Construction of blackberry polysaccharide nano-selenium particles: Structure features and regulation effects of glucose/lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells.

In this study, blackberry polysaccharide-selenium nanoparticles (BBP-24-3Se) were first prepared via Na2SeO3/Vc redox reaction, followed by coating with red blood cell membrane (RBC) to form core-shell structure polysaccharide-selenium nanoparticles (RBC@BBP-24-3Se). The particle size of BBP-24-3Se (167.1 nm) was increased to 239.8 nm (RBC@BBP-24-3Se) with an obvious core-shell structure after coating with RBC. FT-IR and XPS results indicated that the interaction between BBP-24-3 and SeNPs formed a new C-O···Se bond with valence state of Se0. Bioassays indicated that RBC coating markedly enhanced both the biocompatibility and bioabsorbability of RBC@BBP-24-3Se, and the absorption rate of RBC@BBP-24-3Se in HepG2 cells was 4.99 times higher than that of BBP-24-3Se at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. Compared with BBP-24-3Se, RBC@BBP-24-3Se possessed significantly heightened protective efficacy against oxidative damage and better regulation of glucose/lipid metabolism disorder induced by palmitic acid in HepG2 cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that RBC@BBP-24-3Se could effectively improve PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to promote glucose metabolism, inhibit the expression of lipid synthesis genes and up-regulate the expression of lipid-decomposing genes through AMPK signaling pathway to improve lipid metabolism. These results provided a theoretical basis for developing a new type of selenium supplement for the treatment of insulin resistance.

Effect of fixed-time artificial insemination on corpus luteum gene expression at the day 16 and 25 pregnancy of gilt.

Utilization of female livestock can be optimized by application of Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI), which plays an important role in large-scale livestock production. However, molecular mechanism of FTAI affecting reproductive performance remains unclear. To investigate the effects of FTAI on corpus luteum in 16 and 25 days of pregnancy gilts, 12 pregnancy gilts were selected from Altrenogest + PMSG + GnRH (APG) group and control group. The number of left and right CL in APG group were significantly higher than control (p < 0.05). Furthermore, result showed the number of differentially expressed genes between 16APG group and 16 C group was obviously larger than that between 25APG and 25 C group (2394 vs. 1476). Up regulated genes in APG were mainly associated with cytokine production and secretion, cell communication and transport (day 16) and angiogenesis, cell cycle and cell-cell signaling (day 25). The expression of differentially expressed genes (RPL10, CYP17A1, DCN, IL18, LDLR and PRLR) in luteal tissue were verified by real-time PCR. In summary, APG program significantly improve reproductive efficiency of gilts through up regulation of cytokine production/secretion, cell communication and transport in Day 16 pregnancy and angiogenesis, cell cycle and cell-cell signaling at Day 25 pregnancy in porcine.

MicroRNAs are potential regulators of the timed artificial insemination effect in gilt endometrium.

To determine effects of timed artificial insemination (TAI) hormonal treatments on reproductive performance of gilts/sows and explore molecular mechanisms, gilts (TAI: 90; Control:149; Total: 239) and sows (TAI: 370; Control: 492) were utilized. Results indicated the estrus/farrowing rate and number of piglets born alive and weaned in the TAI group were greater than in the control group for both gilts and sows. To explore the molecular mechanism for TAI hormonal effects, the small RNA of the gilt endometrium at 16 and 25 of gestation were sampled and sequenced to determine potential functions of microRNA (MiRNA); 358 known and 142 novel MiRNAs were detected. With comparison of TAI and control groups, there were 54 differentially abundant MiRNAs, and functional analysis results indicated "binding," "protein/ion binding," and "immune response" were mostly enriched. In addition, representative MiRNAs were selected based on criteria including being regulated on both day 16 and 25 of gestation (ssc-miR-10a-5p, ssc-miR-345-5p, ssc-miR-370) along with reproduction-related target genes (ssc-miR-424-5p, ssc-miR-142-5p). Furthermore, target genes of selected MiRNAs were screened, and functional enrichment of those genes also indicated that the "binding" and "immune response" were mainly enriched. Results from the present study confirmed TAI-hormonal treatments improved estrous/farrowing rate and number of piglets born alive/weaned of gilts/sows and that hormonal treatment regimens leading to behavioral estrus at timed artificial insemination in gilts results in microRNA patterns in the endometrium that are more supportive of pregnancy. Results contribute valuable information for future studies of effects of TAI hormonal treatments on pig reproductive performance.

A New Unusual Ice-induced Sedimentary Structure: the Silt Mushroom.

Upon channel bars or point bars within the lows of the Yellow River, a new sedimentary structure, named 'silt mushroom', has been observed. The process of their formation is interpreted to be via the ice process. The name, the silt mushroom comes from their figurative form. This is because they look somewhat similar to mushroom's in size and shape; being in the range of 1 to 10 cm in diameter, with the medium 3-5 cm, and on average 10 cm in height, occuring generally in groups, and occasionally in isolation in relatively soft silt. They develop in the transition from winter to spring, and are convincingly related to ice processes. Ice-induced silt mushrooms are best examined in association with the many other newly discovered ice-induced sedimentary structures (over 20 kinds). Clearly, up to now, ice processes have been significantly underestimated. With the substantial discovery of the ice-induced silt mushroom, it opens up new questions. This is because its structure mirrors the same sedimentary structures found in rocks, questioning their genesis, and sedimentary environment analysis. This achievement is significant not only in sedimentology, but also in palaeogeography, palaeoclimate, geological engineering, hydraulics and fluviology.