Nicotinamide mononucleotide biosynthesis and the F-actin cytoskeleton regulate spindle assembly and oocyte maturation quality in post-ovulatory aged porcine oocytes.

Background: Post-ovulatory aging (POA) is associated with reduced fertilization rates and poor embryo quality both in vivo and in vitro. However, the relationship between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and the filamentous actin (F-actin) cytoskeleton in POA-induced oocytes remains unknown. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which the NAD salvage pathways function in poor oocyte maturation upon POA through the F-actin cytoskeleton.

Deoxynivalenol leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis via the IRE1/JNK/CHOP pathways in porcine embryos.

The cytotoxic mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) reportedly has adverse effects on oocyte maturation and embryonic development in pigs. Recently, the interplay between cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has garnered increasing attention in embryogenesis. However, the involvement of the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)/c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) pathways of unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling in DON-induced apoptosis in porcine embryos remains unknown.

Ochratoxin A triggers endoplasmic reticulum stress through PERK/NRF2 signaling and DNA damage during early embryonic developmental competence in pigs.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin found in foods, has a deleterious effect on female reproduction owing to its endocrine-disrupting activity mediated through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, the mechanisms of OTA-induced ER stress in pig embryos during in vitro culture (IVC) are not yet fully understood. In the present study, porcine embryos were cultured for two days in an IVC medium supplemented with 0.

Rapamycin encourages the maintenance of mitochondrial dynamic balance and mitophagy activity for improving developmental competence of blastocysts in porcine embryos in vitro.

Rapamycin induces autophagosome formation and activity during oocyte maturation, improved fertilization ability of matured oocytes, and early embryonic developmental competence. However, potential changes in mitochondrial fission and mitophagy via regulation of autophagy in early porcine embryonic development have not been previously studied. Here, we investigated embryonic developmental ability and quality of porcine embryos 2 days after in vitro fertilization and following treatment with 1 and 10 nM rapamycin.

Mito-TEMPO protects preimplantation porcine embryos against mitochondrial fission-driven apoptosis through DRP1/PINK1-mediated mitophagy.

Aims: Mdivi-1 (Md-1) is a well-known inhibitor of mitochondrial fission and mitophagy. The mitochondrial superoxide scavenger Mito-TEMPO (MT) exerts positive effects on the developmental competence of pig embryos. This study aimed to explore the adverse effects of Md-1 on developmental capacity in porcine embryos and the protective effects of MT against Md-1-induced injury.

Stabilization of F-Actin Cytoskeleton by Paclitaxel Improves the Blastocyst Developmental Competence through P38 MAPK Activity in Porcine Embryos.

Changes in F-actin distribution and cortical F-actin morphology are important for blastocyst developmental competence during embryogenesis. However, the effect of paclitaxel as a microtubule stabilizer on embryonic development in pigs remains unclear. We investigated the role of F-actin cytoskeleton stabilization via P38 MAPK activation using paclitaxel to improve the developmental potential of blastocysts in pigs.

SESN2/NRF2 signaling activates as a direct downstream regulator of the PERK pathway against endoplasmic reticulum stress to improve the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a critical regulator of oxidative stress in mammalian oocytes. Our previous study described the protective effects of Sestrin-2 (SESN2) as a stress regulator against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM). However, their roles in unfolded protein response-related signaling pathways in porcine oocyte maturation capacity remain unknown.

Melatonin Protects Against Mdivi-1-Induced Abnormal Spindle Assembly and Mitochondrial Superoxide Production During Porcine Oocyte Maturation.

Mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) reportedly provides a close connection between oocyte maturation and mitochondrial function in pigs. -acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine (melatonin) is known to be a representative antioxidant with the ability to rehabilitate meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. However, the ability of melatonin to recover Mdivi-1-mediated disruption of spindle formation during meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes during maturation (IVM) has not been studied.

A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Periprocedural Variables Affecting Local Tumor Progression after Radiofrequency Ablation of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases.

Background Local tumor progression (LTP) is associated with poorer survival in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). An algorithmic strategy to predict LTP may help in selection of patients who would benefit most from RFA for CLM. Purpose To estimate local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS) following RFA of CLM and develop an algorithmic strategy based on clinical variables.

Exposure of Triclosan in Porcine Oocyte Leads to Superoxide Production and Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis During In Vitro Maturation.

While triclosan (TCS) exerts detrimental effects on female reproduction, the effect of TCS-derived toxins on porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) is unclear. This study investigated the effects of TCS on mitochondrion-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis pathways during porcine oocyte maturation. Porcine oocytes were treated with TCS (1, 10, and 100 μM) and triphenylphosphonium chloride (Mito-TEMPO; 0.

Ruthenium red improves blastocyst developmental competence by regulating mitochondrial Ca and mitochondrial functions in fertilized porcine oocytes in vitro.

Ruthenium red (RR) inhibits calcium (Ca) entry from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria, and is involved in maintenance of Ca homeostasis in mammalian cells. Ca homeostasis is very important for further embryonic development of fertilized oocytes. However, the effect of RR on mitochondria-Ca (mito-Ca) levels during in vitro fertilization (IVF) on subsequent blastocyst developmental capacity in porcine is unclear.

Exogenous Ganglioside GT1b Enhances Porcine Oocyte Maturation, Including the Cumulus Cell Expansion and Activation of EGFR and ERK1/2 Signaling.

Ganglioside GT1b is well-known for its role in cytokine production and in activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated signaling pathways in cancer cells. However, there are no reports that clearly elucidate the role of GT1b in EGFR-mediated signaling pathways in porcine oocytes during the process of in vitro maturation (IVM). In this study, we investigated the role of GT1b in EGFR-mediated activation of the ERK1/2 pathway in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) at 44 h of IVM.

Melatonin Improves Oocyte Maturation and Mitochondrial Functions by Reducing Bisphenol A-Derived Superoxide in Porcine Oocytes In Vitro.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is synthetic organic compound that exhibits estrogen-like properties and it induces mitochondrial superoxide production. Melatonin (Mela) protects against BPA-mediated cell damage and apoptosis. However, the antioxidative effects of Mela against BPA-induced superoxide production in porcine oocytes are still not known.

Mito-TEMPO improves development competence by reducing superoxide in preimplantation porcine embryos.

Mito-TEMPO is a well-known mitochondria-specific superoxide scavenger. However, the effect of Mito-TEMPO on porcine embryo development, to our knowledge, has not been studied yet. In the present study, porcine embryos were classified into two groups (G1 and G2) based on the cytoplasm lipid contents at the zygote stage.

Regulation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by BIP/GRP78 is involved in Meiotic Maturation of Porcine Oocytes .

In the present study, we investigated the role of binding immunoglobulin protein/glucose-regulated protein, 78-kDa (BIP/GRP78)-regulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress on meiotic maturation and cumulus cells expansion in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Previously, it has been demonstrated that unfolded protein response (UPR)-related genes, such as molecules involved in ER-stress defense mechanisms, were expressed in matured oocytes and cumulus cells during maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes. However, BIP/GRP78-mediated regulation of ER stress in porcine oocytes has not been reported.

Melatonin improves the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress during in vitro maturation.

Under endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress conditions, the unfolded protein response (UPR) generates a defense mechanism in mammalian cells. The regulation of UPR signaling is important in oocyte maturation, embryo development, and female reproduction of pigs. Recent studies have shown that melatonin plays an important role as an antioxidant to improve pig oocyte maturation.

Ganglioside GM3 induces cumulus cell apoptosis through inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathways during in vitro maturation of pig oocytes.

Gangliosides are components of the mammalian plasma membrane that help regulate receptor signaling. Ganglioside GM3, for example, plays an important role in initiating apoptosis in cancer cells; however, physiological roles for GM3 in normal processes, such as during pig oocyte maturation, are not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional link between GM3 and cellular apoptosis in porcine cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) during in vitro maturation.

Tyrphostin A9 improves blastocyst development in porcine embryos through induction of dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission.

Mitochondrial dynamics are associated with the development of porcine embryos. However, little is known about the effects of mitochondrial dynamics-related genes (Drp1 and pDrp1-Ser616) on early porcine embryo development. Here, we investigated the effect of Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission signaling on the development of porcine embryos using the mitochondrial fission inducer, tyrphostin A9 (TA9).

Native plants ( and ) extracts act as antioxidants to support developmental competence of bovine blastocysts.

Objective: () and () are closely involved in anti-oxidative response and increasing antioxidant enzymes activities. However, the effects of their extracts on development of preimplantation bovine embryos have not been investigated. Therefore, we investigated the effects of and extracts on developmental competence and quality of preimplantation bovine embryos.