Intrauterine inoculation of pseudorabies virus impairs mouse embryo implantation via inducing inflammation and apoptosis in endometrium.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is the pathogenic agent of pseudorabies, causing serious reproductive failure in swine. However, it is still unknown whether PRV uterine inoculation impairs blastocyst implantation. In the present study, a PRV infection mouse model was developed.

[Expression of the D930020B18Rik gene in the mouse testis during spermatogenesis: Characteristics and potential role].

Objective: To investigate the expression pattern of the D930020B18Rik gene in the testis of the mouse in different stages of development and its possible role in spermatogenesis.

Methods: Using gene expression profile microarray, we identified highly expressed D930020B18Rik in the mouse testis and analyzed the expression pattern of the gene by qPCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining, and verified its function and molecular mechanism using bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and cell cycle synchronization.

Results: The expression of the D930020B18Rik gene remained low in the testis of the mouse and mainly localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia during the first 2 postnatal weeks (PNW), increased from the 3rd PNW to sexual maturity, localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia and the nuclei of round and elongated spermatids, but was absent in the nuclei of mature sperm.

GATA4: Regulation of expression and functions in goat granulosa cells.

GATA4 plays a pivotal role in the reproductive processes of mammals. However, the research on GATA4 in goat ovary is limited. This study aimed to study the expression and function of GATA4 in goat ovary.

Fungal metabolite altersolanol a exhibits potent cytotoxicity against human placental trophoblasts in vitro via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Altersolanol A, a fungus-derived tetrahydroanthraquinone, has shown cytotoxic effects on multiple cancer cells. However, its reproductive toxicity in humans has not been well-addressed. The present study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity of altersolanol A on human placental trophoblasts including choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3 and normal trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo in vitro.

MiR-135b-5p targets ADAM12 to suppress invasion and accelerate trophoblast apoptosis in preeclampsia.

Introduction: Preeclampsia was a serious complication often leaded to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Abnormal placental miR-135b-5p expression in preeclampsia was observed in our preliminary investigation. However, the role of miR-135b-5p in preeclampsia was unclear.

Correction to: Intermittent Hypoxia Impairs Trophoblast Cell Viability by Triggering the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway.

Affiliation 1 was incorrect in the original article and should have read: "Department of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China."

Intermittent Hypoxia Impairs Trophoblast Cell Viability by Triggering the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a prominent characteristic of many clinical complications such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OSAS is related to a higher incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and IH has been suggested as the preliminary physiological etiology. However, further studies remain to be performed on the underlying cellular and molecular pathogenic mechanisms of OSAS-related IH on adverse pregnancy outcomes.

TBC1D20 Is Essential for Mouse Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity Through Maintaining the Epithelial Phenotype and Modulating the Maturation of Sertoli Cells.

Sertoli cells are important for spermatogenesis not only by directly interacting with germ line cells in the seminiferous epithelium but also by constituting the blood-testis barrier (BTB) structure to create a favorable environment for spermatogenesis. Blind sterile (bs) male mice are infertile, with excessive germ cell apoptosis and spermatogenesis arrest. TBC1D20 (TBC1 domain family member 20) deficiency has been identified as the causative mutation in bs mice.

TBC1D20 deficiency induces Sertoli cell apoptosis by triggering irreversible endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice.

Male 'blind sterile' mice with the causative TBC1 domain family member 20 (TBC1D20) deficiency are infertile with excessive germ cell apoptosis and spermatogenesis arrest at the spermatid stage. Sertoli cells are characterised as 'nurse cells' essential for normal spermatogenesis, but the role and corresponding molecular mechanisms of TBC1D20 deficiency in Sertoli cells of mice are not clear to date. In the present study, the histopathology of the testis and Sertoli cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined, and the corresponding molecular mechanisms were investigated by western blotting.

PLAC8, a new marker for human interstitial extravillous trophoblast cells, promotes their invasion and migration.

Proper differentiation of trophoblast cells in the human placenta is a prerequisite for a successful pregnancy, and dysregulation of this process may lead to malignant pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia. Finding specific markers for different types of trophoblast cells is essential for understanding trophoblast differentiation. Here, we report that placenta-specific protein 8 (PLAC8) is specifically expressed in the interstitial extravillous trophoblast cells (iEVTs) on the fetomaternal interface.

Plac1 Expression Pattern at the Mouse Fetomaternal Interface and Involvement in Trophoblast Differentiation.

Background/aims: It is well known that Plac1 is a placenta-specific gene; however, its spatiotemporal expression pattern and exact role at t h e mouse fetomaternal interface r e m a i n s unclear.

Methods: In situ hybridization (ISH) was used to localize the Plac1 mRNA at the mouse fetomaternal interface. A trophoblast stem cell (TS) differentiation model with Plac1 shRNA-overexpressing lentivirus was employed to investigate the possible role of Plac1 in placentation.

PLAC1 is involved in human trophoblast syncytialization.

Placenta specific protein 1 (PLAC1) is thought to be important for murine and human placentation because of its abundant expression in placenta; however, the trophoblast subtypes that express PLAC1 at the fetomaternal interface and the major role of PLAC1 in placentation are still unclear. This study investigated the expression pattern of PLAC1 at the human fetomaternal interface and its involvement in trophoblast syncytialization. Localization of PLAC1 at the fetomaternal interface was studied using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays.

Androgen receptor expands the population of cancer stem cells in upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma cells.

Androgen receptor (AR) affects the development and progression of upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma (UUTUC). However, the regulatory mechanism exerted by AR to affect UUTUC cells remains unclear. Here we investigated whether AR promotes UUTUC development and progression, possibly by expanding the population of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are a particular population of cells within cancer cells responsible for tumor initiation, drug resistance and metastasis.

The synthetic β-nitrostyrene derivative CYT-Rx20 induces breast cancer cell death and autophagy via ROS-mediated MEK/ERK pathway.

The β-nitrostyrene family has been shown to suppress cancer cell proliferation and induce programmed cell death. However, mechanisms underlying β-nitrostyrenes remain less evaluated. Here, we synthesized a β-nitrostyrene derivative, CYT-Rx20, and characterized its anticancer effect and involving mechanisms in breast cancer.

Role of placenta-specific protein 1 in trophoblast invasion and migration.

Placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1), a placenta-specific gene, is known to be involved in the development of placenta in both humans and mice. However, the precise role of PLAC1 in placental trophoblast function remains unclear. In this study, the localization of PLAC1 in human placental tissues and its physiological significance in trophoblast invasion and migration are investigated by technical studies including real-time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and functional studies by utilizing cell invasion and migration assays in the trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo as well as the primary inducing extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs).

n-butylidenephthalide protects against dopaminergic neuron degeneration and α-synuclein accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans models of Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills and cognitive function. To date, the disease has no effective therapies. The identification of new drugs that provide benefit in arresting the decline seen in PD patients is the focus of much recent study.

Acetylcorynoline attenuates dopaminergic neuron degeneration and α-synuclein aggregation in animal models of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease, impairs motor skills and cognitive function. To date, the drugs used for PD treatment provide only symptomatic relief. The identification of new drugs that show benefit in slowing the decline seen in PD patients is the focus of much current research.

Acetylcorynoline impairs the maturation of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells via suppression of IκB kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities.

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are major modulators in the immune system. One active field of research is the manipulation of DCs as pharmacological targets to screen novel biological modifiers for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Acetylcorynoline is the major alkaloid component derived from Corydalis bungeana herbs.

Proprotein convertase furin regulates apoptosis and proliferation of granulosa cells in the rat ovary.

Folliculogenesis is tightly controlled by a series of hormones, growth factors and cytokines, many of which are secreted as proproteins and require processing by proteases before becoming functional. Furin is a member of the subtilisin-like proteases that activate large numbers of proprotein substrates and is ubiquitously expressed and implicated in many physiological and pathological processes. However, the precise role of furin during folliculogenesis has not been thoroughly investigated.

Aberrant alternative splicing events in Parkinson's disease.

Alternative splicing (AS) using a sole gene to express multiple transcripts with diverse protein coding sequences and/or RNA regulatory elements raises genomic complexities. In the nervous system, several thousand AS events play important roles in ion transportation, receptor recognition, neurotransmission, memory, and learning. Not surprisingly, AS influences human physiology, development, and disease.

The relationship between physical activity and heart rate variability in orthotopic heart transplant recipients.

Aims And Objectives: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and heart rate variability in orthotopic heart transplant recipients, to compare the difference in heart rate variability between patients one year after orthotopic heart transplant and healthy adults matched to the heart transplant recipients in terms of age, gender and physical activity levels.

Background: Although physical activity affects the heart rate variability in patients with heart disease, there is a paucity of literature discussing the correlation between physical activity and heart rate variability among heart transplant recipients.

Design: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study.