Bovine scavenger receptor class A (SR-A) exhibit specific patterns of regulation in the endometrium during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy

Unraveling inbreeding patterns and selection signals in Alpine Grey cattle

Inbreeding plays a crucial role in livestock breeding, influencing genetic diversity and phenotypic traits. Genomic data have helped address limitations posed by incomplete pedigrees, providing deeper insights into breed genetic diversity. This study assesses inbreeding levels via pedigree and genomic approaches and analyzes old and recent inbreeding using runs of homozygosity (ROH), and selection signals in Alpine Grey cattle. Pedigree data from 165 575 individuals, analyzed with INBUPGF90 software, computed inbreeding coefficients. Genomic-based coefficients derived from PLINK v1.9. or DetectRUNS R package analyses of 1 180 individuals' genotypes. Common single nucleotide polymorphisms within ROH pinpointed genomic regions, aggregating into "ROH islands" indicative of selection pressure. Overlaps with USCS Genome Browser unveiled gene presence. Moderate correlations (0.20-0.54) existed between pedigree and genomic coefficients, with most genomic estimators having higher (>0.8) correlation values. Inbreeding averaged 0.04 in < 8 Mb ROH segments, and 0.03 in > 16 Mb segments; > 90% of ROHs were < 8 Mb, indicating ancient inbreeding prevalence. Recent inbreeding proved less detrimental than in cosmopolitan breeds. Two major ROH islands on chromosomes 6 and 7 harbored genes linked to immune response, disease resistance (PYURF, HERC3), and fertility (EIF4EBP3, SRA1). This study underscores the need for detailed inbreeding analyses to understand genetic characteristics and historical changes in local breeds like Alpine Grey cattle. Genomic insights, especially from ROH, facilitated overcoming pedigree limitations, illuminating breed genetic diversity. Our findings reveal ancient inbreeding's enduring genetic impact and ROH islands potential for selective sweeps, elucidating traits in Alpine Grey cattle.

Molecular Targets and Related Biologic Activities of Fucoidan: A Review

Fucoidan-a marine natural active polysaccharide derived from brown algae with a variety of medicinal activities and low toxicity-has been used as clinical drug for renal diseases for nearly 20 years. The pharmacological mechanism of fucoidan has been well-investigated, based on target molecules and downstream signaling pathways. This review summarizes some important molecular targets of fucoidan and its related biologic activities, including scavenger receptor (SR), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), C-type lectin (CLEC) and some newly found target molecules, which may be beneficial for further understanding the pharmacological mechanism of fucoidan and discovering its new functions, as well as developing related clinical or adjuvant drugs and functional preparations.

Mating to Intact, but Not Vasectomized, Males Elicits Changes in the Endometrial Transcriptome: Insights From the Bovine Model

An appropriate female reproductive environment is essential for pregnancy success. In several species, including mice, pigs and horses, seminal plasma (SP) components have been shown to modulate this environment, leading to increased embryo viability and implantation. Due to the characteristics of mating in the aforementioned species, SP comes into direct contact with the uterus. However, it is questionable whether any SP reaches the uterus in species that ejaculate inside the vagina, such as humans and cattle. Hence, we hypothesized that sperm, perhaps acting as a vehicle for SP factors, play a more important role in the modulation of the maternal uterine environment in these species. In addition, changes elicited by SP and/or sperm may originate in the vagina and propagate to more distal regions of the female reproductive tract. To test these hypotheses, a bovine model in which heifers were mated to intact or vasectomized bulls or were left unmated was used. RNA-sequencing of endometrial samples collected 24 h after mating with a vasectomized bull did not reveal any differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in comparison with control samples. However, the endometrium of heifers mated with intact bulls exhibited 24 DEGs when compared to heifers mated with vasectomized bulls, and 22 DEGs when compared to unmated control heifers. The expression of a set of cytokines (IL6, IL1A, IL8, and TNFA) and candidate genes identified in the endometrial RNA-sequencing (PLA2G10, CX3CL1, C4BPA, PRSS2, BLA-DQB, and CEBPD) were assessed by RT-qPCR in the vagina and oviductal ampulla. No differences in expression of these genes were observed between treatments in any region. However, mating to both intact and vasectomized bulls induced an increase in IL1A and TNFA expression in the vagina compared to the oviduct. These data indicate that sperm, but not secretions from the accessory glands alone, induce modest changes in endometrial gene expression after natural mating in cattle. However, it is not clear whether this effect is triggered by inherent sperm proteins or SP proteins bound to sperm surface at the time of ejaculation.