Oocytes are the germ cells of female animals, which determine the reproductive ability of female animals. A large amount of lipids are present in oocytes, which are found in lipid droplets mostly in the form of triglycerides. The size, color and distribution pattern of lipid droplets are associated with the developmental ability of oocytes. Triglycerides could be lipolyzed into fatty acids in oocytes. The fatty acid β-oxidation is an important energy source for the development of oocytes and early embryos. However, excessive lipid deposition would increase levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the dysfunction of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, eventually impairing the subsequent oocyte development. By summarizing the positive and negative effects of lipids on oocyte development, this review shows the dual roles of lipids in oocyte development, and discusses the effects of lipids on oocyte development.

BACKGROUND:Correlation between subchondral bone and articular cartilage in the process of osteoarthritis has not been fuly elucidated. Degeneration of cartilage is the focus of attention, and the subchondral bone also plays an important role in the process of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the differences between experimental osteoarthritis models in rabbit knees established by two kinds of surgical methods and two kinds of proteases inducing methods, and to explore the correlation between subchondral bone mass and degeneration of cartilage. METHODS:Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits were randomly and averagely divided into four groups: Hulth group (group A), anterior cruciate ligament transaction group (group B), colagenase type II group (group C) and papain group (group D). The right knees of rabbits were established as osteoarthritis models, and the left knees served as controls. Bone mineral density of the knee joint was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning at 0, 4 and 8 weeks after modeling. The rabbits were sacrificed at 8 weeks after MRI scanning, bilateral knee joints were harvested for general and histological observation. Quantitative analysis was done according to Mankin scores. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Bone mineral density of the right knees decreased at 0, 4 and 8 weeks after modeling, and the rank was as folows: group A > group B > group C > group D. MRI scanning showed that the articular cartilage thickness of the medial and lateral femoral condyle on the right knees became thinner compared with the left side, and the rank was as folows: group A < group B < group C < group D. Observation by specimens and pathological slices showed that the articular cartilage degeneration of the surgery groups worsened, group A was the most serious one, and group 1D was the lightest. Both surgery and proteases inducing methods can successfuly establish osteoarthritis models in rabbit knees. Surgery inducing models resemble the advanced or intermediate stage of osteoarthritis, while the proteases inducing models resemble the early stage of osteoarthritis. Degeneration of the articular cartilage and changes of subchondral bone are related in progressive development.

Undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 100 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?),and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-?2 (PPAR-?2) mRNA expression and adiponectin secretion in cultured cells were measured.The results showed that TNF-?suppressed PPAR-?2 mRNA expression and adiponeetin secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (P

1 approximately 3 days old Piglet's primary preadipocytes in vitro were cultured and treated with 0micromol/L (control group), 10microlmol/L (lower dose group), 20micromol/L(middle dose group) and 50micromol/L, 100micromol/L (higher dose group) RES. Cell proliferation and viability were analyzed by MTT assay. The degree of differentiation and adipogenesis were measured by Oil Red O staining extraction assay and the expression of Sirt1 (sirtuin) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed the optical density (OD) of MTT and Oil Red O staining were all decreased, especially treated by 50micromol/L, 100micromol/L RES at 72h and 96h (P < 0.01); the ratio of OD of the expression of Sirt1 mRNA to that of beta-actin mRNA were increased after treated by 100micromol/L RES (P < 0.01). RES can inhibit proliferation and differentiation of pig preadipocytes in certain degree. Higher dose of RES can markedly decrease adipogenesis and prevent preadipocytes differentiation into adipocytes, which may be in part associated with its effect on increasing the expression of Sirt1 mRNA.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; Stem Cells ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Swine ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of emodin (EMO) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes.

METHODSeparating and culturing rat preadipocytes, grouping the wells that preadipocytes were growing according to certain concentration such as 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 micromol x L(-1) randomly, MTT spectrophotometry and flow cytometry (FCM) were adopted to determine the effect of EMO on proliferation of rat preadipocytes. The accumulation of TG (triglyceride) in adipocytes was assayed by oil red O staining, and the morphological changes of the adipocytes were determined by morphology observation.

RESULTEMO in the range of 20-160 micromol x L(-1) could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes in a dose and time dependent manner, and induce apoptosis of preadipocytes in a certain degree.

CONCLUSIONEMO should have a potential to serve as a fat-reducing drug.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Emodin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Total RNA was isolated from kidney of BaMei pig, a local strain of Chinese pig, and then the cDNA sequence of SOCS-2 gene was cloned by RT-PCR (GenBank accepted number is EF121242). Then the cloned SOCS-2 gene was inserted into PMD19-T vector by T/A cloning, transformed into DH-5alpha, tested by PCR and sequenced. The data show that the homology of the cloned porcine SOCS-2, including 822 bp, is more than 93% and that of the deduced amino acid sequence is 89% when compared with human, rat and mice. And the molecular weight of SOCS-2 protein is about 22.25 kD and PI is 8.03. The cloning of SOCS-2 gene is useful for the further research on the molecular mechanism by which regulating growth and development of organism.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; genetics ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Homology ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; genetics ; Swine ; genetics

The specific expression of TGH and HSL genes in different tissues of Bamei pig was investigated by RT-PCR and Western blot in this study. The result of RT-PCR showed that the expression of HSL could be detected in all these seven tissues examined, and which was higher expressed in fat, lower in heart, liver, lung, spleen and kidney. Expression of TGH gene could also be detected in seven tissues, and higher in liver and fat, lower in heart and kidney and lowest in spleen and lung. The result of Western blot showed that, HSL gene was highest expressed in epiploica fat and subcutaneous fat, higher in other tissues, but couldn' t be detected in kidney. Expression of TGH was detected in epiploica fat, subcutaneous fat, liver, lung and spleen, and highest in fat and liver, but it hadn't be found in heart and kidney. These results suggested that both HSL and TGH could be regulated by post-transcriptional, and their function was involved in different tissues.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Lipase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Sterol Esterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Swine ; Tissue Distribution

To investigate the effects of Baicalein (BAI) on the proliferation and differentiation of pig preadipocytes, and elucidate its potential mechanism. Primary preadipocytes of pig were cultured in vitro. The morphologic changes of preadipocytes differentiation were observed by Oil Red O staining. Status of cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. The degree of adipogenesis and differentiation were measured by Oil Red O staining extraction assay. The activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was detected by spectrophotometry. The mRNA expression of special peroxisome proliferation activated receptor-gamma2 gene (PPARgamma2) was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). When preadipocytes differentiated into adipocytes, the preadipocytes were changed from shuttle shape to oval or round, in which big and small lipid droplets were filled. The proliferation of preadipocytes was inhibited by the treatment of 160-640 micromol/L BAI (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of PPARgamma2 and FAS activity and the differentiation of preadipocytes was repressed by 40-320 micromol/L BAI treatment (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes is inhibited by BAI in some degree. The effect of BAI on differentiation of preadipocytes may be resulted from inhibiting the mRNA expression of PPARgamma2 and reducing FAS activity.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Azo Compounds ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Obesity ; pathology ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Swine ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

To investigate effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on proliferation and differentiation of rat adipocytes and to elucidate its potential mechanism, rat's primary preadipocytes in vitro were cultured. Treated adipocytes with 0 micromol/L (control group), 40 micromol/L (lower dose group) and 160 micromol/L (higher dose group) DHA. Cell living rations and proliferation were analyzed by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay. The degree of adipogenesis and differentiation were measured by Oil Red O staining extraction assay and the expression of peroxisome proliferation activated receptor-gamma2 (PPARgamma2) mRNA were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It was demonstrated that cells living ration and the optical density (OD) of MTT were all decreased, especially treated by 160 micromol/L DHA at 60 (72 hours (P < 0.05). The OD of Oil Red O staining and the expression of PPARgamma2 mRNA were all decreased after treated by 160 micromol/L DHA (P < 0.01). It can be concluded that DHA can inhibite proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes in some degree. Higher dose of DHA can markedly decrease adipogenesis and prevent differentiation of adipocytes, which may be in part associated with its effect on decreasing the expression of PPARgamma2 mRNA.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The circadian rhythm of mammals is a physiological phenomena that is about 24 hours produced by genetically encoded molecular clocks, making the physiological process of the body coordinated with the changes of the external environment, and it is a manifestation of adaptation to the environment. In mammals, reproductive physiology is regulated by the circadian clock. The expression of circadian clock genes has been observed in each tissue of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, and the biological clock at all levels coordinates and synchronizes with each other to maintain normal reproductive behavior. The production, maintenance, and regulation of circadian rhythms depend on a chain of transcription-translation feedback loops (TTLs), which determine the cycle and amplitude of gene expression in each tissue of the HPO axis. The circadian clock of the ovary is regulated by theneuroendocrine regulation of suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, but it is autonomous. Circadian rhythm disruption caused by environmental factors can seriously impair female fertility and lead to a range of related ovarian diseases. In addition, the circadian clock is also closely related to ovarianaging. Based on existing research, this paper focuses on the mechanism of the circadian clock in ovarian follicular development, ovulation and steroid generation, as well as the latest research progress on the relationship between the circadian clock and ovarian aging. In addition, several common ovarian diseases with decreased fertility due to circadian clock disorders are described.