Imaging Transzonal Projections in the Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes: challenges and solutions†.

Deep 3D imaging of oocytes shows several difficulties. Their large size, spherical shape causes depth-dependent artefactual shadow in the middle, resulting from refractive index mismatches induced by turbid organelles and lipid droplets. These mismatches lead to optical aberrations, increasing the laser spot size at the confocal pinhole plan and causing significant attenuation of fluorescence intensity making difficult to clearly image fine structures such as the transzonal projections (TZPs) connecting cumulus cells and the oocyte.

Credibility assessment of a mechanistic model of atherosclerosis to predict cardiovascular outcomes under lipid-lowering therapy.

Demonstrating cardiovascular (CV) benefits with lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) requires long-term randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with thousands of patients. Innovative approaches such as in silico trials applying a disease computational model to virtual patients receiving multiple treatments offer a complementary approach to rapidly generate comparative effectiveness data. A mechanistic computational model of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) was built from knowledge, describing lipoprotein homeostasis, LLT effects, and the progression of atherosclerotic plaques leading to myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, major acute limb event and CV death.

Persistent gaps in the implementation of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A French nationwide study.

Background: According to international guidelines, lowering LDL-cholesterol is the cornerstone of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention. However, observational studies have identified current gaps in the implementation of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT). This whole-population study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of LLT use in ASCVD patients.

In-silico trial emulation to predict the cardiovascular protection of new lipid-lowering drugs: an illustration through the design of the SIRIUS programme.

Introduction: Inclisiran, an siRNA targeting hepatic PCSK9 mRNA, administered twice-yearly (after initial and 3-month doses), substantially and sustainably reduced LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in Phase III trials. Whether lowering LDL-C with inclisiran translates into a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is not yet established. In-silico trials applying a disease computational model to virtual patients receiving new treatments allow to emulate large scale long-term clinical trials.

Epitranscriptome marks detection and localization of RNA modifying proteins in mammalian ovarian follicles.

Background: Most of the resources that support the early development of the embryo are stored in the oocyte. Clearing of maternal resources and activation of the embryonic genome to produce its own mRNA transcripts marks the maternal-to-embryo transition. Dependence on stored mRNA can last from a few hours to several days, depending on animal species.

Hedgehog signaling regulates Wolffian duct development through the primary cilium†.

Primary cilia play pivotal roles in embryonic patterning and organogenesis through transduction of the Hedgehog signaling pathway (Hh). Although mutations in Hh morphogens impair the development of the gonads and trigger male infertility, the contribution of Hh and primary cilia in the development of male reproductive ductules, including the epididymis, remains unknown. From a Pax2Cre; IFT88fl/fl knock-out mouse model, we found that primary cilia deletion is associated with imbalanced Hh signaling and morphometric changes in the Wolffian duct (WD), the embryonic precursor of the epididymis.

Roles of the cumulus-oocyte transzonal network and the Fragile X protein family in oocyte competence.

In Brief: RNA granules travel through the cumulus cell network of transzonal projections which is associated with oocyte developmental competence, and RNA packaging involves RNA-binding proteins of the Fragile X protein family.

Abstract: The determinants of oocyte developmental competence have puzzled scientists for decades. It is known that follicular conditions can nurture the production of a high-quality oocyte, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Mammalian cumulus-oocyte complex communication: a dialog through long and short distance messaging.

Communications are crucial to ovarian follicle development and to ovulation, and while both folliculogenesis and oogenesis are distinct processes, they share highly interdependent signaling pathways. Signals from distant organs such as the brain must be processed and compartments within the follicle have to be synchronized. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis relies on long-distance signalling analogous to wireless communication by which data is disseminated in the environment and cells equipped with the appropriate receptors receive and interpret the messages.

Zinc supports transcription and improves meiotic competence of growing bovine oocytes.

In the last years, many studies focused on the understanding of the possible role of zinc in the control of mammalian oogenesis, mainly on oocyte maturation and fertilization. However, little is known about the role of zinc at earlier stages, when the growing oocyte is actively transcribing molecules that will regulate and sustain subsequent stages of oocyte and embryonic development. In this study, we used the bovine model to gain insights into the possible involvement of zinc in oocyte development.

LD-annot: A Bioinformatics Tool to Automatically Provide Candidate SNPs With Annotations for Genetically Linked Genes.

A multitude of model and non-model species studies have now taken full advantage of powerful high-throughput genotyping advances such as SNP arrays and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology to investigate the genetic basis of trait variation. However, due to incomplete genome coverage by these technologies, the identified SNPs are likely in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the causal polymorphisms, rather than be causal themselves. In addition, researchers could benefit from annotations for the identified candidate SNPs and, simultaneously, for all neighboring genes in genetic linkage.

Estrous cycle impacts microRNA content in extracellular vesicles that modulate bovine cumulus cell transcripts during in vitro maturation†.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles secreted by ovarian follicle cells. Extracellular vesicles are an important form of intercellular communication, since they carry bioactive contents, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), mRNAs, and proteins. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA capable of modulating mRNA translation.

Cell-lineage specificity of primary cilia during postnatal epididymal development.

Study Question: Where are primary cilia (PC) organelles located during postnatal epididymal development?

Summary Answer: Our findings unveil the existence of PC sensory organelles in different epididymal cell types according to postnatal development stage.

What Is Known Already: Primary cilia are sensory organelles that orchestrate major signaling pathways during organ development and homeostasis. Epididymal PC have been detected in the horses, donkey and mules but their cell-lineage specificity has never been investigated in this organ.

The potential effects of antioxidant feed additives in mitigating the adverse effects of corn naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on antioxidant systems in the intestinal mucosa, plasma, and liver in weaned pigs.

Seventy-two piglets (6.0 kg BW) were randomly distributed within six different dietary treatments to evaluate the effect of deoxynivalenol (DON) and the potential of four antioxidant feed additives in mitigating the adverse effects of DON on growth performances and oxidative status. Dietary treatments were as follows: control diet 0.

Cumulus Cell Transcripts Transit to the Bovine Oocyte in Preparation for Maturation.

So far, the characteristics of a good quality egg have been elusive, similar to the nature of the physiological, cellular, and molecular cues leading to its production both in vivo and in vitro. Current understanding highlights a strong and complex interdependence between the follicular cells and the gamete. Secreted factors induce cellular responses in the follicular cells, and direct exchange of small molecules from the cumulus cells to the oocyte through gap junctions controls meiotic arrest.