Kinesin motor KIFC1 is required for tubulin acetylation and actin-dependent spindle migration in mouse oocyte meiosis.

Mammalian oocyte maturation is a unique asymmetric division, which is mainly because of actin-based spindle migration to the cortex. In the present study, we report that a kinesin motor KIFC1, which is associated with microtubules for the maintenance of spindle poles in mitosis, is also involved in actin dynamics in murine oocyte meiosis, co-localizing with microtubules during mouse oocyte maturation. Depletion of KIFC1 caused the failure of polar body extrusion, and we found that meiotic spindle formation and chromosome alignment were disrupted. This might be because of the effects of KIFC1 on HDAC6 and NAT10-based tubulin acetylation, which further affected microtubule stability. Mass spectroscopy analysis revealed that KIFC1 also associated with several actin nucleation factors and we found that KIFC1 was essential for the distribution of actin filaments, which further affected spindle migration. Depletion of KIFC1 leaded to aberrant expression of formin 2 and the ARP2/3 complex, and endoplasmic reticulum distribution was also disturbed. Exogenous KIFC1 mRNA supplement could rescue these defects. Taken together, as well as its roles in tubulin acetylation, our study reported a previously undescribed role of kinesin KIFC1 on the regulation of actin dynamics for spindle migration in mouse oocytes.

NAMPT regulates mitochondria function and lipid metabolism during porcine oocyte maturation.

Oocyte maturation defect can lead to maternal reproduction disorder. NAMPT is a rate-limiting enzyme in mammalian NAD+ biosynthesis pathway, which can regulate a variety of cellular metabolic processes including glucose metabolism and DNA damage repair. However, the function of NAMPT in porcine oocytes remains unknown. In this study, we showed that NAMPT involved into multiple cellular events during oocyte maturation. NAMPT expressed during all stages of porcine oocyte meiosis, and inhibition of NAMPT activity caused the cumulus expansion and polar body extrusion defects. Mitochondrial dysfunction was observed in NAMPT-deficient porcine oocytes, which showed decreased membrane potential, ATP and mitochondrial DNA content, increased oxidative stress level and apoptosis. We also found that NAMPT was essential for spindle organization and chromosome arrangement based on Ac-tubulin. Moreover, lack of NAMPT activity caused the increase of lipid droplet and affected the imbalance of lipogenesis and lipolysis. In conclusion, our study indicated that lack of NAMPT activity affected porcine oocyte maturation through its effects on mitochondria function, spindle assembly and lipid metabolism.

Revealing the Subzero-Temperature Electrochemical Kinetics Behaviors in Ni-Rich Cathode.

The sluggish kinetics in Ni-rich cathodes at subzero temperatures causes decreased specific capacity and poor rate capability, resulting in slow and unstable charge storage. So far, the driving force of this phenomenon remains a mystery. Herein, with the help of in-situ X-ray diffraction and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry techniques, the continuous accumulation of both the cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film formation and the incomplete structure evolution during cycling under subzero temperature are proposed. It is presented that excessively uniform and thick CEI film generated at subzero temperatures would block the diffusion of Li+ -ions, resulting in incomplete phase evolution and clear charge potential delay. The incomplete phase evolution throughout the Li+ -ion intercalation/de-intercalation processes would further cause low depth of discharge and poor electrochemical reversibility with low initial Coulombic efficiency, as well. In addition, the formation of the thick and uniform CEI film would also consume Li+ -ions during the charging process. This discovery highlights the effects of the CEI film formation behavior and incomplete phase evolution in restricting electrochemical kinetics under subzero temperatures, which the authors believe would promote the further application of the Ni-rich cathodes.

Kinesin KIFC3 is essential for microtubule stability and cytokinesis in oocyte meiosis.

KIFC3 is a member of Kinesin-14 family motor proteins, which play a variety of roles such as centrosome cohesion, cytokinesis, vesicles transportation and cell proliferation in mitosis. Here, we investigated the functional roles of KIFC3 in meiosis. Our findings demonstrated that KIFC3 exhibited expression and localization at centromeres during metaphase I, followed by translocation to the midbody at telophase I throughout mouse oocyte meiosis. Disruption of KIFC3 activity resulted in defective polar body extrusion. We observed aberrant meiotic spindles and misaligned chromosomes, accompanied by the loss of kinetochore-microtubule attachment, which might be due to the failed recruitment of BubR1/Bub3. Coimmunoprecipitation data revealed that KIFC3 plays a crucial role in maintaining the acetylated tubulin level mediated by Sirt2, thereby influencing microtubule stability. Additionally, our findings demonstrated an interaction between KIFC3 and PRC1 in regulating midbody formation during telophase I, which is involved in cytokinesis regulation. Collectively, these results underscore the essential contribution of KIFC3 to spindle assembly and cytokinesis during mouse oocyte meiosis.

The tRNA discriminator base defines the mutual orthogonality of two distinct pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNAPyl pairs in the same organism.

Site-specific incorporation of distinct non-canonical amino acids into proteins via genetic code expansion requires mutually orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/tRNAPyl pairs are ideal for genetic code expansion and have been extensively engineered for developing mutually orthogonal pairs. Here, we identify two novel wild-type PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs simultaneously present in the deep-rooted extremely halophilic euryarchaeal methanogen Candidatus Methanohalarchaeum thermophilum HMET1, and show that both pairs are functional in the model halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii. These pairs consist of two different PylRS enzymes and two distinct tRNAs with dissimilar discriminator bases. Surprisingly, these two PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs display mutual orthogonality enabled by two unique features, the A73 discriminator base of tRNAPyl2 and a shorter motif 2 loop in PylRS2. In vivo translation experiments show that tRNAPyl2 charging by PylRS2 is defined by the enzyme's shortened motif 2 loop. Finally, we demonstrate that the two HMET1 PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs can simultaneously decode UAG and UAA codons for incorporation of two distinct noncanonical amino acids into protein. This example of a single base change in a tRNA leading to additional coding capacity suggests that the growth of the genetic code is not yet limited by the number of identity elements fitting into the tRNA structure.

The effects of low ambient temperature on steroidogenesis and mitochondrial functions in the testes of wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus).

Seasonal reproduction is a widely used breeding strategy in wildlife, especially vertebrates inhabiting temperate regions. Generally, ambient temperature is considered a significant factor influencing the reproductive status of animals. In the present study, wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus), typical seasonal breeders, were used as an animal model to investigate the mechanism behind the impact of low ambient temperature on testicular function. To simulate the winter environment of wild ground squirrels, we lowered the temperature gradient in the rearing environment to 4 °C. At sampling, the body surface temperature of the squirrels reared under normal ambient temperature (22 °C, NAT group) and the low ambient temperature (4 °C, LAT group) were 31.5 °C and 22.8 °C, respectively. Subsequently, we conducted immunohistochemical assays, qPCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to examine the variations in testicular functions, as well as the dynamics and functions of mitochondria, in the squirrels of NAT and LAT groups. As a result, the levels of positive immunostaining for PCNA, P21, and P27 were significantly lower in the testes of LAT group, while the levels of immunostaining for Cleaved Caspase-3 and TUNEL were significantly higher. In addition, the low-temperature treatment reduced the expression level of steroidogenesis-related genes, including LHR, FSHR, GATA-4, P450scc, and P450arom, and decreased the testosterone concentration. Moreover, markers of mitochondrial fission and fusion, DRP1 and MFN2, respectively, were increased in the testes of LAT group. Additionally, the mRNA level of SOD1 was notably higher in the testes of LAT group. In conclusion, the low ambient temperature inhibited spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and functions in the testes of wild ground squirrels.

Regulation and Role of Adiponectin Secretion in Rat Ovarian Granulosa Cells.

Adiponectin is an important adipokine involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, but its secretion and potential role in regulating glucose utilization during ovarian development remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the mechanism and effects of follicle-stimulating hormones (FSHs) on adiponectin secretion and its following impact on glucose transport in the granulosa cells of rat ovaries. A range of experimental techniques were utilized to test our research, including immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, histological staining, real-time quantitative PCR, and transcriptome analysis. The immunohistochemistry results indicated that adiponectin was primarily located in the granulosa cells of rat ovaries. In primary granulosa cells cultured in vitro, both Western blot and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that FSH significantly induced adiponectin secretion within 2 h of incubation, primarily via the PKA signaling pathway rather than the PI3K/AKT pathway. Concurrently, the addition of the AdipoR1/AdipoR2 dual agonist AdipoRon to the culture medium significantly stimulated the protein expression of GLUT1 in rat granulosa cells, resulting in enhanced glucose absorption. Consistent with these in vitro findings, rats injected with eCG (which shares structural and functional similarities with FSH) exhibited significantly increased adiponectin levels in both the ovaries and blood. Moreover, there was a notable elevation in mRNA and protein levels of AdipoRs and GLUTs following eCG administration. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed a positive correlation between the expression of the intraovarian adiponectin system and glucose transporter. The present study represents a novel investigation, demonstrating that FSH stimulates adiponectin secretion in ovarian granulosa cells through the PKA signaling pathway. This mechanism potentially influences glucose transport (GLUT1) and utilization within the ovaries.

Update of the Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase/tRNAPyl Pair and Derivatives for Genetic Code Expansion.

The cotranslational incorporation of pyrrolysine (Pyl), the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, into proteins in response to the UAG stop codon represents an outstanding example of natural genetic code expansion. Genetic encoding of Pyl is conducted by the pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA, tRNAPyl. Owing to the high tolerance of PylRS toward diverse amino acid substrates and great orthogonality in various model organisms, the PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs are ideal for genetic code expansion to insert noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins of interest. Since the discovery of cellular components involved in the biosynthesis and genetic encoding of Pyl, synthetic biologists have been enthusiastic about engineering PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs to rewrite the genetic code of living cells. Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular phylogeny, biochemical properties, and structural features of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair, guiding its further engineering and optimization. In this review, we cover the basic and updated knowledge of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair's unique characteristics that make it an outstanding tool for reprogramming the genetic code. In addition, we summarize the recent efforts to create efficient and (mutually) orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs for incorporation of diverse ncAAs by genome mining, rational design, and advanced directed evolution methods.

Transient Stimulated Raman Excited Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

The pursuit of better sensitivity has always been one of the central themes in Raman spectroscopy. Recently, all-far-field single-molecule Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated by a novel hybrid spectroscopy that couples Raman scattering with fluorescence emission. However, such frequency-domain spectroscopy lacks efficient hyperspectral excitation methods and encounters intrinsic strong fluorescence backgrounds from electronic transitions, hindering its applications in advanced Raman spectroscopy and microscopy. Here we report the ultrafast time-domain spectroscopy counterpart named transient stimulated Raman excited fluorescence (T-SREF): excited by two successive broadband femtosecond pulse pairs (i.e., the pump and Stokes pulses) with time-delay scanning, strong vibrational wave packet interference is revealed on the time-domain fluorescence trace, resulting in background-free spectra of the corresponding Raman modes after the Fourier transform. T-SREF achieves background-free Raman spectra of electronic-coupled vibrational modes with sensitivity up to the level of a few molecules, which paves the way for supermultiplexed fluorescence detection and molecular dynamics sensing.

Imaging HOCl Generation during the Mitochondria Peripheral Fission with a Tailor-Made Fluorescent Probe.

Mitochondrial fission is a highly regulated process that can affect metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis. Division at the periphery enables damaged material to be shed into smaller mitochondria destined for mitophagy, which is found preceded by increased Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species, as well as reduced membrane potential and pH. However, the variation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) during the peripheral fission has not been well studied, and the existing fluorescent probes are unsuitable for detecting mitochondrial HOCl because of the 0.8-fold decreased pH during this process. Herein, we design a novel CCS (changeable π-conjugation system)-based probe (ON-mito) with a dibenzo[1,4]oxazepine core, which can selectively react with HOCl at pH 6.4, generating an oxazine-containing product that emits at 660 nm. The capability of ON-mito for imaging the HOCl generation in HeLa cells during mitophagy is demonstrated under weakly acidic condition. Further, with ON-mito, we find for the first time a burst increase of the mitochondrial HOCl in COS-7 cells during peripheral fission, which may serve as an important indicator of this process. Probe ON-mito may be useful for studying mitochondrial damage under diverse conditions.

Seasonal expressions of COX-1, COX-2, and EP4 in the scent glands of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus).

Prostaglandins (PGs) serve as signaling molecules that regulate various physiological processes, including inflammation, immune response, blood clotting, and reproduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunolocalizations and expression patterns of prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, and COX-2, as well as its receptor subtypes 4 (EP4) in the scent glands of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) during the breeding and nonbreeding periods. There were significant seasonal differences in the scent glandular mass, with higher values in the breeding season and relatively low in the nonbreeding season. PGE2, EP4, COX-1, and COX-2 have been immunolocalized in the scent glandular and epithelial cells in both breeding and nonbreeding seasons, whereas no immunostaining was observed in the interstitial cells. The protein and mRNA expression levels of EP4, COX-1, and COX-2 were higher in the scent glands of the breeding season than those of the nonbreeding season. The mean mRNA levels of EP4, COX-1, and COX-2 were positively correlated with the scent glandular weights. The circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and PGE2, as well as scent glandular PGE2 and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations, were also significantly higher in the breeding season. In addition, the transcriptomic study in the scent glands identified that differentially expressed genes might be related to fatty carboxylic monocarboxylic acid, steroidogenic-related pathways, and prostanoid metabolic processes. These findings suggested that prostaglandin-E2 might play an essential autocrine or paracrine role in regulating seasonal changes in the scent glandular functions of the muskrats.

Expression of cholesterol synthesis and steroidogenic markers in females of the Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii) during prespawning and prehibernation.

The oviduct of the Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii) expands in prehibernation rather than in prespawning, which is one of the physiological phenomena that occur in the preparation for hibernation. Steroid hormones are known to regulate oviductal development. Cholesterol synthesis and steroidogenesis may play an important role in the expansion of the oviduct before hibernation. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of the markers that are involved in the de novo steroid synthesis pathway in the oviduct of R. dybowskii during prespawning and prehibernation. According to histological analysis, the oviduct of R. dybowskii contains epithelial cells, glandular cells, and tubule lumens. During prehibernation, oviductal pipe diameter and weight were significantly larger than during prespawning. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) were detected in epithelial cells in prehibernation and glandular cells during prespawning. HMGCR, LDLR, StAR, and P450scc protein expression levels were higher in prehibernation than during prespawning, but the SF-1 protein expression level did not significantly differ. HMGCR, LDLR, StAR, P450scc (CYP11A1), and SF-1 (NR5A1) mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in prehibernation compared with prespawning. The transcriptome results showed that the steroid synthesis pathway was highly expressed during prehibernation. Existing results indicate that the oviduct is able to synthesize steroid hormones using cholesterol, and that steroid hormones may affect the oviductal functions of R. dybowskii.

Seasonal changes in endoplasmic reticulum stress and steroidogenesis in the ovary of the wild ground squirrels (Citellus dauricus Brandt).

The development of the follicle is accompanied by steroidogenesis and secretion, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) requires significant synthesis of relevant proteins to support changes in the follicular microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether seasonal changes in gonadotropins and ovarian steroid hormones in the wild ground squirrels induce endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and changes in ERS-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling. There were significant seasonal differences in ovarian mass, with values higher in the breeding season and relatively low in the non-breeding season. Histological observations revealed that ovaries in the breeding season had germ cells including primordial follicles, primary follicles, secondary follicles, tertiary follicles, and the corpus luteal, whereas ovaries consisted mainly of primary and secondary follicles in the non-breeding season. Analysis of ovarian transcriptome data showed that 1298 genes were up-regulated in expression and 1432 genes were down-regulated in expression during both periods. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that these genes were mainly enriched in estrogen signaling pathways, ovarian steroidogenesis and endoplasmic reticulum protein processing pathways. The expression levels of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, P450c17, 3ß-HSD, and P450arom) and gonadotropin receptor (FSHR and LHR) were significantly increased during the breeding season compared to the non-breeding season. GRP78 and UPR signaling factors (ATF4, ATF6, XBP1s) associated with ERS were expressed in both seasons. The mRNA expressions of Atf6 and Xbp1s were higher in the breeding season than those of the non-breeding season. Conversely, Atf4 and its downstream homologous protein (Chop) exhibited higher expression during the non-breeding season. In addition, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17ß, and progesterone of serum were significantly higher in the breeding season than those of the non-breeding season. These results suggested that UPR signaling, associated with seasonal changes in ovarian steroidogenesis, was activated during the breeding season and that ERS might be involved in regulating seasonal changes in ovarian steroidogenesis in the wild ground squirrels.

Vomeronasal Receptors Associated with Circulating Estrogen Processing Chemosensory Cues in Semi-Aquatic Mammals.

In numerous animals, one essential chemosensory organ that detects chemical signals is the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is involved in species-specific behaviors, including social and sexual behaviors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism underlying the processing of chemosensory cues in semi-aquatic mammals using muskrats as the animal model. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) has a sensitive VNO system that activates seasonal breeding behaviors through receiving specific substances, including pheromones and hormones. Vomeronasal organ receptor type 1 (V1R) and type 2 (V2R) and estrogen receptor α and ß (ERα and ERß) were found in sensory epithelial cells, non-sensory epithelial cells and lamina propria cells of the female muskrats' VNO. V2R and ERα mRNA levels in the VNO during the breeding period declined sharply, in comparison to those during the non-breeding period, while V1R and ERß mRNA levels were detected reversely. Additionally, transcriptomic study in the VNO identified that differently expressed genes might be related to estrogen signal and metabolic pathways. These findings suggested that the seasonal structural and functional changes in the VNO of female muskrats with different reproductive status and estrogen was regulated through binding to ERα and ERß in the female muskrats' VNO.

Three dimensional quantitative study of soft tissue changes in nasolabial folds after orthodontic treatment in female adults.

BACKGROUND: With the popularity of medical aesthetic programs, some female adults who will or are undergoing orthodontic treatment often wonder whether orthodontic treatment has adverse effects on the nasolabial folds (NLFs). The aims of the study were to investigate any potential changes in the NLFs and associated peripheral soft tissues after orthodontic treatment of female adults. METHODS: This study compared changes in the NLFs and peripheral soft tissues in female adults undergoing orthodontic treatment using the 3dMD Face system (3dMD, Atlanta, Ga). A total of 52 adult female patient cases (24 teeth extraction, 28 non-teeth extraction) were included to evaluate the effects of different orthodontic treatment regimens on the NLFs and peripheral soft tissues. RESULTS: In the NLFs area, the landmarks of the extraction group were all significantly negatively changed (P < 0.001; the NLF2s average value was - 0.72 mm), and the upper and middle parts of the landmarks were negatively changed in the non-extraction group (P < 0.05; the NLF2s average value was - 0.22 mm). Compared to the non-extraction group, the negative changes in the extraction group were more pronounced (P < 0.005). In the lip region, all landmarks in the extraction group were negative changes (P < 0.05; upper lip (ULP) = - 0.93 mm, lower lip (LLP) = - 1.46 mm), and most landmarks in the non-extraction group were positive changes (P < 0.01; ULP = 0.55 mm). In the cheek area, the left and right buccal of the extraction and non-extraction groups were all negatively changed (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: After orthodontic treatment, the NLFs showed negative changes, which were more obvious in the extraction group. The lip soft tissue had a negative change in the extraction group and a positive change in the non-extraction group, indicating that orthodontic treatment affected the soft tissue around the nasolabial sulcus, and that tooth extraction would lead to more negative changes.

Nivalenol affects spindle formation and organelle functions during mouse oocyte maturation.

Oocyte maturation is essential for fertilization and early embryo development, and proper organelle functions guarantee this process to maintain high-quality oocytes. The type B trichothecene nivalenol (NIV) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium oxysporum and is commonly found in contaminated food. NIV intake affect growth, the immune system, and the female reproductive system. Here, we investigated NIV toxicity on mouse oocyte quality. Transcriptome analysis results showed that NIV exposure altered the expression of multiple genes involved in spindle formation and organelle function in mouse oocytes, indicating its toxicity on mouse oocyte maturation. Further analysis indicated that NIV exposure disrupted spindle structure and chromosome alignment, possibly through tubulin acetylation. NIV exposure induced aberrant mitochondria distribution and reduced mitochondria number, mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), and ATP levels. In addition, NIV caused the abnormal distribution of the Golgi apparatus and altered the expression of the vesicle trafficking protein Rab11. ER distribution was also disturbed under NIV exposure, indicating the effects of NIV on protein modification and transport in oocytes. Thus, our results demonstrated that NIV exposure affected spindle structure and organelles function in mouse oocytes.

Seasonal expression of extracellular signal regulated kinases in the colon of wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the experiment was to explore the localization and seasonal expression of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) in the colonic tissue of wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus). METHODS AND RESULTS: Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used in this experiment. The histological results showed that the diameter of the colon lumen enlarged and the number of glandular cells increased in the non-breeding season. It was found in the immunochemical results that both ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 were expressed in the cytoplasm of goblet cells and intestinal epithelial cells, while pERK1/2 was also expressed in the nucleus of them. The immune localization of both was more obvious in the non-breeding season, especially in intestinal epithelial cells. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting showed that ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 were seasonally highly expressed in the non-breeding season. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 was seasonal changes and had significant increases in the non-breeding season. This study revealed that ERK1/2 had potential roles in the colon to the adaptation of seasonal changes in wild ground squirrels.

MicroRNA-132 is involved in morphine dependence via modifying the structural plasticity of the dentate gyrus neurons in rats.

Repeated morphine exposure has been shown to induce neuronal plasticity in reward-related areas of the brain. miR-132, a CREB-induced and activation-dependent microRNA, has been suggested to be involved in the neuronal plasticity by increasing neuronal dendritic branches and spinogenesis. However, it is still unclear whether miR-132 is related to morphine dependence. Here, we investigate whether miR-132 is involved in morphine dependence and whether it is related to the structural plasticity of the dentate gyrus (DG) neurons. Sprague-Dawley rats are treated with increasing doses of morphine injection for six consecutive days to develop morphine dependence. Our results show that dendritic branching and spinogenesis of the DG neurons of morphine dependent rats are increased. Morphine treatment (24 h) promotes the differentiation of N2a cells stably expressing µ-opioid receptor by up-regulating miR-132 expression. Moreover, inhibiting miR-132 3p (but not 5p) of the DG neurons can reverse the structural plasticity and disrupt the formation of morphine dependence in rats. These findings indicate that miR-132 in the DG neurons is involved in morphine dependence via modifying the neuronal plasticity.

Seasonal Change in Adiponectin Associated with Ovarian Morphology and Function in Wild Ground Squirrels (Citellus dauricus Brandt).

The goal of this study is to explore the relationship between altered circulating adiponectin concentration, ovarian tissue morphology, ovarian steroidogenesis, and sex hormone production in ovaries of wild ground squirrels. The ovarian mass differed significantly during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, and the circulating estradiol and progesterone concentrations were significantly higher in the breeding season, while the circulating adiponectin level was significantly lower. The expression levels of gonadotropin receptors (FSHR and LHR) and steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, P450scc, P450arom, and 3ß-HSD) were significantly higher during the breeding season. Comparing the ovarian transcriptome data of wild ground squirrels between the two periods, we found that some differentially expressed genes were enriched for ovarian steroidogenesis and the adipocytokine signaling pathway, which correlated with our present results. Notably, the MAPK signaling pathway was also enriched and its related genes (Erk1, p38 Mapk, Jnk) were up-regulated by qPCR during the non-breeding season. These findings suggested that adiponectin may be involved in the regulation of seasonal changes in the ovarian function of wild ground squirrels, possibly by acting on the MAPK signaling pathway to regulate sex steroidogenesis in the ovaries.

Exposure to nivalenol declines mouse oocyte quality via inducing oxidative stress-related apoptosis and DNA damage†.

Mammalian oocyte quality is critical for fertilization and early embryo development. The type B trichothecene nivalenol (NIV) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium oxysporum, and it is commonly found with deoxynivalenol in contaminated food or feed. NIV has been shown to affect the immune system and female reproductive system, cause emesis and growth retardation. Here, we investigated the toxicity of NIV on mouse oocyte quality, as well as the protective effects of melatonin on the NIV-exposed oocytes. We found NIV exposure caused meiotic arrest and further induced the failure of polar body extrusion in mouse oocytes. Transcriptome analysis data showed that NIV exposure altered the expression of multiple pathway-related genes in oocytes, indicating its wide toxicity on oocyte maturation. Based on the RNA-seq data, we showed that NIV exposure induced oxidative stress and caused DNA damage in oocytes. Besides, autophagy, and early apoptosis were also found in NIV-exposed oocytes. Treatment with melatonin significantly ameliorated these defects through its effects on ROS level. Thus, our results demonstrated that exposure to NIV affected oocyte quality and melatonin treatment could reduce the defects caused by NIV in mouse oocytes.