H2B oncohistones cause homologous recombination defect and genomic instability through reducing H2B monoubiquitination in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Canonical oncohistones are histone H3 mutations in the N-terminal tail associated with tumors and affect gene expression by altering H3 post-translational modifications (PTMs) and the epigenetic landscape. Noncanonical oncohistone mutations occur in both tails and globular domains of all four core histones and alter gene expression by perturbing chromatin remodeling. However, the effects and mechanisms of noncanonical oncohistones remain largely unknown. Here we characterized 16 noncanonical H2B oncohistones in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We found that seven of them exhibited temperature sensitivities and 11 exhibited genotoxic sensitivities. A detailed study of two of these onco-mutants H2BG52D and H2BP102L revealed that they were defective in homologous recombination (HR) repair with compromised histone eviction and Rad51 recruitment. Interestingly, their genotoxic sensitivities and HR defects were rescued by the inactivation of the H2BK119 deubiquitination function of Ubp8 in the Spt-Ada-Gcn5-Acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex. The levels of H2BK119 monoubiquitination (H2Bub) in the H2BG52D and H2BP102L mutants are reduced in global genome and at local DNA break sites presumably due to enhanced recruitment of Ubp8 onto nucleosomes and are recovered upon loss of H2B deubiquitination function of the SAGA complex. Moreover, H2BG52D and H2BP102L heterozygotes exhibit genotoxic sensitivities and reduced H2Bub in cis. We therefore conclude that H2BG52D and H2BP102L oncohistones affect HR repair and genome stability via the reduction of H2Bub and propose that other noncanonical oncohistones may also affect histone PTMs to cause diseases.

ICI 182,780 Attenuates Selective Upregulation of Uterine Artery Cystathionine ß-Synthase Expression in Rat Pregnancy.

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) produced by cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-γ lyase (CSE) has emerged as a novel uterine vasodilator contributing to pregnancy-associated increases in uterine blood flow, which safeguard pregnancy health. Uterine artery (UA) H2S production is stimulated via exogenous estrogen replacement and is associated with elevated endogenous estrogens during pregnancy through the selective upregulation of CBS without altering CSE. However, how endogenous estrogens regulate uterine artery CBS expression in pregnancy is unknown. This study was conducted to test a hypothesis that endogenous estrogens selectively stimulate UA CBS expression via specific estrogen receptors (ER). Treatment with E2ß (0.01 to 100 nM) stimulated CBS but not CSE mRNA in organ cultures of fresh UA rings from both NP and P (gestational day 20, GD20) rats, with greater responses to all doses of E2ß tested in P vs. NP UA. ER antagonist ICI 182,780 (ICI, 1 µM) completely attenuated E2ß-stimulated CBS mRNA in both NP and P rat UA. Subcutaneous injection with ICI 182,780 (0.3 mg/rat) of GD19 P rats for 24 h significantly inhibited UA CBS but not mRNA expression, consistent with reduced endothelial and smooth muscle cell CBS (but not CSE) protein. ICI did not alter mesenteric and renal artery CBS and CSE mRNA. In addition, ICI decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA in UA but not in mesenteric or renal arteries. Thus, pregnancy-augmented UA CBS/H2S production is mediated by the actions of endogenous estrogens via specific ER in pregnant rats.

R2R3-MYB transcription factor family in tea plant (Camellia sinensis): Genome-wide characterization, phylogeny, chromosome location, structure and expression patterns.

MYB transcription factors play essential roles in many biological processes and environmental stimuli. However, the functions of the MYB transcription factor family in tea plants have not been elucidated. Here, a total of 122 CsR2R3-MYB genes were identified from the chromosome level genome of tea plant (Camellia sinensis). The CsR2R3-MYB genes were phylogenetically classified into 25 groups. Results from the structure analysis of the gene, conserved motifs, and chromosomal distribution supported the relative conservation of the R2R3-MYB genes family in the tea plant. Synteny analysis indicated that 122, 34, and 112 CsR2R3-MYB genes were orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and C. sinensis var. 'huangdan' (HD), respectively. Tissue-specific expression showed that all CsR2R3-MYB genes had different expression patterns in the tea plant tissues, indicating that these genes may perform diverse functions. The expression patterns of representative R2R3-MYB genes and the regulatory network of the main anthocyanin components were analyzed, which suggested that CsMYB17 may played a key role in the regulation of cya-3-O-gal, del-3-O-gal, cya-3-O-glu and pel-3-O-glu. Results from the qRT-PCR validation of selected genes suggested that CsR2R3-MYB genes were induced in response to drought, cold, GA, and ABA treatments. Overall, this study provides comprehensive and systematic information for research on the function of R2R3-MYB genes in tea plants.

Lipidomics analysis unravels changes from flavor precursors in different processing treatments of purple-leaf tea.

BACKGROUND: Lipids are one of the most important bioactive compounds, affecting the character and quality of tea. However, the contribution of lipids to tea productions is still elusive. Here, we systematically identified the lipid profiles of green, oolong, and black teas in purple-leaf tea (Jinmingzao, JMZ) and green-leaf tea (Huangdan, HD), respectively. RESULTS: The lipids analysis showed regular accumulation in tea products with different manufacturing processes, among which the fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids contribute to the quality characteristics of tea products, including typical fatty acyl (FA), monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDG), and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Compared tea materials with products, levels of fatty acids were up-regulated, while glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids were down-regulated in tea products. FA 18:3, FA 16:0, MGDG 36:6, DGDG 36:6, PC 34:3, and PC 36:6 were the negative contributors to green tea flavor formation of purple-leaf tea. The pathway analysis of significant lipids in materials and products of purple-leaf tea were enriched linolenic acid metabolism pathway and glycerolipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the lipid metabolism profiles of different tea leaf colors, and found that fatty acids are essential precursors of black tea flavor formation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of Metabolome and Transcriptome of Flavonoid Biosynthesis Pathway in a Purple-Leaf Tea Germplasm Jinmingzao and a Green-Leaf Tea Germplasm Huangdan reveals Their Relationship with Genetic Mechanisms of Color Formation.

Purple-leaf tea is a phenotype with unique color because of its high anthocyanin content. The special flavor of purple-leaf tea is highly different from that of green-leaf tea, and its main ingredient is also of economic value. To probe the genetic mechanism of the phenotypic characteristics of tea leaf color, we conducted widely targeted metabolic and transcriptomic profiling. The metabolites in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway of purple- and green-leaf tea were compared, and results showed that phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, accumulated in purple-leaf tea. The high expression of genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis (e.g., PAL and LAR) exhibits the specific expression of biosynthesis and the accumulation of these metabolites. Our result also shows that two CsUFGTs were positively related to the accumulation of anthocyanin. Moreover, genes encoding transcription factors that regulate flavonoids were identified by coexpression analysis. These results may help to identify the metabolic factors that influence leaf color differentiation and provide reference for future research on leaf color biology and the genetic improvement of tea.

Exploration of the Effects of Different Blue LED Light Intensities on Flavonoid and Lipid Metabolism in Tea Plants via Transcriptomics and Metabolomics.

Blue light extensively regulates multiple physiological processes and secondary metabolism of plants. Although blue light quantity (fluence rate) is important for plant life, few studies have focused on the effects of different blue light intensity on plant secondary metabolism regulation, including tea plants. Here, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of young tea shoots (one bud and two leaves) under three levels of supplemental blue light, including low-intensity blue light (LBL, 50 µmol m-2 s-1), medium-intensity blue light (MBL, 100 µmol m-2 s-1), and high-intensity blue light (HBL, 200 µmol m-2 s-1). The total number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LBL, MBL and HBL was 1, 7 and 1097, respectively, indicating that high-intensity blue light comprehensively affects the transcription of tea plants. These DEGs were primarily annotated to the pathways of photosynthesis, lipid metabolism and flavonoid synthesis. In addition, the most abundant transcription factor (TF) families in DEGs were bHLH and MYB, which have been shown to be widely involved in the regulation of plant flavonoids. The significantly changed metabolites that we detected contained 15 lipids and 6 flavonoid components. Further weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated that CsMYB (TEA001045) may be a hub gene for the regulation of lipid and flavonoid metabolism by blue light. Our results may help to establish a foundation for future research investigating the regulation of woody plants by blue light.

Identification, expression, and putative target gene analysis of nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) transcription factors in tea plant (Camellia sinensis).

MAIN CONCLUSION: Genome-wide identification and characterization of nuclear factor-Y family in tea plants, and their expression profiles and putative targets provide the basis for further elucidation of their biological functions. The nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) transcription factors (TFs) are crucial regulators of plant growth and physiology. However, the NF-Y TFs in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) have not yet been elucidated, and its biological functions, especially the putative target genes within the genome range, are still unclear. In this study, we identified 35 CsNF-Y encoding genes in the tea plant genome, including 10 CsNF-YAs, 15 CsNF-YBs and 10 CsNF-YCs. Their conserved domains and motifs, phylogeny, duplication event, gene structure, and promoter were subsequently analyzed. Tissue expression analysis revealed that CsNF-Ys exhibited three distinct expression patterns in eight tea tree tissues, among which CsNF-YAs were moderately expressed. Drought and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment indicated that CsNF-YAs may have a greater impact than other subunit members. Furthermore, through the genome-wide investigation of the presence of the CCAAT box, we found that CsNF-Ys may participate in the development of tea plants by regulating target genes of multiple physiological pathways, including photosynthesis, chlorophyll metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism pathways. Our findings will contribute to the functional analysis of NF-Y genes in woody plants and the cultivation of high-quality tea plant cultivars.

Spectral-depth imaging with deep learning based reconstruction.

We develop a compact imaging system to enable simultaneous acquisition of the spectral and depth information in real time. Our system consists of a spectral camera with low spatial resolution and an RGB camera with high spatial resolution, which captures two measurements from two different views of the same scene at the same time. Relying on an elaborate computational reconstruction algorithm with deep learning, our system can eventually obtain a spectral cube with a spatial resolution of 1920 × 1080 and a total of 16 spectral bands in the visible light section, as well as the corresponding depth map with the same spatial resolution. Quantitative and qualitative results on benchmark datasets and real-world scenes show that our reconstruction results are accurate and reliable. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to capture 5D information (3D space + 1D spectrum + 1D time) with a miniaturized apparatus and without active illumination.

Identification of CBF Transcription Factors in Tea Plants and a Survey of Potential CBF Target Genes under Low Temperature.

C-repeat binding factors (CBFs) are key signaling genes that can be rapidly induced by cold and bind to the C-repeat/dehydration-responsive motif (CRT/DRE) in the promoter region of the downstream cold-responsive (COR) genes, which play a vital role in the plant response to low temperature. However, the CBF family in tea plants has not yet been elucidated, and the possible target genes regulated by this family under low temperature are still unclear. In this study, we identified five CsCBF family genes in the tea plant genome and analyzed their phylogenetic tree, conserved domains and motifs, and cis-elements. These results indicate that CsCBF3 may be unique in the CsCBF family. This is further supported by our findings from the low-temperature treatment: all the CsCBF genes except CsCBF3 were significantly induced after treatment at 4 °C. The expression profiles of eight tea plant tissues showed that CsCBFs were mainly expressed in winter mature leaves, roots and fruits. Furthermore, 685 potential target genes were identified by transcriptome data and CRT/DRE element information. These target genes play a functional role under the low temperatures of winter through multiple pathways, including carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell wall modification, circadian rhythm, calcium signaling, transcriptional cascade, and hormone signaling pathways. Our findings will further the understanding of the stress regulatory network of CsCBFs in tea plants.

Transcriptome and Metabolite Profiling Reveal Novel Insights into Volatile Heterosis in the Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis).

Tea aroma is a key indicator for evaluating tea quality. Although notable success in tea aroma improvement has been achieved with heterosis breeding technology, the molecular basis underlying heterosis remains largely unexplored. Thus, the present report studies the tea plant volatile heterosis using a high-throughput next-generation RNA-seq strategy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Phenotypically, we found higher terpenoid volatile and green leaf volatile contents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the F1 hybrids than in their parental lines. Volatile heterosis was obvious in both F1 hybrids. At the molecular level, the comparative transcriptomics analysis revealed that approximately 41% (9027 of 21,995) of the genes showed non-additive expression, whereas only 7.83% (1723 of 21,995) showed additive expression. Among the non-additive genes, 42.1% showed high parental dominance and 17.6% showed over-dominance. Among different expression genes with high parental dominance and over-dominance expression patterns, KEGG and GO analyses found that plant hormone signal transduction, tea plant physiological process related pathways and most pathways associated with tea tree volatiles were enriched. In addition, we identified multiple genes (CsDXS, CsAATC2, CsSPLA2, etc.) and transcription factors (CsMYB1, CsbHLH79, CsWRKY40, etc.) that played important roles in tea volatile heterosis. Based on transcriptome and metabolite profiling, we conclude that non-additive action plays a major role in tea volatile heterosis. Genes and transcription factors involved in tea volatiles showing over-dominance expression patterns can be considered candidate genes and provide novel clues for breeding high-volatile tea varieties.

GASZ and mitofusin-mediated mitochondrial functions are crucial for spermatogenesis.

Nuage is an electron-dense cytoplasmic structure in germ cells that contains ribonucleoproteins and participates in piRNA biosynthesis. Despite the observation that clustered mitochondria are associated with a specific type of nuage called intermitochondrial cement (pi-body), the importance of mitochondrial functions in nuage formation and spermatogenesis is yet to be determined. We show that a germ cell-specific protein GASZ contains a functional mitochondrial targeting signal and is largely localized at mitochondria both endogenously in germ cells and in somatic cells when ectopically expressed. In addition, GASZ interacts with itself at the outer membrane of mitochondria and promotes mitofusion in a mitofusin/MFN-dependent manner. In mice, deletion of the mitochondrial targeting signal reveals that mitochondrial localization of GASZ is essential for nuage formation, mitochondrial clustering, transposon repression, and spermatogenesis. MFN1 deficiency also leads to defects in mitochondrial activity and male infertility. Our data thus reveal a requirement for GASZ and MFN-mediated mitofusion during spermatogenesis.

Tracing and Characterizing the Development of Transplanted Female Germline Stem Cells In Vivo.

It has long been believed that most female mammalian species lose the ability to generate oocytes in postnatal ovaries. Recent evidence has demonstrated the isolation and culture of female germline stem cells (FGSCs) from adult mice and humans. However, the process and mechanisms of FGSC differentiation in vivo following transplantation have not yet been studied. Here, we isolated and characterized FGSCs from a single EGFP-transgenic mouse, and traced the development and behavior of transplanted FGSCs (F-TFs) in vivo. Comparisons of folliculogenesis between recipients with FGSC transplantation and wild-type (WT) mice were performed by single follicle RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Results showed that FGSCs exhibited a homing ability and began to differentiate into early-stage oocytes only when they reached the edge of the ovarian cortex. The F-TFs restored function of premature ovarian failure (gdf9iCre; PtenloxP/loxP genotype) and generated offspring. Furthermore, results demonstrated that the developmental mechanisms of follicles derived from F-TFs were similar to that of WT follicles. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified two potential sub-networks and core genes that played a critical role in follicular development. These findings provide a theoretical basis and lay a technology platform for specific or personalized medical treatment of ovarian failure or other ovarian diseases.

Effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor 'Scriptaid' on the developmental competence of mouse embryos generated through round spermatid injection.

STUDY QUESTION: Can the histone deacetylase inhibitor Scriptaid improve the efficiency of the development of round spermatid injection (ROSI)-fertilized embryos in a mouse model? SUMMARY ANSWER: Treatment of ROSI mouse zygotes with Scriptaid increased the expression levels of several development-related genes at the blastocyst stage, resulting in more efficient in vitro development of the blastocyst and an increased birth rate of ROSI-derived embryos. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The full-term development of embryos derived through ROSI is significantly lower than that following ICSI in humans and other species. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Oocytes, spermatozoa and round spermatids were collected from BDF1 (C57BL/6 × DBA/2) mice. For in vitro development experiments, mouse ROSI-derived zygotes were treated with Scriptaid at different concentrations (0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 nM) and for different exposure times (0, 6, 10, 16 or 24 h). Next, blastocysts of the optimal Scriptaid-treated group and the non-treated ROSI group were separately transferred into surrogate ICR mice to compare in vivo development with the ICSI group (control). Each experiment was repeated at least three times. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Metaphase II (MII) oocytes, spermatozoa and round spermatids were obtained from sexually mature BDF1 female or male mice. The developmental potential of embryos among the three groups (the ICSI, ROSI and optimal Scriptaid-treated ROSI groups) was assessed based on the rates of obtaining zygotes, two-cell stage embryos, four-cell stage embryos, blastocysts and full-term offspring. In addition, the expression levels of development-related genes (Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and Sox2) were analysed using real-time PCR, and the methylation states of imprinted genes (H19 and Snrpn) in these three groups were detected using methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR) sequencing following bisulfite treatment. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The in vitro experiments revealed that treating ROSI-derived zygotes with 250 nM Scriptaid for 10 h significantly improved the blastocyst formation rate (59%) compared with the non-treated group (38%) and further increased the birth rates of ROSI-derived embryos from 21% to 40% in vivo. Moreover, in ROSI-derived embryos, the expression of the Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 genes at the blastocyst stage was decreased, but the optimal Scriptaid treatment restored expression to a level similar to their ICSI counterparts. In addition, Scriptaid treatment moderately repaired the abnormal DNA methylation pattern in the imprinting control regions (ICRs) of H19 and Snrpn. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Because of the ethics regarding the use of human gametes for ROSI studies, the mouse model was used as an approach to explore the effects of Scriptaid on the developmental potential of ROSI-derived embryos. However, to determine whether these findings can be applied to humans, further investigation will be required. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Scriptaid treatment provides a new means of improving the efficiency and safety of clinical human ROSI. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: The study was financially supported through grants from the National Key Research Program of China (No. 2016YFC1304800); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos: 81170756, 81571486); the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (Nos: 15140901700, 15ZR1424900) and the Programme for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

FACS selection of valuable mutant mouse round spermatids and strain rescue via round spermatid injection.

Round spermatid injection (ROSI) into mammalian oocytes can result in the development of viable embryos and offspring. One current limitation to this technique is the identification of suitable round spermatids. In the current paper, round spermatids were selected from testicular cells with phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and ROSI was performed in two strains of mice. The rates of fertilization, embryonic development and offspring achieved were the same in all strains. Significantly, round spermatids selected by PCM and FACS were effectively used to rescue the infertile Pten-null mouse. The current results indicate that FACS selection of round spermatids can not only provide high-purity and viable round spermatids for use in ROSI, but also has no harmful effects on the developmental capacity of subsequently fertilized embryos. It was concluded that round spermatids selected by FACS are useful for mouse strain rederivation and rescue of infertile males; ROSI should be considered as a powerful addition to the armamentarium of assisted reproduction techniques applicable in the mouse.

A comprehensive method for the conservation of mouse strains combining natural breeding, sperm cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technology.

The maintenance and preservation of strains of mice used in biomedical research presents a unique challenge to individual investigators and research institutions. The goal of this study was to assess a comprehensive system for mouse strain conservation through a combination of natural mating, sperm cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technology. Our strategy was based on the collection and cryopreservation of fresh epididymal sperm from male mice by semi-vasectomy; these mice were then naturally mated for breeding purposes. If no satisfactory results were obtained from natural breeding, then the cryopreserved sperm were used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); resultant embryos were then transferred into pseudopregnant-recipient female mice. Our results show that some semi-vasectomized mouse strains can be conserved by natural breeding, and that sterile males can be compensated for through the use of IVF and ICSI technology. As such, we believe this system is suitable for the purpose of strain conservation, allowing the continuation of natural breeding with the safeguard of assisted reproduction available.

Differences in chimera formation and germline transmission between E14 and C2J embryonic stem cells in mice.

Summary The goal of this project was to determine whether the originating strain of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells affects the maintenance of their pluripotency under uniform culture conditions. ES cells from two strains of mice, E14 and C2J, were tested. Both ES cell lines were cultured in KOSR + 2i medium and then injected into C57BL/6J blastocysts. Our results demonstrate that this medium could support both E14 and C2J ES cells to keep their pluripotency, though E14 ES cells were found to have a higher chimeric rate than C2J ES cells. However, analysis by backcrossing revealed that C2J and E14 ES cells have the same ability for germline transmission. Our results demonstrate that ES cells derived from E14 and C2J cells have the same capacity for germline transmission when injected into C57BL/6J blastocysts; however, due to the limitation of mixed genetic background between E14 cells and host C57BL/6J embryos, C2J ES cells are preferable to E14 ES cells for use in gene-targeting and should become the cell line of choice for the generation of genetically engineered mutant mouse lines.

Clinical risk factors for preterm birth and evaluating maternal psychology in the postpartum period.

BACKGROUND: Although the specific pathogenesis of preterm birth (PTB) has not been thoroughly clarified, it is known to be related to various factors, such as pregnancy complications, maternal socioeconomic factors, lifestyle habits, reproductive history, environmental and psychological factors, prenatal care, and nutritional status. PTB has serious implications for newborns and families and is associated with high mortality and complications. Therefore, the prediction of PTB risk can facilitate early intervention and reduce its resultant adverse consequences. AIM: To analyze the risk factors for PTB to establish a PTB risk prediction model and to assess postpartum anxiety and depression in mothers. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 648 consecutive parturients who delivered at Shenzhen Bao'an District Songgang People's Hospital between January 2019 and January 2022 was performed. According to the diagnostic criteria for premature infants, the parturients were divided into a PTB group (n = 60) and a full-term (FT) group (n = 588). Puerperae were assessed by the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), based on which the mothers with anxiety and depression symptoms were screened for further analysis. The factors affecting PTB were analyzed by univariate analysis, and the related risk factors were identified by logistic regression. RESULTS: According to univariate analysis, the PTB group was older than the FT group, with a smaller weight change and greater proportions of women who underwent artificial insemination and had gestational diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05). In addition, greater proportions of women with reproductive tract infections and greater white blood cell (WBC) counts (P < 0.05), shorter cervical lengths in the second trimester and lower neutrophil percentages (P < 0.001) were detected in the PTB group than in the FT group. The PTB group exhibited higher postpartum SAS and SDS scores than did the FT group (P < 0.0001), with a higher number of mothers experiencing anxiety and depression (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a greater maternal weight change, the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus, a shorter cervical length in the second trimester, a greater WBC count, and the presence of maternal anxiety and depression were risk factors for PTB (P < 0.01). Moreover, the risk score of the FT group was lower than that of the PTB group, and the area under the curve of the risk score for predicting PTB was greater than 0.9. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the complex interplay between postpartum anxiety and PTB, where maternal anxiety may be a potential risk factor for PTB, with PTB potentially increasing the incidence of postpartum anxiety in mothers. In addition, a greater maternal weight change, the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus, a shorter cervical length, a greater WBC count, and postpartum anxiety and depression were identified as risk factors for PTB.

Endogenous renovascular hypertension combined with low shear stress induces plaque rupture in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

OBJECTIVE: The development of a murine model of spontaneous atherosclerotic plaque rupture with luminal thrombus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Combined partial ligation of the left renal artery and left common carotid artery in 8-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice induced endogenous renovascular hypertension and local low oscillatory shear stress in the left common carotid artery. After 8 weeks, a fresh left common carotid artery lumen thrombus associated with severe plaque burden was found in 50% (10/20) of the mice. Histological analyses indicated that all left common carotid artery lesions had vulnerable features, and 50% (5/10) of the mice showed plaque rupture with a lumen thrombus. Multiple layers with layering discontinuity and intraplaque hemorrhages were found in 80% (8/10) of the mice. Further experiments showed that both increased blood pressure, and angiotensin-II contributed to plaque progression and vulnerability. Decreased intimal collagen associated with increased collagenase activity and matrix metalloproteinase expression also resulted in plaque disruption. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a murine model of spontaneous plaque rupture with a high incidence of luminal thrombus. The model not only nicely recapitulates the pathophysiological processes of human plaque rupture but it is also simple, fast, and highly efficient to generate.

Roles of purinergic receptor P2Y, G protein-coupled 12 in the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of purinergic receptor P2Y, G protein-coupled 12 (P2Y12), an ADP receptor, in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Apolipoprotein E-null mice were crossed with P2y12(-/-) mice to generate double knockout mice. The double knockout mice and the control apolipoprotein E-null mice were fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks. Assessment of the atherosclerotic lesions in the control and double knockout mice demonstrated that P2Y12 deficiency caused a diminished lesion area, an increased fibrous content at the plaque site, and decreased monocyte/macrophage infiltration of the lesions. Polymerase chain reaction studies revealed that white blood cells do not express significant levels of P2Y12. Bone marrow transplantation experiments confirmed that P2Y12 expressed on platelets is a key factor responsible for atherosclerosis, but do not exclude a role of smooth muscle cell P2Y12. Supernatant fluid from activated P2y12(+/+) but not P2y12(-/-) platelets was capable of causing monocyte migration. In vitro studies showed that platelet P2Y12 deficiency suppressed platelet factor 4 secretion and P-selectin expression. Further work demonstrated that platelet P2Y12, through inhibition of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway, critically regulates the release of platelet factor 4, and thereby affects monocyte recruitment and infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that P2Y12 modulates atherogenesis, at least in part by augmenting inflammatory cell recruitment via regulation of platelet α-granule release.

Microtubule organisation, pronuclear formation and embryonic development of mouse oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection or parthenogenetic activation and then slow-freezing with 1, 2-propanediol.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of cryopreservation on oocytes at different times after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and parthenogenetic activation. The study was performed in mouse oocytes fertilised by ICSI, or in artificially-activated oocytes, which were cryopreserved immediately, one hour or five hours later through slow-freezing. After thawing, the rates of survival, fertilisation-activation, embryonic development of oocytes-zygotes and changes in the cytoskeleton and ploidy were observed. Our results reveal a significant difference in survival rates of 0-, 1- and 5-h cryopreserved oocytes following ICSI and artificial activation. Moreover, significant differences in two pronuclei (PN) development existed between the 0-, 1- and 5-h groups of oocytes frozen after ICSI, while the rates of two-PN development of activated oocytes were different between the 1-h and 5-h groups. Despite these initial differences, there was no difference in the rate of blastocyst formation from two-PN zygotes following ICSI or artificial activation. However, compared with ICSI or artificially-activated oocytes cryopreserved at 5h, many oocytes from the 0- and 1-h cryopreservation groups developed to zygotes with abnormal ploidy; this suggests that too little time before cryopreservation can result in some activated oocytes forming abnormal ploidy. However, our results also demonstrate that spermatozoa can maintain normal fertilisation capacity in frozen ICSI oocytes and the procedure of freeze-thawing did not affect the later development of zygotes.