Porcine oviductal extracellular vesicles facilitate early embryonic development via relief of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

The key to successful in vitro embryo production (IVEP) is to mimic the natural in vivo oviductal microenvironment. Although the chemically defined media in extensive use for the in vitro culture of mammalian embryos is based on the composition of oviductal fluid, the IVEP systems in current use must still bypass the oviduct to produce embryos in vitro. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the oviduct are versatile intercellular delivery vehicles for maternal-embryo communication, and a lack of them can be associated with failed early embryonic development under in vitro culture conditions.

[Inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line HepG2 by tanshione IIA].

Objective: To determine the effect of tanshinone IIA on the growth and apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

Methods: The human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was treated with tanshinone IIA at various concentrations for 72 h. The inhibition of proliferation was measured by MTT assay and apoptosis-related alterations in morphology measured by cytochemical staining (HT33258).