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Effect of ovarian stimulation on developmental speed of preimplantation embryo in a mouse model J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Mayuko KURUMIZAKA, Tatsuma YAO, Mikiko TOKORO, Noritaka FUKUNAGA, Yoshimasa ASADA, Kazuo YAMAGATA
Ovarian stimulation protocols are widely used to collect oocytes in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Although the influence of ovarian stimulation on embryo quality has been described, this issue remains controversial. Here, we analyzed the influence of ovarian stimulation on developmental speed and chromosome segregation using live cell imaging. Female mice at the proestrus stage were separated
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Effect of globin peptide on female fertility in aging granulosa cell-specific Nrg1 knockout mice J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Takashi UMEHARA, Marino OGASAHARA, D.M.V. Supun PREMARATHNE, Yuka SASAKAWA, Yasuo SUMIDA, Masayuki SHIMADA
Ovarian fibrosis contributes to age-related ovarian dysfunction. In our previous study, we observed ovarian fibrosis in both obese and aging mice with intracellular lipid droplets in the fibrotic ovaries. Although the importance of mitochondria in ovarian fibrosis has been recognized in pharmacological studies, their role in lipid metabolism remains unclear. Globin peptide (GP), derived from hemoglobin
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Chromatin structure in totipotent mouse early preimplantation embryos J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Masatoshi OOGA
Totipotency refers to the ability of a single cell to give rise to all the different cell types in the body. Terminally differentiated germ cells (spermatozoa and oocytes) undergo reprogramming, which results in the acquisition of totipotency in zygotes. Since the 1990s, numerous studies have focused on the mechanisms of totipotency. With the emergence of the concept of epigenetic reprogramming, which
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High-concentration bovine serum albumin enhances fertilization ability of cold-stored rat sperm J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Katsuma YAMAGA, Satohiro NAKAO, Nobuyuki MIKODA, Jorge Mario SZTEIN, Naomi NAKAGATA, Toru TAKEO
Cold transport of the cauda epididymides is a useful technique for shipping laboratory rat sperm. Cold transport of rat sperm avoids potential risks of microbiological infection, animal escape or death, and animal welfare issues. Previously, we reported that a cold-storage solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and quercetin maintained the fertility of cold-stored rat sperm. However, cold-stored rat
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Time elapsed between ovulation and insemination determines the quality of fertilized rat oocytes J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Naomi NAKAGATA, Satohiro NAKAO, Nobuyuki MIKODA, Katsuma YAMAGA, Toru TAKEO
Genetically modified rats are valuable models in human disease research. We recently developed an improved system for rat sperm cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) that facilitates the efficient production and preservation of genetically modified rats. In the IVF procedure performed using frozen–thawed rat sperm, the IVF schedule is fixed to ensure timely hormone administration and oocyte
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Role of chemokines in regulating luteal and uterine functions in pregnant cows J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-25 Ryosuke SAKUMOTO
Pregnancy is intricately regulated by the interactions between various bioactive substances secreted by the conceptus, uterus, and corpus luteum (CL). Interferon-τ, synthesized and secreted by the conceptus, plays a central role in the interaction mechanism of maternal recognition in cows. Chemokines, chemotaxis mediators that are primarily secreted by immune cells, regulate various reproductive responses
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Negative photoperiod induces an increase in the number of ovulations in dairy cattle J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Fernando LÓPEZ-GATIUS
This study sought to examine the impact of negative photoperiod on the incidence of multiple ovulations and pregnancies in dairy cattle. The study population consisted of 5,373 pregnant cows in their third or greater lactation that experienced their first post-partum pregnancy after spontaneous estrus. The positive photoperiod (increasing day-length) extends from December 22 to June 21, whereas the
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Improvements in in vitro spermatogenesis: oxygen concentration, antioxidants, tissue-form design, and space control J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Takehiko OGAWA, Takafumi MATSUMURA, Tatsuma YAO, Hiroshi KIMURA, Kiyoshi HASHIMOTO, Yu ISHIKAWA-YAMAUCHI, Takuya SATO
Incorporation of bovine serum-derived albumin formulation (AlbuMAX) into a basic culture medium, MEMα, enables the completion of in vitro spermatogenesis through testicular tissue culture in mice. However, this medium was not effective in other animals. Therefore, we sought an alternative approach for in vitro spermatogenesis using a synthetic medium without AlbuMAX and aimed to identify its essential
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PABPN1L is required for maternal mRNA degradation after meiosis resumption J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Chihiro EMORI, Mayo KODANI, Ferheen ABBASI, Masashi MORI, Masahito IKAWA
Poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) play roles in mRNA maturation, translational activity, and decay. The functions of PABPs, especially PABPN1 and PABPC1, in somatic cells have been well-studied. However, little is known about the roles of PABPs in oocytes because of the unique mechanisms of mRNA metabolism in oocytes. This study focused on PABPN1L and generated Pabpn1l knockout (KO) mice using the CRISPR/Cas9
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Lipid droplet formation is spatiotemporally regulated in oocytes during follicular development in mice J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Ryutaro AIZAWA, Megumi IBAYASHI, Junichiro MITSUI, Satoshi TSUKAMOTO
Communication between oocytes and the surrounding granulosa cells during follicular development is essential for complete oocyte growth. Oocytes contain lipid droplets (LDs), organelles assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that store neutral lipids, including triglycerides and cholesterol esters. Although the LD content varies among animals, LDs stored in oocytes have been shown to play an important
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Development of a fluorometric Cuboni test for the semi-quantitative measurement of urinary estrogen levels and pregnancy detection in mares J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Kaede ODA, Maya YOSHIDA, Abdul Razaq IRSHAD, Tomomi KANAZAWA, Toru TAKAHASHI
The aim of the present study was to develop a semi-quantitative urine pregnancy test for mares based on the Cuboni reaction and to verify the reliability of this test. The urine specimens were hydrolyzed by heating in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The resulting free estrogens were extracted from the urine matrix using toluene. Sulfuric acid was added to the toluene extract and the mixture was
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Equine chorionic gonadotropin treatment and timed artificial insemination for dairy cow production under heat stress J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Daisuke FUNAKOSHI, Hidetoshi SHIOTANI, Makoto SEKI
This study investigated the effects of timed artificial insemination (TAI) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administration on lactating dairy cows under heat-stress conditions (average temperature-humidity index: 80). Timed artificial insemination was performed on the cows with (n = 57) or without (control, n = 41) supplementation with 500 IU of eCG at the day of PGF2α treatment using the CIDR-Ovsynch
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Serum-free spontaneously immortalized bovine oviduct epithelial cell conditioned medium promotes the early development of bovine in vitro fertilized embryos J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Norikazu MIYASHITA, Satoshi AKAGI, Tamas SOMFAI, Yuji HIRAO
Embryonic transfer of bovine blastocysts produced using in vitro fertilization (IVF) is widely used, although the challenge of compromised conception rates remains. Using bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC) to improve embryo culture conditions has attracted attention, particularly since the recent discovery of extracellular vesicles from BOEC. The selection of embryos for transfer has also been
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Capturing temperature changes on the ocular surface along with estrus and ovulation using infrared thermography in Japanese Black cows J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Riho OZAKI, Seiji INOUE, Yuki YOROZUI, Rei ICHIKAWA, Naoki YAMADA, Seiya HIGASHI, Shuichi MATSUYAMA, Hiroko TSUKAMURA, Satoshi OHKURA, Yoshihisa UENOYAMA, Yasuhiro MORITA
Pre-ovulatory follicles are cooler than the neighboring reproductive organs in cows. Thus, measuring the temperature of reproductive organs could be a useful method for predicting estrus and ovulation in cows, and the establishment of a non-invasive technique is required. In this study, we used infrared thermography (IRT) to measure ocular surface temperature as a potential surrogate for reproductive
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Efficient derivation of embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cell-like cells in cattle J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-15 Atsushi SHIRASAWA, Masafumi HAYASHI, Mayumi SHONO, Atsushi IDETA, Takashi YOSHINO, Katsuhiko HAYASHI
The induction of the germ cell lineage from pluripotent stem cells (in vitro gametogenesis) will help understand the mechanisms underlying germ cell differentiation and provide an alternative source of gametes for reproduction. This technology is especially important for cattle, which are among the most important livestock species for milk and meat production. Here, we developed a new method for robust
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Parallel expression patterns of NR4A nuclear receptor family genes in the pituitary gland of proestrus rats J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Ryota TERASHIMA, Daiki NAGAO, Masato IKEO, Keisuke MORIOKA, Titaree LAOHARATCHATATHANIN, Shiro KURUSU, Mitsumori KAWAMINAMI
The NR4A nuclear receptor family (NR4As), encompassing NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3, exerts pivotal roles in cellular processes through intricate expression patterns and interactions. Despite the influence of some NR4As on anterior pituitary functions regulated by the hypothalamus, their physiological expression patterns remain unclear. In our prior work, we demonstrated the specific upregulation of NR4A3
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Progesterone and estradiol regulate sperm hyperactivation and in vitro fertilization success in mice J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-10 Miyu FUJIKURA, Masakatsu FUJINOKI
Progesterone (P) and 17β-estradiol (Eβ) form the well-known hormone pair that regulates sperm capacitation. Here, we examined the regulatory effects of P and Eβ on sperm hyperactivation in mice and evaluated the in vitro fertilization (IVF) success. Although P enhanced hyperactivation, Eβ dose-dependently suppressed the P-enhanced hyperactivation. Moreover, P increased IVF success, whereas Eβ suppressed
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Busulfan administration replicated the characteristics of the epididymal initial segment observed in mice lacking testis-epididymis lumicrine signaling J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Daiji KIYOZUMI
The physiological functions of the mammalian epididymis are typically regulated by the testes. In addition to sex steroids secreted by testicular Leydig cells, which act on the epididymis in an endocrine manner, there is a non-sex-steroidal signaling pathway known as the lumicrine pathway. This lumicrine signaling pathway involves ligand proteins secreted from germ cells within the testicular seminiferous
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Lipid droplets synthesized during luteinization are degraded after pregnancy J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-02-04 Junichiro MITSUI, Megumi IBAYASHI, Ryutaro AIZAWA, Tomonori ISHIKAWA, Naoyuki MIYASAKA, Satoshi TSUKAMOTO
After pregnancy, the corpus luteum (CL) functions as a transient endocrine gland that produces progesterone, which is necessary to maintain pregnancy. To maintain constant progesterone production, CLs are enriched in lipids as its precursors. Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles that originate from the endoplasmic reticulum and store neutral lipids such as triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters. The
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Effect of paternal aging and vitrification on mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length of mouse blastocysts J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Nao ABURADA, Jun ITO, Yuki INOUE, Taiyo YAMAMOTO, Masamune HAYASHI, Noko TERAMOTO, Yuri OKADA, Yuichi KOSHIISHI, Koumei SHIRASUNA, Hisataka IWATA
In this study, we examined the effects of paternal aging on the mitochondrial DNA copy number (mt-cn), telomere length (TL), and gene expression in mouse embryos. The effects of vitrification on the mt-cn and TL of the embryos derived from young and aged male parents (YF and AF, respectively) were examined. C57BL/6N male mice were used for embryo production at 13–23 and 50–55 weeks of age. Two-cell
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Identification and characterization of dystrophin-locus-derived testis-specific protein: a testis-specific gene within the intronic region of the rat dystrophin gene J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-01-19 Keitaro YAMANOUCHI, Shizuka KATO, Yukie TANAKA, Masanari IKEDA, Yukina OSHIMO, Takanori SHIGA, Kei HATAMOTO, James CHAMBERS, Takuya IMAMURA, Ryuji HIRAMATSU, Kazuyuki UCHIDA, Fuko MATSUDA, Takashi MATSUWAKI, Tetsuya KOHSAKA
The mammalian X chromosome exhibits enrichment in genes associated with germ cell development. Previously, we generated a rat model of Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) characterized by an in-frame mutation in the dystrophin gene, situated on the X chromosome and responsible for encoding a protein crucial for muscle integrity. Male BMD rats are infertile owing to the absence of normal spermatids in the
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The fertility of dairy heifers and cows is not influenced by the follicular wave of the ovulatory follicle J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2024-01-20 Javad MOHAMMADI, Mehdi AZARI, Mojtaba KAFI
Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of the follicular wave on ovarian function and fertility in dairy heifers and lactating cows. In study 1, the estrous cycle of the selected Holstein heifers was initially synchronized using two intra-muscular prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) administrations 11 days apart. Heifers in group FFW (n = 14) received an intra-muscular 500 μg PGF2α administration
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Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the mRNA expression of estradiol receptors, steroidogenic enzymes, and steroid production in bovine follicles J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Ahmad Farid RAWAN, Hikmatullah LANGAR, Maho MUNETOMO, Yuki YAMAMOTO, Kohei KAWANO, Koji KIMURA
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a crucial role in follicular growth and stimulates steroid hormone production in bovine follicles. Steroid hormones are synthesized through the actions of steroidogenic enzymes, specifically STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B, and CYP19A1 in both theca cells (TCs) and granulosa cells (GCs), under the influence of gonadotropins. Particularly, estradiol 17β (E2) assumes a
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Association of age at first calving with longevity, milk yield, and fertility up to the third lactation in a herd of Holstein dairy cows in Japan J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Hiromi KUSAKA, Takeshi YAMAZAKI, Minoru SAKAGUCHI
Accelerating age at first calving (AFC) is a strategy for sustainable dairy farming, whereas the impact of a reduction in AFC on long-term performance remains unclear. In this study, longevity and milk productivity until the end of the third lactation period were investigated retrospectively according to AFC. A total of 169 cows were categorized according to AFC as young, moderate, old, and very old
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FABP4 mediates endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy to regulate endometrial epithelial cell function during early sheep gestation J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Meijun SONG, Kexing HAO, Fenghua QI, Wenjuan ZHAO, Zhengrong WANG, Jing WANG, Guangdong HU
Dynamic changes in the endometrium are crucial for establishing early pregnancy in ruminants. Blastocyst elongation and implantation require hormones and nutrients to be secreted from the maternal endometrium. The fatty acid-binding protein FABP4 is a widely expressed fatty acid transport protein that promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and is involved in conceptus implantation. However
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Fluctuation of CD9/SOX2-positive cell populations during the turnover of GH- and TSH-producing cells in the adult anterior pituitary gland J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Kotaro HORIGUCHI, Yuto TSUTSUI, Ken FUJIWARA, Takehiro TSUKADA, Takashi NAKAKURA, Saishu YOSHIDA, Rumi HASEGAWA, Shu TAKIGAMI
The adenohypophysis is comprised of the anterior and intermediate lobes (AL and IL, respectively). Cluster of differentiation 9 (CD9)- and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2)-positive cells are stem/progenitor hormone-producing cells in the AL. They are located in the marginal cell layer (MCL) facing Rathke’s cleft between the AL and IL (primary niche) and the parenchyma of the AL (secondary niche)
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Generation, characterization, and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem-like cells in the domestic cat J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Ryoji KANEGI, Shingo HATOYA, Kazuto KIMURA, Kyohei YODOE, Toshiya NISHIMURA, Kikuya SUGIURA, Noritoshi KAWATE, Toshio INABA
Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated from somatic cells and can differentiate into various cell types. Therefore, these cells are expected to be a powerful tool for modeling diseases and transplantation therapy. Generation of domestic cat iPS cells depending on leukemia inhibitory factor has been reported; however, this strategy may not be optimized. Considering that domestic cats are
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Accumulation of senescent cells in the stroma of aged mouse ovary J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Natsumi MARUYAMA, Isuzu FUKUNAGA, Tomoaki KOGO, Tsutomu ENDO, Wataru FUJII, Masami KANAI-AZUMA, Kunihiko NAITO, Koji SUGIURA
Senescent cells play a detrimental role in age-associated pathogenesis by producing factors involved in senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The present study was conducted to examine the possibility that senescent cells are present in aged ovaries and, if so, to determine the tissue region where senescent cells accumulate using a mouse model. Female mice at 2–4 and 8–10 months were used
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WIN18,446 enhances spermatogonial stem cell homing and fertility after germ cell transplantation by increasing blood-testis barrier permeability J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Hiroko MORIMOTO, Mito KANATSU-SHINOHARA, Takashi SHINOHARA
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) possess a unique ability to recolonize the seminiferous tubules. Upon microinjection into the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules, SSCs transmigrate through the blood-testis barrier (BTB) to the basal compartment of the tubule and reinitiate spermatogenesis. It was recently discovered that inhibiting retinoic acid signaling with WIN18,446 enhances SSC
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Differences in daily milk production during early pregnancy alter placental characteristics and neonatal metabolic amino acid levels in dairy cows J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Riku MASHIMO, Sayaka ITO, Chiho KAWASHIMA
We investigated the effects of differences in milk production during early pregnancy on placental characteristics at full term, calf birth weights, and their metabolic status. Thirty-four Holstein cows were categorized into three groups (Low, n = 9; Middle, n = 16; High, n = 9) based on the quartile of average daily 4% fat-corrected milk production during early pregnancy. The High group showed higher
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5-Aminolevulinic acid/sodium ferrous citrate improves the quality of heat-stressed bovine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Omnia ELGENDY, Go KITAHARA, Kentaro YAMADA, Shin TANIGUCHI, Takeshi OSAWA
A high temperature-humidity index during summer has deleterious effects on mitochondrial function, reducing oocyte developmental competence. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) are both known to support mitochondrial function and have strong anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic activities. This study aimed to determine the mechanism of action of 5-ALA/SFC on oocyte quality. Bovine
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The effect of ACVR1B/TGFBR1/ACVR1C signaling inhibition on oocyte and granulosa cell development during in vitro growth culture J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Yuki AKIMOTO, Wataru FUJII, Kunihiko NAITO, Koji SUGIURA
The signals of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily play a critical role in follicular development in mammals. ACVR1B/TGFBR1/ACVR1C receptors mediate the signaling of several TGF-β superfamily ligands in granulosa cells. Although the requirement for ACVR1B/TGFBR1/ACVR1C receptor signaling in follicular development has been confirmed using mutant mouse models, the detailed roles of the
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Sex difference in developmental changes in visualized Kiss1 neurons in newly generated Kiss1-Cre rats J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Koki YAMADA, Mayuko NAGAE, Tetsuya MANO, Hitomi TSUCHIDA, Safiullah HAZIM, Teppei GOTO, Makoto SANBO, Masumi HIRABAYASHI, Naoko INOUE, Yoshihisa UENOYAMA, Hiroko TSUKAMURA
Hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons are master regulators of mammalian reproduction via direct stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and consequent gonadotropin release. Here, we generated novel Kiss1 (kisspeptin gene)-Cre rats and investigated the developmental changes and sex differences in visualized Kiss1 neurons of Kiss1-Cre-activated tdTomato reporter rats. First, we validated Kiss1-Cre rats
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Hatchability evaluation of bovine IVF embryos using OCT-based 3D image analysis J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Yasumitsu MASUDA, Ryo HASEBE, Yasushi KUROMI, Mitsugu HISHINUMA, Tetsuya OHBAYASHI, Ryo NISHIMURA
Although embryo transfer is widely applied in cattle, many of the transferred embryos do not result in pregnancy. To determine a new parameter for bovine embryo evaluation, we investigated the relationships between in vitro hatchability and embryo morphological parameters using optical coherence tomography (OCT) that we established recently. Bovine embryos were obtained from Japanese Black cattle by
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Global analyses and potential effects of extracellular vesicles on the establishment of conceptus implantation during the peri-implantation period J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Keigo NAKAMURA, Kazuya KUSAMA, Masatoshi HORI, Kazuhiko IMAKAWA
Intrauterine extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in establishing proper conceptus-endometrial communication, which is essential for conceptus implantation and subsequent successful placentation. Despite several studies on intrauterine EVs, the composition and quantitative changes in conceptus and endometrial EVs, as well as the effects of intrauterine EVs on endometrial epithelial cells (EECs)
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Enhancement of rat spermatozoal hyperactivation by progesterone J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Yuki MIYAZAWA, Masakatsu FUJINOKI
Progesterone (P) is a well-known enhancer of hyperactivation which is associated with the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this study, we examined whether P-enhanced hyperactivation affected IVF success in rats. When rat spermatozoa were exposed to 10, 20, and 40 ng/ml P, 20 ng/ml P enhanced hyperactivation via the membrane progesterone receptor. In addition, the enhancement of hyperactivation
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Enkephalin-δ opioid receptor signaling partly mediates suppression of LH release during early lactation in rats J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Hitomi TSUCHIDA, Marina TAKIZAWA, Miku NONOGAKI, Naoko INOUE, Yoshihisa UENOYAMA, Hiroko TSUKAMURA
Gonadal function is often suppressed during lactation in mammals including rodents, ruminants, and primates. This suppression is thought to be mostly due to the inhibition of the tonic (pulsatile) release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and consequent gonadotropin. Accumulating evidence suggests that kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) play a critical role in the regulation of
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Role of calcium-sensing receptor in regulating activation susceptibility of postovulatory aging mouse oocytes J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Rui YANG, Chang-Li JI, Min ZHANG, Jie ZHANG, Hong-Jie YUAN, Ming-Jiu LUO, Guang-Zhong JIAO, Jing-He TAN
The mechanisms underlying postovulatory oocyte aging (POA) remain largely unknown. The expression of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in mouse oocytes and its role in POA need to be explored. Our objective was to observe CaSR expression and its role in the susceptibility to activating stimuli (STAS) in POA mouse oocytes. The results showed that, although none of the newly ovulated oocytes were activated
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A novel, simplified method to prepare and preserve freeze-dried mouse sperm in plastic microtubes J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Li Ly YANG, Daiyu ITO, Natsuki USHIGOME, Sayaka WAKAYAMA, Masatoshi OOGA, Teruhiko WAKAYAMA
Although freeze-drying sperm can save space, reduce maintenance costs, and facilitate the transportation of genetic samples, the current method requires breakable, custom-made, and expensive glass ampoules. In the present study, we developed a simple and economical method for collecting freeze-dried (FD) sperm using commercially available plastic microtubes. Mouse epididymal sperm suspensions were
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Progesterone modulates HSD11B1-mediated cortisol production in luteinized bovine granulosa cells J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Memory MUKANGWA, Masafumi TETSUKA
Progesterone (P4) and cortisol production increase in luteinized granulosa cells (LGCs) during the periovulatory period, but their interaction is not well established. Therefore, we investigated their interaction in cultured bovine LGCs. Granulosa cells were collected from follicles of 2–5 mm in diameter and cultured in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum for up to 14 days. P4 production
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Pre-maturational culture promotes the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from an 8-day in vitro growth culture system J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Madalitso CHELENGA, Yojiro YANAGAWA, Seiji KATAGIRI, Masashi NAGANO
In this study, we evaluated the effects of pre-maturational culture (pre-IVM) on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from an 8-day in vitro growth (IVG) culture system. IVG oocytes were subjected to 5 h pre-IVM before in vitro maturation, followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The proportion of oocytes that progressed to the germinal vesicle breakdown stage was similar between
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Continuous acceleration of neural activity of the GnRH pulse generator during chronic peripheral infusion of neurokinin 3 receptor agonist in goats J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Takashi YAMAMURA, Hiroaki OKAMURA, Yoshihiro WAKABAYASHI
Secretion of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is essential for reproduction. Kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), which coexpress neurokinin B (NKB) and its receptor (NK3R), are believed to be components of the GnRH pulse generator that regulates pulsatile GnRH secretion. We examined the effects of peripheral infusion of senktide, an NK3R selective agonist, on GnRH pulse
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A combined treatment with progesterone, anti-inhibin serum, and equine chorionic gonadotropin improves number of ovulated oocytes in young C57BL/6J mice J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-08-11 Atsuko KAGEYAMA, Mizuho TSUCHIYA, Jumpei TERAKAWA, Junya ITO, Naomi KASHIWAZAKI
Superovulation procedures are routinely and widely used in mouse reproductive technology. Previous studies have shown that a large number of oocytes can be obtained from adult mice (> 10 weeks old) using a combined treatment with progesterone (P4) and anti-inhibin serum (AIS). However, these effects have not been fully investigated in young (4 weeks) C57BL/6J mice. Here, we found that a modified superovulation
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Mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer: What has changed and remained unchanged in 25 years J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Kimiko INOUE
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the only reproductive technology used to produce individuals from somatic cells by transferring them to enucleated oocytes. Although more than 25 years have passed since the first mammalian SCNT was reported in sheep, problems such as low birth rates and morphological abnormalities have persisted and limited its practical applications. The mouse is the ideal
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Cell cycle regulation for meiosis in mammalian germ cells J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Ryuki SHIMADA, Kei-ichiro ISHIGURO
In mouse fetal gonads, germ cell development is accompanied by changes in cell cycle mode in response to external signals and intrinsic mechanisms of cells. During fetal development, male germ cells undergo G0/G1 arrest, while female germ cells exit the mitotic cell cycle and enter meiosis. In fetal testes, NANOS2 and CYP26B1 force germ cells to stay in G0/G1 arrest phase, preventing them from entering
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Progesterone increases the success of in vitro fertilization via enhanced sperm hyperactivation in mice J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Risa SUZUKI, Masakatsu FUJINOKI
Progesterone (P) enhances spermatozoal hyperactivation, a capacitation event. Hyperactivation is associated with successful in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this study, we examined the effects of P on hyperactivation and IVF in mice. P enhanced spermatozoal hyperactivation and increased IVF success rate in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, P affected spermatozoal hyperactivation and IVF through the
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MiR-145 regulates steroidogenesis in mouse primary granulosa cells by targeting Arpc5 and subsequent cytoskeleton remodeling J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Lanfang MA, Shuo WANG, Jun YANG, Weicheng TANG, Zhangying WU, Lili CAO, Aiyue LUO, Fangfang FU, Shuhong YANG, Shixuan WANG
MicroRNA (miR)-145 is enriched in the follicular granulosa cells (GCs) of 3-week-old mice. Downregulating miR-145 inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of GCs and induces evident changes in their cytoskeleton. In this study, we examined how miR-145 induces cytoskeletal changes in mouse GCs and its potential mechanism in regulating GC steroidogenesis. We found that actin related protein 2/3
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Lysophosphatidic acid stimulates rat uterine contraction in vitro J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Satoshi NAGASHIMA, Takuma KIMURA, Ryota TERASHIMA, Makoto SUGIYAMA, Keiichiro KIZAKI, Mitsumori KAWAMINAMI, Shiro KURUSU
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been implicated in the uterine endometrial functions of implantation and decidualization; however, not much is known about its myometrial contractile function. Herein we characterized the uterotonic effects of LPA in non-pregnant (estrus) and peri-parturient rats in vitro. LPA dose-dependently (0.01–10 μM) stimulated the amplitude and integral, but not the frequency
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Comparative characteristics between calyculin A-induced and thimerosal-induced hyperactivation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Natsuko MIYAMOTO, Akihiro OHYA, DURITAHALA, Mitsuhiro SAKASE, Hiroshi HARAYAMA
This study aimed to characterize calyculin A (CL-A)-induced and thimerosal-induced hyperactivation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa. Hyperactivation was effectively induced by treating with 10 nM CL-A for 60 min in the presence of cyclic AMP analogs, extracellular Ca2+, and albumin or with 12.5 µM thimerosal briefly in the absence of these capacitation-supporting factors. Majority of the spermatozoa
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Involvement of linker histone variant H1a in the regulation of early preimplantation development in mice J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-06-06 Satoshi FUNAYA, Yuan WANG, Masataka G. SUZUKI, Masahito IKAWA, Fugaku AOKI
Linker histone variants regulate higher-order chromatin structure and various cellular processes. It has been suggested that linker histone variant H1a loosens chromatin structure and activates transcription. However, its role in early mouse development remains to be elucidated. We investigated the functions of H1a during preimplantation development using H1a gene-deleted mice. Although H1a homozygous
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Estradiol enhances T-type calcium channel activation in human myometrium telocytes J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Lin ZHU, Tao SHANGGUAN, Penghui CHEN, Ying WANG, Lan XIAO, Heying LIU, Wei HE
Uterine peristalsis is essential for gamete transport and embryo implantation. It shares the characteristics of spontaneity, rhythmicity, and directivity with gastrointestinal peristalsis. Telocytes, the “interstitial Cajal-like cells” outside the digestive canal, are also located in the uterus and may act as pacemakers. To investigate the possible origin and regulatory mechanism of periodic uterine
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Time-lapse monitoring technologies for the selection of bovine in vitro fertilized embryos with high implantation potential J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Fumie MAGATA
Over the years, the utilization of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in bovine embryo production has increased globally to accelerate the selection of cows with high genetic values. The selection of embryos with high implantation potential is a critical factor in establishing pregnancy. Time-lapse monitoring (TLM) has emerged as a new technique that allows frequent and non-invasive imaging of developing
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Effects of short-term dietary supplementation on the number of ovarian follicles, quantity and quality of oocytes, and in vitro embryo production in Japanese Black cows J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Kensuke TOMITA, Toshimichi ISHII, Natsumi ENDO, Tomomi TANAKA
This study aimed to test the hypothesis that short-term supplementation with a high-energy diet promotes embryo production following ovum pick-up (OPU) in Japanese Black cows. After a period of adaptation to the maintenance diet, a 200% maintenance diet was fed to the high-energy diet group (HD group, n = 6) for four weeks, and a maintenance diet was fed to the other group (MD group, n = 6). OPU-in
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Effects of the temperature-humidity index on conception rates in Holstein heifers and cows receiving in vitro-produced Japanese Black cattle embryos J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Takamasa NISHISOZU, Jaswant SINGH, Akinori ABE, Kazuo OKAMURA, Osamu DOCHI
We investigated the effect of the temperature-humidity index (THI) on the conception rate (CR) in Holstein heifers and cows receiving in vitro-produced (IVP) Japanese Black cattle fresh embryos. IVP embryos were transferred to Holstein heifers (n = 1,407) and cows (n = 3,189) on 245 commercial farms. The monthly average ambient temperature (AT) and THI ranged from 4.7 to 29°C and 41 to 81, respectively;
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Analysis of absolute amounts of two meiotic cohesin subunits, RAD21L and REC8, in mouse spermatocytes J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Yuto TANIUCHI, Kazutaka HIRAIDE, Rilige SU, Kazune IJUIN, XingQiang WEI, Takuro HORII, Izuho HATADA, Jibak LEE
RAD2lL and REC8, meiosis-specific paralogs of the canonical cohesin subunit RAD21, are essential for proper formation of axial/lateral elements of the synaptonemal complex, synapsis of homologous chromosomes, and crossover recombination in mammalian meiosis. However, how many meiotic cohesins are present in germ cells has not been investigated because of the lack of an appropriate method of analysis
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Sperm induce proinflammatory responses in the uterus and peripheral blood immune cells of artificially inseminated cows J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Mohamed A. MAREY, Dongxue MA, Hitomi YOSHINO, Ibrahim F. ELESH, Mohammad A. ZINNAH, Mariani F. FIORENZA, Satoru MORIYASU, Akio MIYAMOTO
This in vivo study aimed to investigate local and systemic immune responses induced by sperm in cows after artificial insemination (AI). Initially, 12 multiparous Japanese Black cows were subjected to intrauterine AI (AI group, n = 6) or saline infusion (control group, n = 6). The uterine body and horn ipsilateral to the ovulatory follicle were mini-flushed with 2 ml of RPMI-1640 medium at different
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Analysis of sequential ruminal temperature sensor data from dairy cows to identify cow subgroups by clustering and predict calving through supervised machine learning J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Eri FURUKAWA, Yojiro YANAGAWA, Akira MATSUZAKI, Heejin KIM, Hanako BAI, Masashi TAKAHASHI, Seiji KATAGIRI, Shogo HIGAKI
The present study investigated the applicability of a calving prediction model based on supervised machine learning of ruminal temperature (RT) data in dairy cows. The existence of cow subgroups for prepartum RT changes was also examined, and the predictive performance of the model was compared among these subgroups. RT data were collected from 24 Holstein cows at 10 min intervals using an RT sensor
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Development of cryopreservation media for the slow-freezing of cultured primordial germ cells in chicken J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Natsuko HAMAI, Chihiro KOIDE, Yuki TANSHO, Yukino OOKA, Mayo HIRANO, Effrosyni FATIRA, Masaoki TSUDZUKI, Yoshiaki NAKAMURA
Conservation of chicken germplasm is crucial in supporting commercial breeds for sustainable egg and meat production and preserving the genetic diversity of indigenous breeds for future breeding. Cryopreservation of chicken fertilized eggs or embryos is not feasible, owing to the large yolk-laden structure of the eggs. Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the embryonic precursors of gametes, are the best
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A more accurate analysis of maternal effect genes by siRNA electroporation into mouse oocytes J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Takuto YAMAMOTO, Shinnosuke HONDA, Issei IDEGUCHI, Motoki SUEMATSU, Shuntaro IKEDA, Naojiro MINAMI
Maternal RNA and proteins accumulate in mouse oocytes and regulate initial developmental stages. Sperm DNA combines with protamine, which is exchanged after fertilization with maternal histones, including H3.3; however, the effect of H3.3 on development post-fertilization remains unclear. Herein, we established an electroporation method to introduce H3.3 siRNA into germinal vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes
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First Kiso pony foal produced via transfer of long-distance shipped fresh embryo to Hokkaido native pony J. Reprod. Dev. (IF 1.8) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Reza RAJABI-TOUSTANI, Munkhtuul TSOGTGEREL, Yuanzhi GAO, Canbo LI, Miou SAKATO, Shingo HANEDA, Soon Hon CHEONG, Yasuo NAMBO
Japanese native horses, which consists of 8 breeds, are threatened with extinction. Embryo transfer (ET) is used to reproduce endangered animals in various mammalian species. We aimed to perform ET using native ponies from Kiso and Hokkaido as donors and recipients, respectively. ET operation included long-distance transport of non-cryopreserved embryos from Nagano Prefecture to Hokkaido. Embryos were