Theriogenology最新文献

{"title":"Stress-related cortisol and progesterone concentrations influence the success of ovulation induction in estrous cats","authors":"Buse Ozturk ,&nbsp;Yusuf Bilal Cetinkaya ,&nbsp;Aslihan Ayalp-Erkan ,&nbsp;Tunahan Ozturk ,&nbsp;Baris Guner","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117849","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117849","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Queens are induced ovulators, and ovulatory success varies with hormonal status and stress. This study aimed to investigate the stress and hormone related factors influencing ovulatory success in 78 queens induced to ovulate by vaginal stimulation (VS), GnRH (50 μg gonadorelin), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 250 IU) in domestic cats. Before ovulation induction, stress scores, serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations, age, body weight, and estrus day were recorded. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), cortisol, and progesterone were determined to characterize hourly from 0 to 4 h post-induction, and estradiol and progesterone were measured once daily for six days. Ovulation was histologically confirmed and progesterone concentrations were ≥1 ng/mL were classified as ovulated. The proportion of ovulated queens differed (p &lt; 0.05) among treatments (VS; 46.2 %, GnRH; 73.1 %, hCG; 100 %). There was a positive correlation between the stress score and both serum cortisol and progesterone concentrations. A significant difference in LH concentrations was observed between ovulated and non-ovulated queens (p &lt; 0.05). Ovulatory response in VS and GnRH groups of queens was influenced by several physiological factors, with individuals at more advanced estrus days and those exhibiting greater estradiol and lower AMH concentrations associated with a greater likelihood of ovulation (p &lt; 0.05), whereas increasing stress score, advancing age, elevated cortisol and progesterone concentrations were associated with reduced ovulation rates (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, a marked post-induction increase in estradiol concentrations in hCG-treated queens (p &lt; 0.05). Overall, ovulatory success in queens was influenced by induction method, estrus stage, stres, estradiol and AMH concentrations. Stress-associated adrenal activation may impair LH dynamics and reduce the likelihood of ovulation, whereas hCG maintained consistent efficacy even under heightened stress conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117849"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Hydrogen sulfide in boar reproduction: Cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase localization in reproductive tissues and sperm across maturation stages” [Theriogenology 252 (2026) 117753]","authors":"Aneta Pilsova ,&nbsp;Zuzana Pilsova ,&nbsp;Pavel Vejl ,&nbsp;Barbora Klusackova ,&nbsp;Natalie Zelenkova ,&nbsp;Martina Melounova ,&nbsp;Daniela Cilova ,&nbsp;Jakub Dusek ,&nbsp;Adam Brazda ,&nbsp;Pavla Postlerova ,&nbsp;Marketa Sedmikova","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117835","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117835"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146019774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exosomal lncRNA ENSSSCG00000049656 regulates porcine oocyte maturation via the ssc-miR-500-3p/EGLN2 axis.","authors":"Junzheng Zhang, Yuyang Zhang, Hao Li, Jie Wang, Zhiwei Yao, Kun Zhao, Yang An, Shunfa Yao, Qinglong Xu, Shuang Ji, Yi Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117848","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Efficient in vitro maturation (IVM) of mammalian oocytes is essential for breeding and genetic improvement of elite lines. However, porcine embryos generally show lower developmental potential than those of other species. Oocyte maturation and early embryonic development occur within a dynamically changing follicular microenvironment, in which hypoxia critically shapes developmental competence. Redox homeostasis in follicles is indispensable for oocyte development, yet how exosome-derived non-coding RNAs modulate oxidative-stress balance in porcine oocytes remains unclear. Here, high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis identified the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ENSSSCG00000049656 (lnc49656). We then characterized its function using dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting (WB). Overexpressing lnc49656 significantly enhanced cumulus expansion, cleavage, and blastocyst formation (p < 0.05). Comparative cultures under different oxygen tensions showed that, under normoxia, lnc49656 overexpression significantly reduced expression of downstream HIF-1 target genes-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA), and Glucose Transporter 1 (GLUT1) (p < 0.05); inhibiting lnc49656 or overexpressing ssc-miR-500-3p (miR-500) reversed these effects. Mechanistically, lnc49656 sequestered miR-500, thereby relieving miR-500-mediated repression of Egl nine homolog 2 (EGLN2). As a core component of the oxygen-sensing system, EGLN2 hydroxylates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) to promote its degradation, thereby affecting redox homeostasis in the follicular microenvironment. Collectively, these findings indicate that the lnc49656/miR-500/EGLN2 axis is a key regulator of hypoxic responses and oxidative-stress balance during porcine oocyte maturation and early embryonic development, offering a new perspective for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of the follicular microenvironment.</p>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"256 ","pages":"117848"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to ‘Nitric oxide regulates spindle dynamics to modulate the maturation of goat oocytes’ [Theriogenology 2025 Oct 1, (245), 117517]","authors":"Rui Xu ,&nbsp;Zhi Zheng ,&nbsp;Weizhao Bai ,&nbsp;Minghui Liu ,&nbsp;Sihai Lu ,&nbsp;Sha Peng ,&nbsp;Menghao Pan ,&nbsp;Baohua Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117815","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117815"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146019859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive efficiency of Nelore (Bos indicus) cows submitted to conventional resynchronization or ReBreed21 programs","authors":"Mirela Balistrieri ,&nbsp;Tainá L.P. Azevedo ,&nbsp;Paula R. Cortat ,&nbsp;Marcos H.A. Colli ,&nbsp;Lucas O. e Silva ,&nbsp;Carlos E.C. Consentini ,&nbsp;Rodrigo L.O.R. Alves ,&nbsp;José R. Gonçalves ,&nbsp;Alexandre B. Prata ,&nbsp;Roberto Sartori","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117840","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117840","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aims were to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of Nelore (<em>Bos indicus</em>) cows submitted to resynchronization programs for timed artificial insemination (TAI) and to evaluate the effect of estradiol cypionate dose (EC; 0.5 vs. 1.0 mg) on reproductive outcomes in a ReBreed21 program. A total of 253 primiparous and 645 multiparous cows (3.0 ± 0.4 of body condition score and 51 ± 13.7 days postpartum) were assigned to one of three resynchronization strategies: conventional (<strong>Resynch33</strong>; n = 299), ReBreed21 with 0.5 mg of EC (<strong>REB0.5</strong>; n = 299), or ReBreed21 with 1.0 mg of EC (<strong>REB1.0</strong>; n = 300). All cows received the same synchronization protocol for the first AI (Day 0). On Day 12 after the first TAI, cows in ReBreed21 treatments received a P4 device (0.5 g), which remained until Day 19, when 300 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and either 0.5 or 1.0 of mg EC were administered. On Day 21, early pregnancy diagnosis was performed in all cows by corpus luteum perfusion evaluation using color Doppler ultrasonography; nonpregnant cows in ReBreed21 received 8.4 μg of GnRH and underwent the second AI. On Day 33, pregnancy was confirmed, and cows in ReBreed21 inseminated on Day 21 were resubmitted to the same ReBreed21 protocol to receive a third AI on Day 42. Cows diagnosed as pregnant on Day 21 but nonpregnant on Day 33 were considered false positives (FP) and, like those in Resynch33, were resubmitted on Day 33 for the second AI on Day 42 to the same TAI protocol that was used for first AI. Ultrasound examinations were performed on Day 54 and Day 75 to assess pregnancy per AI (P/AI), FP, and pregnancy loss (PL). Statistical analyses were done using SAS 9.4. Significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05, and tendencies when 0.05 &lt; P ≤ 0.10. The P/AI, FP, and PL did not differ between ReBreed21 treatments. After 21 days of the breeding season (BS), the pregnancy rate (PR) was greater in REB1.0 (77.7 %) and REB0.5 (75.4 %) than in Resynch33 (52.8 %; P &lt; 0.0001), although final PR was similar among REB1.0 (84.7 %), REB0.5 (84.9 %), and Resynch33 (79.9 %). Time to pregnancy was shorter (P &lt; 0.0001) in REB1.0 (8.5 days) and REB0.5 (10.8 days) than Resynch33 (15.8 days). Regardless of EC dose, ReBreed21 increased PR after Day 0 (59.9 vs. 52.8 %; P = 0.03) and Day 21 (76.6 vs. 52.8 %; P &lt; 0.0001), and improved PR on Day 42 (84.8 vs. 79.9 %; P = 0.06). The incidence of FP was greater in Resynch33 than ReBreed21 (13.7 vs. 7.5 %; P = 0.02), but final PL did not differ (3.2 vs. 3.1 %). In conclusion, the ReBreed21 program anticipated pregnancies, improved PR, and reduced FP, highlighting its potential to enhance reproductive efficiency in Nelore cows. The dose of 1.0 mg of EC had no effect on fertility parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117840"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence of farrowing assistance and neonatal challenges in hyperprolific sows: Insights from a field study","authors":"S. Blim ,&nbsp;D. Lehn ,&nbsp;T. Scheu ,&nbsp;C. Koch ,&nbsp;G. Thaller ,&nbsp;K. Failing ,&nbsp;H. Bostedt","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This field study on 69 healthy hyperprolific sows, aimed to analyze reproductive parameters including farrowing dynamics, housing systems, and piglet vitality. The average gestation length was 114.5 ± 1.28 days, with most parturitions occurring between days 113 and 116. Farrowing duration was significantly positively associated with parity, showing an average of 267.6 ± 108.1 min. Litter size averaged 17.2 ± 4.2 piglets, with a positive correlation between farrowing duration and litter size. Farrowing length differed significantly between dystocic and eutocic sows, averaging 324.9 ± 94.1 min in dystocic sows compared with 193.1 ± 75.2 min in eutocic sows (p &lt; 0.0001). Similarly, the birth-to-birth interval (BPI) was longer in dystocic sows (24.74 ± 1.60 min) than in eutocic sows (10.49 ± 1.39 min, p &lt; 0.0001). Obstetric interventions were more frequent in CRATE than in free-farrowing systems. In CRATE, four or more assistance events occurred in 30 % of dystocia cases, whereas no parturition in free-farrowing systems required more than two or three assistance events, suggesting that housing conditions influence dystocia rates. Visually assessed uterine contractions during expulsion were delayed and weaker in dystocic sows compared to eutocic. Vulval lacerations occurred in 26.1 % of sows, with more severe injuries and slower healing in CRATE housing. Piglet vitality decreased with longer farrowings and was lowest in CRATE during dystocia. First-week piglet mortality was highest in PEN and GROUP systems, regardless of farrowing process. Lower birth weight and higher meconium scores were linked to increased early mortality. Overall, housing system, farrowing duration, and parity influence farrowing outcomes, piglet vitality, and neonatal losses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117833"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Motile sperm head morphometry in relation to sperm kinematics and freezability in cats","authors":"Sylwia Prochowska ,&nbsp;Bartosz Czech ,&nbsp;Maria Eberhardt ,&nbsp;Wojciech Niżański","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117839","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117839","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sperm head morphometry exhibits significant variation across species, among individuals, and even within single ejaculates, potentially influencing sperm functions such as motility and cryotolerance. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sperm head morphometry affects sperm kinematics and freezability in domestic cats. Semen was collected from 16 male cats, once from each cat. Kinematic and morphometric characteristics were analyzed simultaneously at the single-spermatozoon level using a CASA system (MOT-morph, n = 10,400 sperm cells). Additionally, sperm head morphometry was performed on fix-stained samples from the same cats (FS-morph, n = 1788 sperm cells). Morphometric data were subjected to Principal Component Analysis and subsequent clustering analysis to identify distinct morphometric subpopulations. For each sample, 20 × 10⁶ spermatozoa were cryopreserved. After thawing, samples were classified as ‘good freezing’ (GF, n = 8) or ‘bad freezing’ (BF, n = 8) based on post-thaw membrane integrity (GF &gt;50 %; BF &lt;45 %), assessed via flow cytometry and fluorescent staining (SYBR-14 and propidium iodide). In MOT-morph, four morpho-kinetic subpopulations were distinguished, while in FS-morph, two morphometric subpopulations were identified. A technical bias, wherein faster-swimming cells appeared larger, precluded the establishment of a definitive relationship between morphometry and kinematics. Consequently, subpopulations established via MOT-morph represent artificial models conflating sperm size and speed rather than accurate descriptors of real sperm groups. In FS-morph, there were no significant differences between the GF and BF groups in any morphometric parameter or subpopulation. However, in MOT-morph, spermatozoa in the GF group exhibited a significantly (p &lt; 0.05) lower probability of being classified as MOT-SP1 and a higher probability of being classified as MOT-SP3 and MOT-SP4 than those in the BF group. These results suggest that while simultaneous morphometric and kinematic analysis of feline spermatozoa presents challenges, derived subpopulations hold potential for predicting freezability in domestic cats. Notably, the software used in this study facilitates rapid analysis of nearly six times more cells than classic morphometric methods, without the need for slide preparation, fixation, or staining. Validation of results using larger number of individuals and with refined technological solutions is required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117839"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146004008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Doppler assessment of testicular arterial blood flow in stallions: influence of age and 180° spermatic cord torsion","authors":"Deborah Freitas Silva ,&nbsp;Debora Passagli Barbosa ,&nbsp;Janaina de Paula Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Yame Fabres Robaina Sancler-Silva ,&nbsp;Fernanda Saules Ignácio ,&nbsp;Marina Lucena Fredou ,&nbsp;Lorenzo Segabinazzi ,&nbsp;Gabriel Augusto Monteiro","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Doppler ultrasonography is a valuable tool for monitoring testicular hemodynamics, offering improved diagnostic insight and supporting treatment monitoring. However, its use in equine andrology remains limited due to a scarcity of published data and reference values. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the testicular arterial blood flow patterns in clinically normal stallions and stallions with 180° spermatic cord torsion. Spectral Doppler ultrasonography was performed on both testes of 48 Mangalarga Marchador stallions. Thirty stallions with normal testes were divided into three age groups: young (YN, n = 10), adult (AN, n = 10), and senior (SN, n = 10). Stallions with spermatic cord torsion were classified as either young (YT, n = 10) or adult (AT, n = 8). Doppler indices, including resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV), were measured in the supratesticular (Supra) and capsular (Cap) arteries. The effects of torsion, age group, and side (left vs. right) on these parameters were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the associations between variables. The results showed that PSV in the supratesticular artery was higher in senior stallions than in young stallions (P = 0.041). Additionally, senior stallions had a higher PI in the left testis compared to the right testis of both young and adult stallions (P &lt; 0.001). In young stallions, torsed testes had a lower RI in the supratesticular artery compared to normal testes (P &lt; 0.001). In adult stallions, the contralateral testis (the unaffected testis in stallions with torsion) had a lower EDV than normal testes (P &lt; 0.001). In all groups (normal, torsed, and contralateral) of both young and adult stallions, RI, PI, and PSV values decreased, while EDV increased, from the Supra to the Cap region. In conclusion, older stallions exhibited reduced testicular blood perfusion, and both torsed and contralateral testes showed altered blood flow dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117837"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"BECN1-mediated autophagy activates the glycolytic pathway to promote lactate synthesis in Sertoli cells of Tibetan sheep","authors":"Xingcai Qi ,&nbsp;Yi Wu ,&nbsp;Qiao Li ,&nbsp;Huihui Wang ,&nbsp;Youji Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a key regulator of autophagy, Beclin 1 (<em>BECN1</em>) plays an important role in spermatogenesis and the maintenance of testicular microenvironment homeostasis. However, the role of <em>BECN1</em> in Tibetan sheep testes and its regulatory mechanism in Sertoli cells (SCs) remain unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate the function of <em>BECN1</em> in testicular development and to investigate whether <em>BECN1</em>-mediated autophagy regulates lactate synthesis in SCs. We demonstrated that <em>BECN1</em> is involved in testicular development in Tibetan sheep in vivo. In vitro alteration of <em>BECN1</em> expression in SCs significantly affected the expression of lactate synthesis-related genes and intracellular lactate levels. Integrated RNA-seq and untargeted metabolomics revealed that <em>BECN1</em> overexpression activates the glycolytic pathway, resulting in upregulation of key glycolytic genes and accumulation of related metabolites. Moreover, inhibition of the glycolytic gene hexokinase domain component 1 (<em>HKDC1</em>) reversed the <em>BECN1</em>-induced activation of glycolysis and lactate accumulation in SCs. Collectively, these results indicate that <em>BECN1-</em>mediated autophagy promotes lactate synthesis by regulating the glycolytic pathway in SCs. This mechanism represents an important metabolic process during testicular development in Tibetan sheep and provides a theoretical basis for understanding male reproductive function, which may guide the breeding of superior Tibetan rams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117838"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aldosterone regulates in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes derived from small follicles via Wnt/ β-catenin","authors":"Wen-Jie Jiang ,&nbsp;Chang Lu ,&nbsp;Zhong-Le Liu ,&nbsp;Xu-Ting Song ,&nbsp;Shi-Yu Xiao ,&nbsp;Juan Ma ,&nbsp;Mei-Yu Qi ,&nbsp;Di Liu ,&nbsp;Yu-Chang Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117836","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aldosterone (ALD) is a mineralocorticoid, an active component of the renin-angiotensin system. It has been reported that the concentration of ALD in large follicles is higher than that in small follicles. However, whether it has a beneficial effect on the maturation and development of oocytes from small follicles is currently unclear. Here, we showed that ALD supplementation during in vitro maturation promotes the maturation and development of oocytes from small follicles. Specifically, we found that 1 μg/mL ALD significantly enhanced oocyte quality by promoting cumulus expansion and polar body extrusion, increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and blastocyst rate, and reducing oxidative stress and early apoptosis. Notably, ALD supplementation enhanced the maturation and development of small follicle oocytes by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway rather than the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Altogether, our findings demonstrate that ALD represents a viable strategy to enhance the quality of oocytes derived from small follicles, thereby providing a scientific basis for optimizing the in vitro maturation system for porcine oocytes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 117836"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146019766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}