Microsatellite Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Iranian Kurdish Horse.

Native breeds are essential for national stocks and genetic reservoir; therefore, the preservation of indigenous breeds is a key policy priority for countries around the world. Many conservationists would assert that genetic diversity is a prerequisite for adaptive evolution, and preserving genetic diversity will need conservation efforts for the long-term survival of domestic species. This study intended to evaluate the genetic diversity of the Iranian Kurdish horse population based on microsatellite indicators, which can partially prevent it from becoming extinct. Fifty-eight tail hair and blood samples were randomly collected from Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, West Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Kerman, Hamadan, and Tehran. Genomic DNA extraction was performed by a modified salting out method. The polymerase chain reaction amplification conditions were also separately undertaken for each marker. All microsatellite loci revealed polymorphisms in the studied population. Genetic variation was examined using 12 microsatellite loci (HMS7, HMS3, HMS2, HMS6, ASB2, ASB23, VHL20, HTG10, LEX33, ASB17, AHT4, and AHT5). We found that the means of the observed and effective number of alleles were 7.58 and 4.95, with the minimum and maximum values for each of these indices associated with the loci of HMS2 and ASB17, respectively. Moreover, the mean of observed and expected heterozygosity, polymorphism information content, and Shannon's Information Index of the Iranian Kurdish population were 0.77, 0.78, 0.75, and 1.67, respectively, indicating a high degree of genetic diversity in the entire studied population. More specifically, we acquired a range of new alleles in the Iranian Kurdish horse breed that differed in their genetic structure to those of other Iranian breeds in other studies. This study provides an exciting opportunity to improve our knowledge of genetic information which will be beneficial as a base to identify purebred Kurdish horses for a further Iranian Kurdish horse genetic and breeding program.

PI3K inhibitor reduces in vitro maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes.

The phosphatidylinositol -3- kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is critical for the cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, DNA repair and protein synthesis. Significant effort has focused on elucidating the relationship between PI3K signaling pathway and other nuclear signal transducers; However, little is known about the connection between PI3K signaling pathway and porcine oocyte meiotic maturation. In this study, we investigated the function of PI3K signaling pathway in porcine oocytes. PI3K signaling pathway was important during oocyte maturation. Furthermore, the PI3K signaling pathway inhibitor LY-294002 blocked porcine oocyte maturation, reducing the percentage of oocytes that first polar body (PBI) extrusion. LY-294002 also decreased the expression of oocyte proliferation-related gene PCNA and reduced the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K. What's more, LY-294002 also decreased other maturation-related genes that are predominantly expressed duringporcine oocyte maturation, including bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BPM15), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), cell division cycle protein 2 (CDC2), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), CyclinB1, MOS and Akt. LY-294002 treatment decreased the developmental potential of blastocysts following parthenogenetic activation, increased the level of cell apoptosis and reduced the level of cell-cycle. This study revealed that inhibiting the PI3K signaling pathway could reduce in vitro maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes, probably by reducing cell cycle arrest and proliferation, promoting the oocyte apoptosis, and altering the expression of other maternal genes.

Hypoxia Enhances Mesenchymal Characteristics Maintenance of Buffalo Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from livestock are valuable resources for veterinary therapeutics and animal reproduction. Previous studies have shown that hypoxic conditions were beneficial in maintaining the mesenchymal feature of BMSCs. However, the effects of hypoxia on buffalo BMSCs (bBMSCs) remain unclear. In this study, the effects of hypoxic conditions on cell morphology, migration, polarity, and karyotype of bBMSCs were examined. The results showed that hypoxia (5% oxygen) enhanced colony formation and stress fiber synthesis of bBMSCs. Under the hypoxic culture conditions, the migration capacity and normal karyotype rate of bBMSCs were significantly improved (p < 0.05), which resulted in weakened cell polarity and enhanced karyotype stability in bBMSCs. In addition, it was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in the expression levels of HIF-TWIST signaling pathway axis-related genes (Hif-1, Hif-2, Twist, Snail, Slug, Fn1, N-cadherin, Collal). The HIF-TWIST axis of bBMSCs was also activated in hypoxia. Finally, it was more effective and easier to maintain the mesenchymal feature of bBMSCs in hypoxic conditions. These findings not only provide theoretical guidance to elucidate the detailed regulation mechanism of hypoxia on mesenchymal nature maintenance of bBMSCs, but also provide positive support to further establish the stable in vitro culture system of bBMSCs.