Eicosatrienoic acid enhances the quality of in vitro matured porcine oocytes by reducing PRKN-mediated ubiquitination of CISD2.

Oocytes and early embryos are exposed to many uncontrollable factors that trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress during in vitro culture. Prevention of ER stress is an effective way to improve the oocyte maturation rate and oocyte quality. Increasing evidence suggests that dietary intake of sufficient n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is associated with health benefits, particularly in the domain of female reproductive health.

Cyclophosphamide reduces gene transcriptional activity and embryo in vitro development by inhibiting NF-κB expression through decreasing AcH4K12.

Cyclophosphamide (CTX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for cancer treatment, has been associated with long-term toxicity and detrimental effects on oocytes and ovaries, resulting in female reproductive dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of CTX on in vitro maturation (IVM) injury of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development, as well as its effects on epigenetic modification and gene activation during early embryonic development. The results demonstrated that CTX treatment caused aberrant spindle structure and mitochondrial dysfunction during oocyte maturation, inducing DNA damage and early apoptosis, which consequently disrupted meiotic maturation.

Fecal transplant from myostatin deletion pigs positively impacts the gut-muscle axis.

The host genome may influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and the intestinal microbiota has a significant effect on muscle growth and development. In this study, we found that the deletion of the myostatin () gene positively regulates the expression of the intestinal tight junction-related genes and through the myosin light-chain kinase/myosin light chain pathway. The intestinal structure of pigs differed from wild-type, including by the presence of a thicker muscularis and longer plicae.

The ginsenoside Rh2 protects porcine oocytes against aging and oxidative stress by regulating SIRT1 expression and mitochondrial activity.

Post-ovulatory aging, a major problem faced by oocytes cultured in vitro, causes oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in oocytes. The ginsenoside Rh2 is one of the main monomeric components of ginseng, but its effects on porcine oocytes are unknown. In the present study, in vitro aging (IVA) and accelerated induction of aging using HO resulted in DNA damage and an increased incidence of abnormal spindle formation in porcine oocytes.

Effect of myostatin gene mutation on erythrocyte osmotic fragility, hematological parameters and fatty acid composition of serum and erythrocyte membranes in piglets.

Fatty acid composition of serum and erythrocyte membrane, erythrocyte osmotic fragility and hematological parameters were estimated with the objective of determining effects of the gene mutation in one-week-old MSTN homozygous mutant (KO, MSTN), heterozygous mutant (MSTN) and wild type (WT, MSTN) piglets (n = 4 each). Erythrocyte osmotic fragility, complete blood count (CBC), and fatty acid composition of serum and erythrocyte membrane were determined by flow cytometric analysis, automated hematology analyzer system, and liquid chromatography, respectively. Mean of median corpuscular fragility (MCF) was lower (P < 0.

Silencing myostatin increases area fraction of smooth muscle in the corpus cavernosum of pigs.

Myostatin (MSTN), an inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth, is also expressed in penile smooth muscle; however, it is unclear whether MSTN plays an inhibitory role in penile smooth muscle growth. We investigated the role of MSTN in the smooth muscle of the penile corpus cavernosum of pigs using MSTN homozygous mutant knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) pigs (n = 4 in each group). The mean of area fraction (%) of smooth muscle in the penile corpus cavernosum was 65.

Myostatin deficiency decreases cardiac extracellular matrix in pigs.

Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, negatively regulates muscle growth. MSTN inhibition has been known to cause a double-muscled phenotype in skeletal muscle and fibrosis reduction in the heart. However, the role of MSTN in the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) needs more studies in various species of animal models to draw more objective conclusions.

miR-455-3p Is Negatively Regulated by in Skeletal Muscle and Promotes Myoblast Differentiation.

Myostatin (MSTN) is a growth and differentiation factor that regulates proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts, which in turn controls skeletal muscle growth. It may regulate myoblast differentiation by influencing miRNA expression, and the present study aimed to clarify its precise mechanism of action. Here, we found that pigs showed an overgrowth of skeletal muscle and upregulated miR-455-3p level.

Application of PCR-RFLP for quick identification of mutants in mutant pig breeding.

Knockout of the gene is linked to the enlarged tongue, and it causes suckling difficulty in animals. The suckling difficulty has a severe effect on animal mortality. Thus, special care was required to ensure their survivability.

Effects of myostatin gene knockout on porcine extraocular muscles.

Myostatin (MSTN), a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, is not well known in extraocular muscles (EOMs). EOMs are specialized skeletal muscles. Hence, in this study, the effect of MSTN on the superior rectus (SR) and superior oblique (SO) of 2-month-old MSTN knockout (MSTN) and wild-type (WT) pigs of the same genotype was investigated.

miR-320 regulates myogenesis by targeting growth factor receptor-bound protein-2 and ameliorates myotubes atrophy.

Loss of muscle mass can lead to diseases such as sarcopenia, diabetes, and obesity, which can worsen the quality of life and increase the incidence of disease. Therefore, understanding the mechanism underlying skeletal muscle differentiation is vital to prevent muscle diseases. We previously found that microRNA-320 (miR-320) is highly expressed in the lean muscle-type pigs, but its regulatory role in myogenesis remains unclear.

Altered fibrinogen level and fibrin clot structure in myostatin homozygous mutant pig.

Obesity is associated with increased serum fibrinogen level. Myostatin (MSTN), a strong inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth, is recognized as a potential target for obesity. However, the effect of MSTN inhibition on fibrinogen is not largely known.

Paeoniflorin improves the in vitro maturation of benzo(a)pyrene treated porcine oocytes via effects on the sonic hedgehog pathway.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a toxic substance that people are often exposed to. It has serious harmful effects on the body, and has a destructive effect on oocytes and cumulus cells. Here, we found that paeoniflorin (Pae), a traditional Chinese medicine monomer with antioxidant effects, decreased BaP-induced meiotic failure by increasing the activity of the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway and reducing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Pathological features in 'humanized' neonatal pig.

Cytidine monophosphate-Nacetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) hydroxylase () and glycoprotein, alpha1, 3-galactosyltransferase () double knockout (DKO) pig models were produced to reduce immune reaction for xenotransplantation. However, the role of Neu5Gc and α-Gal in pigs has not been fully elucidated and it is necessary to consider the after-effect of inactivation of and in pigs. Hematological profiles of DKO pigs were analyzed through complete blood count (CBC).

Association of myostatin deficiency with collagen related disease-umbilical hernia and tippy toe standing in pigs.

Herein, we investigate the high incidence of umbilical hernia and tippy-toe standing and their underlying changes in gene expression and proliferation in myostatin knockout (MSTN) pigs. Thirty-six male MSTN pigs were generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). These pigs presented a considerably high incidence of tippy-toe standing and umbilical hernia (69.

Ginsenoside Rb1 protects porcine oocytes against methylglyoxal damage thus it improves the quality of parthenogenetic activation and in vitro fertilization embryos.

Panax ginseng, a functional food, has been widely used as an edible nourishment and medicinal supplement. Ginsenoside Rb1 is a major bioactive ingredient of ginseng, which shows very specific anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidant activities. Methylglyoxal (MGO) is one of intermediate products of glucose metabolism, which is absorbed easily from high sugar foods or carbonated beverages.

Reproduction traits of heterozygous myostatin knockout sows crossbred with homozygous myostatin knockout boars.

Few studies exist on homozygous myostatin gene mutant (MSTN ) pigs, especially on their reproductive ability. We have previously shown that semen quality of homozygous MSTN boars is comparable to that of wild type (WT). However, no data exist on the reproductive ability of heterozygous MSTN gene mutant (MSTN ) sows.

The protective role of ginsenoside compound K in porcine oocyte meiotic maturation failed caused by benzo(a)pyrene during in vitro maturation.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a pollutant and carcinogen derived from air pollution. It causes serious damage to reproductive system, especially ovary. Ginseng is always used in food and traditional medicine as a nutraceuticals or herbal medicine.

Baicalin improves the in vitro developmental capacity of pig embryos by inhibiting apoptosis, regulating mitochondrial activity and activating sonic hedgehog signaling.

Baicalin, a traditional Chinese medicinal monomer whose chemical structure is known, can be used to treat female infertility. However, the effect of baicalin on embryonic development is unknown. This study investigated the effects of baicalin on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated (PA) and in vitro fertilized (IVF) pig embryos and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Comparison of internal organs between myostatin mutant and wild-type piglets.

Background: Myostatin (MSTN) negatively regulates skeletal muscle development; however, its functions in internal organs have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we compared the morphological, molecular, and biological characteristics of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and tongue of homozygous MSTN mutant (MSTN ), heterozygous MSTN mutant (MSTN ), and wild-type (WT) piglets.

Results: The heart and liver were lighter in MSTN piglets than in MSTN piglets, while the tongue was heavier in MSTN piglets than in WT piglets (P < 0.

Hairless-knockout piglets generated using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated-9 exhibit abnormalities in the skin and thymus.

The nuclear receptor corepressor Hairless (HR) interacts with nuclear receptors and controls expression of specific target genes involved in hair morphogenesis and hair follicle cycling. Patients with HR gene mutations exhibit atrichia, and in rare cases, immunodeficiency. Pigs with HR gene mutations may provide a useful model for developing therapeutic strategies because pigs are highly similar to humans in terms of anatomy, genetics, and physiology.

Semen quality and fertilization ability of myostatin-knockout boars.

There is no data currently available on the semen quality and fertility of myostatin-knockout (MSTN) boars. We showed that sexually mature adult homozygous MSTN mutant boars have an obvious "double muscling" phenotype, along with a MSTN boar head, back, abdomen, eyes, and oral cavity. Additionally, no abnormalities were found in the reproductive organs.

Shift from slow- to fast-twitch muscle fibres in skeletal muscle of newborn heterozygous and homozygous myostatin-knockout piglets.

Myostatin (MSTN) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily that negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. A lack of MSTN induces muscle hypertrophy and increases formation of fast-twitch (Type II) muscle fibres. This study investigated muscle development in newborn heterozygous (MSTN+/-) and homozygous (MSTN-/-) MSTN-knockout piglets.

Baicalin improves IVM of pig oocytes and subsequent preimplantation embryo development by inhibiting apoptosis.

Baicalin, a monomer of flavonoids extracted from dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis, is used to treat female infertility. However, the effect of baicalin on oocyte maturation is unknown. In this study we investigated the effects of baicalin on the IVM of pig oocytes and subsequent embryo development following parthenogenetic activation (PA).