Expression and function of Pdcd4 in mouse endometrium during early pregnancy
In this study, we analysed the expression pattern of programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4), a gene associated with apoptosis in the mouse endometrium, during early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridisation, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that Pdcd4 was increased along with days of pregnancy and significantly reduced at implantation sites (IS) from day 5 of pregnancy (D5). The level of Pdcd4 at IS was substantially lower than that at interimplantation sites (IIS) on D6 and D7. In addition, Pdcd4 expression in the endometrium was reduced ...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Zhang, Y., Ni, M., Liu, N., Zhou, Y., Chen, X., Ding, Y., He, J., Wang, Y., Liu, X., Geng, Y., Xie, L. Tags: Research Source Type: research
RNASET2 impairs the sperm motility via PKA/PI3K/calcium signal pathways
Asthenozoospermia is one of the leading causes of male infertility owing to a decline in sperm motility. Herein, we determined if there is a correlation between RNASET2 content on human spermatozoa and sperm motility in 205 semen samples from both asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermia individuals. RNASET2 content was higher in sperm from asthenozoospermia patients than in normozoospermia individuals. On the other hand, its content was inversely correlated with sperm motility as well as progressive motility. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of RNASET2 on sperm motility was induced by incubating normozoospermic sperm...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Xu, Y., Fan, Y., Fan, W., Jing, J., Xue, K., Zhang, X., Ye, B., Ji, Y., Liu, Y., Ding, Z. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Dysregulated genes and their functional pathways in luteinized granulosa cells from PCOS patients after cabergoline treatment
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive disorder frequently associated with a substantial risk factor for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Dopamine receptor 2 (D2) agonists, like cabergoline (Cb2), have been used to reduce the OHSS risk. However, lutein granulosa cells (LGCs) from PCOS patients treated with Cb2 still show a deregulated dopaminergic tone (decreased D2 expression and low dopamine production) and increased vascularization compared to non-PCOS LGCs. Therefore, to understand the PCOS ovarian physiology, it is important to explore the mechanisms that underlie syndrome based on the th...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Ferrero, H., Diaz-Gimeno, P., Sebastian-Leon, P., Faus, A., Gomez, R., Pellicer, A. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Siglec expression on the surface of human, bull and ram sperm
Sialic acid (Sia) is a major constituent of both the sperm glycocalyx and female reproductive mucosal surface and is involved in regulating sperm migration, uterotubal reservoir formation and oocyte binding. Siglecs (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin – like lectins) commonly found on immune cells, bind to Sia in a linkage- and sugar-specific manner and often mediate cell-to-cell interactions and signalling. Proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of human and bovine sperm have listed Siglecs, but to date, their presence and/or localisation on sperm has not been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characte...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Alkhodair, K., Almhanna, H., McGetrick, J., Gedair, S., Gallagher, M. E., Fernandez-Fuertes, B., Tharmalingam, T., Larsen, P. B., Fitzpatrick, E., Lonergan, P., Evans, A. C. O., Carrington, S. D., Reid, C. J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Influence of antifertility agents Dutasteride and Nifedipine on CatSper gene level in epididymis during sperm maturation in BALB/c mice
Calcium (Ca2+) signaling is critical for successful fertilization. In spermatozoa, capacitation, hyperactivation of motility and the acrosome reaction are all mediated by increases in intracellular Ca2+ through CatSper (sperm-specific cation channel). The CatSper channel complex contains four pore-forming α subunits (CatSper1–4) and five accessory subunits called β, , , and . Genetic deletion of any of the four CatSper genes in mice results in loss of hyperactivated motility and male infertility. Despite their vital role in male fertility, almost very little is known about influence of antifertility agents...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Srivastav, A., Changkija, B., Sharan, K., Nagar, G. K., Bansode, F. W. Tags: Research Source Type: research
C1QTNF3 in the murine ovary and its function in folliculogenesis
C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (C1QTNF3) is a novel adipokine with modulating effects on metabolism, inflammation and the cardiovascular system. C1QTNF3 expression levels in the sera and omental adipose tissues of women with PCOS are low compared to control subjects. However, the expression and function of C1QTNF3 in the ovary has not previously been examined. Here, we assessed the expression patterns of C1qtnf3 in the ovary and explored its role in folliculogenesis. The C1qtnf3 transcript abundance was higher in large follicles than in small follicles and was under the influence of gonadotropin. C1QTNF3 was d...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Mao, Z., Yang, L., Lu, X., Tan, A., Wang, Y., Ding, F., Xiao, L., Qi, X., Yu, Y. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Food restriction but not fish oil increases fertility in hens: role of RARRES2?
This study included four groups of food restricted (Rt) or ad libitum hens (Ad, feeding at a rate 1.7 times greater than Rt hens) supplemented or unsupplemented with fish oil (1%). The Rt diet significantly increased plasma chemerin (RARRES2) levels during the laying period, delayed sexual maturity by one week and improved egg quality and fertility. These effects were associated with higher progesterone production in response to IGF1 (or LH) in cultured granulosa cells and in vivo egg yolk, as compared with Ad hens. Fish oil supplementation had similar effects to the Rt diet on progesterone (P < 0.05), but without any e...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Mellouk, N., Rame, C., Delaveau, J., Rat, C., Marchand, M., Mercerand, F., Travel, A., Brionne, A., Chartrin, P., Ma, L., Froment, P., Dupont, J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
The role of tight junction proteins in ovarian follicular development and ovarian cancer
Tight junctions (TJ) are protein structures that control the transport of water, ions and macromolecules across cell layers. Functions of the transmembrane TJ protein, occluding (OCLN) and the cytoplasmic TJ proteins, tight junction protein 1 (TJP1; also known as zona occludens protein-1), cingulin (CGN) and claudins (CLDN) are reviewed, and current evidence of their role in the ovarian function is reviewed. Abundance of OCLN, CLDNs and TJP1 mRNA changed during follicular growth. In vitro treatment with various growth factors known to affect ovarian folliculogenesis indicated that CGN, OCLN and TJP1 are hormonally regulate...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Zhang, L., Feng, T., Spicer, L. J. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Maternal inheritance of mitochondria: implications for male fertility?
Evolutionary theory predicts maternal inheritance of the mitochondria will lead to the accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that impair male fertility, but leave females unaffected. The hypothesis has been referred to as ‘Mother’s Curse’. There are many examples of mtDNA mutations or haplotypes, in humans and other metazoans, associated with decreases in sperm performance, but seemingly few reports of associations involving female reproductive traits; an observation that has been used to support the Mother’s Curse hypothesis. However, it is unclear whether apparent signatures o...
Source: Reproduction - March 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Vaught, R. C., Dowling, D. K. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Melatonin reduces oxidative damage in mouse granulosa cells via restraining JNK-dependent autophagy
Oxidative stress-induced granulosa cell (GCs) injury is believed to be a common trigger for follicular atresia. Emerging evidence indicates that excessive autophagy occurs in mammalian cells with oxidative damage. N-acetyl-5-methoxytrypamine (melatonin) has been shown to prevent GCs from oxidative injury, although the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we first demonstrated that the suppression of autophagy through the JNK/BCL-2/BECN1 signaling is engaged in melatonin-mediated GCs protection against oxidative damage. Melatonin inhibited the loss of GCs viability, formation of GFP-MAP1LC3B puncta, accumulation ...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Cao, Y., Shen, M., Jiang, Y., Sun, S.-c., Liu, H. Tags: Research Source Type: research
LIFR increases the release of soluble endoglin via the upregulation of MMP14 expression in preeclampsia
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disorder that is the main cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Inadequate trophoblastic invasion and endothelial dysfunction in the placenta are considered the foundation of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia in which soluble endoglin (sENG) plays an antiangiogenic role in the development of PE. The leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) has been widely studied and is highly involved in arterial injury in vivo and in the migration of cancer cells in vitro. Here, we tested the hypothesis that LIFR may be correlated with preeclampsia through its regula...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Li, H., Yao, J., Chang, X., Wu, J., Duan, T., Wang, K. Tags: Research Source Type: research
FKBP51 regulates decidualization through Ser473 dephosphorylation of AKT
The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential effects and mechanisms of FKBP51 in the regulation of ESC decidualization. By performing immunohistochemical staining on an endometrial tissue microarray (TMA) derived from normal females, we found that FKBP51 expression was much higher in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase in ESCs. Primary ESCs were isolated from patients to build an in vitro decidualization model through co-culture with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 8-bromoadenosine (cAMP). SC79, a specific AKT activator in various physiological and pathological conditions, and shRNA-F...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Wei, M., Gao, Y., Lu, B., Jiao, Y., Liu, X., Cui, B., Hu, S., Sun, L., Mao, S., Dong, J., Yan, L., Chen, Z., Zhao, Y. Tags: Research Source Type: research
PGRMC1 localization and putative function in the nucleolus of bovine granulosa cells and oocytes
Progesterone receptor membrane component-1 (PGRMC1) is a highly conserved multifunctional protein that is found in numerous systems, including reproductive system. Interestingly, PGRMC1 is expressed at several intracellular locations, including the nucleolus. The aim of this study is to investigate the functional relationship between PGRMC1 and nucleolus. Immunofluorescence experiments confirmed PGRMC1’s nucleolar localization in cultured bovine granulosa cells (bGC) and oocytes. Additional experiments conducted on bGC revealed that PGRMC1 co-localizes with nucleolin (NCL), a major nucleolar protein. Furthermore, sma...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Terzaghi, L., Luciano, A. M., DallAcqua, P. C., Modina, S. C., Peluso, J. J., Lodde, V. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Effects of colostrum, feeding method and oral IGF1 on porcine uterine development
Nursing ensures lactocrine delivery of maternally derived, milk-borne bioactive factors to offspring, which affects postnatal development of female reproductive tract tissues. Disruption of lactocrine communication for two days from birth (postnatal day (PND) 0) by feeding milk replacer in lieu of nursing or consumption of colostrum alters porcine uterine gene expression globally by PND 2 and inhibits uterine gland genesis by PND 14. Here, objectives were to determine effects of: (1) nursing or milk replacer feeding from birth; (2) a single dose of colostrum or milk replacer and method of feeding and (3) a single feeding o...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: George, A. F., Rahman, K. M., Miller, D. J., Wiley, A. A., Camp, M. E., Bartol, F. F., Bagnell, C. A. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Inhibition of 5{alpha}-reductase alters pregnane metabolism in the late pregnant mare
The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of a 5α-reductase inhibitor, dutasteride on pregnane metabolism (pregnenolone, progesterone, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, 20α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-3-one, 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol and allopregnanolone), to determine circulating dutasteride concentrations and to assess effects of dutasteride treatment on gestational parameters. Pregnant mares (n = 5) received dutasteride (0.01 mg/kg/day, IM) and control mares (n = 4) received vehicle alone from 300 to 320 days of gestation or until parturition. Concentrations of dutasteride, pregnenolone...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Wynn, M. A. A., Ball, B. A., Legacki, E., Conley, A., Loux, S., May, J., Esteller-Vico, A., Stanley, S., Scoggin, K., Squires, E., Troedsson, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
