Human Recombinant Interleukin-6 and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Improve Inner Cell Mass Cell Number but Lack Cryoprotective Activities on In Vitro-Produced Bovine Blastocysts.

This work explored whether supplementing recombinant human interleukin-6 (IL6), interleukin-11 (IL11), or leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) improves IVP bovine embryo development, morphology, and cryosurvivability. Embryos were treated from day 5 to 8 post-fertilization with either the carrier only (control) or 100 ng/mL of IL6, IL11, or LIF. Blastocyst formation and stage were determined on day 7 and 8.

High salt diet increases suprachiasmatic neuronal excitability through endothelin receptor type B signaling.

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour oscillations in behavioral and biological processes such as blood pressure and sodium excretion. Endothelin receptor B (ETB) has been connected to the molecular clock in peripheral tissues and plays a key role in the regulation of sodium excretion, especially in response to a high salt diet. However, little is known about the role of ETB in the primary circadian pacemaker in the brain, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), despite recent reports showing its enrichment in SCN astrocytes.

Cumulus cell expansion, nuclear maturation and embryonic development of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes matured in varying concentrations of follicular fluid.

In this study, we tested the overall hypothesis that CC expansion and early embryo development would be improved by including follicular fluid (FF) from small or large follicles in the oocyte maturation medium. In the first experiment, FF aspirated from bovine abattoir ovaries was added to the maturation medium at 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100%. Images of individual COCs were captured at 0, 6, 12 and 19 hours (h) of the maturation period and analyzed to calculate change in the total area over time.

Time-restricted feeding reduces cardiovascular disease risk in obese mice.

Disrupted feeding and fasting cycles as well as chronic high-fat diet-induced (HFD-induced) obesity are associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. We designed studies that determined whether 2 weeks of time-restricted feeding (TRF) intervention in mice fed a chronic HFD would reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. Mice were fed a normal diet (ND; 10% fat) ad libitum or HFD (45% fat) for 18 weeks ad libitum to establish diet-induced obesity.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation Promotes Effector CD4+ T Cell Homeostasis and Restrains Salt-sensitive Hypertension.

Excess dietary salt and salt-sensitivity contribute to cardiovascular disease. Distinct T cell phenotypic responses to high salt and hypertension as well as influences from environmental cues are not well understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is activated by dietary ligands, promoting T cell and systemic homeostasis.