Expression and localization of anti-Müllerian hormone and its receptors in bovine corpus luteum.

Although anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is involved in the regulation of granulosa cell function in female animals, its role in tissues other than ovarian follicles remains poorly understood. It has also been suggested that cows with high circulating AMH concentrations have increased fertility; however, the mechanism has not been elucidated. This study was conducted to identify the presence of the AMH-signaling system and its target cells in the bovine corpus luteum formed from an ovulated follicle.

Evaluation of bovine embryo quality based on gene expression profiling using whole-transcriptome amplification.

This study aimed to develop a method to evaluate the quality of bovine in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos based on gene expression profiling via whole-transcriptome amplification. The expression of 11 developmentally important genes in individual bovine in vivo-derived (IVD) and IVF embryos were examined. Gene expression profiling was conducted by classifying the expression level of each gene in individual embryos as low, medium, or high.

Roles of cell differentiation factors in preimplantation development of domestic animals.

In mammalian embryos, the first visible differentiation event is the segregation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) during the transition from the morula to the blastocyst stage. The ICM, which is attached to the inside of the TE, develop into the fetus and extraembryonic tissues, while the TE, which is a single layer surrounding the fluid-filled cavity called the blastocoel, will provide extraembryonic structures such as the placenta. ICM/TE differentiation is regulated by the interaction between various transcriptional factors.

The necessity of TEAD4 for early development and gene expression involved in differentiation in porcine embryos.

TEA domain family transcription factor 4 (Tead4) is known to be important for the trophectoderm (TE) segregation in murine embryos. However, the role of TEAD4 in early development of porcine embryos is still unknown. We examined TEAD4 expression patterns and attempted to determine the functions of TEAD4 during porcine preimplantation development using RNA interference.

The necessity of ZSCAN4 for preimplantation development and gene expression of bovine embryos.

Zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 4 (Zscan4) is a gene that is specifically expressed during zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in mouse preimplantation embryos, and a reduction of Zscan4 transcripts leads to developmental failure. In mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), Zscan4 is expressed transiently in as little as 1-5% of the cell population. Zscan4 has also been shown to enhance the efficiency of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generation and their quality.

Expression and localization of aquaporins 3 and 7 in bull spermatozoa and their relevance to sperm motility after cryopreservation.

Artificial insemination with cryopreserved semen is a well-developed technique commonly used for controlled reproduction in cattle. However, despite current technical advances, cryopreservation continues to damage bull spermatozoa, resulting in a loss of approximately 30 to 50% of viable spermatozoa post thawing. To further improve the efficiency of cryopreservation of bull spermatozoa, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the cryobiological properties that affect cryoinjuries during cryopreservation process of bull spermatozoa is required.

Hypothalamic dopamine is required for salsolinol-induced prolactin secretion in goats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and salsolinol (SAL) for the secretion of prolactin (PRL) in goats. SAL or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was intravenously injected into female goats treated with or without the D DA receptor antagonist haloperidol (Hal), which crosses the blood-brain barrier, and the PRL-releasing response to SAL was compared with that to TRH. PRL-releasing responses to SAL, Hal, and Hal plus SAL were also examined after a pretreatment to augment central DA using carbidopa (Carbi) and L-dopa.

Effects of downregulating TEAD4 transcripts by RNA interference on early development of bovine embryos.

Transcription factor TEA domain family transcription factor 4 (Tead4) is one of the key factors involved in the differentiation of the trophectoderm (TE) in murine embryos. However, knowledge on the roles of TEAD4 in preimplantation development during bovine embryos is currently limited. This study examined the transcript and protein expression patterns of TEAD4 and attempted to elucidate the functions of TEAD4 during bovine preimplantation development using RNA interference.

The Necessity of OCT-4 and CDX2 for Early Development and Gene Expression Involved in Differentiation of Inner Cell Mass and Trophectoderm Lineages in Bovine Embryos.

The functions of POU class 5 transcription factor 1 (Oct-4) and caudal-type homeobox 2 (Cdx2) in the differentiation of the murine inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) have been described in detail. However, little is known about the roles of OCT-4 and CDX2 in preimplantation bovine embryos. To elucidate their functions during early development in bovine embryos, we performed OCT-4 and CDX2 downregulation using RNA interference.

OCT-4 expression is essential for the segregation of trophectoderm lineages in porcine preimplantation embryos.

Oct-4, a member of the POU family of transcription factors, is a key factor that regulates the segregation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE) during the transition from morula to blastocyst in mice. However, little is known about its role in porcine early embryogenesis. To determine the function of OCT-4 in the ICM and TE segregation of porcine embryos, we studied the developmental morphology of porcine embryos using RNA interference technology.

Effects of extracerebral dopamine on salsolinol- or thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of extracerebral dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)-induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats. An intravenous injection of SAL or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was given to female goats before and after treatment with an extracerebral DA receptor antagonist, domperidone (DOM), and the PRL-releasing response to SAL was compared with that to TRH. DOM alone increased plasma PRL concentrations and the PRL-releasing response to DOM alone was greater than that to either SAL alone or TRH alone.

Localization of TGF-β and TGF-β receptor in bovine term placentome and expression differences between spontaneous and induced parturition.

Introduction: Mechanisms of detachment of fetal membrane after parturition in cattle are poorly understood. Glucocorticoids trigger the initiation of parturition and may facilitate the placental maturation. We compared the disappearance of trophoblast binucleate cells (BNCs) and expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGFB) in term placentomes between spontaneous and induced parturition to investigate the influences of glucocorticoids on the placental maturity.

Inhibition of neuraminidase by Ganoderma triterpenoids and implications for neuraminidase inhibitor design.

Neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors are the dominant antiviral drugs for treating influenza in the clinic. Increasing prevalence of drug resistance makes the discovery of new NA inhibitors a high priority. Thirty-one triterpenoids from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi were analyzed in an in vitro NA inhibition assay, leading to the discovery of ganoderic acid T-Q and TR as two inhibitors of H5N1 and H1N1 NAs.

Effects of downregulating GLIS1 transcript on preimplantation development and gene expression of bovine embryos.

Krüppel-like protein Gli-similar 1 (GLIS1) is known as a direct reprogramming factor for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of GLIS1 in the preimplantation development of bovine embryos. GLIS1 transcripts in in vitro-matured oocytes and 1-cell to 4-cell stage embryos were detected, but they were either absent or at trace levels at the 8-cell to blastocyst stages.

Enhancement of maternal recognition of pregnancy with parthenogenetic embryos in bovine embryo transfer.

This study was performed to elucidate the changes in IFNT messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in in vivo-fertilized and parthenogenetic bovine embryos and their interferon-τ (IFNT) secretion amounts during the elongation phase. We assessed the induction capability of maternal recognition of pregnancy by parthenogenetic embryos and attempted cotransfer of in vivo-fertilized and parthenogenetic embryos. The expression level of IFNT mRNA in in vivo-fertilized embryos peaked on Day 18 after estrus, and the highest amount of uterine IFNT was observed on Day 20.

Effects of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)-induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in male goats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)-induced prolactin (PRL) release in goats. The PRL-releasing response to an intravenous (i.v.

Embryo sexing and sex chromosomal chimerism analysis by loop-mediated isothermal amplification in cattle and water buffaloes.

In domestic animals of the family Bovidae, sex preselection of offspring has been demanded for convenience of milk/beef production and animal breeding. Development of the nonsurgical embryo transfer technique and sexing methods of preimplantation embryos made it possible. Sexing based on detection of Y chromosome-specific DNA sequences is considered the most reliable method to date.

Effects of photoperiod on secretory patterns of growth hormone in adult male goats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of photoperiod on secretory patterns of growth hormone (GH) in male goats. Adult male goats were kept at 20°C with an 8-h or 16-h light photoperiod, and secretory patterns of GH secretion were compared. In addition, plasma profiles of prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and testosterone (T) were also examined to characterize GH secretion.

Effects of downregulating oct-4 transcript by RNA interference on early development of porcine embryos.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the POU family transcription factor, Oct-4, in the early development of porcine embryos. We attempted Oct-4 downregulation of porcine early embryos by RNA interference, and evaluated Oct-4 suppression of developmental competencies and gene transcripts in porcine embryos. Injection of specific siRNA resulted in a distinct decrease in Oct-4 mRNA and protein expression in porcine embryos until at least the morula stage.

Effects of melatonin on salsolinol-induced prolactin secretion in goats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of melatonin (MEL) on the salsolinol (SAL)-induced release of prolactin (PRL) in goats. Female goats were kept at 20°C with 16 h of light, 8 h of darkness, and orally administered saline or MEL for 5 weeks. A single intravenous (i.

Transcript abundance and apoptosis in day-7 porcine blastocyst cultured with exogenous insulin-like growth factor-I.

Exogenous growth factors may increase the efficiency of embryo development in vitro. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I on porcine embryo development. Porcine embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization were cultured for seven days in the presence of IGF-I (50, 100 or 150ng/ml).

Changes in the expression patterns of the genes involved in the segregation and function of inner cell mass and trophectoderm lineages during porcine preimplantation development.

In mouse embryos, segregation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) lineages is regulated by genes, such as OCT-4, CDX2 and TEAD4. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the segregation of the ICM and TE lineages in porcine embryos remain unknown. To obtain insights regarding the segregation of the ICM and TE lineages in porcine embryos, we examined the mRNA expression patterns of candidate genes, OCT-4, CDX2, TEAD4, GATA3, NANOG, FGF4, FGFR1-IIIc and FGFR2-IIIc, in blastocyst and elongated stage embryos.

Effects of photoperiod on the secretion of growth hormone in female goats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of photoperiod on the secretion of growth hormone (GH) in goats. Adult female goats were kept at 20°C with an 8-h or 16-h photoperiod, and secretory patterns of GH for 4 h (12.00 to 16.