TMC7 is required for spermiogenesis and male fertility by regulating TGN-derived vesicles.

Infertility affects 10-12 % of couples worldwide, 50 % of which are male. Abnormal spermatogenesis is among the main causes of male infertility. We were curious about the possible role of transmembrane channel-like protein 7 (TMC7) in spermatogenesis because of its aberrant expression in several male infertility patients.

BCAS2 and hnRNPH1 orchestrate alternative splicing for DNA double-strand break repair and synapsis in meiotic prophase I.

Understanding the intricacies of homologous recombination during meiosis is crucial for reproductive biology. However, the role of alternative splicing (AS) in DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair and synapsis remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the impact of conditional knockout (cKO) of the splicing factor gene Bcas2 in mouse germ cells, revealing impaired DSBs repair and synapsis, resulting in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).

Natural soil biotin application activates soil beneficial microorganisms to improve the thermotolerance of Chinese cabbage.

Chinese cabbage ( L. syn. ), a widely cultivated leafy vegetable, faces significant challenges in annual production due to high-temperature stress, which adversely affects plant weight and quality.

Vividness of visual imagery is associated with the effect of relaxation response meditation training in elderly people with nonorganic insomnia: A randomized, double-blind, multi-center clinical trial.

Background: This study aims to explore the efficacy of Relaxation Response Meditation Training (RRMT) on elderly individuals with different levels of vividness of visual imagery.

Methods: In this randomized controlled, double-blind, multi-center clinical trial, we recruited a total of 136 elderly individuals who were over 60 years with nonorganic sleep disorders to participate in a 4-week RRMT intervention from October 2020 to October 2022. The intervention occurred twice a week, totaling eight times.

Splicing factor SRSF1 is essential for homing of precursor spermatogonial stem cells in mice.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for continuous spermatogenesis and male fertility. The underlying mechanisms of alternative splicing (AS) in mouse SSCs are still largely unclear. We demonstrated that SRSF1 is essential for gene expression and splicing in mouse SSCs.

SRSF2 in Sertoli cells is essential for testicular development and spermatogenesis in mice.

Sertoli cells are essential for testis development and normal spermatogenesis by providing support and nutrients. Pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) processing is the basic mechanism required for gene expression, and members of the serine/arginine-rich protein (SR) family are key components of the machines that perform these basic processing events. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) is an important member of the SR family; however, the physiological functions of SRSF2 in Sertoli cells are still unclear.

Pretreatment with probiotics Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181 attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium-induced gut injury through modulating intestinal microbiome and immune responses with barrier function in broiler chickens.

Background: Preventing Salmonella infection and colonization in young birds is key to improving poultry gut health and reducing Salmonella contamination of poultry products and decreasing salmonellosis for human consumption (poultry meat and eggs). Probiotics can improve poultry health. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of a probiotics, Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181 (E.

Yeast β-Glucan Altered Intestinal Microbiome and Metabolome in Older Hens.

The prebiotics- and probiotics-mediated positive modulation of the gut microbiota composition is considered a useful approach to improve gut health and food safety in chickens. This study explored the effects of yeast β-glucan (YG) supplementation on intestinal microbiome and metabolites profiles as well as mucosal immunity in older hens. A total of 256 43-week-old hens were randomly assigned to two treatments, with 0 and 200 mg/kg of YG.

Dietary yeast β-glucan supplementation improves eggshell color and fertile eggs hatchability as well as enhances immune functions in breeder laying hens.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary yeast β-glucan (YG) on performance and immune functions in breeder hens in a non-challenged setting. A total of 512 43-week-old Hy-Line Brown breeder hens were assigned into four treatments, and fed a basal diet with YG at 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg /kg for 8 weeks, respectively. Results showed that supplementation of YG did not affect production performance, but linearly increased hatchability (P < 0.

Two Highly Stable Luminescent Lead Phosphonates Based on Mixed Ligands: Highly Selective and Sensitive Sensing for Thymine Molecule and VO Anion.

Two luminescent lead phosphonates with two-dimensional (2D) layer and three-dimensional (3D) framework structure, namely, Pb[(L)(Hssc)(HO)] () and [Pb(L)(bts)(HO)]·HO () (HL = O(CHCH)NCHPOH, HL = HPOCHNH(CH)NHCHPOH, Hssc = 5-sulfosalicylic acid, NaHbts = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid sodium) have been prepared via hydrothermal techniques. The two compounds not only show excellent thermal stability but also remain intact in aqueous solution within an extensive pH range. Moreover, the atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis experiment indicates that there does not exist the leaching of Pb ions from the lead phosphonates, which show they are nontoxic in aqueous solution.

Effect of dietary Bacillus coagulans supplementation on growth performance and immune responses of broiler chickens challenged by Salmonella enteritidis.

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective efficacy of dietary Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) supplementation in birds receiving Salmonella enteritidis (SE). Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to 2 × 2 factorial arrangements of treatments with 2 levels of dietary B.

Effects of supplementation on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with -induced necrotic enteritis.

Background: The poultry industry is in need of effective antibiotic alternatives to control outbreaks of necrotic enteritis (NE) due to .

Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with -induced NE. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two dietary levels (0 or 4 × 10 CFU/kg of diet) and two disease challenge statuses (control or NE challenged).

Yeast β-d-glucans induced antimicrobial peptide expressions against Salmonella infection in broiler chickens.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of yeast β-d-glucans (YG) on gene expression of endogenous β-defensins (AvBDs), cathelicidins (Cath) and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide-2 (LEAP-2) in broilers challenged with Salmonella enteritidis (SE). 240 day-old Cobb male broilers were randomly assigned to 2×2 factorial arrangements of treatments with two levels of dietary YG (0 or 200mg/kg in diet) and two levels of SE challenge (0 or 1×10(9) SE at 7-9 days of age). The results showed SE infection reduced growth performance,and increased salmonella cecal colonization and internal organs invasion, increased concentration of intestinal specific IgA and serum specific IgG antibody, as compared to uninfected birds.

β-1,3/1,6-Glucan alleviated intestinal mucosal barrier impairment of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

This study investigated the protective effect of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on gut morphology, intestinal epithelial tight junctions, and bacterial translocation of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Ninety Salmonella-free Arbor Acre male broiler chickens were randomly divided into 3 groups: negative control group (NC), Salmonella Typhimurium-infected positive group (PC), and the Salmonella Typhimurium-infected group with dietary 100 mg/kg of β-1,3/1,6-glucan supplementation (T) to determine the effect of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on intestinal barrier function. Salmonella Typhimurium challenge alone significantly decreased villus height (P < 0.

Contribution of blastoderm cells to Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)-Peking duck (Anas platyrhynchos) chimeras.

The purpose of this study was to produce quail-duck chimeras by transferring stage X blastoderm cells and to detect the distribution of donor cells in heterogeneous embryos using PCR. Four experimental groups were made by transferring different amounts of quail blastoderm cells into duck recipients. In early embryonic stages, donor cells labeled with PKH26 fluorescent dye were observed in the head, neural tube and gonads by fluorescent microscopy.

Ontogeny of ghrelin mRNA expression and identification of ghrelin-immunopositive cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the Peking duck, Anas platyrhynchos.

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide and an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), and stimulates growth hormone release and food intake in mammals. Peking duck is a very fast growing species of poultry. Although the sequence and structure of ghrelin have recently been determined, the expression of ghrelin in Peking duck has not been studied.