Trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid in low concentration reduces while in high concentration enhances adipocyte metabolism but effectively improves hepatic steatosis of obese mice.

Trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA)-producing mice were used to investigate the antiobesity of obese males. Compared to wild-type littermates, high concentration t10c12-CLA in biallelic Pai/Pai mice reduced fat by up-regulation lipid metabolism in white adipose tissue (WAT). In contrast, low concentration t10c12-CLA in monoallelic Pai/wt mice could not reduce fat for down-regulation lipid metabolism in WAT.

Transgenic female mice producing trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid present excessive prostaglandin E2, adrenaline, corticosterone, glucagon, and FGF21.

Dietary trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) is a potential candidate in anti-obesity trials. A transgenic mouse was previously successfully established to determine the anti-obesity properties of t10c12-CLA in male mice that could produce endogenous t10c12-CLA. To test whether there is a different impact of t10c12-CLA on lipid metabolism in both sexes, this study investigated the adiposity and metabolic profiles of female Pai mice that exhibited a dose-dependent expression of foreign Pai gene and a shift of t10c12-CLA content in tested tissues.

Trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid reduced reproductive ability by disrupting the estrus cycle in female mice.

As a positional and geometrical isomer of linoleic acid, trans 10, cis 12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) reduces white fat by reducing food intake, modulating lipid metabolism, and stimulating energy expenditure. However, the t10c12-CLA products are mostly mixtures, making it difficult to obtain accurate results. Studies are needed to investigate the effects of pure t10c12-CLA on animals and humans.

Transgenic mice producing the trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid present reduced adiposity and increased thermogenesis and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21).

Trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) from ruminant-derived foodstuffs can induce body fat loss after oral administration. In the current study, a transgenic mouse that produced t10c12-CLA had been generated by inserting the Propionibacterium acnes isomerase (Pai) expression cassette into the Rosa26 locus, and its male offspring were used to elucidate the enduring influence of t10c12-CLA on overall health. Compared to their wild-type (wt) C57BL/6J littermates, both biallelic Pai/Pai and monoallelic Pai/wt mice exhibited reduced plasma triglycerides levels, and Pai/wt mice exclusively showed increased serum fibroblast growth factor 21.

Casein kinase 1α regulates murine spermatogenesis via p53-Sox3 signaling.

Casein kinase 1α (CK1α), acting as one member of the β-catenin degradation complex, negatively regulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. CK1α knockout usually causes both Wnt/β-catenin and p53 activation. Our results demonstrated that conditional disruption of CK1α in spermatogonia impaired spermatogenesis and resulted in male mouse infertility.

RAF1 mediates the FSH signaling pathway as a downstream molecule to stimulate estradiol synthesis and secretion in mouse ovarian granulosa cells.

Background: The v-raf-leukemia viral oncogene 1 (RAF1) plays an essential physiological role in reproduction and development through the mediation of steroid hormone synthesis. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) signaling pathway was not involved in the majority of RAF1 studies, whether RAF1 takes part in the signaling events of gonadotropic hormones such as FSH in ovarian tissue is unknown.

Methods: The process is blocked by treating granulosa cells (GCs) with the RAF1 inhibitor, RAF709.

miR-375 acts as a novel factor modulating pituitary prolactin synthesis through Rasd1 and Esr1.

Prolactin (PRL) is a pituitary hormone that regulates multiple physiological processes. However, the mechanisms of PRL synthesis have not been fully elucidated. The aims of the present study were to study the functions and the related mechanisms of miR-375 regulating PRL synthesis.

GRP94 regulates M1 macrophage polarization and insulin resistance.

Macrophage polarization contributes to obesity-induced insulin resistance. Glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone specialized for folding and quality control of secreted and membrane proteins. To determine the role of GRP94 in macrophage polarization and insulin resistance, macrophage-specific GRP94 conditional knockout (KO) mice were challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD).

A single amino acid substitution in the FAD-binding domain causes the inactivation of isomerase.

We previously demonstrated the efficient production of trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) in by ectopically expressing a isomerase (pai) gene and also mentioned that a recombinant strain was unable to accumulate t10c12-CLA product, despite the normal transcription. Here, the molecular analysis indicated that this mutated strain harbors a gene with a single-nucleotide mutation converting GCA to GTA, leading to a corresponding change of Alanine residue into Valine. The expression of the reverse mutation resulted in the recovery for enzyme activity.

MicroRNA-7 inhibits melatonin synthesis by acting as a linking molecule between leptin and norepinephrine signaling pathways in pig pineal gland.

MicroRNAs, including microRNA-7 (miR-7), are important modulators of numerous gene expressions and the related biological processes. Melatonin is a key hormone regulating daily and seasonal rhythms, in which a variety of positive and negative regulatory factors, such as norepinephrine (NE) and leptin, are involved. However, the interactions among these factors and the mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Loss of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain results in the bladder and stomach developing lesion during foetal development in mice.

Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC) is exclusively expresses in smooth muscle, which takes part in smooth muscle cell contraction. Here, we used an insertional mutation mouse whose heavy polypeptide 11 () gene has been disrupted and no SM-MHC protein has been detected. Compared to the wild-type and SM-MHC mice, the SM-MHC neonates had large round bellies, thin-walled giant bladders, and large stomachs with huge gas bubbles.

MiR-7 Mediates the Zearalenone Signaling Pathway Regulating FSH Synthesis and Secretion by Targeting FOS in Female Pigs.

Zearalenone (ZEA) acts as an environmental endocrine disruptor (EED) to cause health detriments. miRNAs were reported to influence the synthesis and secretion of pituitary hormones. However, the interactions between ZEA and miRNAs and related mechanisms remain unclear.

LIM homeobox transcription factor Isl1 is required for melatonin synthesis in the pig pineal gland.

Melatonin is a key hormone that regulates circadian rhythms, metabolism, and reproduction. However, the mechanisms of melatonin synthesis and secretion have not been fully defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functions of the LIM homeobox transcription factor Isl1 in regulating melatonin synthesis and secretion in porcine pineal gland.

Amitriptyline plays important roles in modifying the ovarian morphology and improving its functions in rats with estradiol valerate-induced polycystic ovary.

Previous studies demonstrated that depression is more prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, we aimed to determine whether amitriptyline (AMT), an antidepressant drug, plays a role in preventing PCOS. The results showed that AMT modified ovarian morphology improved the ovarian functions and estrus cycle in estradiol valerate (EV)-induced polycystic ovary (PCO).

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 (MAP3K8) Mediates the Signaling Pathway of Estradiol Stimulating Progesterone Production Through G Protein-Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30) in Mouse Corpus Luteum.

The corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine gland developed from the ovulated follicles, and the most important function is to synthesize and secrete progesterone (P(4)), a key hormone to maintain normal pregnancy and estrous cycle in most mammals. It is known that estrogen has a vital role in stimulating P(4) synthesis in CL, but it still remains unclear about the mechanism of estradiol (E(2)) regulating P(4) production in CL. Our results here first show that all of the CL cells express MAPK 8 (MAP3K8), and the MAP3K8 level is much higher at the midstage than at the early and late stages during CL development.

CTP synthase forms cytoophidia in the cytoplasm and nucleus.

CTP synthase is an essential metabolic enzyme responsible for the de novo synthesis of CTP. Multiple studies have recently showed that CTP synthase protein molecules form filamentous structures termed cytoophidia or CTP synthase filaments in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells, as well as in bacteria. Here we report that CTP synthase can form cytoophidia not only in the cytoplasm, but also in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

Prostaglandin F2α upregulates Slit/Robo expression in mouse corpus luteum during luteolysis.

Prostaglandin F2 α (PGF2 α) is a key factor in the triggering of the regression of the corpus luteum (CL). Furthermore, it has been reported that Slit/Robo signaling is involved in the regulation of luteolysis. However, the interactions between PGF2 α and Slit/Robo in the progression of luteolysis remain to be established.

Decreased saturated fatty acids, total cholesterol and LDL-C in sdd17 mice.

SDD17, a delta-15 desaturase from the fungus Saprolegnia can convert arachidonic acid to eicosapentanoic acid in yeast, plant embryos, and mammalian cells. Here, we generated transgenic mice that carried two copies of codon-optimized sdd17 cDNA within a non-coding domain of chromosome 6. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the foreign gene was expressed in the transgenic tissues.

Mechanism of random integration of foreign DNA in transgenic mice.

Little is known about how foreign DNA is randomly integrated into chromosomes in transgenic animals. In the current study, the insertion sites of 36 transgenic mice were mapped by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR, and 38 junction sequences were obtained from 30 samples. Analysis of the 38 sequences revealed that 44.

[Heterologous expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 in Lactococcus lactis NZ3900].

The possibility of heterologous expression of human Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (scd1) was investigated. The scd1 encoding sequence was inserted into the pNZ8149 to generate the pNZ8149-scd1 expression plasmids. Then we introduced the pNZ8149-scd1 construct into the Lactococcus lactis NZ3900 to investigate its enzyme activity.

Establishment of a transgenic mouse model with liver-specific expression of secretory immunoglobulin D.

Mutation of mevalonate kinase (MVK) is thought to account for most cases of hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (HIDS) with recurrent fever. However, its mechanism and the relationship between elevated serum immunoglobulin D (IgD) and the clinical features of HIDS are unclear. In this study, we generated by fusion PCR a vector to express high levels of chimeric secretory IgD (csIgD) specifically in the liver.

Molecular mechanisms of bladder outlet obstruction in transgenic male mice overexpressing aromatase (Cyp19a1).

We investigated the etiology and molecular mechanisms of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Transgenic (Tg) male mice overexpressing aromatase (Cyp19a1) under the ubiquitin C promoter in the estrogen-susceptible C57Bl/6J genetic background (AROM+/6J) developed inguinal hernia by 2 months and severe BOO by 9 to 10 months, with 100% penetrance. These mice gradually developed uremia, renal failure, renal retention, and finally died.

Depletion of ribosomal protein L8 impairs Drosophila development and is associated with apoptosis.

Ribosomal protein L8 is a component of the 60S subunit of the ribosome and is involved in protein synthesis but its role in Drosophila development is not well understood. We depleted L8 through RNA interference (RNAi) to examine its effects on fly development both in vivo and in vitro. The results demonstrated that L8 RNAi caused embryonic or first-larval lethality, delay of larval development, defects in eye and wing morphology, and dramatically reduced the number of S2 cells.

Homologous illegitimate random integration of foreign DNA into the X chromosome of a transgenic mouse line.

Background: It is not clear how foreign DNA molecules insert into the host genome. Recently, we have produced transgenic mice to investigate the role of the fad2 gene in the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid. Here we describe an integration mechanism of fad2 transgene by homologous illegitimate random integration.

Overexpression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 results in an increase of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and n-7 fatty acids in 293 cells.

The effect of human SCD1 heterologous expression on cellular fatty acid synthesis was investigated in the current study. The SCD1 gene expression cassette and PGK-neomycin-selectable marker cassette were co-introduced into HEK 293 cells by electroporation, and subsequently, SCD1 expression was evaluated by fatty acid analysis. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the foreign SCD1 gene could be expressed in transformed cell lines.