Bioscientifica Proceedings

Abstract unavailable© 2009 Society for Reproduction and Fertility...

Next generation DNA sequencing is a high throughput method of sequencing DNA samples in parallel. During the last 10 years, this technology has expanded to include sequencing and quantification of an entire transcriptome. The advantage of this method of transcriptome analysis is that it allows the investigator to detect previously unknown genes and splice variants as well as detect potential DNA polymorphisms. Application of this technology, especially when used to perfo...

The control of reproduction in goats is interesting for technical reasons (synchronization of kiddings, adjustment to forage availability or to economy), and for genetic reasons (identification and dissemination of improved genotypes). The use of short-light rhythms leads to markedly increased production of semen per buck and prevents occurrence of a ‘resting’ season. Recent identification of a bulbourethral lipase in goat spermatozoa opens new perspectives in sperm ...

The autocrine and paracrine role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and epiderrnal growth factor (EGF)-related peptides in pig ovary are reviewed. For convenience, each of these regulatory systems is divided into several interactive components: regulated expression of the growth factors, growth factor reception at the cell surface and intracellular action of the growth factors. In addition, the concept of regulated bioavailability and targeting of growth factors in...

Numerous corpora lutea form from the multiple follicles that ovulate during the oestrous cycle of pigs. Vascular elements invade the follicle from the theca compartment, first centripetally, and subsequently by lateral branching of centripetal veins and arteries. The vessels are the vehicle for dispersion of steroidogenic theca cells throughout the corpus luteum. Mitosis occurs in both the theca and granulosa layers before ovulation, and in luteal cells well into the lut...

Summary. Ovine and bovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1 and bTP-1) have been strongly implicated as antiluteolytic agents and responsible for maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep and cattle, respectively. Both are interferons (IFN) belonging to the IFN-α family, but their length (172 residues versus 166 for most IFN-α) places them in an unusual subclass (the IFN-αII). The various isoforms of oTP-1 and bTP-1 produced by trophoblas...

With the advent of next generation sequencing platforms (RNA-seq), transcriptional profiling permits the characterization of millions of RNAs from even the most limiting samples like early embryos. High-throughput RNA-seq can generate over 600 gigabases (Gb) in a single sequencing run, providing a near-complete record of all of the genes expressed in a sample at the time of collection. Condensing and finding coherence in the immense amount of raw data generated by transc...

It has been demonstrated that variations in litter size or ovulation rate in different breeds of sheep can be associated with the segregation of several major genes. This set of natural mutants constitutes a valuable resource to determine key points in the biochemical pathways controlling the development of ovarian follicles. The French genetic programmes were devised to identify two of these genes: the Booroola (FecB) and Lacaune genes. The FecB pro...

During ejaculation in the boar, sperm cohorts emitted in epididymal cauda fluid are sequentially exposed and resuspended in different mixtures of accessory sex gland secretion. This paper reviews the relevance of such unevenly composed fractions of seminal plasma (SP) in vivo on sperm transport and sperm function and how this knowledge could benefit boar semen processing for artificial insemination (Al). The firstly ejaculated spermatozoa (first 10 ml of the spe...

Research in France and in the UK confirms the prolificacy of the Chinese Meishan breed to be about three to four piglets greater than that of control Large White females. Crossbreeding studies clearly indicate that this breed difference is due to genes acting in the dam and not in the litter itself. There is high heterosis for litter size in F1 Meishan x Large White crossbred females, such that their litter size is similar to or greater than that of purebred Me...