International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) aims to efficiently publish contributions to the research on all aspects of mammalian reproduction, development, and chronic diseases, etc. We encourage the submission of manuscripts that provide novel and mechanistic findings, which reveal significant advances in these fields. Topics include but are not limited to:

Pre- and post-implantation development;
Reprogramming;
Assisted reproductive technology;
Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)

Prof. Dr. Satoshi Kishigami
Guest Editor

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Keywords

embryonic development
reproduction
assisted reproductive technology
chronic disease
nutrition
environment
DOHaD etc

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Some Plant-Based Substances on Microbial Content and Sperm Quality Parameters of Bull Semen

by Aleksandar Cojkic, Ingrid Hansson, Anders Johannisson and Jane M. Morrell

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3435; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043435 - 8 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1893

Abstract

The rapid emergence of antibacterial resistance requires alternatives to antibiotics to be found, including for semen preservation. One of the possible alternatives would be to use plant-based substances with known antimicrobial effects. The objective of this study was to test the antimicrobial effect of pomegranate powder, ginger, and curcumin extract in two concentrations on bull semen microbiota after exposure for <2 h and 24 h. An additional aim was to evaluate the effect of these substances on sperm quality parameters. The bacterial count in semen was low from the beginning; however, a reduction was present for all tested substances compared with control. A reduction in bacterial count in control samples was also observed with time. Curcumin at a concentration of 5%, reduced bacterial count by 32% and was the only substance that had a slight positive effect on sperm kinematics. The other substances were associated with a decline in sperm kinematics and viability. Neither concentration of curcumin had a deleterious effect on sperm viability parameters measured by flow cytometry. The results of this study indicate that curcumin extract at a concentration of 5% can reduce the bacterial count and does not have a negative influence on bull sperm quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mammalian Reproduction and Diseases)

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14 pages, 1262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Four Ovine TMEM154 Haplotypes on Ewes during Multiyear Lentivirus Exposure

by Brad A. Freking, Tom W. Murphy, Carol G. Chitko-McKown, Aspen M. Workman and Michael P. Heaton

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314966 - 29 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1701

Abstract

Polypeptide variation encoded by the ovine transmembrane protein 154 gene (TMEM154) is associated with susceptibility to ovine lentivirus, the causative agent of Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP) and Visna/Maedi. Our aim was to compare the four most prevalent TMEM154 haplotypes on the incidence of infection and ewe productivity during natural multiyear virus exposure. Prospective cohort studies were designed to test gene action and estimate effects of TMEM154 haplotypes encoding distinctive variant residues: K35 (“1”), I70 (“2”), ancestral (“3”), and A4del/M44 (“4”). Exposure consisted of co-mingling infected ewes at a rate greater than 30% with serological status evaluated every four months. For ewes with one or two copies of the highly susceptible haplotypes “2” and ”3”, the infection prevalence steadily increased to nearly 100% at 55 months. Haplotypes “2” and “3” were equally susceptible and dominant to haplotype “1”. A difference was not detected (p < 0.53) in the magnitude of effect with haplotype combinations of “1” and ”4”. The ewe infection prevalence with “1,1”; “1,4”; and “4,4” was 10% to 40% at 55 months. The latter suggested that two copies of the K35 amino acid substitution (“1”) were as effective as a homozygous TMEM154 “knockout” with the frame-shift deletion mutation (“4”) in reducing infection susceptibility. When considering ewe reproductive performance, a difference was not detected when comparing haplotypes “2”, and “3” to each other, or “1” and “4” to each other. Our study indicated that ewes with two copies of the severely truncated versions of TMEM154 (“4,4”) had normal lamb productivity. Without complete understanding of the natural function of TMEM154 our recommendations to producers interested in using TMEM154 selection to reduce their flock’s genetic predisposition to OPP are encouraged to increase the frequency of TMEM154 haplotype K35 (“1”) since it encodes a full-length protein with minimal difference to the ancestral polypeptide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mammalian Reproduction and Diseases)

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