Reproduction in Domestic Animals最新文献

The establishment of pregnancy involves a fine-tuned balance between protection and tolerance within the maternal immune system, as the female needs to accept a foreign antigen (the semi-allogenic fetus) while still being able to combat pathogens from the uterus. In the horse, the first uterine exposure to paternal antigens is during mating when sperm is introduced to the tissue and draining lymphatics of the uterus. Additionally, it has been suggested that seminal plasma and its proteins within it play an essential role in preparing the female tract for a suitable immunologic environment but this has not been confirmed in the horse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the endometrial transcriptome following insemination either with seminal plasma or with reduced seminal plasma. We hypothesised that reduced seminal plasma would alter the endometrial transcriptome and affect transcripts relating to immunotolerance, antigen presentation and embryo growth and development. To do so, six (n = 6) mares were inseminated in a randomised switch-back design over the course of four oestrous cycles. Mares were rectally palpated and scanned via ultrasonography for the detection of a pre-ovulatory follicle (>35 mm) alongside increasing uterine oedema and relaxed cervix, and then treated with one of four treatment groups including (1) 30 mL lactated Ringers solution (LRS; NegCon), (2) 500 × 10⁶ spermatozoa in conjunction with 30 mL seminal plasma (SP+), (3) 30 mL lactated Ringers solution (LRS; wash out) and (4) 500 × 10⁶ spermatozoa with seminal plasma reduced via gradient centrifugation and resuspended in 30 mL LRS (SP-). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered to standardise the time to ovulation and endometrial biopsies were collected 7 days after insemination. RNA was isolated utilising Trizol, and RNA-Seq was performed by Novogene, with 97.79% total mapping and 40 million read depth. p value was set to <0.05. When comparing SP+ to SP-, 158 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Biological processes impacted included antigen processing and regulation, cholesterol synthesis, and immune/inflammatory response. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis using DAVID v6.8 revealed that many of these DEGs were involved in biological process such as antigen presentation (HLA-DM beta chain, HLA-DRB, HLA-DQA and RASGRP1), immune cell signalling (CXCL9, CXCL1, DEFB1 and MIP-2B), embryo growth and development (INHA, KLF2, RDH10, LAMA3 and SLC34A2) and embryo metabolism (ABCA1, ABCA2, APOA1, LDL, INSR, IGFBP2 and IGFBP3). Overall, reduction of seminal plasma from the insemination dose impacted the endometrial transcriptome at the time of early embryonic exposure to the uterine environment. Further work is justified to evaluate these alterations impact on embryo maturation, placental development, pregnancy outcome and development of offspring.

Variations in temperature throughout the reproductive tract have been noted in many species. A recent study found the cervix-rectum temperature differential (CR-TD) in cattle was related to fertility. The present study aimed to assess the CR-TD in mares around the time of ovulation and relate it to embryo recover. Over 52 cycles, mares were inseminated with a fertile stallion and embryo recovery was undertaken on Day 7 post ovulation. Further 10 control mares were not inseminated. Rectal and cervical temperatures were measured using a precision thermometer on four or five occasions: the day of deslorelin administration and insemination, the day before ovulation, the day of ovulation (Day 0), the day after ovulation and, for inseminated mares, before embryo recovery on Day 7. One-way ANOVA showed that the CR-TD was significantly lower on the day of ovulation in the 36 positive cycles, in which an embryo was recovered, versus the 16 in which the embryo flush was negative (0.21 ± 0.17 vs. 0.40 ± 0.09°C; p < 0.001). Control cycles showed equivalent CR-TD to positive (0.13 ± 0.22 vs. 0.21 ± 0.17°C; p = 0.196) but not negative cycles (0.13 ± 0.22 vs. 0.40 ± 0.09°C; p < 0.001). A positive embryo recovery was associated with lower CR-TDs from the time of insemination and deslorelin to the day after ovulation compared to the day of embryo flushing (RM ANOVA; p < 0.001; Pairwise comparisons; p ≤ 0.01, in all cases). Rectal or cervical temperatures per se showed no significant differences between positive, negative or control cycles at any time point. In conclusion, a thermoregulatory process occurs close to ovulation which results in a lower CR-TD in cycles that produced an embryo versus those which did not. Further characterisation of TDs within the reproductive tract of the mare would increase our understanding of the conditions required for optimum fertility.

The objective of the study was to characterise the expression patterns of the two key components of cortisol action namely HSD11B1 (11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1) and NR3C1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1, also known as the glucocorticoid receptor) in superovulation induced bovine follicles during the periovulation and subsequent corpus luteum (CL) formation. Bovine ovaries containing preovulatory follicles or CL were timely defined during induced ovulation as follows: 0 h before GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) application, and 4, 10, 20, 25 (follicles) and 60 h (early CL) after GnRH. The low mRNA expression of HSD11B1 and NR3C1 in the follicle group before the GnRH application increased significantly in the follicle group 20 h after GnRH and remained high afterward also in the early CL group. In contrast, the high NR3C1 mRNA decreased in follicles 25 h after GnRH (close to ovulation) and significantly increased again after ovulation (early CL). Our results indicated the involvement of HSD11B1 and NR3C1 as the two key components of cortisol action in the local mechanisms coordinating final follicle maturation, ovulation, follicular-luteal transition and CL development in the cow.

TKTL1 is a crucial regulatory enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and plays a significant role in energy synthesis. It is expressed in various tumour tissues, with its expression level closely associated with tumour invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Recent studies utilising proteomic analysis and other methods have highlighted the noteworthy expression of the TKTL1 gene in germ cells, particularly in spermatogonia and ovarian cells. Consequently, this article reviews the molecular characteristics of TKTL1 and its expression in germ cells to provide a reference for research on TKTL1 beyond tumour cells.

This study assessed morphometric traits of the ampulla of the oviducts in prepubertal gilts treated with chorionic gonadotropins. With the day of slaughter as D0, gilts were assigned to four treatments (n = 8 each): control (untreated), eCG (200 IU eCG on D3), eCG+hCG (1200 IU eCG on D6 plus 500 IU hCG on D3), and eCG+hCG+AI (the previous treatment plus artificial insemination on D1). Blood and ampullae samples were collected at slaughter. Serum progesterone concentrations were higher for gilts treated with hCG than for those in the eCG and control treatments (p < 0.001), but estradiol concentrations did not differ (p > 0.05). The epithelium, muscle and lumen areas and the inner and larger ampullae diameters did not differ across treatments (p > 0.05). Therefore, treatment with chorionic gonadotropins did not alter the ampullae morphometry of prepubertal gilts.

The present study describes the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of a case of diffuse seminoma in a 16-year-old male mixed-breed horse. According to the owner, the animal's left testicle had been gradually increasing in size over a period of 2 months. On palpation, the testicle had a firm consistency, with no sensitivity to digital pressure, was adhered to the scrotum and measuring 16 cm × 8 cm. In the ultrasound examination, it presented a heterogeneous texture and areas of hypoechogenic echogenicity without visualization of the mediastinum. Therefore, the bilateral orchiectomy was performed. After the surgical procedure, it was found that the affected testicle presented a firm mass measuring 9 cm × 7 cm × 3.5 cm. Histologically, a multilobulated, non-encapsulated and invasive tumour mass was found, which replaced the seminiferous tubules, consisting of polygonal cells arranged in a mantle that varied from cohesive to loosely cohesive, supported by a scarce fibrous stroma. In the immunohistochemical examination, the neoplastic cells showed positive immunolabelling for OCT4 and C-KIT. In this report, the physical examination combined with the ultrasonographic examination were fundamental to the therapeutic management of the case, and the final diagnosis was made after histopathological and immunohistochemical tests.

The reproductive efficiency in buffalo is highly influenced by seasonal variability. Angiogenesis in the reproductive cycle is important for optimal physiological functioning of uterus. Estrogen receptor-α (ERα), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphatase diaphorase (NADPH-d) are vital indicators for the uterine angiogenic process. This study was conducted to see the effect of season on the expression of different uterine angiogenic factors. Season wise (winter and summer) and phase wise (follicular and luteal), immune staining intensity of buffalo uterus was measured by calculating the optical density value (OD) for ERα and VEGF. Percentage of immuno-positive cell count for ERα was done. Histoenzymic NADPH-d expression was analysed. Expression of all these factors increased during follicular phase of oestrous cycle in order to support the angiogenesis; however, the expression was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) in term of OD value as well as percentage count of immuno-positive cells during summer season indicating lower angiogenic activity that subsequently affected reproduction in buffalo.

Many of the reproductive tract infections in the bitches are caused by bacteria that can normally be present on the vaginal mucosa. These bacteria also might have an important role as the cause responsible for pregnancy loss and fetal deaths. The choice of antibiotic therapy for the pregnant animal is narrow and represents a severe problem in veterinary practice, especially due to increased antimicrobial resistance. Due to incorrect antimicrobials use in breeding kennels, the aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of the bacterial flora isolated from the pregnant bitches and their antibiotic sensitivity. The study was carried out at the private Veterinary clinic in Novi Sad, Serbia. The vaginal swabs were taken from 60 bitches diagnosed with pregnancy and were sent to be laboratory tested. Based on the results, the most common isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (20%) and beta-hemolytic streptococci (18.33%). Furthermore, significant resistance to antibiotics from beta-lactams group was detected. It is of particular importance that antimicrobial treatment be evidence based in order to reduce the overuse of antimicrobials due to increased concern regarding antimicrobial resistance.

Ruminants are one of the world's economically important species, and their reproductive health is critical to the economic development of the livestock industry. In recent years, research on the relationship between microbiota and reproductive health has received much attention. Microbiota disruption affects the developmental health of the testes and epididymis, the male reproductive organs of the host, which in turn is related to sperm quality. Maintaining a stable microbiota protects the host from pathogens and increases breeding performance, which in turn promotes the economic development of animal husbandry. In addition, the effects and mechanisms of microbiota on reproduction were further explored. These findings support new approaches to improving and managing reproductive health in ruminants through the microbiota and facilitate further systematic exploration of microbiota-mediated reproductive impacts.