Expression of perilipin 2 (PLIN2) in porcine oocytes during maturation.

Perilipins have been reported to limit the interaction of lipases with neutral lipids within the droplets, thereby regulating neutral lipid accumulation and utilization. This study aimed to identify the location and expression of PLIN1 and PLIN2 in porcine oocytes during maturation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunostaining and Western blot methods were used to characterize the expression and distribution patterns of PLIN1 and PLIN2 in porcine oocytes. The results showed that PLIN1 was not detectable in porcine oocytes. PLIN2 and BODIPY 493/503-detected neutral lipid droplets appeared identical distribution patterns and extensive colocalization in both GV and MII porcine oocytes. PLIN2 protein expression was higher in GV oocytes than that in MII oocytes (p < 0.05), although PLIN2 mRNA expression was similar in both groups. These findings suggested that PLIN2 was a major lipid droplet-associated protein in porcine oocytes.

Screening and identification of various components in Thalictrum fortunei using a combination of liquid chromatography/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

An approach for screening and identification of various components in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), using a combination of LC/TOF-MS technique was described in this paper. The chemical profile of Thalictrum fortunei, well-known in TCM, was studied using the established method. The possibilities of screening and identifying non-target components inside TCM with modern data acquisition methods of acceleration time of flight mass spectrometers, such as data-dependent MS to MS/MS switching were investigated. As a result, 27 components were identified. This study was aimed to screen and identify the main components of T. fortunei using LC/TOF-MS, expecting to provide a rapid, sensitive, economical and systematical method for the identification and further quality evaluation of TCM preparation.

L-carnitine enhances oocyte maturation and development of parthenogenetic embryos in pigs.

The objective was to determine whether adding L-carnitine in IVM/IVC medium enhanced maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes in vitro. Oocyte maturation rates did not differ significantly among groups supplemented with 0, 0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg/mL of L-carnitine added during IVM (although 2 mg/mL of L-carnitine reduced maturation rate). Compared with control oocytes, those treated with 0.5 mg/mL of L-carnitine during IVM had greater (P < 0.05) rates of blastocyst formation after parthenogenetic activation, and these blastocysts had less (P < 0.05) apoptosis. Adding 0.5 mg/mL of L-carnitine during IVM also significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased glutathione (GSH) concentrations. With or without glucose supplementation, 0.5 mg/mL of L-carnitine in the IVM medium significantly hastened nuclear maturation of oocytes. Moreover, supplementing the IVM medium with either glucose or L-carnitine increased (P < 0.05) percentages of oocytes that reached the metaphase II (MII) stage, relative to a control group. Final maturation rates in IVM medium containing either glucose or L-carnitine were not significantly different. Adding L-carnitine (0 to 2 mg/mL) to IVC medium for activated porcine oocytes did not significantly affect development. However, 0.5 mg/mL of L-carnitine in IVC medium significantly reduced reactive oxygen species levels and apoptosis in activated blastocysts, although glutathione concentrations were not significantly altered. In conclusion, adding L-carnitine during IVM/IVC improved developmental potential of porcine oocytes, and also the quality of parthenogenetic embryos, probably by accelerating nuclear maturation, and preventing oxidative damage and apoptosis.

[Effects of Ziziphus spinosa Hu on serum lipoprotein and experimental atherosclerosis].

Rabbits of experimental group were fed synthetic food, cholesterol (0.4 g/day/rabbit) yolk powder (4 g/day/rabbit), and additionally pulp of Suanzao (10 g/kg/day). Three months later, compared with the results of the control group (TC 1334.8 +/- 327.8 mg; LDL 1261.9 +/- 356.6 mg and TG 270.8 +/- 66.9 mg), TC (574.6 +/- 271.8 mg), LDL (490.6 +/- 247.1 mg) and TG (89.7 +/- 7.8 mg) of the experimental group were significantly decreased, but in the experimental group HDL increased significantly (42.2 +/- 22.5 mg to 14.2 +/- 3.9 mg), and the AS degree of coronary artery was markedly reduced.