Preferencje help
Widoczny [Schowaj] Abstrakt
Liczba wyników

Znaleziono wyników: 12

Liczba wyników na stronie
Pierwsza strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wstecz Poprzednia strona wyników Strona / 1 Następna strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wprzód Ostatnia strona wyników

Wyniki wyszukiwania

help Sortuj według:

help Ogranicz wyniki do:
Pierwsza strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wstecz Poprzednia strona wyników Strona / 1 Następna strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wprzód Ostatnia strona wyników
In this review, the molecular aspects of meiotic division and characteristics of proteins involved in mammalian oocytes maturation have been presented. Moreover, the role of competition has also been shown. The mammalian oocyte’s maturation is divided into: (i) nuclear maturation; (ii) cytoplasmic maturation; and (iii) genomic maturation. The maturation processes involves the stages associated with stored proteins and mRNA as well as the inherited changes in genomic DNA methylation. The proper procedure of all stages of maturation influences the achievement by oocytes of full developmental competence and fertilization ability. Both of these processes are associated with attaining by the embryos the ability of growth and development following embryonic genome activation (EGA). The stages of oocyte’s maturation are regulated by the expression of specific genes encoding proteins that are expressed during early folliculo-, and oogenesis, and is species dependent. The most important proteins regulating the process of oocytes maturation involves the following: transforming growth factor of the large super family group (TGF), connexins (Cx), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase A (PKA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF).
Fertilization is a complex process which includes the recognition and fusion of an oocyte and a sperm and the development of a zygote that contains a double set of chromosomes. Each step in this process is precisely controlled at the molecular level in a cascade of biochemical reactions (cortical and acrosome reactions) that determine the future of both gametes. Biochemical reactions not only reorganize gametes in morphological, physiological, and biochemical terms, but also prepare them for the future coordinated communication. Molecular aspects of gamete development and fertilization include the reorganization of the cell membrane and ligand-receptor reactions that affect the recognition of gametes and lead to the formation of pronuclei and zygote development. This article discusses several aspects of the recognition, interaction, and fusion of a sperm and an oocyte. It also describes biochemical reactions involved in the development of gametes that are capable of fertilization.
This article reviews early research on embryonic stem cells and present possibilities of their application, e.g. in anticancer therapy. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of applying embryonic stem cells in the treatment of selected disorders. Embryonic stem cells are characterized by pluripotency, that is, the ability to differentiate into every type of cells of a developing organism. The research of recent years has revealed considerable similarities between embryonic stem cells and cancer cells, mainly in terms of the presence of common surface antigen molecules. However, a great potential of embryonic stem cells for biomedical applications is combined with a risk of their differentiation into cancer. Research based on animal models (e.g. mouse) has shown that directed embryonic stem-cell therapy can be used in many degenerative disorders.
Senescence of the organism is a consequence of several molecular (induction of proapoptotic genes expression, DNA damage) and biochemical changes, which gradually leads to the degeneration of some systems and organs. One of the most important features of progressive senescence is also a decreased response of the immunological system (proinflammatory response), which may result in a higher susceptibility to infection. The process of oncogenesis is closely associated with the age of an animal and progressive senescence. However, the proper assessment of the association between the induction of oncogenesis and senescence is problematic, mainly with regards to several species specific features like the weight of a dog or its breed. Moreover, the association between the activity of the immunological system and oncogenesis in a dog in an age-dependent manner is also unclear. Studies have suggested that the main factors which influence the process of senescence and oncogenesis are: DNA damage, spontaneous mutations, increase of oxidative stress and decrease of immunological system activity. In this article, the mechanisms and factors associated with oncogenesis and canine senescence have been presented. The authors have also described the role of selected proteins in the induction of these processes.
This review presents basic criteria for evaluating the developmental competence of oocytes and embryos, and contains a detailed description of the microfluidic-technology-based Lab-on-Chip. The developmental competence of oocytes is acquired through a complex process associated with oocyte growth and maturation, the storage of large amounts of mRNA and proteins, and with the formation of proper cell morphology. The full maturation of oocytes is required for successful monospermic fertilization and embryonic preimplantation development. The morphology of the gamete is one of the most important factors influencing the developmental competence of the cell. There are several indicators for the assessment of oocyte morphology, most of them including the color and granularity of the cytoplasm. Intensive research is under way to develop and introduce new non-invasive methods of oocyte and embryo quality assessment as a major factor in the improvement of assisted reproductive techniques. The Lab-on-Chip technology, as an independent micro-cytometric device, is a combination of reproductive biology techniques and micro-optic electronics. In the future, Lab-on-Chip systems may be used as an important diagnostic instrument for evaluating the quality of mammalian oocytes and embryos.
The development of assisted reproduction methods requires the application of techniques for the assessment of sperm quality of animals kept for breeding purposes. At present there are a number of methods for the parametric evaluation of spermatozoa, used to determine the reproductive potential of males. Owing to the large number of factors inf1uencing the maturation and capacitation of sperm and the complexity of the fertilisation process, it is difficult to accurately estimate fertilising potential. None of the presently used methods is fully reliable. Conventional laboratory methods, such as the microscopic analysis of the number, mobility, morphology and vitality of spermatozoa or the computer-assisted CASA method, do not provide reliable results as to the functional properties of semen. Most of these methods make it possible to analyse only a single determinant of sperm fertilization potential. High heterogeneity in sperm population makes semen analysis even more difficult. In order to achieve more reliable results, a number of functional analyses are applied, such as flow cytometry, sperm-zona binding tests, HZA and SPA tests. Other such methods include the evaluation of apoptosis and DNA damage as well as acrosome reaction assessment and the use of the molecular marker of spermatozoa. All the above methods make it possible to observe a number of influences and transformations occurring in spermatozoa prior to fertilization. A detailed analysis of the stages by which sperm acquires the ability to fertilize an egg is not only essential for the evaluation of sperm quality, but it is also a source of valuable information on molecular and cellular mechanisms of the fertilization process, some aspects of which still remain elusive.
Carcinogenesis is often associated with the uncontrolled cell division cycle that leads to the growth and development of cancer. In this study we analyzed the occurrence of MAP2K1 gene polymorphism, which is described as a cell division regulator, in a group of dogs with diagnosed adenocarcinoma and aged group of animals. In this study, blood samples were obtained from 22 female dogs diagnosed with mammary tumors. Moreover, blood samples from geriatric (> 5 to 10-years-old; n = 15), mature adult (> 2 to 5-years-old; n = 10) and young (from 1 to 2-years-old; n = 11) dogs were also collected. 36 bitches diagnosed because of other reasons served as controls. After Sanger sequencing analysis, 15 single nucleotide variations were identified, of which 3 were situated in exons (exon 2, 7 and 11) and the remaining 12 were localized in splice regions of introns. We also observed differences in genotype and allele frequencies between tumor and control groups for heterozygote and for an alternative allele for 3 polymorphisms (c.G267T, g.T72562C, g.T75728C). Moreover, we found higher prevalence of the alternative alleles and/or alternative homozygotes solely in the most advanced age subgroup in comparison with the other two subgroups for two pair of variations: g.A71023G and g.T72440C; g.T75757C and c.C1179T. Although the results in many cases were not statistically significant, we observed different patterns of genetic segregation of alleles in control and tumor-affected subjects, which may serve as a risk factor of cancer occurrence in the investigated group. Moreover, g.T75757C and c.C1179T polymorphisms may be recognized as markers of aging in dogs.
Evaluation of oocyte developmental competence has an important influence on the ability of these cells to attain maturation, successful fertilization, development of embryo to the blastocyst stage and proper implantation. Factors determining the reproductive potential of gametes included: (1) expression of important transcription factors, (2) epigenetic changes, which influence the silencing of selected genes transcription, (3) transcription regulation, and (4) post-transcriptional regulation. The epigenetic changes mainly include: DNA methylation, histones modifications and changes in chromatin structure in the oocytes. In several studies, the association between oocyte morphology (mostly determined by cumulus cell layers and granularity of cytoplasm) and the ability of these cells to attain maturation and fertilization has been described. The use of biochemical, metabolomical and molecular markers is the most frequently applied tool in the assessment of oocyte developmental competence. However, most of these methods are invasive and lead to the decreased viability of the analyzed cells. Searching for new, objective and noninvasive techniques leads to the development of a microfluidic chip system, which shows the physical (spectral) properties of oocytes and embryos in comparison to the biological parameters. In this article, selected issues associated with the genetic regulation of such processes as: maturation of oocytes, fertilization and early stages of embryonic development, have been presented. Moreover, the regulation of transcription and post-transcriptional modification during oogenesis and embryogenesis in mammals, with special relation to pigs and the possibilities of applying of microfluidics in assessment of oocyte and embryo developmental competence was shown.
Pierwsza strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wstecz Poprzednia strona wyników Strona / 1 Następna strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wprzód Ostatnia strona wyników
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.