Chicken chemerin alone or in mixture with adiponectin-visfatin impairs progesterone secretion by primary hen granulosa cells.

Adipokines including adiponectin (ADIPO), chemerin (CHEM) and visfatin (VISF) are involved in metabolism and reproductive functions. These 3 adipokines are present in ovarian cells in different preovulatory follicles in hens. We have previously shown that VISF and ADIPO are able to modulate in vitro steroid production by hen granulosa cells (GCs).

Number of Blastodisc Cells During the Laying Period for Two Successive Generations of Layer and Broiler Breeder.

In the poultry industry, genetic selection for growth performance is associated with poor reproductive efficiency and an increase in embryo mortality. The identification of new biomarkers is essential to improve these parameters. The blastodisc, composed of blastodermal cells, undergoes cellular events to achieve embryo development.

Chemerin abundance in egg white and its expression with receptors in extra-embryonic annexes of Pekin ducks: implications for embryo development.

Embryonic mortality is a significant problem in the commercial duck industry worldwide. Therefore, identification of new biomarkers for duck embryo development is necessary. In the chicken (order Galliformes), we previously showed that chemerin is a hormone locally produced by the reproductive tract in hens, particularly in the magnum area, leading to its accumulation in the egg white and within the embryo annexes during embryonic development.

Multitrait genetic parameter estimates in a Tenebrio molitor reference population: high potential for breeding gains.

To address multiple issues impacting the climate imbalance, insects, and in particular Tenebrio molitor, represent now a promising alternative for producing high-quality protein products with low environmental impact. As with any new species farmed on an industrial scale, insect breeding production must be improved through the accumulation of knowledge on rearing techniques and genetic management. Little information on the inheritance of agronomically interesting traits, dedicated to Tenebrio molitor, is available.

Genome-wide association mapping in a sweet cherry germplasm collection ( L.) reveals candidate genes for fruit quality traits.

In sweet cherry ( L.), large variability exists for various traits related to fruit quality. There is a need to discover the genetic architecture of these traits in order to enhance the efficiency of breeding strategies for consumer and producer demands.

Chemerin concentration in egg white in layer and broiler hens during the laying period for 2 successive generations.

The genetic selection progress in layers and broilers makes poultry production one of the fastest growing industries. Objectives of the breeding companies are the stability or the increase in the laying rate and the production of viable chicks. New biomarkers are necessary to improve reproductive and egg performances.

Expression of chemerin and its receptors in extra-embryonic annexes and role of chemerin and its GPR1 receptor in embryo development in layer and broiler hens.

Intensive genetic selection of broiler breeders and layer hens resulted in differences in the mechanisms of growth and also in cell metabolism during embryogenesis. Previous research has shown that an adipokine named chemerin and one of these receptors, CMKLR1 were potentially involved in broiler embryo development. Here, our objectives were 1) to compare the expression of chemerin and its receptors CMKLR1, GPR1, and CCRL2 and chemerin concentration in extra-embryonic annexes (allantoic and amniotic membranes and fluids and plasma) in broiler and layer fertile eggs during the development (embryonic day (ED) 7, 14, and 18) by RT-qPCR and specific chicken ELISA and 2) to investigate the role of chemerin and one of its receptors GPR1 in embryo development after in ovo injections of neutralizing antibodies against chicken chemerin and GPR1.

A role for GnRH in olfaction and cognition: Implications for veterinary medicine.

Pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is essential for the activation and maintenance of the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which controls the onset of puberty and fertility. Two provocative recent studies suggest that, in addition to control reproduction, the neurons in the brain that produce GnRH are also involved in the control postnatal brain maturation, odour discrimination and adult cognition. Long-acting GnRH antagonists and agonists are commonly used to control fertility and behaviour in veterinary medicine, primarily in males.

A transposase-derived gene required for human brain development.

DNA transposable elements and transposase-derived genes are present in most living organisms, including vertebrates, but their function is largely unknown. PiggyBac Transposable Element Derived 5 (PGBD5) is an evolutionarily conserved vertebrate DNA transposase-derived gene with retained nuclease activity in human cells. Vertebrate brain development is known to be associated with prominent neuronal cell death and DNA breaks, but their causes and functions are not well understood.

Quantitation of endogenous GnRH by validated nano-HPLC-HRMS method: a pilot study on ewe plasma.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone isoform I (GnRH), a neuro-deca-peptide, plays a fundamental role in development and maintenance of the reproductive system in vertebrates. The anomalous release of GnRH is observed in reproductive disorder such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or following prenatal exposure to elevated androgen levels. Quantitation of GnRH plasma levels could help to diagnose and better understand these pathologies.

The great migration: How glial cells could regulate GnRH neuron development and shape adult reproductive life.

In mammals, reproductive function is under the control of hypothalamic neurons named Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons. These neurons migrate from the olfactory placode to the brain, during embryonic development. For the past 40 years, these neurons have been considered an example of tangential migration, i.

In vivo imaging reveals novel replication sites of a highly oncogenic avian herpesvirus in chickens.

In vivo bioluminescence imaging facilitates the non-invasive visualization of biological processes in living animals. This system has been used to track virus infections mostly in mice and ferrets; however, until now this approach has not been applied to pathogens in avian species. To visualize the infection of an important avian pathogen, we generated Marek's disease virus (MDV) recombinants expressing firefly luciferase during lytic replication.

Imaging and spectroscopic methods to investigate adult neurogenesis : New models and new avenues.

Adult neurogenesis (AN) can be defined as the birth and development of new neurons in adulthood. Until the 1990s, AN was deemed not to happen after birth. Gradually, several groups demonstrated that specific zones of the brain of various species had a neurogenic potential.

Managing genetic diversity in breeding programs of small populations: the case of French local chicken breeds.

Background: On-going climate change will drastically modify agriculture in the future, with a need for more sustainable systems, in particular regarding animal production. In this context, genetic diversity is a key factor for adaptation to new conditions: local breeds likely harbor unique adaptive features and represent a key component of diversity to reach resilience. However, local breeds often suffer from small population sizes, which puts these valuable resources at risk of extinction.

New insights into flowering date in Prunus: fine mapping of a major QTL in sweet cherry.

Flowering date is an important trait in Prunus fruit species, especially for their adaptation in a global warming context. Numerous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified and a major one was previously located on LG4. The objectives of this study were to fine-map this QTL in sweet cherry, to identify robust candidate genes by using the new sweet cherry genome sequence of the cultivar 'Regina' and to define markers usable in marker-assisted selection (MAS).

Seasonal vascular plasticity in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the adult ewe.

Sheep, like most seasonal mammals, exhibit a cyclic adaptive reproductive physiology that allows ewes to give birth to their progeny during the spring when environmental conditions are favorable to their survival. This process relies on the detection of day length (or photoperiod) and is associated with profound changes in cellular plasticity and gene expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, mechanisms that are suggested to participate in the seasonal adaptation of neuroendocrine circuits. Recently, pituitary vascular growth has been proposed as a seasonally regulated process in which the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), a well-known angiogenic cytokine, is suspected to play a crucial role.

SELENOT Deficiency in the Mouse Brain Impacts Catecholaminergic Neuron Density: An Immunohistochemical, in situ Hybridization and 3D Light-Sheet Imaging Study.

Background: Selenoprotein T (SELENOT), a PACAP-regulated thioredoxin-like protein, plays a role in catecholamine secretion and protects dopaminergic neurons. However, the role of SELENOT in the establishment of the catecholaminergic (CA) neuronal system is not known yet.

Methods: We analyzed by immunohistochemistry and RNAscope in situ hybridization the distribution of SELENOT and the expression of its mRNA, respectively.

PiggyBac transposase and transposon derivatives for gene transfer targeting the ribosomal DNA loci of CHO cells.

Integrative non-viral vectors such as transposons engineered to mediate targeted gene transfer into safe harbor sites in the genome may be a promising approach for the production of therapeutic proteins or for gene therapy in an efficient and secure way. In this context, we designed and evaluated two strategies for targeting the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci. One approach relied on the co-location of the transposase and transposon near transcriptionally active rDNA copies using a nucleolar localization signal (NoLS).

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and kisspeptin: It takes two to tango.

Kisspeptin (Kp), a family of peptides comprising products of the Kiss1 gene, was discovered 20 years ago; it is recognised as the major factor controlling the activity of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurones and thus the activation of the reproductive axis in mammals. It has been widely documented that the effects of Kp on reproduction through its action on GnRH neurones are mediated by the GPR54 receptor. Kp controls the activation of the reproductive axis at puberty, maintains reproductive axis activity in adults and is involved in triggering ovulation in some species.

[How a metabolic hormone, FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) impacts reproduction].

Obesity or insulin resistance are the major non-infectious diseases that continue to progress worldwide. They promote diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, but also lead to a decrease in fertility in both sexes. FGF21, discovered in the 2000s, is a hormone closely linked to the energy status and has the ability to decrease insulin resistance.