Development & reproduction最新文献

Autotaxin (ATX), also known as ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 2 (ENPP 2), is an enzyme with lysophospholipase D activity that converts lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). One of the LPA receptors, LPA3, is positively and negatively regulated by progesterone and estrogen, respectively. Furthermore, ATX expression in the rat uterus could be under the control of estrous cycle. In the present study, we used young normal cycling rats for further assess the uterine ATX expression and localization by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In the RT-PCR study, ATX mRNA level at Metestrus (1.00±0.026 AU) was significantly higher than that at Proestrus (0.42±0.046 AU, p<0.001) and the level at Diestrus (0.75±0.107 AU, p<0.05) was significantly higher than that at Proestrus. Among the luminal epithelial cells, the order of the ATX signal intensities was Metestrus>Diestrus>Proestrus>Estrus. Among the myometrial cells, the order of the signal intensities was Diestrus>Proestrus>Estrus>Metestrus. Among the glandular epithelial cells, the order of the signal intensities was Proestrus>Estrus=Metestrus= Estrus. The present study indicates that expression and localization of uterine ATX may be under the control of sex steroids during the estrous cycle. Further studies on the ATX signaling-sex steroid relationship will be providing better understanding on in normal and pathophysiological state of uterus.

This study investigated the fin development and morphological characteristics according to larval growth in order to obtain information on behavioral characteristics and optimal stocking density during red seed grouper seed production. To examine the growth and fin development process of the larvae, we randomly sampled at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 25, 30, 39, 45, 51, and 72 days after hatching. External morphology was observed and measured using an optical microscope. To observe skeletal development, larvae at 13, 20, 30, and 72 days after hatching were fixed in formalin and stained for cartilage and bone examination. At 9-10 DAH, red spotted grouper larvae (2.74±0.1 to 3.0±0.2 mm TL) exhibited a second dorsal fin spine and pelvic fin spine, which subsequently elongated. At 19-20 DAH, the larvae (5.7±0.1 to 6.1±0.1 mm TL) have the lengths of the second dorsal fin spine and pelvic fin spine average 34% and 31% to total length, respectively. From 30 to 72 DAH (12.6±0.4 to 56.0±0.2 mm TL), the length of the second dorsal fin spine and pelvic fin spine to total length decreased from 27% to 8% for the dorsal fin and 21% to 14% for the pelvic fin, respectively. At 30 DAH (12.6±0.4 mm TL), the larvae reached the complete count of fin rays in each fin. At 39 DAH (20.28±3.07 mm TL), the larvae had fin shapes similar to those of adults. At 13-30 DAH (4.2±0.1 to 12.6±0.9 mm TL), barbs and spinules were distributed along the ridges of the second dorsal and pelvic fin spines. However, at 72 DAH, these barbs and spinules were no longer observed on the fins. During the seed production process, red spotted grouper larvae tend to cluster in the morning, and during this time, entanglement of barbs and spinules on the second dorsal and pelvic fin spines can lead to mortality. Therefore, it is considered essential to focus on managing the behavioral patterns and appropriate rearing density of red spotted grouper larvae from the emergence of barbs and spinules on the second dorsal and pelvic fin spines until they regress and metamorphosis is completed.

Artificial sexual maturation of eel (Anguilla japonica) involves rearing in seawater and injecting salmon pituitary extract (SPE). The salinity of seawater and components of SPE influence hormonal activities of the eel pituitary, leading to gonad development. This study investigated the direct effects of salinity change and SPE treatment on the eel pituitary gland using primary cell cultures. Pituitary cells were cultured into four experimental groups: control culture (control), SPE-treated culture (SPE), NaCl-treated culture (NaCl) and NaCl+SPE treated culture (NaCl+SPE). We investigated the expression of genes presumably related to reproduction and/or salinity, including luteinizing hormone (LHβ), follicle stimulating hormone (FSHβ), progesterone receptor-like (pgrl), prolactin (PRL), dopamine receptor D4 (drd4), neuropeptide B/W receptor 2 (NPBWR2) and relaxin family peptide receptor 3-2b (rxfp3-2b). Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of LHβ in SPE and NaCl+SPE groups compared to control and NaCl (p<0.05). FSHβ expression did not show any significant changes. PRL showed a significant decrease in the NaCl group (p<0.05). Pgrl, NPBWR2, drd4, and rxfp3-2b displayed the highest expression in the control group, with downregulation observed in all treatment groups (NaCl, SPE, and NaCl+SPE) (p<0.05). This study demonstrated the direct effects of salinity changes and SPE treatment on the eel pituitary. Results from this study also suggest that salinity change is necessary but work together with SPE to induce reproductive process, and that LHβ, pgrl, PRL, drd4, NPBWR2, and rxfp3-2b genes are obviously associated with reproduction and salinity changes in eels.

Banana peels, often discarded as waste, represent one of the most abundant food by-products, highlighting the need for effective waste management and resource recycling strategies. Due to their rich nutritional content, banana peels have been investigated for various health benefits, including anti-obesity effects. In this study, we examined the potential anti-aging properties of banana peel extracts (BPEs) in Drosophila melanogaster. Our findings demonstrated that flies fed with BPEs exhibited an extended lifespan and a significant improvement in age-related decline in climbing ability. Additionally, Dilp2 mRNA expression level is markedly decreased in aged flies fed with BPEs. These results suggest that BPEs may serve as a potential anti-aging agent by enhancing locomotor function and extending lifespan, potentially through the modulation of insulin signaling in D. melanogaster.

The actin cytoskeleton plays fundamental roles in ciliogenesis and the actin depolymerizing factor destrin regulates actin dynamics by treadmilling actin filaments and increasing globular actin pools. However, the specific developmental roles of destrin in ciliogenesis have not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the function of destrin in ciliogenesis using Xenopus laevis and human retinal pigmented epithelial (hRPE1) cells. We discovered the loss of destrin increased the number of multiciliated cells in the Xenopus epithelium and impeded cilia motility. Additionally, destrin depletion remarkably reduced the length of primary cilia in the Xenopus neural tube and hRPE1 cells by affecting actin dynamics. Immunofluorescence using markers of ciliary components indicated that destrin controls the directionality and polarity of basal bodies and axonemal elongation by modulating actin dynamics, independent of basal body docking. In conclusion, destrin plays a significant role during vertebrate ciliogenesis regulating both primary and multicilia development. Our data suggest new insights for understanding the roles of actin dynamics in cilia development.

In vertebrates, Fgf signaling is essential for the development of pharyngeal pouches, which controls facial skeletal development. Genetically, fgf3 and fgf8 are required for pouch formation in mice and zebrafish. However, loss-of-function phenotypes of fgf3 and fgf8 are milder than expected in mice and zebrafish, which suggests that an additional fgf gene(s) would be involved in pouch formation. Here, we analyzed the expression, regulation, and function of three fgfs, fgf4, fgf24, and fgf17, during pouch development in zebrafish. We find that they are expressed in the distinct regions of pharyngeal endoderm in pouch formation, with fgf4 and fgf17 also being expressed in the adjacent mesoderm, in addition to previously reported endodermal fgf3 and mesodermal fgf8 expression. The endodermal expression of fgf4, fgf24, and fgf17 and the mesodermal expression of fgf4 and fgf17 are positively regulated by Tbx1 but not by Fgf3, in pouch formation. Fgf8 is required to express the endodermal expression of fgf4 and fgf24. Interestingly, however, single mutant, all double mutant combinations, and triple mutant for fgf4, fgf24, and fgf17 do not show any defects in pouches and facial skeletons. Considering a high degree of genetic redundancy in the Fgf signaling components in craniofacial development in zebrafish, our result suggests that fgf4, fgf24, and fgf17 have a potential role for pouch formation, with a redundancy with other fgf gene(s).

In eukaryotes, RNA splicing, an essential biological process, is crucial for precise gene expression. Inaccurate RNA splicing can cause aberrant mRNA production, disrupting protein synthesis. To regulate splicing efficiency, some splicing factors are reported to undergo Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO)ylation. Our data indicate that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the SUMO protease, Ulp2, is involved in splicing. In the ulp2Δ mutant, some ribosomal protein (RP) transcripts exhibited a significant increase in the levels of intron-containing pre-mRNA because of improper splicing. Moreover, we confirmed Ulp2 protein binding to the intronic regions of RP genes. These findings highlight a critical Ulp2 role in RP transcript splicing.

Cellular prion protein (PrP^C) encoded at Prnp gene is well-known to form a misfolded isoform, termed scrapie PrP (PrP^SC) that cause transmissible degenerative diseases in central nervous system. The physiological role of PrP^C has been proposed by many studies, showing that PrP^C interacts with various intracellular, membrane, and extracellular molecules including mitochondrial inner membrane as a scaffold. PrP^C is expressed in most cell types including reproductive organs. Numerous studies using PrP^C knockout rodent models found no obvious phenotypic changes, in particular the clear phenotypes in development and reproduction have not demonstrated in these knockout models. However, various roles of PrP^C have been evaluated at the cellular levels. In this review, we summarized the known roles of PrP^C in various cell types and tissues with a special emphasis on those involved in reproduction.

This study aimed to elucidate the potential of Homeobox A11 (HOXA11) as a therapeutic target and a diagnostic methylation marker for cervical cancer. Gene expression analysis using cDNA microarray in cervical cancer cell lines revealed significantly reduced expression of the HOXA11 gene. Subsequent investigation of HOXA11 promoter methylation in samples from normal individuals and invasive cervical cancer patients showed over 53.2% higher methylation in cancer scrapes compared to normal scrapes. Furthermore, overexpression of HOXA11, which is downregulated in cervical cancer, strongly suppressed cell growth in cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa and HT3. Additionally, we performed transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and confirmed that the inhibition of cervical cancer cell proliferation occurred via apoptosis. Mechanistically, overexpression of HOXA11 led to mitochondrial apoptosis characterized by PARP cleavage due to increased c-Myc and enhanced cytochrome C secretion into the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that HOXA11 could potentially serve as a methylation marker for diagnosing cervical cancer and as a novel therapeutic target for its treatment.