E. Kistanova

Effect of plant Tribulus terrestris extract on reproductive performances of rams

Tribulus terrestris extract was added to the forage of 8 rams of Pleven Blackhead and Abaci breed once daily in dose l,5g per head for a period of 40 days. Semen parameters and sexual behavior during semen collection were evaluated. It was found that Tribulus terrestris extract improves semen quality of rams: the count of spermatozoids, time of viability and motility of sperms increase. The great number of born lambs after the use of treated rams for insemination confirms high fertility of their semen. All experimental rams manifested a good libido and active sexual behavior.

Tribulus terrestris Alters the Expression of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 in Rabbit Ovaries of Mothers and F1 Female Offspring

Although previous research has demonstrated the key role of the oocyte-derived factors, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 15 and growth differentiation factor (GDF) 9, in follicular development and ovulation, there is a lack of knowledge on the impact of external factors, which females are exposed to during folliculogenesis, on their expression. The present study investigated the effect of the aphrodisiac Tribulus terrestris on the GDF9 and BMP15 expression in the oocytes and cumulus cells at mRNA and protein levels during folliculogenesis in two generations of female rabbits. The experiment was conducted with 28 New Zealand rabbits. Only the diet of the experimental mothers group was supplemented with a dry extract of T. terrestris for the 45 days prior to insemination. The expression of BMP15 and GDF9 genes in the oocytes and cumulus cells of mothers and F1 female offspring was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The localization of the GDF9 and BMP15 proteins in the ovary tissues was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. The BMP15 and GDF9 transcripts were detected in the oocytes and cumulus cells of rabbits from all groups. T. terrestris caused a decrease in the BMP15 mRNA level in the oocytes and an increase in the cumulus cells. The GDF9 mRNA level increased significantly in both oocytes and cumulus cells. The downregulated expression of BMP15 in the treated mothers’ oocytes was inherited in the F1 female offspring born to treated mothers. BMP15 and GDF9 show a clearly expressed sensitivity to the bioactive compounds of T. terrestris.

Improvement of the Antioxidative Status of Pig Ovaries by Selenopyran Treatment

Abstract Selenium is an essential micro-element in animal diet due to its high antioxidative properties. As a part of selenocystein it is an important constituent of the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme, which has a big importance for cell protection from oxidative damage. The aim of the present work was the investigation of the selenopyran effect on the antioxidative state of the pig ovary. The experiment was conducted with 18 gilts of Danube white breed randomly divided into two groups between 120 - 228 days of age. The animals received equal basal diets without selenium additives. The experimental gilts were injected once per month intramuscularly with oil solution of preparation selenopyran (9-phenylsymmetrical octahydroselenoxanthene) ensured 0.1 mgSe/kg live weight. After slaughtering, the ovaries were used for histological analysis and estimation of the selenium content in ovarian tissue by the atomic absorption spectroscopy method. The GPx activity in ovary homogenates using the colorimetric assay kit (BioVision) was measured. The expression of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in ovaries by immunochistochemical method was estimated. The selenopyran treatment leads to significant (P<0.05) increase of the selenium level in blood and non-significant (P>0.05) in ovarian tissue. Enhancement of GPx activity in the ovaries of experimental group was observed (142.61±6.6 versus 122.28±3.4U/gP, P<0.05). The GGT expression in the ovarian cortex cells, follicular fluid and in the erythrocytes of ovarian blood vessels in treated gilts was an evidence of active transport of glutathione from blood to the ovary tissue. The selenopyran treatment promotes the increase of the GPx dependent antioxidative defense in ovary of growing gilts.

Oregonin from Alnus incana bark affects DNA methyltransferases expression and mitochondrial DNA copies in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Abstract Oregonin is an open-chain diarylheptanoid isolated from Alnus incana bark that possesses remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibits adipogenesis, and can be used in the prevention of obesity and related metabolic disorders. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of oregonin on the epigenetic regulation in cells as well as its ability to modulate DNA methylating enzymes expression and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies. Our results show that oregonin altered the expression of DNA methyltransferases and mtDNA copy numbers in dependency on concentration and specificity of cells genotype. A close correlation between mtDNA copy numbers and mRNA expression of the mtDnmt1 and Dnmt3b was established. Moreover, molecular modeling suggested that oregonin fits the catalytic site of DNMT1 and partially overlaps with binding of the cofactor. These findings further extend the knowledge on oregonin, and elucidate for the first time its potential to affect the key players of the DNA methylation process, namely DNMTs transcripts and mtDNA.