Dietary supplementation with green tea extract improves the antioxidant status and oocyte developmental competence in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes.

The aim of this work was to assess the antioxidant status and the developmental competence of oocytes recovered by ovum pick-up (OPU) in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes supplemented with green tea extracts (GTE) for 90 days. Buffalo cows (n = 16) were randomly assigned to a control group receiving no supplement and a treatment group, receiving GTE starting 90 days before OPU, carried out for five consecutive sessions. Blood samples were collected before the start of supplementation with GTE (T0) and at day 45 (T1) and day 90 (T2) of supplementation, to measure ferric reducing activity (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT).

Variations of follicular fluid extracellular vesicles miRNAs content in relation to development stage and season in buffalo.

In buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) reproductive seasonality, causing cycles of milk production, is one of the major factors affecting farming profitability. Follicular fluid (FF) contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) playing an important role in modulating oocyte developmental competence and carrying microRNAs (miRNAs) essential for in vitro fertilization outcomes. The aim of this work was to characterize the FF-EVs-miRNA cargo of antral (An) and preovulatory (pO) follicles collected in the breeding (BS) and non-breeding (NBS) seasons, to unravel the molecular causes of the reduced oocyte competence recorded in buffalo during the NBS.

Seasonal Variations in the Lipid Profile of the Ovarian Follicle in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes.

The reduced oocyte competence recorded during the non-breading season (NBS) is one of the key factors affecting the profitability of buffalo farming and limits the IVEP efficiency. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether season influences the lipid content within the ovarian follicle in the Italian Mediterranean buffalo. Abattoir-derived ovaries were collected during the breeding season (BS) and the NBS, and different matrices (follicular fluid, oocytes, cumulus and follicular cells) were recovered.

FSH Stimulation with Short Withdrawal Improves Oocyte Competence in Italian Mediterranean Buffalo ().

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of different FSH doses and FSH coasting times before ovum pick-up (OPU) on follicular growth and oocyte competence in buffalo. Experiment 1 involved two different FSH treatments: 40 mg FSH given three (FSH3) or six (FSH6) times, 2 days after dominant follicle removal were tested, with OPU carried out after 40-44 h of coasting. In experiment 2, OPU was carried out after FSH6 protocol followed by 28-32 h (C1), 40-44 h (C2), or 64-68 h (C3) of coasting time.

Evaluation of bovine sperm telomere length and association with semen quality.

The study aimed to evaluate if the sperm telomere length can be considered as a new biomarker for sperm quality in bulls. Sperm Telomere Length was evaluated by Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR in group A (n = 8) and group B (n = 8) bulls, classified according to standard semen analysis. Also, this parameter was measured before and after Percoll gradient separation within bulls that produced semen of satisfactory quality.

Seasonal effects on miRNA and transcriptomic profile of oocytes and follicular cells in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Season clearly influences oocyte competence in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis); however, changes in the oocyte molecular status in relation to season are poorly understood. This study characterizes the microRNA (miRNA) and transcriptomic profiles of oocytes (OOs) and corresponding follicular cells (FCs) from buffalo ovaries collected in the breeding (BS) and non-breeding (NBS) seasons. In the BS, cleavage and blastocyst rates are significantly higher compared to NBS.

Changes in Bull Semen Metabolome in Relation to Cryopreservation and Fertility.

Semen cryopreservation determines several sperm damages, including the loss of fertility-associated proteins. The purpose of the study was to compare the metabolite contents in bovine sperm and seminal plasma before and after cryopreservation, and between high- and low-fertility bulls in vitro. Forty-eight ejaculates, collected from eight bulls (six per bull), were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Impact of obesity and nitric oxide synthase gene G894T polymorphism on essential hypertension.

Hypertension is a multifactorial disease caused by environmental, metabolic and genetic factors, but little is currently known on the complex interplay between these factors and blood pressure. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential impact of obesity, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3) 4a/4b, G894T and -T786C variants on the essential hypertension. The study group consisted of 1,027 Caucasian adults of Polish nationality (45.

Nociceptin and its natural and specifically-modified fragments: Structural studies.

The vibrational structures of Nociceptin (FQ), its short bioactive fragments, and specifically-modified [Tyr¹]FQ (1-6), [His¹]FQ (1-6), and [His(1,4)]FQ (1-6) fragments were characterized. We showed that in the solid state, all of the aforementioned peptides except FQ adopt mainly turn and disordered secondary structures with a small contribution from an antiparallel β-sheet conformation. FQ (1-11), FQ (7-17) [His¹]FQ (1-6), and [His(1,4)]FQ (1-6) have an α-helical backbone arrangement that could also slightly influence their secondary structure.

Influence of nociceptin(1-17) fragments and its tyrosine-substituted derivative on morphine-withdrawal signs in rats.

Our previous studies demonstrated that endogenous ligand of nociceptin (NOP) receptor, nociceptin(1-17) (also known as orphanin FQ), inhibits morphine-withdrawal syndrome measured as wet dog shakes in rats [Life Sci. 66 (2000) PL119]. This peptide is metabolized in the spinal cord, both in vitro and in vivo, to shorter fragments, including nociceptin(1-11) and nociceptin(1-6).

Asymmetric induction in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of chiral nitrile oxide derived from (2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam.

The efficient preparation of the chiral nitrile oxide derived from N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam is presented. The nitrile oxide was trapped in situ with substituted olefins as dipolarophiles to furnish optically active 2-isoxazolines.