mutations within the IGHMBP2 gene. We have generated six Ighmbp2 mouse models based on patient-derived mutations that result in SMARD1 and/or Charcot-Marie Tooth Type 2 (CMT2S).

Placental Changes in the serotonin transporter (Slc6a4) knockout mouse suggest a role for serotonin in controlling nutrient acquisition.

Introduction: The mouse placenta accumulates and possibly produces serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in parietal trophoblast giant cells (pTGC) located at the interface between the placenta and maternal deciduum. However, the roles of 5-HT in placental function are unclear. This lack of information is unfortunate, given that selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors are commonly used to combat depression in pregnant women.

Gestational and lactational exposure to BPA or BPS has minimal effects on skeletal outcomes in adult female mice.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) and bisphenol-S (BPS) are estrogen disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in the environment and common household items. Estrogen is a primary hormonal regulator of bone growth and development; however, the impact of gestational BPA or BPS exposure on skeletal health of offspring remains relatively unknown. In this longitudinal study, adult female mice were randomized into three groups: 200 μg BPA/kg BW (BPA), 200 μg BPS/kg BW (BPS) or control (CON).

Spatial transcriptomics analysis of uterine gene expression in enhancer of zeste homolog 2 conditional knockout mice†.

Histone proteins undergo various modifications that alter chromatin structure, including addition of methyl groups. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that methylates lysine residue 27, and thereby suppresses gene expression. EZH2 plays integral roles in the uterus and other reproductive organs.

Maternal Oxycodone Treatment Results in Neurobehavioral Disruptions in Mice Offspring.

Opioid drugs are increasingly being prescribed to pregnant women. Such compounds can also bind and activate opioid receptors in the fetal brain, which could lead to long-term brain and behavioral disruptions. We hypothesized that maternal treatment with oxycodone (OXY), the primary opioid at the center of the current crisis, leads to later neurobehavioral disorders and gene expression changes in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of resulting offspring.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structures in Chinese Miniature Pigs Revealed by SINE Retrotransposon Insertion Polymorphisms, a New Type of Genetic Markers.

RIPs have been developed as effective genetic markers and popularly applied for genetic analysis in plants, but few reports are available for domestic animals. Here, we established 30 new molecular markers based on the SINE RIPs, and applied them for population genetic analysis in seven Chinese miniature pigs. The data revealed that the closed herd (BM-clo), inbreeding herd (BM-inb) of Bama miniature pigs were distinctly different from the BM-cov herds in the conservation farm, and other miniature pigs (Wuzhishan, Congjiang Xiang, Tibetan, and Mingguang small ear).

Developmental exposure to silver nanoparticles leads to long term gut dysbiosis and neurobehavioral alterations.

Due to their antimicrobial properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in a wide range of consumer products that includes topical wound dressings, coatings for biomedical devices, and food-packaging to extend the shelf-life. Despite their beneficial antimicrobial effects, developmental exposure to such AgNPs may lead to gut dysbiosis and long-term health consequences in exposed offspring. AgNPs can cross the placenta and blood-brain-barrier to translocate in the brain of offspring.

Disruption of global hypothalamic microRNA (miR) profiles and associated behavioral changes in California mice (Peromyscus californicus) developmentally exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Developmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), e.g., bisphenol A (BPA) or genistein (GEN), causes longstanding epigenome effects.

NEDD4-like ubiquitin ligase 2 protein (NEDL2) in porcine spermatozoa, oocytes, and preimplantation embryos and its role in oocyte fertilization†.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays diverse regulatory and homeostatic roles in mammalian reproduction. Ubiquitin ligases are the substrate-specific mediators of ubiquitin-binding to its substrate proteins. The NEDD4-like ubiquitin ligase 2 (aliases NEDL2, HECW2) is a HECT-type ubiquitin ligase that contains one N-terminal HECW ubiquitin ligase domain, one C-terminal HECT ubiquitin ligase domain, one C2 domain, and two WW protein-protein interaction modules.

Maternal oxycodone treatment causes pathophysiological changes in the mouse placenta.

Introduction: Pregnant women are increasingly being prescribed and abusing opioid drugs. As the primary communication organ between mother and conceptus, the placenta may be vulnerable to opioid effects but also holds the key to better understanding how these drugs affect long-term offspring health. We hypothesized that maternal treatment with oxycodone (OXY), the primary opioid at the center of the current crisis, deleteriously affects placental structure and gene expression patterns.

Author Correction: Developmental exposure of California mice to endocrine disrupting chemicals and potential effects on the microbiome-gut-brain axis at adulthood.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Data integration, analysis, and interpretation of eight academic CLARITY-BPA studies.

"Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity" (CLARITY-BPA) was a comprehensive "industry-standard" Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-compliant 2-year chronic exposure study of bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity that was supplemented by hypothesis-driven independent investigator-initiated studies. The investigator-initiated studies were focused on integrating disease-associated, molecular, and physiological endpoints previously found by academic scientists into an industry standard guideline-compliant toxicity study. Thus, the goal of this collaboration was to provide a more comprehensive dataset upon which to base safety standards and to determine whether industry-standard tests are as sensitive and predictive as molecular and disease-associated endpoints.

Developmental exposure of California mice to endocrine disrupting chemicals and potential effects on the microbiome-gut-brain axis at adulthood.

Xenoestrogens are chemicals found in plant products, such as genistein (GEN), and in industrial chemicals, e.g., bisphenol A (BPA), present in plastics and other products that are prevalent in the environment.

Endocrine disruption of gene expression and microRNA profiles in hippocampus and hypothalamus of California mice: Association of gene expression changes with behavioural outcomes.

The hypothalamus and hippocampus are sensitive to early exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Two EDCs that have raised particular concerns are bisphenol A (BPA), a widely prevalent chemical in many common household items, and genistein (GEN), a phyto-oestrogen present in soy and other plants. We hypothesised that early exposure to BPA or GEN may lead to permanent effects on gene expression profiles for both coding RNAs (mRNAs) and microRNAs (miRs), which can affect the translation of mRNAs.

Bisphenol A and bisphenol S disruptions of the mouse placenta and potential effects on the placenta-brain axis.

Placental trophoblast cells are potentially at risk from circulating endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA). To understand how BPA and the reputedly more inert bisphenol S (BPS) affect the placenta, C57BL6J mouse dams were fed 200 μg/kg body weight BPA or BPS daily for 2 wk and then bred. They continued to receive these chemicals until embryonic day 12.

Mice lacking uterine enhancer of zeste homolog 2 have transcriptomic changes associated with uterine epithelial proliferation.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that suppresses gene expression. Previously, we developed a conditional null model where EZH2 is knocked out in uterus. Deletion of uterine EZH2 increased proliferation of luminal and glandular epithelial cells.

GSTO2 Isoforms Participate in the Oxidative Regulation of the Plasmalemma in Eutherian Spermatozoa during Capacitation.

In addition to perinuclear theca anchored glutathione-s-transferase omega 2 (GSTO2), whose function is to participate in sperm nuclear decondensation during fertilization (Biol Reprod. 2019, 101:368-376), we herein provide evidence that GSTO2 is acquired on the sperm plasmalemma during epididymal maturation. This novel membrane localization was reinforced by the isolation and identification of biotin-conjugated surface proteins from ejaculated and capacitated boar and mouse spermatozoa, prompting us to hypothesize that GSTO2 has an oxidative/reductive role in regulating sperm function during capacitation.

Hypothalamic transcriptome of tame and aggressive silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) identifies gene expression differences shared across brain regions.

The underlying neurological events accompanying dog domestication remain elusive. To reconstruct the domestication process in an experimental setting, silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been deliberately bred for tame vs aggressive behaviors for more than 50 generations at the Institute for Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia. The hypothalamus is an essential part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and regulates the fight-or-flight response, and thus, we hypothesized that selective breeding for tameness/aggressiveness has shaped the hypothalamic transcriptomic profile.