Pathogenesis of acephalic spermatozoa syndrome caused by PMFBP1 mutation.

Background: Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome is a rare but severe type of teratozoospermia. The familial trait of acephalic spermatozoa syndrome suggests that genetic factors play an important role. However, known mutations account for only some acephalic spermatozoa syndrome patients, and more studies are needed to elucidate its pathogenesis.

Inference of Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Selection Signatures in Xiangxi White Buffalo of China Through Whole-Genome Resequencing.

(1) Background: Buffaloes are crucial livestock species for food and service in tropical and subtropical regions. Buffalo genetics, particularly in indigenous Chinese breeds such as the Xiangxi white buffalo (XWB), remains an intriguing area of study due to its unique traits and regional significance. (2) Methods: This investigation utilized the whole-genome sequences of twenty XWBs (newly sequenced), along with eighty published whole-genome sequences of other buffalo breeds (including Guizhou white buffalo, river buffalo, and Chinese buffalo in the Yangtze River).

Supplementation with mulberry leaves improves growth performance and meat quality of Xiangdong black goats.

Objective: Mulberry (Morus alba) leaf (ML) is a high-quality feed source for ruminants, while it is unclear whether it can enhance the growth performance and meat quality of Xiangdong black goats.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of ML supplementation (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) on the growth performance, serum variables, and the profiles of amino acids and fatty acids in the muscle of Xiangdong black goats.

Results: Results showed that the final body weight, initial and final dry matter intake, and average daily gain increased linearly and quadratically with the increasing ML content (P < 0.

Illuminating Genetic Diversity and Selection Signatures in Matou Goats through Whole-Genome Sequencing Analysis.

(1) Background: Matou goats, native to Hunan and Hubei provinces in China, are renowned for their exceptional meat and skin quality. However, a comprehensive whole-genome-based exploration of the genetic architecture of this breed is scant in the literature. (2) Methods: To address this substantial gap, we used whole-genome sequences of 20 Matou goats and compared them with published genomic data of 133 goats of different breeds across China.

Whole-genome resequencing reveals diversity and selective signals in the Wuxue goat.

Animal genetic resources are crucial for ensuring global food security. However, in recent years, a noticeable decline in the genetic diversity of livestock has occurred worldwide. This decline is pronounced in developing countries, where the management of these resources is insufficient.

Heat stress-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota impairs spermatogenesis by regulating secondary bile acid metabolism in the gut.

Heat stress (HS) poses a substantial challenge to livestock. Studies have demonstrated that HS reduces fertility and leads to gut microbiota dysbiosis in bulls. However, the impact of the gut microbiota on fertility in bulls during HS is still unclear.

Comprehensive whole-genome resequencing unveils genetic diversity and selective signatures of the Xiangdong black goat.

Xiangdong black goats, indigenous to Hunan Province, China, exhibit remarkable adaptation to challenging environments and possess distinct black coat coloration alongside exceptional meat quality attributes. Despite their significance, comprehensive genomic investigations of this breed have been notably lacking. This study involved a comprehensive examination of population structure, genomic diversity, and regions of selection in Xiangdong black goats utilizing whole-genome sequencing data from 20 samples of this breed and 139 published samples from six other Chinese goat breeds.

Assessing the Effects of Dietary Cadmium Exposure on the Gastrointestinal Tract of Beef Cattle via Microbiota and Transcriptome Profile.

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant, widely existing in soil, and can be absorbed and accumulated by plants. Hunan Province exhibits the worst cadmium contamination of farmland in China. Ruminants possess an abundant microbial population in the rumen, which enables them to tolerate various poisonous plants.

Bovine Milk Proteome: Milk Fat Globule Membrane Protein Is the Most Sensitive Fraction in Response to High Somatic Cell Count.

The impacts of high milk somatic cell count (SCC) on different milk fractions are not well understood. In this study, proteins in milk exosomes, milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), and whey from cows with low (<10 cells/mL, CG) and high SCC (>5 × 10 cells/mL, HSG) were identified using a tandem mass tag proteomic approach. In total, 1568, 2160, and 1002 proteins were identified, with 65, 552, and 98 proteins being altered by high SCC in exosomes, MFGM, and whey, respectively.

Feasibility of feeding cadmium accumulator maize ( L.) to beef cattle: Discovering a strategy for eliminating phytoremediation residues.

Eco-friendly and efficient strategies for eliminating cadmium (Cd) phytoremediation plant residues are needed. The present study investigated the feasibility of feeding Cd accumulator maize to beef cattle. In total, 20 cattle at 6 months of age were selected and randomly allocated into two groups fed with 85.

Relationship between Microflora Changes and Mammary Lipid Metabolism in Dairy Cows with Mastitis.

Dairy mastitis is an inflammatory reaction caused by mechanical injury and stress within the mammary gland, during which microbial changes and abnormal lipid metabolism occur. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. The present study used a combination of 16S rDNA sequencing technology and lipidomics techniques to reveal the effects of mastitis on lactic microbiota and metabolites in the milk of dairy cows.

Analysis of genetic diversity and selection signals in Chaling cattle of southern China using whole-genome scan.

China has diversified resources of indigenous cattle, which are classified into Northern, Central, and Southern groups according to their geographical distribution. Chaling cattle belong to Southern group. This breed is famous for the production of good quality meat with elite meat grades.

Corrigendum: Whole transcriptome profiling of the effects of cadmium on the liver of the Xiangxi yellow heifer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.

Genomics, Origin and Selection Signals of Loudi Cattle in Central Hunan.

Due to the geographical, cultural and environmental variability in Xiangxi, China, distinctive indigenous cattle populations have formed. Among them, Loudi cattle and Xiangxi cattle are the local cattle in Hunan, and the environment in Loudi is relatively more enclosed and humid than that in Xiangxi. To study the genome and origin of Loudi cattle in hot and humid environments, 29 individuals were collected and sequenced by whole-genome resequencing.

The effects of microbiota on reproductive health: A review.

Reproductive issues are becoming an increasing global problem. There is increasing interest in the relationship between microbiota and reproductive health. Stable microbiota communities exist in the gut, reproductive tract, uterus, testes, and semen.

Identification and Regulatory Network Analysis of Genes Related to Reproductive Performance in the Hypothalamus and Pituitary of Angus Cattle.

In this study, we explored the gene expression patterns of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus of Angus cows at different growth and developmental stages by deep sequencing and we identified genes that affect bovine reproductive performance to provide new ideas for improving bovine fertility in production practice. We selected three 6-month-old (weaning period), three 18-month-old (first mating period), and three 30-month-old (early postpartum) Angus cattle. The physiological status of the cows in each group was the same, and their body conformations were similar.

Whole-Genome Resequencing of Xiangxi Cattle Identifies Genomic Diversity and Selection Signatures.

Understanding the genetic diversity in Xiangxi cattle may facilitate our efforts toward further breeding programs. Here we compared 23 Xiangxi cattle with 78 published genomes of 6 worldwide representative breeds to characterize the genomic variations of Xiangxi cattle. Based on clustering models in population structure analysis, we displayed that Xiangxi cattle had a mutual genome ancestor with Chinese indicine, Indian indicine, and East Asian taurine.

Muscle Fatty Acids, Meat Flavor Compounds and Sensory Characteristics of Xiangxi Yellow Cattle in Comparison to Aberdeen Angus.

The objective of this study was to investigate meat quality of Xiangxi yellow cattle of different ages in comparison to Aberdeen Angus. At the ages of 6, 18, and 30 months, 10 female animals for both Xiangxi yellow cattle and Aberdeen Angus cattle were randomly selected and slaughtered. The proximate composition analysis, fatty acid profiles and flavor compounds were measured on the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples.

Whole Transcriptome Profiling of the Effects of Cadmium on the Liver of the Xiangxi Yellow Heifer.

Cadmium (Cd) is a major heavy metal toxicant found in industrial zones. Humans and animals are exposed to it through their diet, which results in various physiological problems. In the current study, the toxic effects of Cd on the liver were investigated by whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of the livers of Xiangxi heifers fed a diet with excess Cd.

Effect of inclusion of HMBi in the ration of goats on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen bacteria community and blood serum parameters.

The objective of this experiment was to test the effect of supplementation of analogues of methionine 2-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) on growth, digestibility, antioxidant index, abundance and composition of rumen bacterial community in Xiangdong Black Goats. Thirty-six growing Xiangdong Black Goats were divided into four groups in such a way that each group had three replicate and each replicate had three animals. Experimental groups were assigned four levels of HMBi in basal diet: 0% HMBi (on dietary DM basis); 0.

Effects of maternal feed intake restriction during pregnancy on the expression of growth regulation, imprinting and epigenetic transcription-related genes in foetal goats.

Maternal nutrition during gestation is a leading factor of modifying the foetal epigenome and phenotype for mammals. Imprinting genes have important roles in regulating foetal growth, programming and development. There, however, are limited data available on the effects of feed intake restriction on the expression of imprinting genes in pregnant goats.

Effects of ammonia on apoptosis and oxidative stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Ammonia, produced mainly from the deamination of amino acids and glutamine, is one of the major toxic components in blood and tissues that may affect bovine health. However, the physiological and pathological roles of ammonia in the mammary glands are not understood clearly. In the present study, the bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) was utilised as an in vitro model to determine the effects of ammonia on bovine mammary gland.

The interactions between nerve growth factor and gonadotrophins in bovine oviduct.

Nerve growth factor promotes the survival and differentiation of nervous cells and is thought to play an important role in the development of reproductive tissues. The aims of this work were to detect the presence of NGF and its receptor NTRK1 in bovine oviduct samples, and to investigate the regulatory interactions between NGF/NTRK1 and gonadotrophins in bovine oviduct epithelial cells. Both transcripts and proteins of NGF and NTRK1 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the corresponding proteins were specifically immunolocalized in oviduct epithelial cells.

Advances on in vitro production and cryopreservation of porcine embryos.

There have been intensive attempts to establish reliable in vitro production (IVP) and cryopreservation methods of embryos in pigs. Although a great deal of progress has been made, current IVP systems and cryopreservation still suffer from insufficient cytoplasmic abilities of in vitro matured oocytes, polyspermic fertilization, poor quality of in vitro produced embryos and low efficiency of embryo cryopreservation. Compared to other mammalian species, pig oocytes and embryos are characterized by large amounts of lipid content stored mainly in the form of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm.

Application of antioxidants and centrifugation for cryopreservation of boar spermatozoa.

Although cryopreserved boar semen has been available since 1975, a major breakthrough in commercial application has not yet occurred due to the high susceptibility of boar spermatozoa to damage during cryopreservation and the complicated process required for deep freezing. In recent years, the application of antioxidants during the cryopreservation of boar semen has been the subject of considerable research aimed at improving the quality of post-thaw semen. Centrifugation is necessary before using cryopreservation protocols for freezing boar spermatozoa.