Bioscientifica Proceedings

Keywords: prolactin; ovarian function; luteal cells; steroidogenesis; pig© 1990 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

Advances in the analyses of human and other higher eukaryotic genomes have disclosed a large fraction of the genetic material (ca 98%) which does not code for proteins. Major portion of this non-coding genome is in fact transcribed into an enormous repertoire of functional non coding RNA molecules (ncRNAs) rather than encoding any proteins. Recent fascinating and fast progress in bioinformatic, high-throughput sequencing and other biochemical approaches have fuelled rapid ...

Abstract unavailable© 1987 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

Pig embryos can be cultured using a number of different strategies including complex approaches like culture in vivo in a surrogate oviduct (rabbit, sheep, mouse), culture in mouse oviducts in organ culture, and co-culture of embryos with cells in addition to simple approaches like culture in defined media or salt solutions. Addition of serum to medium has been of particular importance where blastocyst development and hatching are required. Pig conceptuses (day 1...

Recent publication of the sequence of the pig genome allows for faster and more accurate selection for traits expressed late in life, sex limited or difficult to measure. Especially reproduction and adaptation traits fall in this category. Existing genetic variation in reproduction traits is substantial and polygenic selection has resulted in genetic trend of around half a piglet per sow per year. A very significant increase in genetic trend is anticipated through genomi...

© 1985 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

Abstract unavailable© 1987 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

Summary. Changes in uterine blood flow throughout pregnancy appear to be due to steroid-induced alterations in uterine arterial tone and contractility. Arterial contractility is a transient reduction in luminal diameter in response to nerve stimulation or to an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, leading to short-term reduction in uterine blood flow. Tone is the pressure exerted by an arterial segment against an intraluminal flow (distensibility) and is considere...

Summary. Several manipulation techniques including nuclear injections, nuclear transplantation, embryo splitting, chimaera production and sperm injection are discussed with special reference to their application in the pig. The nuclear injection technique is likely to be of greatest use for gene transfer. Gene transfer is feasible for pig embryos. but it is very inefficient. Efficiencies of various steps in the successful production of transgenic offsprin...

Summary. Nuclear transfer for the study of differentiation in amphibians has been used since the 1950s, but not until recently have the same procedures been applied successfully to some mammals. Nuclear transfer, as developed for the amphibian, is successful in sheep, cattle, rabbit, and pig, but not mouse embryos. This fact is discussed in relation to the species-specific timing of the activation of the zygotic genome. Nuclear transfer to an oocyte presu...