Regulation of FSH Synthesis by Differentially Expressed miR-488 in Anterior Adenohypophyseal Cells

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is synthesized and released by the hypothalamus, promotes the synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thereby regulating the growth and reproduction of animals. GnRH analogues have been widely used in livestock production. MiRNAs, which are endogenous non-coding RNAs, have been found to play important roles in hormone regulation and other physiological processes in recent years. However, the roles of miRNAs in GnRH-mediated regulation of FSH secretion have rarely been studied. Herein, we treated bovine anterior adenohypophyseal cells with an exogenous GnRH analogue and found that miR-488 was differentially expressed. Through a combination of TargetScan prediction and dual luciferase reporter analysis, miR-488 was confirmed to be able to target the FSHB gene. Based on this finding, we verified the expression of Fshβ and Lhβ mRNA in the rat adenohypophysis before and after exogenous GnRH treatment in vivo and in vitro. Experiments on rat anterior adenohypophyseal cells showed that overexpression of miR-488 significantly inhibited Fshβ expression and FSH synthesis, while knockdown of miR-488 had the opposite effects. Our results demonstrate that GnRH relies on miR-488 to regulate FSH synthesis, providing additional useful evidence for the significance of miRNAs in the regulation of animal reproduction.

Evaluasi Kualitas Spermatozoa Ayam Brahma, Cochin dan Bangkok Sebagai Dasar Penerapan Teknologi Inseminasi Buatan pada Ayam Kampung

Research on the evaluation of the spermatozoa quality of Brahma, Cochin and Bangkok chickens as the basis for the application of artificial insemination technology in native chickens has been carried out. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spermatozoa quality of Brahma, Cochin and Bangkok rooster as the basis for determining the spermatozoa dose for artificial insemination in local chickens. method research was used a completely randomized design (CRD) with three treatments, that is: Brahma, Cochin and Bangkok rooster. Each treatment was repeated five times. Cement storage is carried out by inserting an artificial vagina into the cloaca of the rooster and stimulating it to climb the hen. The collected sperm were analyzed at the Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science, Mataram University. The variables observed included motility, viability and morphology of spermatozoa. The results of studied that the spermatozoa motility of Brahma, Chicin and Bangkok rooster were 72 ± 2.74%. 74 ± 2.24% and 73 ± 2.74% (P> 0.05) respectively; The spermatozoan viability of Brahma rooster and Bangkok rooster was 99.2 ± 1.30%, 99.4 ± 0.55% and 99.2 ± 1.10% (P>0.05)respectively. The spermatozoan morphology of brahma rooster, chicin rooster and Bangkok rooster was 94.6 ± 2.30%, 94.4 ± 2.70% and 97.4 ± 2.07% (P> 0.05), respectively. Cochin rooster and Bangkok rooster respectively, 62.6 ± 7.92 x 107, 57 ± 5.83 x107 , and 65.2 ± 12.28 x107, respectively. The results of the study concluded that Brahma, Cochin and Bangkok rooster had good sperm quality and could be able to used in artificial insemination of Kampung hens.

Ethics in canine reproduction – a survey among veterinarians who provide canine reproductive services

Objective Several dog breeds suffer from health and welfare problems due to unfavorable anatomies and high prevalence of inherited diseases. Veterinarians should care for animal health and welfare but they may also be involved in breeding management including the use of reproductive techniques. Material and methods An online survey was conducted to find out how veterinarians who are involved in small animal reproduction regard ethical issues, which services they provide, how they discuss and handle ethical concerns and talk about them with breeders. Results In total, 83 participants mainly from Europe completed the online survey. Opinions on which interventions are ethical or not were heterogeneous. Most respondents (79.2 %) found it ethical to perform artificial insemination (AI) in dogs which did not reproduce naturally before. However, 62.7 % of participants stated that surgical insemination is not ethical. Elective cesarean sections are considered not ethical by approximately half of the participants. A closer look at responses to the questions of whether AI is ethical under specific conse quences suggests that most veterinarians are making ethical and value judgments in terms of what is justifiable or not. However, more than 80 % feel at least sometimes compromised by ethical conflicts. Clinical relevance This research intended to foster discussion of this topic. International strategies should be developed to support solving conflicts and dilemmas related to ethical issues in dog breeding and assisted reproduction, as well as diminishing physical disabilities and heritable diseases.

Effective biotechnologies for revolutionalizing the livestock industry in Nigeria after COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe health and hunger challenges both in developed and developing economies of the world thereby posing a serious threat to the economies and food security issues particularly of vulnerable regions of the world. Currently in Nigeria, there is a great increase in the market prices of crops and livestock products occasioned by the prevailing clashes between crop farmer and livestock herders. There is thus a huge gap in the demand and supply of available essential agricultural products leading to the high inflation rate being witnessed in the country today. With the current population of over 200 million which is expected to double by 2050, the task of feeding these Nigerians is daunting and very challenging. To overcome these challenges, the livestock industry in Nigeria needs to be transformed accordingly. FAO report of 2019 had advised African livestock producers to work to expand the scope of their operations and to invest in productivity-enhancing technologies in order to meet the growing demands for livestock products. The adoption of biotechnological innovations already available in animal reproduction, nutrition, health and genetics, is a clear pathway to enhance livestock production in Nigeria. The Nigerian Government is expected to play a leading role by providing enabling environment that will make for easy and seamless adoption of these technologies. Nigerian livestock farmers on their part should be ready and willing to embrace these technologies to enhance the productive capacity of their stock as well as improving their own welfare and economic wellbeing. Key words: COVID-19 pandemic, biotechnology, livestock industry, development, Nigeria

Reproductive management of the goat

Objective: To share technical aspects with specialists in animal reproduction and producers that could help to improve the reproductive capacity of caprine livestock. Design/Methodology/Approach: Scientific evidence and experience in the reproductive management of goats are the basis that sustains the information presented in this article. Results: The goat is widely distributed in Mexico; it is a species with seasonal reproductive activity, but of easy manipulation with hormonal and natural means. Presently there is a large variety of biotechnologies that can be applied in the production units, to potentiate the reproductive activity of the goat. Study Limitations/Implications: The lack of knowledge and the lack of consulting and technical training limit the productive and reproductive potential of goat breeding in Mexico. Findings/Conclusions: Knowledge of the reproductive physiology of the goat and understanding of the means available to manipulate it guarantees its reproduction at the time and in the conditions desired by the producer and the market

Isorhamnetin Protects Zearalenone-induced Damage via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in Porcine Granulosa Cells

Background: Zearalenone (ZEA) is widely derived from moldy cereal grain, which has adverse effects on animal reproduction. In particular, pigs are more sensitive to ZEA-induced toxicity than other animals. Isorhamnetin, a flavonoid has extensive of pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the effects of isorhamnetin on reproduction. Thus, it would be interesting to clarify the effect and the underlying molecular mechanism of isorhamnetin involvement in ZEA-induced cytotoxicity in porcine granulosa cells.Results: Our findings showed that isorhamnetin suppressed ZEA-induced apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 and Bax protein changes. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels and CHOP, ATF6, GRP78 indicated that isorhamnetin rescued ZEA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Furthermore, isorhamnetin prevented ZEA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) via P38 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, isorhamnetin stimulated the expression of PCNA and CyclinD, thereby raising the ratio of S phases cells in response to ZEA-induced apoptosis via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Isorhamnetin also recovered ZEA-induced steroidogenesis disorder by regulating steroidogenic enzyme gene and proteins (FSH-R, CYP19A1). Conclusions: Collectively, these findings show that isorhamnetin protects granulosa cells from ZEA-induced damage via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which promotes proliferation, alleviates steroidogenesis disorder, ERS and oxidative stress.

489 Success of Hyflex Teaching Modality in Animal Reproduction

COVID-19 forced institutions to think and act differently. Southeast Missouri State University launched a HyFlex pilot with 100 sections in fall 2020. AY350 (Animal Reproduction) is one course that converted to HyFlex and offered two sections in the pilot. The objective of this study was to determine if students were more successful in HyFlex courses compared to the traditional course, grades were compared from 2019 and 2020. A survey of Chief Online Officers identified that institutions on average converted more than 1500 sections as an emergency response to the pandemic (Garrett, et al., 2020). HyFlex is one approach institutions used to provide more flexible learning opportunities for students. In a HyFlex course, students can choose to learn in face-to-face, fully online, or synchronously online (Beatty, 2019). Research on student success in Hyflex is scant, however early research shows no significant difference in student success across modalities (Rhoads, 2020). Using a One Way T-test, we analyzed letter grade outcomes for students who enrolled in traditional (n=25) mode to those that enrolled in the HyFlex (n=44) modality. Findings show an increase in “A” and “B” course grades and a decrease in “C” grades, and conflicts with the Rhoads (2020) research which found no significant difference. Additionally, no students failed the HyFlex section(s). Specific variables of Test 3 (p< 0.02) and Final exams (p< 0.002) contributed to significant grade changes. Overall, using a traditional grade point average (GPA) scale where A=4.0, B=3.0, etc. the HyFlex course GPA mean was 3.269 and face-to-face 2.65 (p=0.002). Future research is planned to explore student success in HyFlex across the institution. If similar findings correlate with the initial study of AY350, additional questions should be considered to determine if grade distribution shift was incremental and why increases were seen in the second half of the semester.

Association of female reproductive tract microbiota with egg production in layer chickens

Background The microbiota of the female reproductive tract is increasingly recognized as playing fundamental roles in animal reproduction. To explore the relative contribution of reproductive tract microbiomes to egg production in chickens, we investigated the microbiota in multiple reproductive and digestive tract sites from 128 female layer (egg-producing) chickens in comparable environments. Results We identified substantial differences between the diversity, composition, and predicted function of site-associated microbiota. Differences in reproductive tract microbiota were more strongly associated with egg production than those in the digestive tract. We identified 4 reproductive tract microbial species, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides salanitronis, Bacteroides barnesiae, and Clostridium leptum, that were related to immune function and potentially contribute to enhanced egg production. Conclusions These findings provide insights into the diverse microbiota characteristics of reproductive and digestive tracts and may help in designing strategies for controlling and manipulating chicken reproductive tract microbiota to improve egg production.