Relationships between placental adiponectin, leptin, visfatin and resistin and birthweight in cattle.

Adipokines can affect intrauterine development while calf birthweight (CBW) is a breeding standard of calves, which reflects the status of fetal intrauterine development. To explore the correlation between placental adipokines and CBW, 54 healthy Chinese Holstein cows were used in the present study. The cows were grouped according to the CBW of their calves. Placentas were collected immediately after delivery and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the placental expression levels of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin and resistin. Our results show that the mRNA transcription and blood placental content of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin and resistin increased with increasing CBW. The analysis showed that the mRNA transcription levels of placental adiponectin, leptin and resistin were positively correlated with CBW. The mRNA and protein expression levels of adiponectin, leptin and visfatin between the three groups were significantly correlated. Placental resistin mRNA levels correlated positively with adiponectin mRNA, but not leptin or visfatin. The protein expression levels of resistin were significantly positively correlated with those of adiponectin, leptin and visfatin. These results suggest that placental adipokines play important roles in regulating calf intrauterine growth.

UFMylation is associated with LPS-induced inflammatory response in goat endometrial epithelial cells.

The endometrium plays an important role in the defence against invading pathogens, although the mechanisms are not clear. UFMylation is a recently discovered novel ubiquitination-like modification system that plays a pivotal role in inflammation and the immune response. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of UFMylation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in immortalized goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs). Ubiquitin-fold modifier conjugating enzyme 1 (UFM1) and DDRGK domain containing 1 (DDRGK1) were mainly localized in the luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium of mouse and goat endometrial tissues. The expression levels of UFM1, ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 5 (UBA5), UFM1 specific ligase 1 (UFL1) and DDRGK1, as key components of the UFMylation system, were significantly activated by 5 µg/mL LPS-induced inflammatory response in gEECs for 6 hr. Meanwhile, the expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly upregulated, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was significantly down-regulated after overexpression of UFM1 in gEECs. Additionally, we observed UFM1 and DDRGK1 were markedly increased on LPS-stimulated mouse endometritis in vivo. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that UFMylation was significantly activated by LPS and might be involved in regulating inflammatory response in gEECs.

Serum adipokines play different roles in type I and II ketosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the differences in several serum adipokines in perinatal dairy cows with type I and II ketosis, and the correlations between these adipokines and the two types of ketosis. METHODS: Serum adiponectin (ADP), leptin (LEP), resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and energy balance indicators related to ketosis were measured. Type I and II ketosis were distinguished by serum glucose (Glu) and Y values and the correlations between adipokines in the two types of ketosis were analyzed. RESULTS: ß-Hydroxybutyric acid of type I ketosis cows was significantly negatively correlated with insulin (INS) and LEP and had a significant positive correlation with serum ADP. In type II ketosis cows, ADP and LEP were significantly negatively correlated, and INS and resistin were significantly positively correlated. Revised quantitative INS sensitivity check index (RQUICKI) values had a significantly positive correlation with ADP and had a very significant and significant negative correlation with resistin, TNF-α, and IL-6. ADP was significantly negatively correlated with resistin and TNF-α, LEP had a significantly positive correlation with TNF-α, and a significantly positive correlation was shown among resistin, IL-6, and TNF-α. There was also a significant positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: INS, ADP, and LEP might exert biological influences to help the body recover from negative energy balance, whereas resistin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in type II ketosis cows exacerbated INS resistance and inhibited the production and secretion of ADP, weakened INS sensitivity, and liver protection function, and aggravated ketosis.

Comparison of the Evaluation of Combination of Ultrasonography of the Reproductive Tract With Hormone Administration on Dairy Cow Fertility.

Further optimization of reproduction management programs in dairy cows is a contemporary research topic. In this context, our study aimed to compare a hormone program, named "uterus-ovary monitoring and classified use of hormone program" (M+C), with the Pre-OvSynch program. The M+C was based on regular application of B-mode ultrasonography during a voluntary waiting period to monitor the uterus and ovaries, while using various treatments under different conditions. Results of the 30-33-day and 60-day pregnancy/artificial insemination after the first AI of M+C were significantly better than the Pre-OvSynch (p < 0.05). The pregnancy rates within 180 days in milk after M+C was significantly higher than that after Pre-OvSynch (p < 0.05). The total number of inseminations used for M+C was significantly lower than that for Pre-OvSynch (p < 0.01). The number of open days was fewer after M+C than after the Pre-OvSynch throughout the experimental period with highly significant differences (p < 0.01). In summary, the use of M+C enhances reproductive benefits and reduces the need for hormone drugs among cows.

ISGylation Inhibits an LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Goat Endometrial Epithelial Cells.

Endometritis is a common and important reproductive disease of domestic animals. The principal factors responsible for the disease are infection with Gram-negative bacteria, the release of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. However, we do not fully understand the interaction between endometrial immunity and bacterial infection in the disease etiology. The ubiquitin-like protein ISG15 can regulate the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway via the ISGylation modification system, modulating the inflammatory response. In the present study, we found that ISG15 protein was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs) and that the expression of key genes and proteins of ISGylation increased in LPS-induced gEECs. Overexpression and silencing of the ISG15 gene demonstrated that ISGylation inhibited an LPS-induced inflammatory response via the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in gEECs. Here, we provide the experimental basis for further exploration of the role of the ISGylation modification system in the inflammatory response of endometrium and a potential method for the treatment of endometritis.