• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제17권7호
• /
• pp.919-923
• /
• 2004

Ultrasonographic study was undertaken to establish the echogenecity and size of reproductive organs of 18 cycling buffaloes of different parities and compared with the sizes measured by palpation per rectum at estrus (day 0), met estrus (day 2), mid diestrus (day 10) and late diestrus (day 16). The overall mean size of cervix, uterine body, right horn, left horn, right ovary and left ovary measured by palpation per rectum were 2.70$\pm$0.43, 2.36$\pm$0.36, 2.17$\pm$0.37, 2.12$\pm$0.38, 2.63$\pm$0.41 and 2.72$\pm$0.37 cm, respectively. The corresponding ultrasonographic observations were 2.10$\pm$0.40, 1.85$\pm$0.30, 1.73$\pm$0.36, 1.64$\pm$0.37, 2.16$\pm$0.36 and 2.29$\pm$0.38 cm respectively. Variations in the size of genitalia due to stages of estrous cycle were non-significant. The size of genitalia measured by palpation per rectum was significantly higher (p<0.05) than by ultrasonography. However, there was linear positive correlation (r=+0.87) in the measurements by the two techniques. The ultrasonographic characteristics of tubular genitalia revealed different echogenic gray shades around the nonechogenic (black) central area of lumen depending upon the stage of cycle. The ovarian stroma appeared as hyperechoic (white) area with nonechogenic (black) follicle. The corpus luteum (CL) exhibited different echogenic texture viz. grayish black, grayish granular and grayish white at met estrus, mid diestrus and late diestrus, respectively. Therefore, ltrasonography can be effectively employed to record the exact size and echotexture of the buffalo genitalia during different stages of estrous cycle.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2011

Objective: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used extensively to manufacture plastics and epoxy resin liners for food and beverage cans. BPA, with properties similar to estrogen, has endocrine-disrupting effects. In the present study, we examined the effects of early prepubertal BPA exposure on the onset of puberty and reproductive parameters such as estrous cycle and reproductive organ weights in female mice. Methods: Female mice were injected subcutaneously at postnatal day (PND) 8 with BPA (0.1, 1, 10, 100 mg/kg) in sesame oil or with sesame oil alone. Body weight was measured from PND 10 to 70. Vaginal opening and estrous cycle were monitored from PND 20 to 29. Animals were sacrificed at PND 25, 30, and 70, and the ovary and uterus weights were measured. Results: Early prepubertal exposure to BPA (10 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased body weight from PND 18 to 30. BPA treated mice at testing dose levels showed early opening of the vagina compared to the control group. The number of estrous cycle and days of estrus were significantly decreased in high dose (100 mg/kg) BPA treated mice. The ovary weight at PND 25 and 30 was significantly decreased in all BPA treatment groups. Conclusion: Early prepubertal exposure to BPA accelerated the onset of puberty but decreased reproductive parameters in female mice.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2022

In response to luteinizing hormone (LH), a higher concentration of progesterone (P4) is produced in luteal cells of corpus luteum (CL). Mitochondria are an essential cellular organelle in steroidogenesis. The specific engagement of the concept regarding mitochondrial shaping with early stages of steroidogenesis was suggested in reproductive endocrine cells. Although the specific involvement of GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) with steroidogenesis has been demonstrated in luteal cells of bovine CL in vitro, its actual relationship with ovarian steroidogenesis during the estrous cycle remains unknown. In this study, while Fis1 and Opa1 protein levels did not show significant changes during the estrous cycle, Drp1, Mfn1, and Mfn2 proteins exhibited relatively lower levels at proestrus than at estrus or diestrus. 3β-HSD showed higher levels at proestrus than at estrus or diestrus. In addition, Drp1 phosphorylation (s637) was higher in proestrus than in estrus or diestrus. Immune-positive cells for Drp1, pDrp1 (s637), and 3β-HSD were all localized in the cytoplasm of luteal cells in the CL. The immune-positive cells for 3β-HSD were more frequently seen in the CL at proestrus than at estrus or diestrus. Immunoreactivity for Drp1 in luteal cells at proestrus was weaker than that at estrus or diestrus. However, pDrp1 (s637) immune-positive cells were mostly detected in luteal cells at proestrus. These results imply that steroidogenesis (P4 production) in the CL is closely related to phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 637. Taken together, this study presents evidence that Drp1 phosphorylation at serine 637 is an important step in steroidogenesis in the CL.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.533-543
• /
• 2022

Objective: Caspase-mediated apoptosis plays a crucial role in the regulation of endometrial and placental function in females. Caspase activity is tightly controlled by members of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) family. However, the expression and regulation of IAPs at the maternal-conceptus interface has not been studied in pigs. Therefore, we determined the expression of IAP family members baculovirus IAP repeat-containing 1 (BIRC1) to BIRC6 at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. Methods: We obtained endometrial tissues from pigs at various stages of the estrous cycle and pregnancy, conceptus tissues during early pregnancy, and chorioallantoic tissues during mid- to late pregnancy and analyzed the expression of IAPs. Furthermore, we determined the effects of the steroid hormones estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone on the expression of IAPs in endometrial explant tissue cultures. Results: During the estrous cycle, BIRC2 and BIRC5 expression varied cyclically, and during pregnancy, endometrial BIRC1, BIRC2, BIRC3, BIRC4, and BIRC5 expression varied in a stage-specific manner. Conceptus and chorioallantoic tissues also expressed IAPs during pregnancy. The BIRC2 and BIR3 mRNAs were localized to luminal epithelial cells, and BIRC4 proteins to glandular epithelial cells in the endometrium. Exposure of endometrial tissues to E2 increased the expression of BIRC6, while progesterone increased the expression of BIRC1, BIRC4, and BIRC6 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results indicated that IAPs were expressed in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface during pregnancy in a stage-specific manner. In addition, steroid hormones were found to be responsible for the expression of some IAPs in pigs. Together, the results suggested that IAPs may play important roles in endometrial and placental functions by regulating caspase action and apoptosis at the maternal-conceptus interface.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.441-450
• /
• 2023

Objective: Serum amyloid A3 (SAA3), an acute phase response protein, plays important roles in opsonization, antimicrobial activity, chemotactic activity, and immunomodulation, but its expression, regulation, and function at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs are not fully understood. Therefore, we determined the expression of SAA3 in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface during pregnancy. Methods: Endometrial tissues from pigs at various stages of the estrous cycle and pregnancy and with conceptuses derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), conceptus tissues during early pregnancy, and chorioallantoic tissues during mid- to late pregnancy were obtained and the expression of SAA3 was analyzed. The effects of the steroid hormones, interleukin-1β (IL1B), and interferon-γ (IFNG) on the expression of SAA3 were determined in endometrial explant cultures. Results: SAA3 was expressed in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, with the highest level on day 12 of pregnancy. The expression of SAA3 in the endometrium was significantly higher on day 12 of pregnancy than during the estrous cycle. Early-stage conceptuses and chorioallantoic tissues during mid to late pregnancy also expressed SAA3. The expression of SAA3 was primarily localized to luminal epithelial cells in the endometrium. In endometrial explant cultures, the expression of SAA3 was induced by increasing doses of IL1B and IFNG. Furthermore, the expression of SAA3 decreased significantly in the endometria of pigs carrying conceptuses derived from SCNT on day 12 of pregnancy. Conclusion: These results suggest that the expression of SAA3 in the endometrium during the implantation period increases in response to conceptus-derived IL1B and IFNG. The failure of those appropriate interactions between the implanting conceptus and the endometrium leads to dysregulation of endometrial SAA3 expression, which could result in pregnancy failure. In addition, SAA3 could be a specific endometrial epithelial marker for conceptus implantation in pigs.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제37권4호
• /
• pp.255-265
• /
• 2022

The cellular communication network factor (CCN) family proteins regulate many biological events such as angiogenesis, tumor growth, placentation, implantation, and embryogenesis. The expression and function of CCN1, CCN2, and CCN3 at the maternal-conceptus interface are established in humans and rodents, but little is known about the role of CCN4 to CCN6 in the reproductive organs in any other species. Several studies in transcriptome analysis in pigs have shown that the expression of CCN4 and CCN6 increases in the endometrium during early pregnancy. However, their expression, regulation, and function in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy have not been fully understood in pigs. Thus, we determined the expression, localization, and regulation of CCN4 and CCN6 during the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. We found that the levels of CCN4, but not CCN6, changed during the estrous cycle. The levels of CCN4 were greater during mid- to late pregnancy than in the early stage, and the levels of CCN6 were greatest on Day 15 of pregnancy. CCN4 and CCN6 were detected in conceptus tissues during early pregnancy and in chorioallantoic tissues during the later stage of pregnancy. CCN4 mRNA was mainly localized to epithelial cells, CCN6 mRNAs to epithelial and stromal cells in the endometrium. In endometrial explant cultures, CCN4 expression was increased by progesterone, and CCN6 expression by interferon-𝛾. These results suggest that CCN4 and CCN6 may play roles in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating the endometrial epithelial cell functions in pigs.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제36권7호
• /
• pp.1034-1043
• /
• 2023

Objective: Two serine protease inhibitors, peptidase inhibitor 3 (PI3) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), play important roles in protease inhibition and antimicrobial activity, but their expression, regulation, and function at the maternal-fetal interface in pigs are not fully understood. Therefore, we determined the expression and regulation of PI3 and SLPI in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and at the maternal-fetal interface in pigs. Methods: Endometrial tissues during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, conceptus tissues during early pregnancy, and chorioallantoic tissues during mid to late pregnancy were obtained, and the expression of PI3 and SLPI was analyzed. The effects of the steroid hormones estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone (P4) on the expression of PI3 and SLPI were determined in endometrial explant cultures. Results: PI3 and SLPI were expressed in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, with higher levels during mid to late pregnancy than during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Early-stage conceptuses and chorioallantoic tissues during mid to late pregnancy also expressed PI3 and SLPI. PI3 protein and SLPI mRNA were primarily localized to endometrial epithelia. In endometrial explant cultures, the expression of PI3 was induced by increasing doses of P4, and the expression of SLPI was induced by increasing doses of E2 and P4. Conclusion: These results suggest that the PI3 and SLPI expressed in the endometrium and conceptus tissues play an important role in antimicrobial activity for fetal protection against potential pathogens and in blocking protease actions to allow epitheliochorial placenta formation.

• 한국가축번식학회지
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 2003

본 연구는 한국재래산양에서 프로게스타겐(Synchromate-B, Veramix 및 CIDR)과 성선자극호르몬(PMSG, FSH 및 hOG)의 병용처리가 발정동기화 및 과배란유기에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 수행하였는 바, 그 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. 프로게스타겐과 PMSG을 이용한 재래산양의 발정동기화 유기율은 Synchromate-B는 52.9%, Veramix는 72.9% 그리고 CIDR는 75.2% 로써 Veramix 및 CIDR처리구가 Synchromate-B 처리구보다 유의적으로 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 또한, 프로게스타겐을 이용한 발정동기화유기시 배란점에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과, 평균배란점수는 Synchromate-B는 2.11$\pm$1.89개, Veramix는 1.34$\pm$0.87개 및 CIDR는 1.42$\pm$0.96개로써 Synchromate-B 처리구에서 유의적으로 높은 결과를 나타냈다(P<0.05). 2. 프로게스타겐인 Synchromate-B, Veramix 및 CIDR로 성주기를 조절하고 FSH, PMSG와 hCG로 과배란처리를 유기하였을 때 프로게스타겐에 따른 과배란유기율은 각각 98.6%, 99.45% 및 98.8%로서 상호간에 유의성이 인정되지 않았고, 평균배란점수는 각각 12.58$\pm$16.52개, 12.91$\pm$7.27개 및 11.28$\pm$6.33개로 CIDR 처리구에 비하여 Synchromate-B 처리구와 Veramix 처리구에서 유의적으로 높았다(P<0.05). 3. CIDR로 성주기를 조절하고 성선자극호르몬으로써 FSH, PMSG와 hCG를 처리한 시험구와 PMSG를 투여하지 않은 시험구의 배란점은 각각 11.16$\pm$6.00개 및 10.79$\pm$6.46개로서 유의적 차이가 인정되지 않았다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제22권1호
• /
• pp.9-13
• /
• 2007

본 연구는 젖소의 발정 행동 징후에 따라 배란 시간을 예측하고 결정하기 위하여 발정의 다양한 행동 징후(승가, 승가허용, 외음부 냄새 맡기 및 턱비빔)와 배란 시간과의 관계에 대해 조사하였다 공시된 51두 중 37두에서 배란이 일어났으며, 이 중 28두에서 발정 발현이 나타났다. 발정 행동 징후는 $PGF_2{\alpha}$주사 후 2일째부터 72시간 동안 육안 관찰하였으며 배란 시간(4시간 간격으로 초음파 검사)과의 관계를 각각 조사하였다. 발정 행동별 발정 발현율은 외음부 냄새와 턱비빔은 81%와 78%를 보였으며, 승가는 78% 승가 허용은 56%를 보였다. 발정 행동 징후별 발정 개시와 종료의 배란 시간까지의 간격 분포는 발정 개시 후 배란까지는 배란 전 $7{\sim}37$시간(평균 $25.58{\pm}7.94$ 시간)사이였으며, 발정 종료 후 배란까지는 배란 전 $1{\sim}28$시간(평균 $13.42{\pm}7.14$ 시간) 사이였다. 발정 행동별 발정 개시 후 배란까지의 시간에서 승가 허용($17.33{\pm}5.83$시간)이 승가($23.58{\pm}5.12$ 시간), 외음부 냄새 맡기$(24.25{\pm}6.09$시간), 턱비빔($23.42{\pm}6.04$ 시간)보다 유의적으로(p<0.05) 짧게 나타났다. 또한 발정 행동별 배란 전 발정 개시에서 승가, 승가 허용, 외음부 냄새 맡기 및 턱비빔은 12시간 간격 안에서 $16{\sim}28$시간(88%), $10{\sim}22$시간(81%), $16{\sim}28$시간(79%) 및 $19{\sim}31$시간(79%)사이에서 각각 개시하였다. 외음부 냄새 맡기와 턱비빔 행동은 발정 단계가 아닐 때도 보이는 행동이기 때문에 배란 시간을 예측하기에는 적절하지 않다. 결론적으로, 승가 허용와 승가 행위는 배란 시간을 예측하는데 좋은 지표이지만, 승가 허용은 승가를 허용하는 개체의 수가 제한적이기 때문에 배란 시간을 예측하는데 다소 어려운 실정이다. 따라서 승가 행위로 배란 시간을 예측하는 것이 훌륭한 지표가 될 것으로 생각된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.229-232
• /
• 1997

Effects of short-term treatment with somidobove (recombinantly produced bovine somatotropin, BST) on estrous cyclicity and fertility were studied in dairy buffaloes. Twenty buffaloes of Nili-Ravi breed calving during the same season were assigned to either control (n=8) or treated group (n=12). The buffaloes of treated group received single infection (prolonged release) of 320 mg of somidobove on day-60 postpartum. The mean values for interval to first postpartum estrus, first service conception rate, services per conception, service period and calving interval for the treated group were 96.4 days, 66.7%, 1.70, 164 days and 473 days, respectively. The corresponding values for the control group were 92.5 days, 62.5%, 1.87, 135 days and 439 days. Means of all variables did not differ between control and treated group (p > 0.05). Three buffaloes of the control and four buffaloes of the treated group did not conceive at first service. Out of these, two buffaloes of control and one buffalo of treated group exhibited normal estrous cycles. It is concluded from these data that short term BST-treatment has no adverse effect on reproductive functions of dairy buffaloes.