Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) in pregnant buffaloes: maternal and fetal plasma concentrations and immunolocalization in the fetal gonads.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, plays a critical role in mammalian fertility. This study aimed to investigate AMH concentrations in pregnant buffalo cows and their fetuses, and to characterize the cellular distribution and immunolocalization of AMH within fetal gonads. Gonads were collected from 12 male and 14 female buffalo fetuses, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and processed for routine histological analysis and immunohistochemical localization of AMH.

Do the blood anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in young females correlate with the ovarian follicular population later in life in water buffalo?

In this longitudinal study, the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in blood were determined in 32 Murrah buffalo females at 8, 10, 12, 16 and 19 months of age when females were synchronized and the antral follicular population (AFP) was estimated. Correlations of AFP to the AMH level at 19 months of age and retrospectively to younger ages were investigated. Then females were split into high and low AFP, and their AMH levels were compared for all ages and tested as predictors of AFP categories.

Stirred Suspension Bioreactor Culture of Porcine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an attractive cell source for regenerative medicine and the development of therapies, as they can proliferate indefinitely under defined conditions and differentiate into any cell type in the body. Large-scale expansion of cells is limited in adherent culture, making it difficult to obtain adequate cell numbers for research. It has been previously shown that stirred suspension bioreactors (SSBs) can be used to culture mouse and human stem cells.

Highly dynamic temporal changes of TSPY gene copy number in aging bulls.

The Y-chromosomal TSPY gene is one of the highest copy number mammalian protein coding gene and represents a unique biological model to study various aspects of genomic copy number variations. This study investigated the age-related copy number variability of the bovine TSPY gene, a new and unstudied aspect of the biology of TSPY that has been shown to vary among cattle breeds, individual bulls and somatic tissues. The subjects of this prospective 30-month long study were 25 Holstein bulls, sampled every six months.

Effect of cortisol on bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development in vitro.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are important mediators of key cellular events. Herein, we investigated the effect of adding cortisol to the IVM medium on the acquisition of developmental competency in bovine oocytes. Cortisol (0.

The Porcine TSPY Gene Is Tricopy but Not a Copy Number Variant.

The testis-specific protein Y-encoded (TSPY) gene is situated on the mammalian Y-chromosome and exhibits some remarkable biological characteristics. It has the highest known copy number (CN) of all protein coding genes in the human and bovine genomes (up to 74 and 200, respectively) and also shows high individual variability. Although the biological function of TSPY has not yet been elucidated, its specific expression in the testis and several identified binding domains within the protein suggests roles in male reproduction.

Selection of Reference Genes for Quantitative Gene Expression in Porcine Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Various Sources along with Differentiation into Multilineages.

The identification of stable reference genes is a prerequisite for ensuring accurate validation of gene expression, yet too little is known about stable reference genes of porcine MSCs. The present study was, therefore, conducted to assess the stability of reference genes in porcine MSCs derived from bone marrow (BMSCs), adipose (AMSCs), and skin (SMSCs) with their in vitro differentiated cells into mesenchymal lineages such as adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. Twelve commonly used reference genes were investigated for their threshold cycle (Ct) values by qRT-PCR.

Serum-starved apoptotic fibroblasts reduce blastocyst production but enable development to term after SCNT in cattle.

Cell cycle synchronization by serum starvation (SS) induces apoptosis in somatic cells. This side effect of SS is hypothesized to negatively affect the outcome of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). We determined whether apoptotic fibroblasts affect SCNT yields.

Use of somatic cell nuclear transfer to study meiosis in female cattle carrying a sex-dependent fertility-impairing X-chromosome abnormality.

Animal models have played an important part in establishing our knowledge base on reproduction, development, and the occurrence and impact of chromosome abnormalities. Translocations involving the X chromosome and an autosome are unique in that they elicit sex-dependent infertility, with male carriers rendered sterile by synaptic anomalies during meiosis, whereas female carriers conceive but repeatedly abort. Until now the limited access to relevant fetal oocytes has precluded direct study of meiotic events in female carriers.