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13 pages, 1967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Peganum harmala Total Alkaloid Extract on Sexual Behavior and Sperm Parameters in Male Mice

by Hanane Derbak, Kálmán Imre, Amira Chahrazad Benabdelhak, Mohamed Moussaoui, Amina Kribeche, Rosa Kebbi and Abdelhanine Ayad

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(8), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10080498 - 02 Aug 2023

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Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of the total alkaloid extract of Algerian Peganum harmala seeds on sexual behavior and male reproductive function. After two weeks of acclimatization, the male mice were randomly divided into four groups (seven mice in each [...] Read more.

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of the total alkaloid extract of Algerian Peganum harmala seeds on sexual behavior and male reproductive function. After two weeks of acclimatization, the male mice were randomly divided into four groups (seven mice in each group). For 35 days, the extract was administered orally at dose levels of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg body weight per day to the respective groups of male mice (n = 7) and normal saline daily to the control group. On day 28, sexual behavior parameters were recorded. At the end of the trial, reproductive organ weights, sperm quality, seminal fructose, and testosterone hormone levels were evaluated. The three treated groups were compared with the control using statistical variance analysis (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05), followed by Tukey’s test. The results of the groups treated with 12.5 and 6.25 mg/kg of P. harmala alkaloid revealed the MF and IF parameters to be the lowest compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, the male mice treated with 25 mg/kg recorded the highest values. A low significant value of ML was observed in the group treated with 25 mg/kg of the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala compared to the control group (p < 0.01), while a rise was observed in the concentration group treated with 6.25 mg/kg. Regarding IL, the male mice treated with different concentrations of the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala recorded a higher time than the control group. Moreover, an increase in the gonadosomatic index was noticed in all groups compared to the control group. However, there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the sperm counts of the groups treated with 12.5 mg/kg and 6.25 mg/kg. However, there was no significant difference in the motility, membrane integrity, and total antioxidant capacity of sperm cells compared to the control. The extract treatment also brought about a non-significant increase in fructose content of the seminal vesicle and serum testosterone level. The findings of this study demonstrate that the extract acts in a dose-dependent manner, and it has varying effects on the reproductive parameters of male mice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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18 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intramammary Infusion of Micronised Purified Flavonoid Fraction (MPFF) in Mastitis-Diagnosed Dairy Cows Naturally Infected by Staphylococcus spp. in the Late Lactation

by Miguel A. Gutiérrez-Reinoso, José B. Uquilla, Jorge L. Guamaní, Ángel E. Caiza, Rocío P. Carrera and Manuel Garcia-Herreros

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050335 - 06 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2061

Abstract

Infectious mastitis is the most prevalent health problem in dairy cattle that can result in permanent economic losses on dairy farms. The micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) is a biocompatible active polyphenolic compound derived from flavonoid glycosides which exhibits several antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and [...] Read more.

Infectious mastitis is the most prevalent health problem in dairy cattle that can result in permanent economic losses on dairy farms. The micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) is a biocompatible active polyphenolic compound derived from flavonoid glycosides which exhibits several antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and phlebotonic properties. The goal was to assess the effects of an alternative therapy for mastitis based on MPFF intramammary infusions in late lactation in dairy cows naturally infected by Staphylococcus spp. The California Mastitis Test (CMT scores) was performed to detect mastitis-positive quarters in twelve dairy farms. All cows were screened for immune response by measuring somatic cell counts (SCCs; cells/mL) in milk samples from each quarter. In addition, bacteriological identification, pathogenic bacterial isolates, and total bacterial counts (TBCs; CFU/mL) were assessed before (day 0, last milking day) and after (day 3 post-calving) MPFF application. Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of the pathogenic isolated bacteria were evaluated. Finally, cure rates (%) were determined for each MPFF treatment. Around 15 mastitis-related genera were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus (25.2%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS; 22.4%) were the most prevalent pathogens. No statistical differences were observed in SCCs and TBCs after low, medium, and high MPFF dose administration in S. aureus-positive mastitis cases (p > 0.05). However, differences were observed in SCCs and TBCs after medium and high MPFF dose administration in CNS-positive quarters (p < 0.05). The pathogenic bacteria isolate reduction after MPFF applications showed a dose-response fashion (p < 0.01) while isolates obtained from controls and low MPFF-treated quarters remained similar, irrespective of the pathogen (p > 0.05). Sensitivity patterns were variable, although S. aureus remained resistant, irrespective of the MPFF dose. However, CNS showed a dose-response sensitivity pattern. Finally, the cure rate (%) on day 3 post-partum improved significantly using medium and higher MPFF doses in CNS-positive quarters (p < 0.05). In conclusion, MPFF treatment was found to be more effective for CNS-positive cases in the late lactation due to noticeable dose-specific responses regarding somatic cells, bacterial counts, sensitivity patterns, and cure rates in dairy cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

16 pages, 2182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidants and Oxidants in Boar Spermatozoa and Their Surrounding Environment Are Associated with AMPK Activation during Liquid Storage

by Junwei Li, Wenming Zhao, Jiaqiao Zhu, Huiming Ju, Ming Liang, Shuaibiao Wang, Shufang Chen, Graça Ferreira-Dias and Zongping Liu

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(3), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030214 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1451

Abstract

Activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been demonstrated to be beneficial for boar sperm quality and functionality, while the underlying mechanism of AMPK activation of boar spermatozoa remains obscure. This study aimed to explore the effect of antioxidants and oxidants in [...] Read more.

Activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been demonstrated to be beneficial for boar sperm quality and functionality, while the underlying mechanism of AMPK activation of boar spermatozoa remains obscure. This study aimed to explore the effect of antioxidants and oxidants in boar spermatozoa and their surrounding fluid (SF) on the activation of AMPK during the liquid storage. Ejaculates from Duroc boars, routinely used for semen production, were collected and diluted to a final concentration of 25 × 10⁶/mL. In experiment 1, twenty-five semen samples from eighteen boars were stored at 17 °C for 7 days. In experiment 2, three pooled semen samples created from nine ejaculates of nine boars were used, and each sample was treated with 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 μM/L H₂O₂ and stored at 17 °C for 3 h. Sperm quality and functionality, antioxidants and oxidants in boar spermatozoa and SF, the intracellular AMP/ATP ratio, and the expression levels of the phosphorylated AMPK (Thr172) were determined. Sperm quality significantly decreased with storage time in terms of viability (p < 0.05). Antioxidant and oxidant levels were markedly affected with storage time, with a decline in the SF total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (p < 0.05), SF malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05), and the sperm’s total oxidant status (TOS), as well as a fluctuation in sperm superoxidase dismutase-like (SOD-like) activity (p < 0.05). The intracellular AMP/ATP ratio increased (p < 0.05) on day 4 and subsequently decreased to its lowest value on days 6 and 7 (p < 0.05). The phosphorylated AMPK levels increased from day 2 to day 7 (p < 0.05). Correlation analyses indicate that sperm quality during liquid storage was correlated to antioxidants and oxidants in spermatozoa and SF (p < 0.05), which were correlated to the phosphorylation of sperm AMPK (p < 0.05). Treatment with H₂O₂ induced damages in sperm quality (p < 0.05), a decline in antioxidant levels (SF TAC, p < 0.05; sperm SOD-like activity, p < 0.01), an increase in oxidant levels (SF MDA, p < 0.05; intracellular ROS production, p < 0.05), a higher AMP/ATP ratio (p < 0.05), and phosphorylated AMPK levels (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control. The results suggest that antioxidants and oxidants in boar spermatozoa and SF are involved in AMPK activation during liquid storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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14 pages, 1298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chrysoeriol Improves In Vitro Porcine Embryo Development by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Autophagy

by Chao-Rui Wang, He-Wei Ji, Sheng-Yan He, Rong-Ping Liu, Xin-Qin Wang, Jing Wang, Chu-Man Huang, Yong-Nan Xu, Ying-Hua Li and Nam-Hyung Kim

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(2), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020143 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1968

Abstract

Chrysoeriol (CHE) is a flavonoid substance that exists in many plants. It has various physiological and pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and protective activity, especially for the cardiovascular system and liver. Among common livestock embryos, porcine embryos are often considered high-quality objects [...] Read more.

Chrysoeriol (CHE) is a flavonoid substance that exists in many plants. It has various physiological and pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and protective activity, especially for the cardiovascular system and liver. Among common livestock embryos, porcine embryos are often considered high-quality objects for studying the antioxidant mechanisms of oocytes. Because porcine embryos contain high levels of lipids, they are more vulnerable to external stimuli, which affect development. Our study explored the influence of CHE supplementation on oxidative stress in porcine oocytes and its possible mechanisms. Different concentrations of CHE (0, 0.1, 1, and 3 µM) were supplemented in the in vitro culture medium of the porcine oocytes. The results showed that supplementation with 1 µM CHE significantly increased the blastocyst rate and total cell number of embryos in vitro. After finding the beneficial effects of CHE, we measured reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) when the oocytes reached the 4-cell stage of development and determined the levels of apoptosis, cell proliferation, and autophagy at the blastocyst stage of development. The expression levels of some related genes were preliminarily detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the apoptosis of blastocysts in the CHE-treated culture also decreased compared with the untreated culture. Furthermore, CHE downregulated intracellular ROS and increased GSH in the embryos. CHE was also shown to improve the activity of mitochondria and inhibit the occurrence of autophagy. In addition, antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, SOD2, and CAT) and cell pluripotency-related genes (SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG) were upregulated. At the same time, apoptosis-related (Caspase 3) and autophagy-related (LC3B) genes showed a downward trend after supplementation with CHE. These results indicate that CHE improved the development of porcine embryos in vitro by reducing oxidative stress and autophagy levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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10 pages, 641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Helena Marien, Natascha Gundling, Wolfgang Hasseler, Maren Feldmann, Kathrin Herzog and Martina Hoedemaker

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10010043 - 07 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1798

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of calving-related injuries of the vestibulum vaginae and the vagina on fertility measures in heifers. German Holstein heifers (n = 236) were checked for vestibulum vaginae and vaginal injuries. These were scored [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of calving-related injuries of the vestibulum vaginae and the vagina on fertility measures in heifers. German Holstein heifers (n = 236) were checked for vestibulum vaginae and vaginal injuries. These were scored according to localization, depth and length. The healing process was assessed until day 42 post partum. Calving ease and the occurrence of metritis and endometritis were evaluated. In 160 heifers, the following fertility measures were calculated to assess the reproductive performance of heifers: mean interval from calving to first insemination, mean days open, mean interval from first insemination to conception, mean calving interval, mean pregnancy index, percentage of animals pregnant at 200 days p.p., and first service conception rate. On the one hand, dystocia was a risk factor for injuries of the soft birth canal, and, on the other hand, those injuries were a risk factor for metritis and endometritis. In this study, calving-related injuries of the vestibulum vaginae and the vagina had no statistically significant effect on the reproductive performance of heifers. One reason for this outcome was probably the overall good healing tendencies of those injuries in heifers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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10 pages, 1077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interspecific Nuclear Transfer Blastocysts Reconstructed from Arabian Oryx Somatic Cells and Domestic Cow Ooplasm

by Aiman A. Ammari, Muath G. ALGhadi, Ramzi A. Amran, Nawal M. Al Malahi and Ahmad R. Alhimaidi

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10010017 - 28 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1962

Abstract

Cloning, commonly referred to as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), is the technique of enucleating an oocyte and injecting a somatic cell into it. This study was carried out with interspecific SCNT technology to clone the Arabian Oryx utilizing the oryx’s fibroblast cells [...] Read more.

Cloning, commonly referred to as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), is the technique of enucleating an oocyte and injecting a somatic cell into it. This study was carried out with interspecific SCNT technology to clone the Arabian Oryx utilizing the oryx’s fibroblast cells and transfer it to the enucleated oocytes of a domestic cow. The recipient oocytes were extracted from the cows that had been butchered. Oryx somatic nuclei were introduced into cow oocytes to produce embryonic cells. The study was conducted on three groups, Oryx interspecific somatic cell nuclear transfer into enucleated oocytes of domestic cows, cow SCNT “the same bovine family species”, used as a control group, and in vitro fertilized (IVF) cows to verify all media used in this work. The rates of different embryo developmental stages varied slightly (from 1- cell to morula stage). Additionally, the oryx interspecies Somatic cell nuclear transfer blastocyst developmental rate (9.23%) was comparable to that of cow SCNT (8.33%). While the blastula stage rate of the (IVF) cow embryos exhibited a higher cleavage rate (42%) in the embryo development stage. The results of this study enhanced domestic cow oocytes’ ability to support interspecific SCNT cloned oryx, and generate a viable embryo that can advance to the blastula stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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12 pages, 3057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Artemisinin on Escherichia coli–Induced Mastitis in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells and Mice

by Zhaoming Li, Jiaqing Hu, Xiaozhou Wang, Yongzhen Du, Jinhua Yin, Jian Gao, Bo Han, Shuai Cui, Yongxia Liu and Jianzhu Liu

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(8), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9080381 - 26 Jul 2022

Viewed by 2750

Abstract

Bovine mastitis is an important disease affecting dairy farming, and it causes large economic losses to the dairy industry. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is considered to be a causative environmental pathogen and frequently enters into mammary glands, causing inflammation. Artemisinin is [...] Read more.

Bovine mastitis is an important disease affecting dairy farming, and it causes large economic losses to the dairy industry. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is considered to be a causative environmental pathogen and frequently enters into mammary glands, causing inflammation. Artemisinin is a highly effective malaria remedy and is not easy to develop drug resistance to. In recent years, other effects of artemisinin (including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, etc.) have been increasingly discovered and applied. The current study aimed to investigate whether artemisinin could attenuate E. coli–induced inflammation. Through the E. coli mastitis model in MAC-T cells and mice, the protective effects of artemisinin were analyzed by CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8), Western blot, and RT-qPCR. The results showed that artemisinin reversed the decrease of cell viability and upregulated TLR4 (toll-like receptor 4)/NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) and MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase)/p38 signaling pathways, as well as restrained the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β mRNA caused by E. coli. Meanwhile, artemisinin also alleviated mammary tissue damage, reduced inflammatory cells’ infiltration, and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors in a mice mastitis model. This study demonstrated that artemisinin alleviated the inflammatory response of mouse mastitis and MAC-T cells induced by E. coli, thus providing a practical approach for the clinical control of mastitis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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13 pages, 633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Backfat Thickness on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation of Placenta in Large White Pigs

by Jian Hu and Peishi Yan

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(6), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9060302 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2168

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the backfat thickness of sows on reproductive performance and on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. At farrowing, 60 sows were assigned to three groups: the low-backfat-thickness group (LBF, n = 20): [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the backfat thickness of sows on reproductive performance and on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. At farrowing, 60 sows were assigned to three groups: the low-backfat-thickness group (LBF, n = 20): sows’ backfat thickness was between 9 and 12 mm; the medium-backfat-thickness group (MBF, n = 20): sows’ backfat thickness was between 13 and 20 mm; and the high-backfat-thickness group (HBF, n = 20): sows’ backfat thickness was between 21 and 25 mm. Maternal and fetal blood and placental samples were collected. Compared with the LBF and HBF groups, the MBF group delivered a significantly greater number of live piglets than the LBF or HBF groups. The different backfat thicknesses of sows had different effects on the lipid-related hormones and adipokines of maternal and fetal serum and placenta. Sows with poor or excessive backfat displayed higher levels of oxidative stress and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. According to these data, the thickness of a sow’s backfat affects the characteristics of farrowing piglets and their lipid metabolism, as well as placental inflammation, maternal inflammation, and oxidative stress. A moderate backfat thickness (between 13 and 20 mm) was associated with greater reproductive performance in sows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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14 pages, 4022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photoperiodic Modulation in Immune and Reproductive Systems in Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica): A Morphometric Perspective

by Khizar Hayat, Ali Raza, Aitzaz Anas, Anas Sarwar Qureshi, Sarmad Rehan, Ameer Hamza Rabbani, Hafiz Faseeh ur Rehman, Abdul Ghaffar Qamar, Tayyab Rehman, Farah Deeba and Amber Salman

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(5), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9050248 - 23 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

The present study was designed to elucidate a relationship between lymphoid organs and reproductive activity in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) bred in a temperate region of Pakistan (30.3753° N, 69.3451° E) in response to photoperiodic changes. The research focused primarily [...] Read more.

The present study was designed to elucidate a relationship between lymphoid organs and reproductive activity in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) bred in a temperate region of Pakistan (30.3753° N, 69.3451° E) in response to photoperiodic changes. The research focused primarily on the relative morphological changes in primary (thymus and bursa of Fabricius) and secondary (spleen) lymphoid organs with respect to seasonal variations in the histomorphometry of testicular tissue. For this purpose, a comparable number of clinically healthy Japanese quails were exsanguinated during active (April–May), regressive (September–October) and inactive (January–February) reproductive phases. Following an extensive gross measurement of lymphoid and reproductive organs, a histomorphometric analysis was performed on sampled tissues by employing ImageJ^® software. Blood was collected for hormonal and leukocytic analysis. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical comparison. Testes had the highest parenchymal development in the active phase (80.66 ± 21.22 µm) and the lowest in the inactive phase (27.80 ± 7.22 µm). Conversely, a percentage change was evident in the sizes of primary (bursa: 61.5%, thymus: 46.9%) and secondary (spleen: 23.9%) lymphoid organs during inactive and active reproductive phases. This study demonstrated that a physiological trade-off is imperative between immune and reproductive systems for optimum survivability and reproductive performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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Review

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15 pages, 642 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role and Application of Exosomes and Their Cargos in Reproductive Diseases: A Systematic Review

by Zhi Chen and Xiangguo Wang

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(12), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9120706 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2349

Abstract

In recent years, the incidence of the reproductive diseases is increasing year-by-year, leading to abortion or fetal arrest, which seriously affects the reproductive health of human beings and the reproductive efficiency of animals. Exosomes are phospholipid bilayer vesicles that are widely distributed in [...] Read more.

In recent years, the incidence of the reproductive diseases is increasing year-by-year, leading to abortion or fetal arrest, which seriously affects the reproductive health of human beings and the reproductive efficiency of animals. Exosomes are phospholipid bilayer vesicles that are widely distributed in living organisms and released by the cells of various organs and tissues. Exosomes contain proteins, RNA, lipids, and other components and are important carriers of information transfer between cells, which play a variety of physiological and pathological regulatory functions. More and more studies have found that exosomes and their connotations play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases. A systematic review was conducted in this manuscript and then highlights our knowledge about the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of exosomes to reproductive diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, premature ovarian failure (POF), preeclampsia, polycystic, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate gland cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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14 pages, 2390 KiB

Open AccessReview

Melatonin Receptors: A Key Mediator in Animal Reproduction

by Yuan Gao, Shuqin Zhao, Yong Zhang and Quanwei Zhang

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070309 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2943

Abstract

Melatonin, a hormone produced by the mammalian pineal gland, influences various physiological activities, many of which are related to animal reproduction, including neuroendocrine function, rhythm regulation, seasonal behavior, gonadogenesis, gamete development and maturation, sexual maturation, and thermoregulation. Melatonin exerts beneficial actions mainly via [...] Read more.

Melatonin, a hormone produced by the mammalian pineal gland, influences various physiological activities, many of which are related to animal reproduction, including neuroendocrine function, rhythm regulation, seasonal behavior, gonadogenesis, gamete development and maturation, sexual maturation, and thermoregulation. Melatonin exerts beneficial actions mainly via binding with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), termed MT1 and MT2. Melatonin receptors are crucial for mediating animal reproduction. This paper reviews the characteristics of melatonin receptors including MT1 and MT2, as well as their roles in mediating signal transduction and biological effects, with a focus on their function in animal reproduction. In addition, we briefly summarize the developments in pharmacological research regarding melatonin receptors as drug targets. It is expected that this review will provide a reference for further exploration and unveiling of melatonin receptor function in reproductive regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases)

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