Effect of melatonin on ATG2B-mediated autophagy regulation in sheep granulosa cells with different Fec genotypes.

Melatonin (MLT) protects cells by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which are key for inducing cellular autophagy. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying MLT regulation of autophagy in granulosa cells (GCs) with BMPR-1B homozygous (Fec BB) and wild type (Fec ++) mutations. GCs collected from small-tailed Han sheep with different Fec genotypes were typed using a TaqMan probe assay, and autophagy levels were found to be significantly higher in GCs with Fec BB than the levels in those with Fec ++.

Progress on the effect of mutation on BMPR1B activity and BMP/SMAD pathway in sheep.

is the first major gene of litter size identified in sheep. However, the molecular mechanism of the mutation that increases the ovulation rate in sheep is still unclear. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that BMPR1B activity is regulated by the small molecule repressor protein FKBP1A, which acts as a key activity switch of the BMPR1B in the BMP/SMAD pathway.

Clinical significance of serum miR-129-5p in patients with diabetes mellitus presenting macrovascular complications.

Background: Diabetic macrovascular complications (DMCs) are the most common complications encountered during the course of diabetes mellitus (DM) with extremely high mortality rates. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify specific and sensitive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of DMCs.

Aim: To investigate the expression and significance of serum miR-129-5p in patients with DM and macrovascular complications.

Role of exosomal long non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer.

Exosomes are a class of small extracellular vesicles, 30-150 nm in diameter, that transfer biological information (, DNA, RNA, and protein) cell-to-cell communication. Exosomes play critical roles in the occurrence and development of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be encapsulated in exosomes, which transfer lncRNAs from secretory cells into recipient cells.

Polymorphism, expression and structure analysis of key genes in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway in sheep (Ovis aries).

Background: Litter size is an important factor that significantly affects the development of the sheep industry. Our previous TMT proteomics analysis found that three key proteins in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, STAR, HSD3B1, and CYP11A1, may affect the litter size trait of Small Tail Han sheep.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between polymorphisms of these three genes and litter size.

Expression analysis of , , and genes in year-round estrous and seasonally estrous rams.

The expression characteristics of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis-related candidate genes, , , and , were analyzed in year-round estrous rams (small-tail Han sheep, STH) and seasonally estrous rams (Sunite sheep, SNT) using qPCR. The results were as follows: was mainly expressed in pituitary, and was specifically expressed in hypothalamus in the two groups. However, and were widely expressed in the cerebrum, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pituitary, testis, epididymis, vas deferens and adrenal gland tissues in both breeds, with significant differences in the cerebellum, hypothalamus, pituitary, testis and vas deferens tissues.

[The molecular mechanism of sheep seasonal breeding and artificial regulatory techniques for estrus and mating in anestrus].

Seasonal breeding is an important factor limiting sheep production efficiency. Detailed analysis on the molecular mechanisms of seasonal breeding is the premise for improving estrus and mating rate of sheep during anestrus. Recent research showed that under long-photoperiod and short-photoperiod conditions, a series of changes in signaling molecules and cell morphology could be observed in ovine seasonal reproduction pathway.

Atorvastatin prevents glomerular extracellular matrix formation by interfering with the PKC signaling pathway.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) promotes glomerular extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, primarily through activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. The present study was designed to investigate whether atorvastatin, which mediates a protective effect against glomerular ECM deposition and diabetic neuropathy, may interfere with the PKC‑transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1) pathway in a model of human mesangial cells (HMCs) exposed to a high glucose (HG) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) environment. HMCs were divided into three treatment groups: Control, high glucose and lysophosphatidylcholine (HG+LPC), and HG+LPC+atorvastatin.

High glucose/lysophosphatidylcholine levels stimulate extracellular matrix deposition in diabetic nephropathy via platelet‑activating factor receptor.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), protein kinase C (PKC)βI, transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1 and aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition have been associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanistic basis underlying this association remains to be elucidated. The present study investigated the association among the aforementioned factors in a DN model consisting of human mesangial cells (HMCs) exposed to high glucose (HG) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) treatments.

Subchronic feeding study of high-free-lysine transgenic rice in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Lysine is considered to be the first essential amino acid in rice. An elite High-Free-Lysine transgenic line HFL1 was previously produced by metabolic engineering to regulate lysine metabolism. In this study, a 90-day toxicology experiment was undertaken to investigate the potential health effect of feeding different doses of HFL1 rice to Sprague-Dawley rats.

Selection signature in domesticated animals.

Domesticated animals play an important role in the life of humanity. All these domesticated animals undergo same process, first domesticated from wild animals, then after long time natural and artificial selection, formed various breeds that adapted to the local environment and human needs. In this process, domestication, natural and artificial selection will leave the selection signal in the genome.

The effect of genetically modified Lactobacillus plantarum 590 on the gut health of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Lp was a generally recognized as safe microorganism. Lactobacillus plantarum 590 was obtained by inserting nisI gene into Lp genome to help it tolerate higher concentration nisin. As the unintended effects of the genetically modified microorganism (GMM) are the most important barriers to the progress of GMM, we have performed a useful exploration to establish a new in vivo evaluation model for GMM from the point of view of intestinal health.

A 90-day safety study in Sprague-Dawley rats fed milk powder containing recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) derived from transgenic cloned cattle.

Transgenic cloned animals expressing beneficial human nutritional traits offer a new strategy for large-scale production of some kinds of functional substances. In some cases, the required safety testing for genetically modified (GM) foods do not seem appropriate for human food safety, though regulations do not seem to provide alternatives. A 90-day rat feeding study is the core study for the safety assessment of GM foods.

A 90-day toxicology study of transgenic lysine-rich maize grain (Y642) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The gene for a lysine-rich protein (sb401) obtained from potatoes (Solanum berthaultii) was inserted into maize seed to produce Y642 transgenic maize. Compositional analysis of Y642 grain demonstrated that the concentrations of lysine and total protein were higher than those observed in maize grain from a near-isogenic non-genetically modified (non-GM) commercially available control quality protein maize (Nongda 108). The safety of Y642 maize grain was assessed by comparison of toxicology response variables in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats consuming diets containing Y642 maize grain with those containing Nongda 108 maize grain.