Reproduction Abstracts

Exosomes are recognized as new mediators of intercellular cell signaling between neighboring cells and distant tissues, acting independently but synergistically with growth factors and hormones. Trophoblast and stromal cells of the villi were identified as a source of exosomal miRNAs released into the maternal circulation. In this study we hypothesized that miRNAs participating in the embryo–maternal dialog are released into the maternal blood stream during early pregnanc...

Introduction: Pregnancy and lactation result in increasing maternal appetite and adiposity, which in humans may lead to long-term weight retention. Previous studies in this area are limited, but some suggest that the appetite-inhibiting (anorexigenic) gut hormone peptide-YY (PYY) is increased in lactation, despite hyperphagia. This work characterised changes in orexigenic (appetite-stimulating) ghrelin and anorexigenic PYY and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) and gut architectur...

Introduction: Previous studies have established that litter size during lactation influences body size and adiposity in male rat pups, but female pups and appetite-regulatory hormones have not been studied in this way. Gastrointestinal hormones ghrelin and peptide-YY (PYY) have roles in appetite regulation: high ghrelin levels signal hunger high PYY levels signal satiety. Both hormones are also associated with altered body mass and body composition. Previous findings (SRF 2014...

Introduction: Following labour, the uterus rapidly returns to its pre-pregnancy state. Exact mechanisms underlying labour and postpartum involution are not fully understood but inflammation is understood to play a key role. It has been hypothesised that rather than initiating or propagating labour, inflammation may prime the uterus for extensive postpartum tissue repair and remodelling, in a manner akin to repair in exercising skeletal muscle. This study aims...

Introduction: Oocytes must effectively grow, accumulate reserves, and mature prior to fertilization. Errors in any of these processes affecting nuclear, cytoplasmic, or molecular maturation of the oocyte will result in poor embryonic development.Materials and methods: Immunofluorescence, direct fluorescent staining, and autoradiography were combined with confocal, epifluorescent, and electron microscopy to study the transzonal projections (TZPs) between ...

In several mammalian species, a major remodelling of the germinal vesicle chromatin is known to occur towards the end of the oocyte growth. Various chromatin configurations have been identified. However, the mechanisms involved in this remodelling process are yet not completely understood. In the bovine species, four distinct and progressive states of chromatin compaction have been characterized and are linked to a gradual acquisition of the developmental potential. Germinal v...

Introduction: This study determined whether the way in which pregnant ewes were handled affected gonad development in their offspring.Methods: Twin-bearing Scottish Blackface × Border Leicester ewes were either handled minimally (control, C, n=20), positively (predictable timings, soft vocal tones etc. P, n=20) or negatively (random timings, shouting and whistling etc. N, n=20) between day 65 and 100 of pregnancy. Followin...

Introduction: Following IVF, blastocysts produced from oocytes recovered from gilts fed a high fibre diet for the preceding 19 days contained more cells than blastocysts from oocytes of control-fed gilts. Oocytes were collected on day 19 of the gilts’ third oestrous cycle and matured in 10% of their own follicular fluid (FF), suggesting that FF may confer the reproductive benefits. The current study compared the protein composition of pooled FF from six high fibre-fed pig...

The agouti is a rodent found in the South America and one of the most predated species in Brazil, which has shown a significant decrease of population size. The principal function of epididymis is maturation of spermatozoa, in addition to conducting the same for the vas deferens. The study of sperm pathway, especially of epididymis, can promote morphophysiological information necessary for reproduction biotechnologies. The aim of this study was to describe the ultrastructure o...

The study of the sperm is particularly relevant to reproduction of the species and can promote morphological information necessary for reproduction biotechnologies. The agouti is a rodent found in the South America and represents an excellent source of animal protein. In captivity, the establishment of pubescent occurs at 9 months of age. The aim of this study is to describe the ultrastructure of sperm during sexual development of agoutis kept in captivity. The testes of anima...