Increased rounds of gonadotropin stimulation have side effects on mouse fallopian tubes and oocytes
In this study, it was evaluated if increased rounds of gonadotropin stimulation could affect in mice: (i) expression levels of proteins regulating cell cycle and DNA repair in fallopian tubes and (ii) meiotic spindle morphology of ovulated oocytes. To this end, adult female mice were subjected or not (Control) to 6 or 8 rounds of gonadotropin stimulation. Ovulated oocytes were incubated with anti A/B tubulin to evaluate spindle morphology. Fallopian tubes were analyzed to detect Cyclin D1, phospho-p53/p53, phospho-AKT/AKT, phospho-GSK3B/GSK3B, SOX2, OCT3/4, phospho-B-catenin/B-catenin, phospho-CHK1 and phospho-H2A.X protei...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Di Nisio, V., Rossi, G., Palmerini, M. G., Macchiarelli, G., Tiboni, G. M., Cecconi, S. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Natural and environmental oestrogens induce TGFB1 synthesis in oviduct cells
Autocrine/paracrine factors generated in response to 17β-oestradiol (E2), within the oviduct, facilitate early embryo development for implantation. Since transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) plays a key role in embryo implantation, regulation of its synthesis by E2 may be of biological/pathophysiological relevance. Here, we investigated whether oviduct cells synthesize TGFB1 and whether E2 and environmental oestrogens (EOEs; xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens) modulate its synthesis. Under basal conditions, bovine oviduct cells (OCs; oviduct epithelial cells and oviduct fibroblasts; 1:1 ratio) synthesized TGFB1. E2...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Cometti, B. P. S., Dubey, R. K., Imthurn, B., Rosselli, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Chromatin remodeling in mammalian embryos
The mammalian embryo undergoes a dramatic amount of epigenetic remodeling during the first week of development. In this review, we discuss several epigenetic changes that happen over the course of cleavage development, focusing on covalent marks (e.g., histone methylation and acetylation) and non-covalent remodeling (chromatin remodeling via remodeling complexes; e.g., SWI/SNF-mediated chromatin remodeling). Comparisons are also drawn between remodeling events that occur in embryos from a variety of mammalian species. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Cabot, B., Cabot, R. A. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
MicroRNAs: tiny molecules with a significant role in mammalian follicular and oocyte development
The genetic regulation of female fertility (follicular development, oocyte maturation and early preimplantation embryo development) involves the spatio-temporal regulation of those genes that play key roles in various stages of the female reproductive axis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are known to regulate the expression of a large proportion of such genes. In recent decades, multiple studies have aimed to determine the roles of these non-coding RNAs in mammalian follicular development, oocyte growth and embryo development. These studies have applied a variety of approaches, including conditional ...
Source: Reproduction - February 16, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tesfaye, D., Gebremedhn, S., Salilew-Wondim, D., Hailay, T., Hoelker, M., Grosse-Brinkhaus, C., Schellander, K. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Cell-free fetal DNA and spontaneous preterm birth
Inflammation is known to play a key role in preterm and term parturition. Cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) is present in the maternal circulation and increases with gestational age and some pregnancy complications (e.g. preterm birth, preeclampsia). Microbial DNA and adult cell-free DNA can be pro-inflammatory through DNA-sensing mechanisms such as Toll-like receptor 9 and the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway. However, the pro-inflammatory properties of cff-DNA, and the possible effects of this on pregnancy and parturition are unknown. Clinical studies have quantified cff-DNA levels in the maternal circulation i...
Source: Reproduction - February 12, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: van Boeckel, S. R., Davidson, D. J., Norman, J. E., Stock, S. J. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Programmed for sex: Nutrition-reproduction relationships from an inter-generational perspective
Reproduction is our biological reason for being. Our physiology has been shaped via countless millennia of evolution with this one purpose in mind, so that at birth we are ‘programmed for sex’, although this will not kick-start functionally until puberty. Our development from an early embryo is focused on making us fit to reproduce and is intimately connected to nutrition and energy stores. Fluctuations in food supply has probably been a key evolutionary shaper of the reproductive process, and this review hypothesizes that we have developed rapid, non-genomic adaptive mechanisms to such fluctuations to better f...
Source: Reproduction - February 12, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Sharpe, R. M. Tags: Sex In Three Cities Review Source Type: research
Testicular transcriptional signatures associated with high fertility
In this study, we used a unique mouse model, fertility line FL1, selected for ‘high fertility’ for more than 170 generations. This strain has almost doubled the number of littermates as well as their total birth weight accompanied by an elevated ovulation rate and increased numbers of corpora lutea compared to a randomly mated and unselected control line (Ctrl). Here, we investigate whether the gonadal tissue of FL1 males are affected by ‘co-evolution’ after more than 40 years of female-focused selection. Using microarrays, we analysed the testicular transcriptome of the FL1 and Ctrl mice. These dat...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Michaelis, M., Sobczak, A., Koczan, D., Langhammer, M., Reinsch, N., Schon, J., Weitzel, J. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
miR-210 and GPD1L regulate EDN2 in primary and immortalized human granulosa-lutein cells
This study highlights the novel regulatory roles of miR-210 and its gene target, GPD1L, in hypoxia and cAMP-induced EDN2 by human granulosa-lutein cells. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Shrestha, K., Onasanya, A. E., Eisenberg, I., Wigoda, N., Yagel, S., Yalu, R., Meidan, R., Imbar, T. Tags: Research Source Type: research
KIRREL is differentially expressed in adipose tissue from 'fertil+ and 'fertil- cows: in vitro role in ovary?
We have previously shown that dairy cows carrying the ‘fertil–’ haplotype for one quantitative trait locus affecting female fertility located on the bovine chromosome three (QTL-F-Fert-BTA3) have a significantly lower conception rate and body weight after calving than cows carrying the ‘fertil+’ haplotype. Here, we compared by Tiling Array the expression of genes included in the QTL-F-Fert-BTA3 in ‘fertil+’ and ‘fertil–’ adipose tissue one week after calving when plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were greater in ‘fertil–’ animals. W...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Coyral-Castel, S., Rame, C., Cognie, J., Lecardonnel, J., Marthey, S., Esquerre, D., Hennequet-Antier, C., Elis, S., Fritz, S., Boussaha, M., Jaffrezic, F., Dupont, J. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Effects of sympathectomy on ovarian follicular development and steroid secretion
In conclusion, these results suggest that the nerve–ovarian connections, which are established during infantile development, are necessary for the accurate response of the ovary to sympathetic stimulation. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Garrido, M. P., Fernandois, D., Venegas, M., Paredes, A. H. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Biological age of the endometrium using DNA methylation
In conclusion, as long as endometrial samples are timed to the same time point in the menstrual cycle, Horvath’s epigenetic clock could be a powerful new biomarker of reproductive aging in the human endometrium. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Olesen, M. S., Starnawska, A., Bybjerg-Grauholm, J., Bielfeld, A. P., Agerholm, I., Forman, A., Overgaard, M. T., Nyegaard, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Isolation of human testicular cells and co-culture with embryonic stem cells
Our overall goal is to create a three-dimensional human cell-based testicular model for toxicological and spermatogenesis studies. Methods to purify the major somatic testicular cells, namely Leydig cells (LCs), peritubular myoid cells (PCs) and Sertoli cells (SCs), from rats, mice and guinea pigs have been reported. In humans, the isolation of populations enriched for primary LCs, PCs or SCs also have described. One objective of this study was to determine if populations of cells enriched for all three of these cell types can be isolated from testes of single human donors, and we were successful in doing so from testes of...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Gaur, M., Ramathal, C., Reijo Pera, R. A., Turek, P. J., John, C. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
High-fat diet exposure from pre-pubertal age induces polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovaries and metabolic syndrome. Many researchers reported that PCOS often starts with menarche in adolescents. Presently available animal model focuses on ovarian but not metabolic features of PCOS. Therefore, we hypothesized that high-fat diet feeding to pre-pubertal female rats results in both reproductive and metabolic features of PCOS. Pre-pubertal female rats were divided into two groups: group I received normal pellet diet and group II received high-fat diet (HFD). In the letrozole study, adult female rats were divided...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Patel, R., Shah, G. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Disturbed spermatogenic signaling in pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-deficient mice
PACAP is a neuropeptide with diverse functions in various organs, including reproductive system. It is present in the testis in high concentrations, and in addition to the stage-specific expression within the seminiferous tubules, PACAP affects spermatogenesis and the functions of Leydig and Sertoli cells. Mice lacking endogenous PACAP show reduced fertility, but the possibility of abnormalities in spermatogenic signaling has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we performed a detailed morphological analysis of spermatozoa, sperm motility and investigated signaling pathways that play a role during spermatogenesis in knock...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Reglodi, D., Cseh, S., Somoskoi, B., Fulop, B. D., Szentleleky, E., Szegeczki, V., Kovacs, A., Varga, A., Kiss, P., Hashimoto, H., Tamas, A., Bardosi, A., Manavalan, S., Bako, E., Zakany, R., Juhasz, T. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Identification and verification of potential piRNAs from domesticated yak testis
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNA) are small non-coding RNA molecules expressed in animal germ cells that interact with PIWI family proteins to form RNA–protein complexes involved in epigenetic and post-transcriptional gene silencing of retrotransposons and other genetic elements in germ line cells, including reproductive stem cell self-sustainment, differentiation, meiosis and spermatogenesis. In the present study, we performed high-throughput sequencing of piRNAs in testis samples from yaks in different stages of sexual maturity. Deep sequencing of the small RNAs (18–40 nt in length) yielded 4,900,538 unique reads...
Source: Reproduction - January 30, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Gong, J., Zhang, Q., Wang, Q., Ma, Y., Du, J., Zhang, Y., Zhao, X. Tags: Research Source Type: research
