Female Animals Research Articles

CREBRF regulates apoptosis and estradiol via ISG15/ISGylation in pig granulosa cells

Granulosa cells are pivotal in the reproductive processes of female animals; their proliferation, apoptosis, and hormonal secretion are crucial for follicular development and ovulation. Although the role and mechanisms of CREBRF in the reproductive system have garnered attention, its specific functions and underlying mechanisms in ovarian granulosa cells remain unexplored—this study aims to address these gaps. Using flow cytometry, transcriptome sequencing and other technologies, our research revealed elevated CREBRF expression in pig breeds correlated with diminished estrodiol (E2) levels. Further experimental results proved CREBRF could suppress apoptosis through the Bax/caspase3/caspase9 pathway and modulation of ISG15/ISGylation in porcine granulosa cells. When CREBRF was interfered with siRNA, the apoptosis of granulosa cells was increased. At the same time, the expression of apoptosis-related Bax, caspase3, caspase9 was significantly up-regulated, and the expression of anti-apoptotic factor BCL2 was significantly down-regulated. During this process, the expression of many genes changed in granulosa cells. Several genes (CMPK2, MX1, MX2, ZBP1, PML, CHAC1, and BAX) which were promoted apoptosis, were upregulated after CREBRF knockdown with siRNA. ISG15-protein conjugation genes (HERC5, UBA7, UBE2L6, ISG15) were also were upregulated. On the contrary, the expression of anti-apoptotic (RFK, SNAP23) genes decreased. In conclusion, CREBRF could regulate apoptosis of pig granulosa cells through BAX/caspase3/caspase9. Additionally, the study highlights significant alterations in the expression of ISG-related genes and other known apoptosis-related genes during this process. This discovery can novel insights for further elucidating the molecular mechanism of granulosa cells within ovarian granulosa cells and potentially identifies CREBRF as a molecular target for improvement of fertility.

Oral low-dose rapamycin treatment prevents aortic aneurysms in marfan mice

Abstract Background/Introduction Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder caused by fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene mutations. Life-threatening complications are cardiovascular, e.g. thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. The pathophysiological cause is the increased release of transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) from the FBN1-deficient extracellular matrix (ECM) and structural disintegrity. Overactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has been demonstrated in the murine mgR/mgR model of MFS. Short-term administration of rapamycin significantly reduced aortic aneurysm formation and increased the life span in these mice. Purpose To assess the effect of an early continuous oral low-dose rapamycin treatment on the aortic aneurysm formation in the FBN1 hypomorphic mgR/mgR mouse model. Methods Male and female 3-4 week-old mgR/mgR mice were orally administered vehicle or rapamycin through diet (8mg/kg/KG) and sacrificed after 11 weeks. Rapamycin concentration was measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in whole blood. Aortic diameter was studied using echocardiography. Histopathological and immunofluorescence analyses were performed using aortic tissue sections and techniques. Results Blood rapamycin concentration following oral administration remained below detection level. Rapamycin normalized the aortic wall thickness and the diameter in female mgR/mgR mice to levels of the littermate control mice but not in male mgR/mgR mice. The circumferentially distributed elastin fibres remained significantly intact in sections of the ascending aorta of female mice. Echocardiography revealed that rapamycin-treated female mice stayed below a cut-off value for aortic aneurysms of 2 mm inner aortic diameter eight weeks after starting therapy. In contrast, vehicle-treated female animals already exceeded this value after five weeks. In female but not in male mice, the abundance of the mTOR downstream target phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 was effectively suppressed by low-dose rapamycin up to levels detected in control animals. At the same time, extracellular matrix proteins like the proteoglycan aggrecan (ACAN) and the related chondroitin sulfate were significantly decreased in female mice. The abundance of ADAMTS5 transglutaminase-2 and xylosyltransferase-1, key enzymes involved in the turnover of proteoglycans and biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycan chains, was improved by the rapamycin treatment in female mice. No decrease in mTOR activity could be detected in male mgR/mgR animals. Here, the ACAN and chondroitin sulphate levels also remained at the level of the vehicle-treated animals. Conclusions Chronic low-dose rapamycin treatment reduced aneurysm formation only in female mgR/mgR mice, since the dose was too low for male mgR/mgR mice, by affecting the composition and organization of key ECM components essential for maintaining aortic homeostasis and mechanical properties.

Developmental nicotine exposure alters cardiovascular structure and function in neonatal and juvenile rats.

Here we test the hypothesis that continuous nicotine exposure throughout pre- and postnatal development (developmental nicotine exposure, DNE) alters cardiovascular structure and function in neonatal and juvenile rats. Echocardiography showed that DNE reduced left ventricular mass, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter, and posterior wall thickness, but only in females. Both male and female DNE rats had a lower end-systolic volume, higher ejection fraction, and increased fractional shortening, with unchanged stroke volume and cardiac output. Left ventricular single cardiac myocytes from male and female DNE animals exhibited increased calcium-evoked maximal tension with no effect on EC50. Tail-cuff plethysmography in awake rats showed that DNE males had lower systolic blood pressure and higher heart rate than control males. No significant changes in preload, afterload, or the in vitro renal artery response to vasodilators was observed. The results suggest that DNE enhances myocyte tension-generating capacity, possibly compensating for an unknown developmental insult, which may differ in males and females. While this adaptation maintains normal resting cardiac function, it may lead to reduced cardiac reserve, increased energy demand, and elevated oxidative stress, potentially compromising both short-and-long-term cardiovascular health in developing neonates.

ParthenoGenius: A User-Friendly Heuristic for Inferring Presence and Mechanism of Facultative Parthenogenesis from Genetic and Genomic Data Sets.

Facultative parthenogenesis (FP), or asexual reproduction by sexually-reproducing female animals, has been reported across several clades of vertebrates and is increasingly being recognized as a reproductive mechanism with significant implications for the genetic variation of captive and wild populations. The definitive identification of parthenogens requires molecular confirmation, with large genomic data sets necessary to accurately parse the parthenogenetic mechanism (i.e., endoduplication, gametic duplication, terminal fusion automixis, or central fusion automixis). Current methods for inferring FP from large genomic data sets are statistically intensive, require competency in R scripting for their execution, and are not designed for detection of facultative parthenogenesis or screening of large numbers of mother/offspring pairs, whereas small data sets (i.e., microsatellites) that can be evaluated visually lack the power to discriminate among FP mechanisms. Here, we present the user-friendly software program, ParthenoGenius, that uses intuitive logic to infer presence and mechanism of FP from even large genomic data sets comprising many mothers and offspring. ParthenoGenius runs relatively quickly and does not require the researcher to have knowledge of R scripting or statistics. ParthenoGenius was tested on eight empirical data sets, and in each case identified parthenogens (and parthenogenic mechanism when present) consistent with results of previous studies or corroborating evidence. ParthenoGenius will facilitate the rapid screening of large genomic data sets comprising many mothers and offspring for the presence and mechanism of parthenogenesis, improving our understanding of the frequency and phylogenetic distribution of FP across the animal kingdom.

Glutathione Modulates Hydrogen Sulfide Release and the Ocular Hypotensive Action of Diallyl Polysulfide Compounds.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous transmitter with the potential to regulate aqueous humor dynamics and protect retinal neurons from degeneration. The aim of the present study was two-fold: (a) to evaluate the release of H2S from two polysulfides, diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS); and (b) to investigate their ocular hypotensive actions in normotensive male and female rabbits in the presence and absence of GSH. H2S was quantified hourly for up to 6 h using a H2S-Biosensor (World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, Fl). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was assessed in normotensive New Zealand Albino rabbits using a pneumotonometer (model 30 classic; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Depew, NY, USA). In the presence of GSH, there was an increase in the in vitro release of H2S produced by DADS and DATS. Both DADS and DATS also caused a dose-dependent reduction in IOP in male and female rabbits, in both treated and untreated eyes. For instance, in male animals, the presence of GSH (3% and 5%) significantly (p < 0.05, n = 5) enhanced the ocular hypotensive action of DADS (2%) and DATS (2%) from 14.02 ± 2.89% to 18.67 ± 5.6% and from 16.22 ± 3.48 to 23.62 ± 5.79%, respectively. GSH enhanced both H2S release and ocular hypotensive action of the polysulfides in a manner that was dependent on the number of sulfur atoms present in each polysulfide. Furthermore, female animals were less sensitive to the IOP-lowering action of the polysulfides, when compared to their male counterparts.

Liver iron stores and effectors of ferroptosis are dependent on age and sex.

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death characterized by a pro-oxidative cellular milieu and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis has been implicated in various forms of liver injury, in keeping with the major role of the liver in iron metabolism. Limited research has addressed potential differences in ferroptosis mediators with age and sex, especially in an in vivo model. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate hepatic labile iron and mediators of ferroptosis with ageing in both sexes. Because female animals generally display greater antioxidant defences than males, we hypothesized that females would display a phenotype resistant to ferroptosis. Here, we determined iron contents, protein expression of ferroptosis mediators and measures of oxidative injury in liver samples from 12- and 24-month-old male and female Fischer 344 rats. In comparison to males, the livers of female rats at both ages contained more non-haem iron, which was associated with greater ferritin heavy chain expression and attenuated expression of transferrin receptor-1. In female rats, the 24-month-old group had higher contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances compared with their 12-month-old counterparts, yet similar contents of labile iron. These results suggest a disconnect between labile iron contents and oxidative injury with age. Female animals also displayed greater expression of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), a modulator of ferroptosis, and greater abundance of high molecular weight 4-hydroxnonenal-modified proteins. These results demonstrate clear differences in iron and ferroptosis mediators between sexes and suggest that female rats of this strain might be more susceptible to ferroptosis.

Differences in Growth Performance and Meat Quality between Male and Female Juvenile Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during Separate Rearing.

This study compared the growth and flesh quality of juvenile male and female Nile tilapia grown in separate RAS tanks. The Genetic Sex Determination method yielded 40 males and 40 females. Males grew longer and heavier than females, and the results showed significant variation between the sexes in terms of weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and final body length and weight. In terms of the feed conversion ratio (FCR), Gonad Somatic Index (GSI), and Viscera Somatic Index (VSI), females presented better results than males. Male and female Hepatosomatic Index (HSI) values did not differ significantly-no difference in blood serum values. The meat's moisture and crude protein composition did not alter significantly from male to female; however, the crude fat and ash levels did differ significantly. Male and female animals were given the same seventeen distinct types of amino acids, and there was no distinct variation in the profiles of total amino acids (TAAs) and essential amino acids (EAAs) between the sexes. However, in the non-essential amino acid (NEAA) category, there were marginally significant differences, wherein females performed better than males. Males and females differed considerably in crude fat and ash levels but not in the moisture content or crude protein composition of the meat. Regarding fatty acids, males outperformed females in terms of total fatty acids (TFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and saturated fatty acids (SFAs). However, no significant difference in the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in muscle was found between males and females.

Protective and Detoxifying Effects of Resveratrol on Zearalenone-Mediated Toxicity: A Review

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. fungi and is widely found in moldy corn, wheat, barley, and other grains. ZEA is distributed to the whole body via blood circulation after metabolic transformation in animals. Through oxidative stress, immunosuppression, apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ZEA leads to hepatitis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, abortion, and stillbirth in female animals, and decreased sperm motility in male animals. In recent years, due to the influence of climate, storage facilities, and other factors, the problem of ZEA pollution in global food crops has become particularly prominent, resulting in serious problems for the animal husbandry and feed industries, and threatening human health. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural product with therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. RSV can alleviate ZEA-induced toxic effects by targeting signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2/Keap1, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR via attenuating oxidative damage, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, and regulating cellular autophagy. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the protective effect of RSV against ZEA-induced toxicity and its molecular mechanism, and discusses the safety and potential clinical applications of RSV in the search for natural mycotoxin detoxification agents.

Gasdermin D is activated but does not drive neurodegeneration in SOD1 G93A model of ALS: Implications for targeting pyroptosis.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss, microgliosis, and neuroinflammation. While pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death, has been implicated in ALS, the specific role of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) - the primary executioner of pyroptosis - remains unexplored. In this study, we examined the function of GSDMD in the well-established SOD1 G93A mouse model of ALS. Our results showed robust GSDMD activation in the spinal cords of SOD1 G93A animals across two strain backgrounds, with elevated expression in Iba1+ microglia. To explore its role in disease progression, we bred B6.SOD1 G93A mice onto a GSDMD - deficient background. In comparing SOD1 G93A ; Gsdmd +/+ and SOD1 G93A ; Gsdmd -/- mice, we found that Gsdmd loss did not affect disease onset, weight loss, or grip strength decline in either male or female animals. Notably, GSDMD deficiency resulted in a modest but statistically significant increase in mortality in SOD1 G93A mice. Moreover, GSDMD absence had minimal impact on astrogliosis, microgliosis and motor neuron loss. These findings show that while GSDMD is activated in the ALS mouse model, its loss does not mitigate key ALS behavioral phenotypes, gliosis or motor neuron loss. This study provides insights into the potential therapeutic relevance of targeting pyroptosis and inflammatory pathways in ALS.

Chronic treatment with the antipsychotic lurasidone modulates the neuroinflammatory changes associated with the vulnerability to chronic mild stress exposure in female rats

Stress exposure is a key risk factor for the developmentof depressive-like conditions. However, despite the higher incidence of Major Depressive Disorder in the female population, classical stress-based experimental paradigms have primarily focused on males. In the present study, we used the well-established chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm to investigate the development of anhedonia, a cardinal symptom of affective disorders, in the female animals and we also studied the potential effect of the antipsychotic drug lurasidone in normalizing the alterations brought about by stress exposure. We found that three weeks of CMS exposure produced a significant reduction of sucrose intake in 50% of the animals (vulnerable, CMS-V), whereas the others were resilient (CMS-R). The development of an anhedonic phenotype in CMS-V was associated with a significant elevation of different immune markers, such as Complement C3 and C4, and inflammatory cytokines, including INFß and Il1ß in dorsal and ventral hippocampus. Interestingly, sub-chronic treatment with the antipsychotic drug lurasidone was able to revert the anhedonic phenotype while normalizing most of the molecular alterations found in rats vulnerable to CMS exposure. This study extends the ability of lurasidone to normalize the anhedonic phenotype in CMS rats also to females. Moreover, we provide novel evidence on lurasidone’s potential effectiveness in treating mental disorders characterized by immune-inflammatory dysfunction.

RNA m6A methyltransferase activator affects anxiety-related behaviours, monoamines and striatal gene expression in the rat.

Modification of mRNA by methylation is involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by affecting the splicing, transport, stability and translation of mRNA. Methylation of adenosine at N6 (m6A) is one of the most common and important cellular modification occurring in the mRNA of eukaryotes. Evidence that m6A mRNA methylation is involved in regulation of stress response and that its dysregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders is accumulating. We have examined the acute and subchronic (up to 18 days once per day intraperitoneally) effect of the first METTL3/METTL14 activator compound CHMA1004 (methyl-piperazine-2-carboxylate) at two doses (1 and 5 mg/kg) in male and female rats. CHMA1004 had a locomotor activating and anxiolytic-like profile in open field and elevated zero-maze tests. In female rats sucrose consumption and swimming in Porsolt's test were increased. Nevertheless, CHMA1004 did not exhibit strong psychostimulant-like properties: CHMA1004 had no effect on 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations except that it reduced the baseline difference between male and female animals, and acute drug treatment had no effect on extracellular dopamine levels in striatum. Subchronic CHMA1004 altered ex vivo catecholamine levels in several brain regions. RNA sequencing of female rat striata after subchronic CHMA1004 treatment revealed changes in the expression of a number of genes linked to dopamine neuron viability, neurodegeneration, depression, anxiety and stress response. Conclusively, the first-in-class METTL3/METTL14 activator compound CHMA1004 increased locomotor activity and elicited anxiolytic-like effects after systemic administration, demonstrating that pharmacological activation of RNA m6A methylation has potential for neuropsychiatric drug development.

Pharmacokinetics and related gender difference studies of four active components of Codonopsis Pilosula by LC-MS/MS determination

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCodonopsis pilosula (C. pilosula), commonly known as Dangshen in Chinese, had been used to regulate the immune, digestive, and circulatory systems of human. The reported pharmacokinetic studies on C. pilosula are mainly limited to in vivo profile studies of a single component. It has not been detected simultaneously the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles of multiple active components as well as related gender difference after oral dosing of the extraction of C. pilosula. Aim of the studyThis study aims to reveal the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the four main active components of C. pilosula after oral dosing of its extraction in rats, and to explain the gender differences in absorption and metabolism. Materials and methodsThe plasma pharmacokinetic characteristics of four main active components of C. pilosula was explored using the established LC-MS/MS method after oral dosing of the extraction of C. pilosula in male and female rats. In vitro intestinal pouch permeability and liver microsome metabolic stability were also observed to classify the possible mechanism of gender difference existed in the pharmacokinetic profiles of the four active components in rats. ResultsFour effective components were absorbed quickly in rats after oral administration of alcoholic extract of C. pilosula (1.36 g/mL, equivalent to 2 g/mL as crude drug), and their exposure order was as follows: Atractylenolide III > Lobetyolin > Tangshenoside I > Syringin. The exposure (AUC) and peak concentration (Cmax) of Atractylenolide III in female rats were much higher than those in male rats, indicating a significant gender difference in pharmacokinetics of Atractylenolide III between female and male animals. With the help of the rat model of intestinal sac in vitro, it was found that Lobetyolin was a hypertonic compound, and both Tangshenoside I and Syringin were compounds with medium permeabiltiy. Notably, the Papp of Atractylenolide III was 3.3 × 10−6 cm/s in male rat intestinal sac assay, while that was 10 × 10−6 cm/s in female rat intestinal sac model, showing a significant gender difference in intestinal permeability (P < 0.05). After the addition of NADPH, the four compounds were reduced in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that CYP450s could catalyze their metabolism. After incubation, the remaining content of Atractylenolide III in the liver microsomes of male and female rats was 27% and 57%, respectively, suggesting slower metabolic rate of in female rat liver microsomes. ConclusionA simple, efficient and reliable LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of four active index components of C. pilosula, Lobetyolin, Tangshenoside I, Atractylenolide III and Syringin, in rat plasma was established and verified. This method was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic study after single oral administration of the alcoholic extract of C. pilosula in rats. Gender difference was observed in the pharmacokinetic profile of Atractylenolide III in rats. Intestinal absorption and liver metabolism might be two key factors that resulted in the gender difference in exposure and pharmacokinetics of Atractylenolide III in rats. This study provides supportive data for clinical rational application of C. pilosula in individualized medication therapy.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Peste des petits ruminants in selected districts of Awi zone, Northwest Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study to estimate the antibody seroprevalence of the PPR virus and determine the associated risk factors was conducted from February 2021 to May 2022 in the Guangua and Jawi districts of the Awi zone. Of the total 380 sera samples tested using cELISA, 231 (60.8 %) were found positive for the PPRV antibody. A significantly higher prevalence of 76.2 % (OR = 4.5, P = 0.000) was observed in the Jawi district than in the Guangua district (45.5 %). Seroprevalence of 61.9 % (109/176) in sheep and 59.8 % (122/204) in goats was also detected in the present study (P > 0.05). Significantly higher prevalence was revealed in old (69.7 %, OR = 3.4) and adult (65.7 %, OR = 2.3) age groups compared to young (48.9 %) age groups. A prevalence of 63.4 % and 55.6 % were reported in female and male animals respectively (P > 0.05, χ2 = 1.85). As evidenced by the serological test result, PPR is highly circulated in the Guangua and Jawi districts of the Awi zone. The higher circulation of the PPR virus, the uncontrolled movement of animals, and the regular practice of communal grazing systems in the area indicate the chance of continued dissemination within and to other places. Hence, proper implementation of prevention and control measures and further study on sequencing and characterization of the circulating virus are advised.

Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on estrous cycle, and behavior and expression of estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin during estrus and diestrus in mice offspring.

Increasing evidence indicates that prenatal cocaine exposure may result in many developmental and long-lasting neurological and behavioral effects. The behaviors of female animals are strongly associated with the estrous cycle. Estrogen receptors and oxytocin are important neuroendocrine factors that regulate social behavior and are of special relevance to females. However, whether prenatal cocaine exposure induces estrous cycle changes in offspring and whether neurobehavioral changes in estrus and diestrus offspring differ remains unclear. On gestational day 12, mice were administered cocaine once daily for seven consecutive days, then the estrous cycle was examined in adult female offspring, as well as locomotion, anxiety level, and social behaviors, and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha-immunoreactive and oxytocin-immunoreactive neurons were compared between estrus and diestrus offspring. Prenatal cocaine exposure resulted in the shortening of proestrus and estrus in the offspring. During estrus and diestrus, prenatally cocaine-exposed offspring showed increased anxiety levels and changed partial social behaviors; their motility showed no significant differences in estrus, but declined in diestrus. Prenatal cocaine exposure reduced estrogen receptor alpha-immunoreactive expression in the medial preoptic area, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, and arcuate nucleus and oxytocin-immunoreactive expression in the paraventricular nucleus in estrus and diestrus offspring. These results suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure induces changes in the offspring's estrous cycle and expression of estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin in a brain region-specific manner and that prenatal cocaine exposure and the estrous cycle interactively change motility and partial social behavior. Estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin signaling are likely to play important concerted roles in mediating the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on the offspring.

An attempt to search for the common cellular mechanism of ovulation across all metazoans: A review.

Ovulation is the process by which a fertilizable oocyte is extruded from the interior of the follicle. Herein, we conducted a literature survey to explore the ovulation patterns of eleven sexually reproducing species belonging to 10 animal phyla. These results indicate a large variety of ovulation patterns. Further comparative biological and evolutionary considerations of these results led us to conclude that most female animals ovulate via follicle rupture. We propose that in all animals that ovulate by follicle rupture, two cellular events may be critically involved in the process: 1) the disintegration of cell junctional systems that lead to intracellular cytoskeleton rearrangement in the follicle cells and 2) the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins filling between follicle cells. These events may result in follicular cell deformation and increased motility, both of which are necessary for the formation of a path through which oocytes escape from the follicle. In addition to the requirement of ECM degradation for disintegrating cell junctions, intensive ECM protein degradation at the apical region of the follicle probably became increasingly important in late-evolving animals, such as vertebrates, in which a thick follicle wall containing a large abundance of ECM proteins is formed. We also considered hypothetical scenarios for the evolution of ovulation in these animals. Furthermore, this article discusses the future problems that need to be solved for a more comprehensive understanding of ovulation in the animal kingdom.

Prevalence status and detection of benzimidazole resistance using AS-PCR in Haemonchus contortus of goats from Marathwada region, Maharashtra, India

This study examined Haemonchus contortus prevalence and benzimidazole resistance in eight districts of Marathwada, Maharashtra, India. A comprehensive investigation of 264 abomasa of goats collected from abattoirs and goats necropsied at the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Parbhani, revealed 21.21 % a prevalence of H. contortus. The incidence of H. contortus did not vary much across seasons and it was highest in summer (23.42 %), followed by monsoon (22.89 %), and lowest in winter (15.71 %). Statistically non-significant (p < 0.05) prevalence was observed in male and female animals. A detailed examination of 168 adult H. contortus worms from eight districts revealed the presence of all conceivable genotypes including homozygous resistant (rr), susceptible (SS), and heterozygous (Sr) BZ susceptible genotypes. The rr was the most frequent at 50 %, followed by SS at 27 % and Sr at 22 %. The presence of the SNP was observed in in all eight randomly selected and sequenced samples.

Melatonin facilitates oocyte growth in goats and mice through increased nutrient reserves and enhanced mitochondrial function.

Oogenesis involves two phases: initial volumetric growth driven by nutrient accumulation and subsequent nuclear maturation. While melatonin (MLT) has been employed as a supplement to enhance the quality of fully grown oocytes during nuclear maturation phase, its impact on oocyte growth remains poorly studied. Here, we provide invivo evidence demonstrating that follicle-stimulating hormone increases MLT content in ovary. Administration of MLT improves oocyte growth and quality in mice and goats by enhancing nutrient reserves and mitochondrial function. Conversely, MLT-deficient mice have smaller oocytes and dysfunctional mitochondria. Exploring the clinical implications of MLT in promoting oocyte growth, we observe that a brief 2-day MLT treatment enhances oocyte quality and reproductive performance in older mice. These findings highlight the role of MLT in regulating oocyte growth and provide a specific treatment window for optimizing oocyte quality and reproductive performance in female animals.

Artificial Insemination: A New Horizon for Scientific Goat Breeding in Kashmir’s Backyard Farming Sector

Background: Artificial insemination a well-established technique in cattle and buffalo farming, now increasingly adopted in goat farming involves collecting semen from male animals and transferring it to female animals, to disseminate valuable genetic material to bring genetic upgradation, increases milk production, and enhances breeding efficiency of flocks. Methods: Artificial insemination (AI) was performed on 266 goats using fresh and frozen semen from 2021 to 2024 on experimental basis. The data obtained were analyzed on percentage basis. Result: The overall kidding percentage of 30.08% was observed in the present study. Notably, fresh semen yielded a higher kidding percentage (32.69%) compared to frozen semen (29.44%). This study demonstrates the potential of AI in enhancing the genetic quality of backyard goat farming in Kashmir, where quality bucks are often sold at a young age for meat production. By leveraging AI, farmers can improve the genetic makeup of their goat flocks, leading to better productivity and sustainability.

The Exclusion Problem in Preclinical Studies: A Case of Epistemic Injustice?

ABSTRACT Researchers in neuroscience and biomedicine tend to exclude female animal subjects from preclinical studies. As a result, they fail to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) while testing some drug or treatment, and this in turn hinders the development of safer and more efficacious treatments for women patients (section 1.1). In section 2, I consider the proposal that this exclusion is an epistemic injustice to women patients and argue that it fails. More strongly, I show that if we accept Miranda Fricker’s notion of epistemic subjectivity, we cannot account for the exclusion even as an epistemic wrong against women patients. To account for the intuition that the exclusion is an epistemic wrong, I briefly outline a broader notion of what it means to be an epistemic subject. In section 3, I argue that the exclusion is an epistemic wrong because it violates the epistemic claim-rights of women patients. For this I use Lani Watson’s work on epistemic claim-rights. In 3.1, I defend the claim that women patients have an epistemic claim-right against researchers’ exclusion of female animal subjects from preclinical studies. Finally, in 3.2, I consider some important upshots of my thesis.

Succession of rumen microbiota and metabolites across different reproductive periods in different sheep breeds and their impact on the growth and development of offspring lambs

BackgroundThe microbiota and metabolites in the gastrointestinal tracts of female animals at different reproductive periods are very important to the growth, development, and health of themselves and their offspring. However, the changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota and metabolites throughout reproductive period of different sheep breeds and their effects on the growth and development of offspring lambs are still unclear. Hence, this study presents an assessment of the reproductive hormone levels, immune levels, rumen microbiota, and metabolites in Hu sheep and Suffolk ewes at different reproductive periods and their effects on the growth and development of offspring lambs.ResultsHu sheep and Suffolk during non-pregnancy, pregnancy, and lactation were used as the research objects to determine reproductive and immune indexes of ewes at different periods, analyze rumen microbiome and metabolome, and track the growth performance and development of offspring lambs. The results showed that the reproductive hormone and immune levels of Hu sheep and Suffolk underwent adaptive changes across different reproductive periods. Compared with non-pregnancy, the microbial energy metabolism and lipid metabolism function decreased during Hu sheep pregnancy, and energy metabolism function decreased during lactation. In Suffolk, energy metabolism, glycan biosynthesis, and metabolism function were enhanced during pregnancy, and the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins was enhanced during lactation. Prevotella increased in Suffolk during pregnancy and lactation (P < 0.05) and was positively correlated with the birth weight and body size of the lambs (P < 0.05). Moreover, the abundances of Butyrivibrio and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group during pregnancy were positively correlated with the intestinal immunity of the offspring lambs (P < 0.05), thereby regulating the intestinal immunity level of the lambs. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the protein digestion, absorption, and amino acid metabolism of Hu sheep were enhanced during pregnancy, which provided amino acids for the growth and development of pregnant ewes and fetuses and was significantly correlated with the birth weight, body size, and intestinal immunity of lambs (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, there was an increase in acetate and propionate during the pregnancy and lactation period of both Hu sheep and Suffolk, providing energy for ewes during reproductive period. Moreover, the microbiota during the lactation period was significantly correlated with the milk quality and lambs daily gain (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study revealed the characteristic succession changes in the rumen microbiota and its metabolites at different reproductive periods in sheep breeds and their regulation of reproductive hormone and immune levels and identified their potential effects on the growth and development of offspring lambs. The findings provide valuable insights into the health and feeding management of different sheep breeds during the reproductive stage.Cnu7uEJBESQuA-vs1kGzfaVideo