Reproduction Abstracts

The inclusion of amino acids in pre-implantation embryo culture media is known to improve the rate of development and embryo viability. Our studies have shown that embryos cultured in L-proline from the zygote to the blastocyst stage develop better than embryos cultured in the absence of amino acids. This study aimed to identify the pre-implantation stage(s) at which L-proline transport is required for development to be improved and then to charac...

Introduction: RNA-binding proteins (RBP) are important catalysts of post-transcriptional gene regulation. The RBP MSI2 directs stem cell function and division through established roles in cell cycle dynamics and cell fate determination. During the complex process of mammalian spermatogenesis, the directed uncoupling of transcription and translation is essential for the correct development of male gametes. We have previously established that dysregulation of MSI2 during germ ce...

Controlled gene regulation during gamete development is vital for maintaining reproductive potential. During the process of gamete development, male germ cells experience extended periods of inactive transcription despite requirements for continued growth and differentiation. Spermatogenesis therefore provides an ideal model to study the effects of post-transcriptional control on gene regulation. During spermatogenesis post-transcriptional regulation is orchestrated by abundan...

The fetus is antigenically distinct from the mother and therefore the maternal immune system must establish immunological tolerance towards the fetus to support pregnancy. Fetal-maternal tolerance is primarily mediated by a specialised subset of CD4+T cells known as regulatory T (Treg) cells. Absence or reduced function of Treg cells at embryo implantation causes infertility in mice and is implicated as a cause of reproductive disorders in women. The importance of a...

Introduction: Previous reports in different species have shown that various endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can modulate ovarian steroidogenesis with the majority of studies focussing on granulosa cells. To test the hypothesis that exposure to EDCs might also perturb thecal steroidogenesis we conducted in vitro dose–response experiments to evaluate the direct effects of selected EDCs on androstenedione and progesterone production by cultured bovine theca ce...

Introduction: Aflatoxins are poisonous by-products from soil-borne fungus Aspergillus flavus, which involved in the decomposition of plant materials. Various food products, such as maize, sorghum, millet, rice and wheat, are contaminated with aflatoxins. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxic aflatoxin and classified as carcinogen and mutagen. The lethality and toxicity extent of AFB1 varies between animals and organs. In the current study we examined the effects on sperm funct...

Introduction: Atrazine (ATZ) is one of the most extensively used herbicides, known as a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and found in water sources. ATZ was detected in human amniotic fluid, serum and urine, however, the risk associated with ATZ exposure on sperm is less known.Methods: Sperm was isolated from fresh ejaculates or testicular-epididymis compartments (head, body, tail) and capacitated in vitro for 4 h with 0, 0.1, 1 or 10 μ...

Introduction: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a signaling molecule derived from phospholipid known to have biological activities such as stimulating proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of LPA on IVM of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development after IVF and parthenogenetic activation (PA).Methods: We examined nuclear maturation, intracellular GSH and ROS levels and subsequent embryonic deve...

Introduction: We recently demonstrated that in vitro maturation (IVM) is associated with defects in histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16) acetylation in horse oocytes, together with a higher incidence of spindle anomalies and aneuploidy. In the present study we investigated whether maturation conditions can alter the abundance of transcripts involved in histone acetylation and deacetylation. The specific H4K16 acetyl-transferase Myst1, the general acetyl-transferase <...

The seminal vesiculitis leads to contamination of the semen with inflammatory cells, causing agglutination, precipitation, decreased sperm motility and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). This deleterious effect is most pronounced during the cryopreservation process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of frozen semen from stallions with seminal vesiculitis after local treatment. Five stallions with seminal vesiculitis were used and local treatmen...