Impact of papain on the treatment of raw diluted dromedary semen.

A variety of parameters, including liquefaction and semen viscosity, affect the sperm's ability to travel and reach the egg for fertilization and conception. Given that the details behind the viscosity of the semen in male camels have not yet been fully clarified, the purpose of this study was to ascertain how the addition of papain affected the viscosity of fresh diluted camel semen. The study examined semen samples derived from camels that had distinct viscosities. Sperm motility, viability, abnormal sperm percentage, concentration, viscosity, morphometry, acrosome integrity and liquefaction were among the evaluations following 0, 5, 10, 20 or 30 min of incubation at 37°C with papain (0.004 mg/mL, 0.04 mg/mL or 0.4 mg/mL; a semen sample without papain was used as a control). A statistically significant interaction between the effects of papain concentrations and incubation time was found (F = 41.68, p = .0001). Papain concentrations (p = .0001) and incubation times (p = .0001) both had a statistically significant impact on viscosity, according to a simple main effects analysis. A lower viscosity was found (p < .05) at 0.04 mg/mL (0.1 ± 0.0) after 10 min of incubation. A simple main effects analysis showed that papain concentrations and incubation time have a statistically significant effect on sperm motility (p = .0001). At 0.04 mg/mL papain, the sperm motility % was higher (p < .05) after 10 min (64.4 ± 4.8), 20 min (68.4 ± 6.2), and 30 min incubation (72.2 ± 6.6) compared to 0, 5 min (38.3 ± 4.1 and 51.6 ± 5.0, respectively). In conclusion, the fresh diluted camel semen had the lowest viscosity properties after 10 min of incubation with 0.04 mg/mL papain, without compromising sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity and sperm morphology.

Effects of recombinant osteopontin expressed in Escherichia coli on the recovery of the endometrial epidermal growth factor profile and fertility in repeat breeder dairy cows.

Endometrial epidermal growth factor (EGF) shows a cyclic change with two peaks on days 2-4 and days 13-14 of the estrous cycle. In repeat breeder cows, loss of the peaks has been associated with reduced fertility. By infusing seminal plasma (SP) and osteopontin (OPN) derived from SP and milk into the vagina, their EGF profile and fertility are restored. However, SP is difficult to obtain, and both SP and OPN can transmit infectious diseases. While OPN can be sourced from recombinant protein without this risk, recombinant bovine OPN (rOPN) expressed in Escherichia coli should be examined for its effects on the EGF profile, since it does not undergo posttranslational modification, which is important for its biological activity. In study 1, PBS, SP (0.5 mL), and rOPN (0.3 mg) were infused into the vagina at estrus (day 0) in 74, 37, and 105 repeat breeder Holstein cows, respectively, with an altered EGF profile. The endometrial EGF concentrations were measured on day 3. Some cows (n = 58, 20, and 83, respectively) were inseminated immediately before the infusion and then diagnosed for pregnancy between days 30 and 35. The normalization rate of the EGF profile and conception rate in the rOPN group (58.1 % and 47.0 %, respectively) were not significantly different from those in the SP group (62.2 % and 45.0 %, respectively) but higher than those in PBS group (29.7 % and 28.1 %, respectively) (P < 0.05). In study 2, repeat breeder cows with an altered EGF profile were infused with PBS (n = 18) and rOPN (n = 17), while fertile controls with a normal EGF profile (n = 18) were infused with PBS. Two or three embryos were transferred into cows on day 7 and then recovered on day 14. Embryo recovery rates of the rOPN and fertile groups were comparable (58.7 % vs. 58.3 %) but higher than that of the PBS group (58.7 % vs. 32.0 %) (P < 0.05). The embryo recovery rate of cows with normalized EGF profile was higher than that of cows with unnormalized EGF profile (64.4 % vs. 16.7 %) (P < 0.05). The embryo sizes of cows in the rOPN and fertile groups were comparable but larger than those in the PBS group (P < 0.05). However, the embryo size was not correlated to the corresponding endometrial EGF concentrations. In conclusion, rOPN without posttranslational modifications normalized the EGF profile in repeat breeder cows. Improved fertility by normalization of the EGF profile could be attributed partly to the increased embryo viability up to day 14.

A recently developed minimum volume, absorbent, vitrification device, the Kitasato Vitrification System gives excellent outcomes for in vitro produced bovine blastocysts.

Cryopreservation of embryos is a crucial component of current assisted reproductive technologies (ART). While the ART outcomes for many species have been greatly improved by the introduction of minimum volume vitrification devices, these devices can be difficult to handle and load. To reduce this problem, we recently developed a vitrification carrier which has a highly absorbent surface so that it simply and rapidly removes excess free vitrification solution from the specimen before the cooling step. This Kitasato Vitrification System (KVS) gives excellent results for human and mouse embryo vitrification. This study aimed to determine whether the KVS would also be effective for bovine blastocyst vitrification by comparing outcomes for the control device that was the KVS without excess vitrification solution absorber. The effect of varying the length of time spent in the first equilibration solution (0-10 min) was also evaluated. Vitrification with the KVS resulted in significantly higher survival and hatching rates than with the control device loaded with the same volume of vitrification solution (survival: 98.6% vs 87.6%, hatching at 72 h post warming: 87.3% vs 66.7%, respectively). The best outcomes were obtained with a 10 min equilibration step prior to exposure to the vitrification solution for 30 s. We also evaluated the effect of embryo quality on blastocyst viability when using the KVS. Survival rates of high- and low-quality embryos were comparable but low quality embryos had significantly lower hatching rates. Overall, the results indicate that the KVS vitrification device is effective for bovine blastocyst vitrification.

Pre-maturational culture promotes the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from an 8-day in vitro growth culture system.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of pre-maturational culture (pre-IVM) on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from an 8-day in vitro growth (IVG) culture system. IVG oocytes were subjected to 5 h pre-IVM before in vitro maturation, followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The proportion of oocytes that progressed to the germinal vesicle breakdown stage was similar between groups with and without pre-IVM. Although metaphase II oocytes and cleavage rates after IVF were similar regardless of pre-IVM culture, the blastocyst rate was significantly higher in the group with pre-IVM (22.5%) than without pre-IVM (11.0%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, pre-IVM culture improved the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from an 8-day IVG system.

Comparison between liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy and a novel latex agglutination method for measurement of hepcidin-25 concentrations in dialysis patients with renal anemia: A multicenter study.

Background and aims: Hepcidin-25 is an iron regulatory factor that plays an important role in anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Although liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) is the gold standard for measuring hepcidin-25 concentrations, results cannot be obtained immediately at clinical sites. In contrast, the latex immunoassay (LIA) can be performed using general clinical laboratory equipment, and the results can be obtained quickly. The aim of this study was to evaluate hepcidin-25 concentrations obtained by LC-MS/MS and a novel LIA method and compare the two methods. Materials and methods: Hepcidin-25 was measured by LIA and LC-MS/MS in 182 hemodialysis patients. A hepcidin-25-specific reagent and an automatic analyzer were used for LIA, and a commercially available system was used for LC-MS/MS. The Passing-Bablok regression analysis method was used. Results: On Passing-Bablok regression analysis, the slope was 1.000, with an intercept of 0.359. Very strong associations were obtained, and the measured values were almost identical. Conclusion: The hepcidin-25 concentrations measured using LIA and those measured by LC-MS/MS were significantly correlated. LIA can be performed using general clinical examination equipment and has a higher throughput than LC-MS/MS. Therefore, measurement of hepcidin-25 concentrations by LIA can be useful for routine laboratory testing.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) suppresses follicle development marker expression and enhances cytokine expressions, which results in fail to granulosa cell proliferation in developing follicle in cows.

Postpartum endometritis is known to be associated with ovarian dysfunction in cows. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) generated by Gram-negative bacteria is recognized by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which leads to an inflammatory response by the generation of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukins. In this study, we investigated the effect of endometrial LPS on granulosa cell functions during early follicular development in cows. Uteri and follicles were obtained from a slaughterhouse and classified into either clinical endometritis (CE) or normal groups by vaginal mucus test. TLR4 mRNA and protein in normal cows were expressed in granulosa cells collected from follicles measuring 1-3 and 4-7 mm in a diameter, respectively. LPS content in endometrium and follicular fluid of CE cows was significantly higher than that in normal cows. Compared to normal cows, CE cows showed lower expression of follicular development markers (FSHR, CYP19A1, CCND2, and LHCGR) in granulosa cells, lower estradiol-17ß concentrations in follicular fluid, and lower granulosa cell proliferation. CE contraction significantly increased cytokine expressions (TNF, IL-1A, and IL-1B) in granulosa cells and suppressed apoptosis of granulosa cells compared to normal cows. LPS significantly suppressed the expression of follicular development markers and the production of estradiol-17ß in granulosa cells and reduced granulosa cells proliferation compared to cells cultured without LPS. LPS significantly increased cytokine expressions and suppressed granulosa cell apoptosis. Thus, the present results suggest that the existence of LPS in developing follicles is one of the causes of ovarian quiescence in cows.

Relationship between frame rates and subpopulation structure of bovine sperm divided by their motility analyzed by a computer-assisted sperm analysis system.

The authors investigated the relationship between frame rates and subpopulation structure of bovine sperm divided by their motility analyzed by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Kinematic parameters of bovine sperm incubated in Brackett & Oliphant medium with and without calcium ionophore for 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min were evaluated by a CASA at 150 frames per second (fps) and analyzed structure of sperm motility subpopulation by cluster analysis. Then, we converted CASA data at 150 fps to 75, 50, and 30 fps and evaluated the structures of sperm motility subpopulation at different fps in each sperm by a discriminant analysis. As the results, the structure of sperm motility subpopulation was affected by frame rate. Sperm were divided into six clusters at 150, 75, and 50 fps; on the other hand, there were five clusters at 30 fps. Straight-line velocity was similar at all frame rates. However, as the frame rate became higher, curvilinear velocity and beat cross frequency of sperm head increased significantly, whereas lateral sperm head displacement decreased significantly. In conclusion, higher frame rate at 150 fps is recommended to capture the trajectory of sperm accurately by CASA in the present study.

Simultaneous free fatty acid elevations and accelerated desaturation in plasma and oocytes in early postpartum dairy cows under intensive feeding management.

A severe negative energy balance and high circulating free fatty acids (FFA) in postpartum cows impair fertility. The lipotoxicity of FFA has been shown to decrease the quality of bovine oocytes in vitro. Therefore, excess FFA in cells is converted to triacylglycerol (TAG), a non-toxic form, to avoid lipotoxicity. We recently reported that the TAG content in oocytes was higher in postpartum lactating cows subjected to grazing management than in heifers (Theriogenology 176: 174-182, 2021). The present study investigated the compositions of the energy metabolism-related lipids, FFA and TAG, in the plasma and oocytes of cows at different lactation stages under indoor intensive feeding management in order to obtain insights into lipotoxicity in oocytes, particularly those in early postpartum cows. Blood and oocytes were collected from 20 lactating cows categorized into the following lactation groups: 20-30 days in milk (DIM) (n = 5), 40-50 DIM (n = 5), 60-80 DIM (n = 5), and 130-160 DIM (n = 5). Daily energy balance data were obtained for 3 weeks prior to oocyte collection using the ovum pick up (OPU) method. The contents and compositions of FFA and TAG in plasma and oocytes were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. As expected, plasma FFA was high at 20-30 DIM, decreased by 50 DIM, and was maintained at a low level for the remainder of the experimental period. Similar changes were observed in oocyte FFA and TAG with DIM as plasma FFA. Oocyte FFA positively correlated with plasma FFA (P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with the mean energy balance 1 and 21 days before OPU (P < 0.05). Relationships were noted between the composition and content of FFA in plasma and oocytes, with the FFA 16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0 ratios positively correlating with the total amount of FFA (P < 0.05). Elevated oocyte FFA in cows in the early postpartum period under intensive feeding management suggested that oocytes were at a high risk of FFA lipotoxicity. Furthermore, the present results implied that the severe negative energy balance in the previous few weeks was closely related to increases in oocyte FFA, which supports the importance of long-term cow feeding management for preserving the quality of oocytes in the early postpartum period. The present results provide insights into the effects of high circulating FFA on the fertility of postpartum cows.

Relationship between the timing of insemination based on estrus detected by the automatic activity monitoring system and conception rates using sex-sorted semen in Holstein dairy cattle.

We investigated the optimal timing of artificial insemination (AI) for achieving pregnancy according to the onset/end of estrus detected by an accelerometer system in Holstein cattle. The conception rates of conventional semen were used as a reference. The conception rate from AI of sex-sorted semen was higher at -4 to 4 h (57.1%) from the end of estrus than those at -12 to -4 h (37.7%) and 12-20 h (30.3%), whereas AI at 4-12 h showed an intermediate conception rate (47.4%). Conversely, conception rates were similar in AI performed between 0 and 32 h from the onset of estrus. Regarding conventional semen, the interval from the onset and end of estrus did not affect conception rates. The present results suggest that the time of the end of estrus is the better indicator of optimal AI timing for sex-sorted semen than the onset of estrus.

Effects of milk osteopontin on the endometrial epidermal growth factor profile and restoration of fertility in repeat breeder dairy cows.

Endometrial epidermal growth factor (EGF) shows a cyclic change with two peaks on Days 2-4 and 13-14 during the estrous cycle. An altered (i.e., loss of the two peaks) profile has been linked to reduced fertility in repeat breeder cows. We previously demonstrated that a form of osteopontin (OPN), with a molecular weight of 29 kDa and found in bull seminal plasma (SP), normalized the EGF profile and restored fertility in repeat breeder cows. OPN has many molecular forms due to post-translational modifications and is abundant in bovine milk. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether mOPN normalizes the endometrial EGF profile and restores fertility in repeat breeder dairy cows with an altered EGF profile. OPN was separated by one-step anion-exchange column chromatography from the whey of bovine milk. Purified mOPN was verified by Western blotting and peptide mass fingerprinting analyses. The OPN fraction showed three major protein bands of 61, 37 and 31 kDa (peptides I, II, and III, respectively) on SDS-PAGE. All three major bands were identified as OPNs by Western blotting and their tryptic peptide masses were matched at approximately 50, 40, and 10%, respectively, to the bovine OPN amino acid sequence by a peptide mass finger printing analysis. The three bands accounted for approximately 85% of the total protein content and 6-23 mg of OPN was obtained from 1 L of bovine milk. A lyophilized eluate containing 1.3 mg of mOPN (171 cows), 0.5 mL of frozen SP (62 cows), and PBS (84 cows) was infused at estrus into the vagina of repeat breeder cows with an altered EGF profile. Some of the cows treated with mOPN, SP, and PBS (46, 50, and 45 cows, respectively) were inseminated immediately before the infusion and then examined for pregnancy between Days 60 and 65. The rate at which mOPN to normalize the EGF profile (56.1%) was similar to that of SP (58.1%) and higher than that of PBS (23.8%) (P < 0.05). The conception rate after the infusion of mOPN (43.5%) was similar to that of SP (40.0%) and higher than that of PBS (22.2%) (P < 0.05). The present results indicate that the infusion of mOPN into the vagina is a treatment option for repeat breeder cows with an altered EGF profile. Further studies are needed to compare the capacity of the three OPN molecules in milk to normalize the EGF profile, together with their molecular characteristics due to post-translational modifications.

Leptin receptor expression and its change in association with the normalization of EGF profile after seminal plasma treatment in repeat breeder dairy cows.

Factors associated with high milk production levels have been linked to alterations in the endometrial epidermal growth factor (EGF) profile, a cause of reduced fertility in dairy cows. Therefore, we examined the leptin system that connects nutritional status and reproduction in dairy cattle related to reduced fertility in repeat breeder cows. Plasma leptin concentrations were measured in 18 heifers, 20 high-yielding control cows, and 26 repeat breeder cows, showing an altered EGF profile. Then, all repeat breeder cows were infused with seminal plasma (SP) into the vagina at the next estrus to normalize the EGF profile, while heifers and control cows were infused with vehicle alone. All animals were examined for EGF profiles. Eighteen repeat breeder cows, nine heifers, and nine control cows were also determined for leptin receptor (Ob-R) expression levels in the estrous cycle before and after the infusion. SP normalized the EGF profile in 53.8% of the repeat breeder cows. Leptin concentrations were similar in all groups, regardless of the treatment results for the EGF profile. In contrast, Ob-R levels in repeat breeder and control cows were similar and higher than those in heifers before SP treatment. Ob-R in repeat breeders showing a normal EGF profile after treatment decreased to an intermediate level between heifers and control cows and may provide a clue to take measures against repeat breeding in dairy cows.

Plasma profile of follicle-stimulating hormone and sex steroid hormones after a single epidural administration of follicle-stimulating hormone via caudal vertebrae in Holstein dry cows.

The conventional follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment for bovine superstimulation involves multiple intramuscular injections, which is stressful for animals and onerous. We herein investigated whether a single epidural injection of porcine FSH (pFSH) can induce superovulation and peripheral concentrations of pFSH and steroid hormones after the treatment in Holstein dry cows. We intramuscularly administered pFSH twice daily to three cows for 3 days (control) or a single epidural pFSH administration (epidural). Numbers of follicles (≥10 mm in diameter) at estrus and corpora lutea at luteal phase were counted by ultrasonography. Blood was sampled from 0 to 104 h after the first pFSH administration and plasma pFSH, progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol-17ß concentrations were measured. Numbers of follicles (control: 18.3 ± 7.5, epidural: 15.7 ± 4.0; mean ± SD) and corpora lutea (control: 7.3 ± 4.2, epidural: 8.0 ± 2.6) were similar between both treatments. Plasma pFSH concentrations were higher in epidural than in control (p < 0.01). Although no significant differences were observed in progesterone, androstenedione, or estradiol-17ß concentrations between the groups, testosterone concentrations were slightly lower with the epidural treatment than with the control treatment (p = 0.08). In conclusion, superovulation was induced by a single epidural injection of pFSH, which achieved higher pFSH level than the multiple injections in Holstein dry cows.

Effects of heat stress on the endometrial epidermal growth factor profile and fertility in dairy cows.

The endometrial epidermal growth factor (EGF) profile is an indicator of uterine function and fertility in cattle. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of heat stress on the endometrial EGF profile and fertility in lactating Holstein cows. The endometrial EGF profiles of 365 cows in the Hokkaido and Kyushu regions were examined between June and September (heat stress period, n = 211) and between October and January (control period, n = 154). EGF profiles were investigated using uterine endometrial tissues obtained by biopsy 3 days after estrus (Day 3). The proportion of cows with an altered EGF profile was higher between June and September than between October and January (41.2 vs. 16.2%, P < 0.05). The effects of rectal temperature on Days 0 and 3 on the endometrial EGF profile were also assessed in cows (n = 79) between June and September in the Kyushu region. A single embryo was transferred to cow on Day 7 to evaluate fertility (n = 67). Regardless of the rectal temperature on Day 3, the proportion of cows with an altered EGF profile was higher (64.1 vs. 30.0%, P < 0.05) and the pregnancy rate after embryo transfer (ET) was lower (26.7 vs. 51.4%, P < 0.05) in cows with a rectal temperature ≥ 39.5°C on Day 0 than in cows with a rectal temperature < 39.5°C on Day 0. The present results indicate that alterations in the endometrial EGF profile induced by an elevated body temperature on Day 0 contributed to reductions in fertility in lactating dairy cows during the heat stress period.

Semen collection by urethral catheterization and electro-ejaculation with different voltages, and the effect of holding temperature and cooling rate before cryopreservation on semen quality in the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata).

In the Japanese macaque, semen has been collected by electro-ejaculation (EE), using the higher voltage stimuli compared to other species including genus Macaca. Semen coagulates immediately after ejaculation, which makes difficult to produce high-quality semen for artificial insemination. Recently, semen collection using urethral catheterization (UC) has been reported in carnivore and this technique may allow semen collection without coagulation in a less invasive manner. Further, the temporal preservation temperature and cooling rate of semen during cryopreservation affect post thawing sperm quality. In this study, to improve semen quality and quantity, as well as the animal welfare, semen collection was performed by EE with high (5-15 V) or low (3-6 V) voltage, UC and a combination of the two (EE-UC). It has been suggested that a high voltage is necessary for semen collection, but 10 V stimulation was effective enough and 15 V is for additional sperm collection. Also, liquid semen was collected by EE-UC and this could increase the total number of sperm. Further, to improve the post thawing sperm motility, semen was kept at four temperatures (4, 15, 25 and 37°C) for 60 min, and processed with two cooling procedures (slow cooling before second dilution and fast cooling after second dilution). Holding semen at 25°C and fast cooling after the second dilution maintained progressive motile sperm rate. The present results will contribute to the improvement of semen collection and animal welfare of Japanese macaques.

Low oxygen environment and astaxanthin supplementation promote the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from early antral follicles during 8 days of in vitro growth in a gas-permeable culture device.

We evaluated the effects of a constant low (5-5%) and modulated (5-20%) oxygen environments on the in vitro development of bovine oocyte-cumulus-granulosa cell complexes (OCGCs) cultured in the presence or absence of an antioxidant (astaxanthin: Ax). OCGCs were cultured in a gas permeable culture device for 8 days in 5-5% O2 (±Ax) and 5-20% O2 (±Ax) culture conditions. In the oxygen modulated culture conditions, the oxygen concentration was switched from 5% to 20% on day 4 of culture. Ax promoted the viability of OCGCs (P < 0.05), but both oxygen and Ax had a significant effect on ROS production levels by OCGCs (P < 0.05). Specifically, ROS levels were significantly lower and higher under 5-5% O2 (+Ax) and 5-20% O2 (-Ax) conditions, respectively (P < 0.05), with intermediate levels observed in the 5-5% O2 (-Ax) and the 5-20% O2 (+Ax) culture conditions. The steroidogenic pattern was characterized by increasing estradiol-17ß but with constant progesterone production levels regardless of culture conditions, suggesting the inhibition of luteinization-like changes in granulosa cells. OCGCs cultured in the 5-20% O2 (+Ax) had higher nuclear maturation rates (P < 0.05) that were similar to the oocytes grown in vivo. However, there was no clear difference in the subsequent cleavage rates among the 5-5% O2 (±Ax) and the 5-20% O2 (+Ax) culture conditions (P > 0.05). A constant low oxygen environment significantly promoted the blastocyst rates (P < 0.05); however, the presence of Ax in the 5-20% O2 (+Ax) condition also promoted development similar to the OCGCs cultured in the 5-5% O2 (-Ax) condition (P > 0.05). In conclusion, exposure of OCGCs to constant low oxygen or oxygen modulation in the presence of Ax promotes the healthy development of OCGCs during the 8-day IVG culture using the gas permeable culture device.

Postpartum cows showed high oocyte triacylglycerols concurrently with high plasma free fatty acids.

Impaired oocyte quality is one of the main causes of low fertility in modern high-yielding dairy cows. One of the potential factors of the impaired oocyte quality is the effects of free fatty acids (FFA). In fact, high FFA supplementation to culture media exacerbated oocyte developmental competence in vitro. Meanwhile, artificially induced high blood FFA levels in heifers did not affect the lipid composition of oocytes in vivo; however, the oocyte lipid profile of postpartum cows has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the profile of lipids involved in energy metabolism, including FFA and triacylglycerols (TAG), and their relationship between plasma and oocytes were compared among cows at different lactation stages. Heifers were used as a control group that was not affected by lactation. Plasma and oocytes were collected from heifers (n = 4) and 14 Holstein cows categorized to the early lactation stage: 25-47 days in milk (DIM) (n = 6), peak lactation stage: 61-65 DIM (n = 4), and middle lactation stage: 160-202 DIM (n = 4). The FFA and TAG profiles of plasma and oocytes were examined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Plasma FFA positively correlated with oocyte TAG (P < 0.05). Plasma FFA and oocyte TAG were significantly higher in cows in the early lactation stage than in heifers (P < 0.05), while the peak and middle lactation stage groups had intermediate levels. The proportion of oleic acid in plasma increased concurrently with elevations in total FFA, while the compositions of oocyte FFA and TAG fatty acyls were constant regardless of plasma FFA concentration or oocyte TAG content. The present results suggest that high postpartum plasma FFA concentrations affect the quantity of oocyte TAG. Taken together with the adverse effects of high FFA concentrations on oocyte developmental competence in vitro, oocyte quality in postpartum cows may be impaired due to high circulating FFA concentrations. These results provide a more detailed understanding of the effects of postpartum high circulating FFA concentrations on the low fertility of cows.

Deciphering two rounds of cell lineage segregations during bovine preimplantation development.

Blastocyst formation gives rise to the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) and is followed by the differentiation of the epiblast (Epi) and primitive endoderm (PrE) within the ICM. Although these two-round cell lineage differentiations underpin proper embryogenesis in every mammal, their spatiotemporal dynamics are quite diverse among species. Here, molecular details of the blastocyst stage in cattle were dissected using an optimized in vitro culture method. Blastocyst embryos were placed on agarose gel filled with nutrient-rich media to expose embryos to both gaseous and liquid phases. Embryos derived from this "on-gel" culture were transferred to surrogate mothers on day (D) 10 after fertilization and successfully implanted. Immunofluorescent studies using on-gel-cultured embryos revealed that the proportion of TE cells expressing the pluripotent ICM marker, OCT4, which was beyond 80% on D8, was rapidly reduced after D9 and reached 0% on D9.5. This first lineage segregation process was temporally parallel with the second one, identified by the spatial separation of Epi cells expressing SOX2 and PrE cells expressing SOX17. RNA-seq comparison of TE cells from D8 in vitro fertilized embryos and D14 in vivo embryos revealed that besides drastic reduction of pluripotency-related genes, TE cells highly expressed Wnt, FGF, and VEGF signaling pathways-related genes to facilitate the functional maturation required for feto-maternal interaction. Quantitative PCR analysis of TE cells derived from on-gel culture further confirmed time-dependent increments in the expression of key TE markers. Altogether, the present study provides platforms to understand species-specific strategies for mammalian preimplantation development.

Macrophage ubiquitin-specific protease 2 contributes to motility, hyperactivation, capacitation, and in vitro fertilization activity of mouse sperm.

Macrophages are innate immune cells that contribute to classical immune functions and tissue homeostasis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 2 (USP2) controls cytokine production in macrophages, but its organ-specific roles are still unknown. In this study, we generated myeloid-selective Usp2 knockout (msUsp2KO) mice and specifically explored the roles of testicular macrophage-derived USP2 in reproduction. The msUsp2KO mice exhibited normal macrophage characteristics in various tissues. In the testis, macrophage Usp2 deficiency negligibly affected testicular macrophage subpopulations, spermatogenesis, and testicular organogenesis. However, frozen-thawed sperm derived from msUsp2KO mice exhibited reduced motility, capacitation, and hyperactivation. In addition, macrophage Usp2 ablation led to a decrease in the sperm population exhibiting high intracellular pH, calcium influx, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Interrupted pronuclei formation in eggs was observed when using frozen-thawed sperm from msUsp2KO mice for in vitro fertilization. Administration of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), whose expression was decreased in testicular macrophages derived from msUsp2KO mice, restored mitochondrial membrane potential and total sperm motility. Our observations demonstrate a distinct role of the deubiquitinating enzyme in organ-specific macrophages that directly affect sperm function.

Monitoring follicular dynamics to determine estrus type and timing of ovulation induction in captive brown bears (Ursus arctos).

It is important to understand ovarian physiology when developing an artificial insemination (AI) protocol. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) have a breeding season from May to July, although the type of estrus (polyestrus or monoestrus) is still contested. The present study aimed to define the ovarian dynamics, including follicular waves and ovulatory follicle size, and estrus type in brown bears. Six brown bears were used for ovarian ultrasonography; four were observed between April and October (before the start and after the end of the breeding season) and two in June (breeding season). In addition, we attempted to induce ovulation by administering a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. We observed follicular development in April in four bears, but follicles did not develop to greater than 6.0 mm in diameter until May. Thereafter, a group of follicles developed to more than 6.0 mm and grew as dominant follicles, except in one bear. After ovulation and subsequent corpus luteum (CL) formation, the follicular waves disappeared. Furthermore, in three bears treated with GnRH, follicles between 8.2 to 11.2 mm in diameter at the time of treatment ovulated and formed CLs. In two bears, follicles between 5.8 to 8.8 mm ovulated spontaneously within the observation interval. Our results suggest that brown bears may be monoestrous animals. Therefore, AI can only be performed once during the breeding season. Our results also suggest that dominant follicles larger than 8.0 mm are a suitable size for inducing ovulation.

Implications of ram sperm rheotaxis analysed by microfluidics for fertility.

Rheotaxis of sperm using a microfluidic device was explored in human, mice and bull. However, the rheotaxis of ram sperm and its role in fertility are unknown. Herein, we described the sperm rheotaxis in ram using microfluidic devices and focused on rheotaxis as potential markers of in vivo fertility. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with controlled flow velocity was used to explore the kinematic parameters of sperm, total motility and positive rheotaxis (PR). The percentage of PR was defined as the number of PR sperm cells over the number of motile sperm cells. Then, according to the percentage of PR sperm, rams were classified into two groups; sperm with ≥40% PR and <40% PR, although the two ram groups showed similar total motility and kinematic values of sperm evaluated by CASA (p > .05). Two groups of rams mated one hundred thirty ewes naturally (10 ewes/ram). In the results, the pregnancy rate was higher in ≥40% PR (94.4%) than in <40% PR (42.5%, p < .05) after natural mating. Besides, the pregnancy loss was higher in <40% PR (33.3%) than in >40% PR group (8.1%, p < .05). In conclusion, the PR examination in semen can contribute to evaluate the reproductive performance of ram that will provide valuable insights into the semen evaluation.