Rapamycin treatment during prolonged maturation enhances the developmental competence of immature porcine oocytes.

Porcine oocytes undergo maturation (IVM) for 42-44 h. During this period, most oocytes proceed to metaphase and then to pro-metaphase if the nucleus has sufficiently matured. Forty-four hours is sufficient for oocyte nuclear maturation but not for full maturation of the oocyte cytoplasm.

Piperine improves the quality of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress caused by light and high temperature arises during in vitro maturation (IVM), resulting in low-quality embryos compared with those obtained in vivo. To overcome this problem, we investigated the influence of piperine (PIP) treatment during maturation of porcine oocytes on subsequent embryo development in vitro. Porcine oocytes were cultured in IVM medium supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 200, or 400 μM PIP.

Embryonic-stem-cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells relieve experimental contact urticaria by regulating the functions of mast cells and T cells.

Contact urticaria (CU) is an inflammatory skin disorder triggered by specific substances upon skin contact, leading to immediate acute or chronic manifestations characterized by swelling and redness. While mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential in immune diseases, research on the efficacy and mechanisms of stem cell therapy for urticaria remains scarce. This study investigates the regulatory role of embryonic-stem-cell-derived multipotent MSCs (M-MSCs) administered in a CU mouse model.

Ellagic acid treatment during in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes improves development competence after parthenogenetic activation and somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Ellagic acid (EA) is a natural polyphenol and a free radical scavenger with antioxidant properties. This study investigated the protective effects of EA during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes. To determine the optimal concentration, IVM medium was supplemented with various concentrations of EA.

Cell starvation regulates ceramide-induced autophagy in mouse preimplantation embryo development.

Ceramide induces autophagy upon starvation via downregulation of nutrient transporters. To elucidate the mechanism by which starvation regulates autophagy in mouse embryos, the present study investigated nutrient transporter expression and the effect of C2-ceramide on in vitro embryo development, apoptosis, and autophagy. The transcript levels of the glucose transporters Glut1 and Glut3 were high at the 1- and 2-cell stages, and gradually decreased at the morula and blastocyst (BL) stages.

Treatments of Porcine Nuclear Recipient Oocytes and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer-Generated Embryos with Various Reactive Oxygen Species Scavengers Lead to Improvements of Their Quality Parameters and Developmental Competences by Mitigating Oxidative Stress-Related Impacts.

This study investigated the antioxidant effects of β-cryptoxanthin (BCX), hesperetin (HES), and icariin (ICA), and their effects on maturation of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Treatment with 1 μM BCX (BCX-1) increased the developmental rate of porcine oocytes more than treatment with 100 μM HES (HES-100) or 5 μM ICA (ICA-5). The glutathione level and mRNA expression of antioxidant genes (, , and were more increased in the BCX-1 group than in the HES-100 and ICA-5 groups, while the reactive oxygen species level was more decreased.

Isorhamnetin improves maturation of oxidative stress-exposed porcine oocytes and subsequent embryo development.

This study investigated the effect of the flavonoid-based compound isorhamnetin (ISO) on maturation and developmental competence in oxidative stress-exposed porcine oocytes . Treatment with 2 μM ISO (2 ISO) increases the developmental rate of oxidative stress-exposed porcine oocytes during maturation (IVM). The glutathione level and mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes ( and ) were increased in the 2 ISO-treated group, whereas the reactive oxygen species level was decreased.

Protodioscin protects porcine oocytes against H2O2-induced oxidative stress during in vitro maturation.

Objective: The present study investigated whether protodioscin (PD), a steroidal saponin mainly found in rhizome of Dioscorea species, alleviates oxidative stress-induced damage of porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation.

Methods: Oocytes were treated with different concentrations of PD (0, 1, 10, 100, and 200 μM) in the presence of 200 μM H2O2 during in vitro maturation. Following maturation, spindle morphology and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was assessed along with reactive oxygen species level, GSH activity, and mRNA expression of endogenous antioxidant genes at the MII stage.

Effect of Supplementation of Cryoprotectant Solution with Hydroxypropyl Cellulose for Vitrification of Bovine Oocytes.

The technology of successful cryopreservation is a very important factor in research and commercial applications. However, the survival and development of the vitrified-thawed (VT) oocytes are lower than those of non-vitrified-thawed (non-VT) oocytes. This study investigated the effect of the addition of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) to a vitrification solution of bovine oocytes.

Comparison of the improving embryo development effects of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract, p-coumaric acid, and myricetin on porcine oocytes according to their antioxidant capacities.

This study investigated the antioxidant activities of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract (SQE), p-coumaric acid (PCA) and myricetin (MY), and their effects on the in vitro maturation and developmental ability of porcine oocytes. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) showed that 1 mg of SQE contained 3.92 μg of PCA and 0.

Evaluation of Semen Quality of Jeju Black Cattle (JBC) to Select Bulls Optimal for Breeding and Establish Freezing Conditions Suitable for JBC Sperm.

To optimize the reproduction of Jeju black cattle (JBC), freezing conditions for sperm were established and sperm motility, vitality, morphology, and fertility were evaluated to select the optimal bull for breeding. Semen samples from five JBC bulls were individually mixed with freezing medium at a final concentration of 1 × 108 sperm/mL and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor at a height of 3 or 7 cm (referred to as 3 cm sperm and 7 cm sperm, respectively). When the freezing conditions were compared, the motility of 7 cm sperm was significantly higher than that of 3 cm sperm for the JBC-A bull.

Inflammation and Rho-Associated Protein Kinase-Induced Brain Changes in Vascular Dementia.

Patients with vascular dementia, caused by cerebral ischemia, experience long-term cognitive impairment due to the lack of effective treatment. The mechanisms of and treatments for vascular dementia have been investigated in various animal models; however, the insufficient information on gene expression changes that define pathological conditions hampers progress. To investigate the underlying mechanism of and facilitate treatment development for vascular dementia, we established a mouse model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, including bilateral carotid artery stenosis, by using microcoils, and elucidated the molecular pathway underlying vascular dementia development.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell therapy in atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria: immunological and clinical viewpoints.

Allergic diseases are immune-mediated diseases. Allergies share a common immunopathogenesis, with specific differences according to the specific disease. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been applied to people suffering from allergic and many other diseases.

The antioxidant dieckol reduces damage of oxidative stress-exposed porcine oocytes and enhances subsequent parthenotes embryo development.

This study investigated the effect of the antioxidant dieckol, a component of Ecklonia cava, on maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes exposed to oxidative stress in vitro. Oocytes were matured in in vitro maturation (IVM) medium containing various concentrations of dieckol. The blastocyst formation rate was highest in the 0.

Genetic characteristics of Korean Jeju Black cattle with high density single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Objective: Conservation and genetic improvement of cattle breeds require information about genetic diversity and population structure of the cattle. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of the three cattle breeds in the Korean peninsula.

Methods: Jeju Black, Hanwoo, Holstein cattle in Korea, together with six foreign breeds were examined.

The antioxidant icariin protects porcine oocytes from age-related damage in vitro.

Objective: If fertilization does not occur within a specific period, the quality of unfertilized oocytes in the oviduct (in vivo aging) or in culture (in vitro aging) will deteriorate over time. Icariin (ICA), found in all species of Epimedium herbs, has strong antioxidant activity, and is thought to exert anti-aging effects in vitro. We asked whether ICA protects oocytes against age-related changes in vitro.

Erratum to: Comparisons of Beef Fatty Acid and Amino Acid Characteristics between Jeju Black Cattle, Hanwoo, and Wagyu Breeds.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.5851/kosfa.2019.

Pioglitazone improves porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent parthenogenetic embryo development in vitro by increasing lipid metabolism.

Optimization of culture conditions is important to improve oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. In particular, this study analyzed the effects of increasing concentrations of PIO in the maturation medium on spindle formation and chromosome alignment, glutathione, and intracellular ROS levels and expression of selected genes related to maternal markers, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism. The percentage of oocytes displaying normal spindle formation and chromosome alignment was higher in the 1 µM PIO (1 PIO)-treated group than in the control group.

Allicin protects porcine oocytes against damage during aging in vitro.

Allicin, a chemical component of garlic, has strong antioxidant activity and is thought to exert antiaging effects in vitro. We investigated whether allicin treatment would protect porcine oocytes and embryos from postovulatory aging mediated by apoptosis and autophagy. The rates of oocyte survival and polar body extrusion in samples treated with 1 µM allicin (1 AL) were significantly higher than in untreated samples (0 AL).

Comparisons of Beef Fatty Acid and Amino Acid Characteristics between Jeju Black Cattle, Hanwoo, and Wagyu Breeds.

Jeju black cattle are known as one of Korea's traditional cattle. However, Hanwoo is more well-known to Korean meat consumers as representative beef cattle. Despite the popularity of these two breeds, comparison of the nutritional characteristics between Jeju black cattle and Hanwoo have not been studied.

Antioxidant hesperetin improves the quality of porcine oocytes during aging in vitro.

The citrus flavonoid hesperetin has a variety of pharmacological actions, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anticancer activities. This study investigated whether hesperetin prevents aging of oocytes in vitro in which it determined the maturation of nuclear and cytoplasm and the developmental capacity of embryo by modulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Porcine oocytes were matured in vitro for 44 hr (control) and for an additional 24 hr in the presence of 0, 1, 10, 100, and 250 μM hesperetin (aging, H-1, H-10, H-100, and H-250, respectively).

Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 Enhances the Developmental Efficiency of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos by Accelerating the Kinetics of Cleavage During In Vitro Maturation.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is required for the generation of transgenic animals as disease models. During the in vitro development of SCNT embryos, the quality of matured oocytes is one of the major factors regulating the developmental potential of embryos. Time-lapse monitoring systems are new tools that assess the developmental capacity of embryos for use in embryo transfer.

The Bromodomain Inhibitor JQ1 Enhances the Responses to All- Retinoic Acid in HL-60 and MV4-11 Leukemia Cells.

All- retinoic acid (ATRA) is a highly effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a cytogenetically distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, ATRA-based treatment is not effective in other subtypes of AML. In non-APL AML, ATRA signaling pathway is impaired or downmodulated, and consequently fails to respond to pharmacological doses of ATRA.