Kisspeptin has an indispensable role in gonadotropin-releasing hormone/gonadotropin secretion in mammals. In rodents, kisspeptin neurons are located in distinct brain regions, namely the anteroventral periventricular nucleus-periventricular nucleus continuum (AVPV/PeN), arcuate nucleus (ARC), and medial amygdala (MeA). Among them, the physiological role of AVPV/PeN kisspeptin neurons in males has not

A phosphorylated prolactin is a kind of modified prolactin, which is produced through phosphorylation of native prolactin (PRL) by p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) in secretory granules in lactotrophs. Phosphorylated prolactin is involved in the regulation of the estrous cycle and in apoptosis in cancer cells, which seem to have important physiological and pathological roles, respectively. In previous

We evaluated the relationship between plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in Japanese Black (JB) heifers at 7−10 months of age and the number of embryos recovered after superovulation treatment in selected ovum pick-up (OPU) donors, concomitantly with changes in their AMH concentrations before and after parturition. Plasma AMH concentrations in heifers were positively correlated with

This study investigated the effect of aging on mitochondria in granulosa cells (GCs) collected from the antral follicles of young and aged cows (25–50 months and over 140 months in age, respectively). When GCs were cultured under 20% O2 for 4 days, mitochondrial DNA copy number (Mt-number), determined by real-time PCR, increased throughout the culture period, and the extent of increase was greater

Porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is currently inefficient, as 1–3.95% of reconstructed embryos survive to term; inadequate or erroneous epigenetic reprogramming of the specialized donor somatic nucleus could be a primary reason. Therefore, a locus-specific analysis of DNA methylation dynamics in embryogenesis and the DNA methylation status of gametes and donor cells used for SCNT were conducted

We examined the effect of ploidy on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in embryos and the amount of cell-free mitochondrial and nucleic DNA content (cf-mtDNA and cf-nDNA) in spent culture medium (SCM). Oocytes collected from the ovaries were matured, activated, incubated in medium containing cycloheximide (CHX) or CHX and cytochalasin B (CB) for 4.5 h to produce haploid or diploid embryos (H-group

Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus, CRs) are commonly used as animal models in biomedical research. However, the reproductive characteristics and ovarian development in the CRs has not been widely investigated. We have previously shown that female CRs, in particular, show several unique phenotypes associated with the urogenital system, such as chronic kidney disease and pyometra. Our investigation revealed

We examined the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment on Day 5 (Day 0 = day of artificial insemination: AI) and intravaginal progesterone device (IVPD) treatment from Day 5 to 19 on the conception and detection rates of return to estrus (re-estrus) in lactating dairy cows. A total of 306 cows from a commercial dairy farm were divided into the following three groups on Day 5: non-treatment

In this study, we present two proposed approaches to prevent twin pregnancies in dairy cattle: 1) single, in vitro-produced embryonic transfer into a recipient cow or 2) subordinate follicle drainage at the time of insemination. Both procedures lead to improved embryonic survival. As the use of sexed semen generates herd replacements and additional heifers, we propose the transfer of a single female

Previous studies in the 1960s and 1970s have reported that both gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and estradiol-activated nuclear estrogen receptors regulate gonadotropin secretion in women. However, I had previously reported that gonadotroph function is regulated by complex crosstalk between several membrane receptors. RNA-seq had previously revealed 259 different receptor genes expressed in the

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are widely used in the animal industry, human clinics, and for basic research. In small laboratory animal species such as mice, ARTs are essential for the production of animals for experiments, the preservation of genetic resources, and for the generation of new strains of genetically modified animals. The RIKEN BioResource Research Center (BRC) is one of the

There has been increasing interest in the role of hypoxia in the microenvironment of organs, because of the discovery of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1), which acts as a transcription factor for many genes activated specifically under hypoxic conditions. The ovary changes day by day during the estrous cycle as it goes through phases of follicular growth, ovulation, and formation and regression of

Uterine inflammatory diseases commonly occur in postpartum dairy cows, resulting in reduced reproductive performance due to aberrant uterine and ovarian activity. Infection of the uterus with gram-negative bacteria results in the detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma and follicular fluid of cows along with uterine inflammation. LPS acts on follicular components such as theca cells, granulosa

Recently, we established an in vitro model with immortalized dog uterine stromal (DUS) cells for investigations into canine-specific decidualization. Their capability to decidualize was assessed with cAMP and prostaglandin (PG) E2. Here, we show that the effects of PGE2 are mediated through both of the cAMP-mediating PGE2 receptors (PTGER2/4). Their functional inhibition suppressed gene expression

Magang geese exhibit a unique characteristic of follicular development, with eight largest orderly arranged pre-ovulatory follicles in the abdominal cavity. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this follicular development. This study aimed to compare gene expression profiles of granulosa cells (GCs) at different stages of follicular development and provide comprehensive insights

The spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) population in testis is small, and the lack of SSC markers has severely handicapped research on these cells. During our attempt to identify genes involved in SSC aging, we found that CD2 is expressed in cultured SSCs. Flow cytometric analysis and spermatogonial transplantation experiments showed that CD2 is expressed in SSCs from mature adult mouse testes. Cultured

Accumulating evidence suggests that KNDy neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), which are reported to express kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A, are indispensable for the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generation that results in rhythmic GnRH secretion. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of peripheral administration of the neurokinin

The present study aimed to evaluate whether novel conditional kisspeptin neuron-specific Kiss1 knockout (KO) mice utilizing the Cre-loxP system could recapitulate the infertility of global Kiss1 KO models, thereby providing further evidence for the fundamental role of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons in regulating mammalian reproduction. We generated Kiss1-floxed mice and hypothalamic kisspeptin neuron-specific

Accumulating evidence suggests that kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling is indispensable for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/gonadotropin secretion and consequent reproductive functions in mammals. Conventional Kiss1 knockout (KO) mice and rats are reported to be infertile. To date, however, no study has investigated the effect of inducible central Kiss1 KO/knockdown on pulsatile gonadotropin release

Ruthenium red (RR) inhibits calcium (Ca2+) entry from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria, and is involved in maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis in mammalian cells. Ca2+ homeostasis is very important for further embryonic development of fertilized oocytes. However, the effect of RR on mitochondria-Ca2+ (mito-Ca2+) levels during in vitro fertilization (IVF) on subsequent blastocyst developmental capacity

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is routinary used in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to increase the yields of mature oocytes. The possibility that patients with a history of failures or poor-responders may develop side-effects following these treatments is still debated. Epidemiological studies reported controversial results about pregnancy outcome and the risk of developing gynecological

We investigated the effects of long-term repeated treatments with a sustainable gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, degarelix acetate, on testicular hormonal secretion, size, ultrasound images, histology and spermatogenesis in goats to assess its efficacy as a chemical castration method. Male Shiba goats (3–6 months of age) were treated subcutaneously with degarelix acetate every 4 weeks

Cluster of differentiation (CD) 9 and CD81 are closely-related members of the tetraspanin family that consist of four-transmembrane domain proteins. Cd9 and Cd81 are highly expressed in breast cancer cells; however, their expression in healthy mammary glands is unclear. In this study, we performed quantitative real-time PCR to analyze the expression levels of Cd9 and Cd81. Histological techniques were

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays a key role in the development and progression of several diseases; however, its role in intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the expression profiles and potential role of circRNA in IUA. RNA-sequencing was performed to screen for abnormally expressed circRNAs in TGF-β1-induced IUA endometrial stromal cell (ESC) model (IUA

Genome editing technology contributes to the quick and highly efficient production of genetically engineered animals. These animals are helpful in clarifying the mechanism of human disease. Recently, a new electroporation technique (TAKE: Technique for animal knockout system by electroporation) was developed to produce genome-edited animals by introducing nucleases into intact embryos using electroporation

Iron is important for many cellular functions, including ATP synthesis and cell proliferation. Insufficient of iron in the diet causes iron deficiency anemia (IDA), which often occurs in people living in the world. Since 50% of women with IDA show amenorrhea, the relationship of between iron deficiency and reproductive function was assessed using mice fed a low Fe diet (LFD). The estrous cycle in the

PTBP1, a well-conserved RNA-binding protein, regulates cellular development by tuning posttranscriptional mRNA modification such as alternative splicing (AS) or mRNA stabilization. We previously revealed that the loss of Ptbp1 in spermatogonia causes the dysregulation of spermatogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms by which PTBP1 regulates spermatogonium homeostasis are unclear. In this study, changes

This study aimed to determine if lactation can be induced by exogenous hormonal treatment in non-pregnant sows. In experiment 1, pseudopregnant animals were divided into four groups and given: 1) 5 mg of estradiol dipropionate (EDP) 5 days before (n = 4), 2) 5 mg of EDP 10 days before (n = 3), 3) 10 mg of EDP 5 days before (n = 3) or 4) 10 mg of EDP 10 days (n = 3) before PGF2α treatment. Artificial

Modern genetic improvement in dairy cattle is directed towards improvement of fertility; however, reproduction traits generally exhibit a genetic antagonism with milk yield. Herein, we aimed to clarify the effects of sire predicted transmitting ability (PTA) for daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) on the reproductive performance and milk yield of daughters in Japanese dairy herds. We conducted a retrospective

The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate a sustained release vaginal progesterone (P4) capsule containing a mixture of mucoadhesive polymer and silicone fluid. Goats were administered a gelatin capsule containing 0.4 g of P4 mixed in silicone fluid and either a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HM) or polyaclil starch (PA) base. The mean plasma P4 concentrations at 2 and 12 h after

Mouse oocytes are generally collected after euthanasia. However, if oocytes were collected without euthanasia, then mice could be used to collect oocytes again after recovery. This condition is especially useful for mice that are genotypically rare. In this study, we examined the reusability of mice after collecting oocytes via a surgical operation. When oocytes were collected using medetomidine/m

Specific gene expression in granulosa cells is key for the function of ovary, but the molecular mechanism of transcriptional activation is not well studied. Here we investigated the regulatory mechanism of the mouse Scd2 gene encoding an enzyme for lipid metabolism. Northern blot and in situ hybridization indicated that the mouse Scd2 mRNA was highly expressed in ovarian granulosa cells. We found four

Previously, we revealed that neurotensin (NTS) derived from the oviduct and uterus can function during fertilization. However, little is known about NTS actions on the pre-implantation embryo after fertilization. Here, we found that pro-Nts mRNA is expressed in the oviduct and uterus during when preimplantation embryos develop and an increase in mRNA level in the uterus is induced by human chorionic

We examined the effects of a single or 2.5-fold dose of dephereline [a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue] as well as the drainage of the smaller follicle at the time of insemination on ovulation in dairy cows with two follicles of pre-ovulatory size in the same ovary. The three study groups included 220 monovular cows (control), 110 non-drained cows with two follicles, and 110 cows with

In the present work, we described the expression and activity of extracellular signal-related kinases 1-2 (ERK1-2) in mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs) from 8.5–14.5 days post coitum (dpc) and investigated whether these kinases play a role in regulating the various processes of PGC development. Using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting to detect the active phosphorylated form of ERK1-2 (p-ERK1-2)

Maintaining genomic integrity in mammalian early embryos, which are deficient in DNA damage repair, is critical for normal preimplantation and subsequent development. Abnormalities in DNA damage repair in preimplantation embryos can cause not only developmental arrest, but also diseases such as congenital disorders and cancers. Histone H4 lysine 20 monomethylation (H4K20me1) is involved in DNA damage

We examined the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment 5 days after estrus on ovarian dynamics and plasma progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentrations when the first-wave dominant follicle (DF) was ipsilateral or contralateral to the corpus luteum (CL) in lactating dairy cows. Seventy cows were divided into two groups: (1) ipsilateral group (IG; n = 37), in which the first-wave

The large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus) is endemic to Japan and may be used as an animal model for studies related to environmental pollution, medical science, and basic biology. However, the large Japanese field mouse has low reproductive ability due to the small number of oocytes ovulated per female. To produce experimental models, we investigated the in vitro developmental potential

Conception rates of artificial insemination (AI) have gradually been decreasing in the cattle. In order to overcome this problem, AI centers need supply high-quality frozen semen whose insemination makes cow pregnant efficiently. Semen quality is conventionally assessed under the light microscope with cell biological methods, and only high-quality frozen semen straws are used for AI. However, lower

We determined the length of time within which frozen-thawed semen delivered a high conception rate in present-day lactating dairy cows. The cows utilized were a total 100 milking Holstein-Friesian cows kept in tie-stall style farms. We carried out artificial insemination (AI) during the periovulatory period at a predicted time based on ovulation, and checked ovulation at 6-h intervals after AI. The

The discovery of how to utilize CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced, short, palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) systems for genome modification has accelerated development of the field of genome editing, especially in large animals such as pigs. The low efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is now becoming a major obstacle in the production of genome-edited animals via cell-mediated

GPR120 is a long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) receptor that is specifically expressed in gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary gland in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate whether GPR120 is activated by free fatty acids in the pituitary of mice and mouse immortalized gonadotrope LβT2 cells. First, the effects of palmitate on GPR120, gonadotropic hormone b-subunits, and GnRH-receptor expression

Maternal obesity is one of the major risk factors for pregnancy complications and is associated with low-grade chronic systemic inflammation due to higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β. Pregnant women with obesity have abnormal lipid profiles, characterized by higher levels of free fatty acids, especially palmitic acid (PA). Previously, we reported that PA stimulated

The reproductive performance of cattle can be suppressed by heat stress. Reproductive organ temperature, especially ovarian temperature, may affect follicle development and ovulation. The establishment of a technique for long-term measurement of ovarian temperature could prove useful in understanding the mechanisms underlying the temperature-dependent changes in follicular development and subsequent

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the functions of granulosa cells by interacting with their target mRNAs. Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) is one of the targets of miR-431 and can be regulated by ovarian hormones. However, the role of miR-431 and the associated signal transduction pathway in ovarian development has not been studied previously. In this study, we first analyzed the expression of miR-431

The mechanism by which the content of the major groups of seminal plasma proteins in stallion semen changes between the breeding and non-breeding seasons remains unknown. Here, we investigated the proportions of non-heparin-binding, phosphorylcholine-binding, and heparin-binding proteins in seminal plasma with the aim of relating them to sperm quality and testosterone levels in good and bad freezer

Changes in histone modifications always correlate with altered transcriptional activities of genes. Recent studies have shown that the mutation of certain lysine residues to methionine in the histone variant H3.3 can act as a valuable tool to reduce specific H3 methylation levels. In our study, we used the mouse spermatogenic cell line GC-2 as a model to generate cells stably expressing H3.3 K4, H3

We investigated gene expression profiles of the corpus luteum (CL) at the time of maternal recognition to evaluate the functional changes of the CL during early pregnancy in cows and help improve reproductive efficiency and avoid defective fetuses. Microarray analyses using a 15 K bovine oligo DNA microarray detected 30 differentially expressed genes and 266 differentially expressed genes (e.g., PPARD

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations in the uterus show two peaks on days 2-4 and 13-14 during the estrous cycle in fertile cows. Loss of the two peaks has been linked to reduced fertility in repeat breeder cows. This study aimed to examine the effect of seminal plasma (SP) on normalizing endometrial EGF concentrations and restoring fertility in repeat breeder cows with low EGF concentrations

The aim of this study was to establish a model to induce cystic ovarian follicles (COFs) in cattle using the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. Eighteen Holstein-Frisian cattle were synchronized with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Ultrasound-guided transvaginal intrafollicular injections were performed in 23 preovulatory follicles with different concentrations

The aim of the present study was to clarify whether or not our vitrification procedure at the germinal vesicle (GV)-stage triggers the apoptotic cascade in oocytes and subsequent embryos. Immature porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes were either vitrified and warmed (vitrified group) or subjected to cryoprotectant agents (CPA group) or cultured without any treatment (control). Oocytes of all treatment

We investigated whether sequential reprogramming via porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) or exposure to oocyte cytoplasm following nuclear transfer could generate nuclear transfer-derived ESCs (piPSCs-ntESCs). Nuclear transfer embryos were reconstructed with piPSCs possessing a ZsGreen fluorescent marker for expression of exogenous Nanog and Lin28. Reconstructed oocytes developed to morphologically

Until now, there have been no reports of foals born through embryo transfer after artificial insemination using frozen semen in Japan. The aims of this study were to develop a riding crossbred horse and evaluate the prospects of embryo transfer technology in multiplying horse population. In both donor and recipient mares, luteolysis was induced by the administration of 0.1 mg Cloprostenol to synchronize

The extracellular matrix between the oocyte and zona pellucida (ZP) plays an important role in mammalian fertilization and preserves the specific environment of the perivitelline space (PVS) during the development of a preimplantation embryo after fertilization. In this study, we applied a highly sensitive luminescent protein dye, LumiteinTM, to observe the hydrophobic status of proteins in oocytes

Hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas show unregulated hormonal hypersecretion and cause hyperpituitarism. However, the mechanism of the unregulated hormone production and secretion has not yet been fully elucidated. Solid tumors show reduced extracellular pH, partly due to lactate secretion from anaerobic glycolysis. It is known that extracellular acidification affects hormone secretion. However, whether

Kisspeptin, encoded by Kiss1, is essential for reproduction in mammals. Kiss1 expression is regulated by estrogen via histone acetylation in the Kiss1 promotor region. Thus, elucidation of histone modification factor(s) involved in the regulation of Kiss1 expression is required to gain further understanding of the mechanisms of its control. The RNA-seq analysis of isolated kisspeptin neurons, obtained

The effects of a single subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on follicular growth and expression of estrous behavior and its single subcutaneous administration on the number of corpora lutea (CL) and embryos were investigated in pigs. All four sows that were subcutaneously administered 5 AU FSH expressed normal estrus and had no ovarian cysts. Two of the four

Oocyte quality is affected by many factors, among which the environment of growth and maturation seems to be crucial. Studies show that well balanced oocyte energy metabolism has a significant impact on several elements of cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation as well as further embryo developmental competence. Therefore homeostasis between metabolism of glucose and fatty acids in the oocyte is being

Gene-modified animals, including pigs, can be generated efficiently by introducing CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) into zygotes. However, in many cases, these zygotes tend to become mosaic mutants with various different mutant cell types, making it difficult to analyze the phenotype of gene-modified founder animals. To reduce the mosaic mutations, we introduced three-prime repair exonuclease

In bovine placentomes, the inflammatory response is considered important for the detachment of the fetal membrane from the caruncle after parturition. Glucocorticoids, a trigger of the onset of parturition, facilitate functional maturation of placentomes via prostaglandin (PG) and estrogen production in cattle. This study investigated how exogeneous glucocorticoids, which exert immunosuppressive effects