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Background: The intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique has low efficiency in cattle. This has mainly been attributed to the oocyte activation failure due to oocyte and/or sperm factors. Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the effect of conventional ICSI and Piezo-ICSI with bull or human sperm on bovine oocyte activation and embryo development and to assess its relationship with the phospholipase C zeta (PLCɀ) activity of both species. Methods: In vitro matured bovine oocytes were randomly divided into five groups and were fertilized as follows: conventional ICSI using bovine sperm with chemical activation (control), conventional ICSI using bovine sperm, Piezo-ICSI using bovine sperm, conventional ICSI using human sperm, and Piezo-ICSI using human sperm. PLCɀ activity was determined in bull and human sperm samples. Results: Within the groups using bull sperm, the oocytes fertilized by conventional ICSI had the lowest values of 2 pronuclei (PN) formation and cleavage, Piezo-ICSI increased both percentages and ICSI + chemical activation presented the highest 2 PN, cleavage, and blastocyst rates (p < 0.05). Within the groups using human sperm, the oocytes fertilized by Piezo-ICSI presented higher 2 PN and cleavage rates than those activated by conventional ICSI (p < 0.05). Piezo-ICSI with human sperm increased bovine oocyte activation as much as conventional ICSI + chemical activation with bovine sperm (p < 0.05). Higher values of PLCɀ activity were found in human sperm compared with bovine sperm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the higher stability of the bovine sperm in combination with its relatively low content of PLCɀ impairs bovine oocyte activation after ICSI.

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Most cancer cells exacerbate the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to enhance biosynthetic precursors and antioxidant defenses. Metformin, which is used as a first-line oral drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been proposed to inhibit the malignant progression of different types of cancers. However, metformin has shown poor efficacy as single agent in several clinical trials. Thus, the aim of the present work was to investigate whether the pharmacological inhibition of G6PDH, the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the PPP, by 6-amino nicotinamide (6-AN) potentiates the antitumoral activity of metformin on different human melanoma cell lines. Our results showed that 6-AN has sensitizing properties to metformin cytotoxicity. The combination of metformin and 6-AN decreased glucose consumption and lactate production, altered the mitochondrial potential and redox balance, and thereby blocked melanoma cell progression, directing cells to apoptosis and necrosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing the effect of this combination. Future preclinical studies should be performed to reveal the biological relevance of this finding.

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Copper deficiency is an important disease of cattle that produces several clinical signs and lesions, due to alterations in copper-dependent enzymes. One of the organs affected by this deficiency is the heart (falling disease), but nevertheless, these cardiac lesions have not been extensively studied in bovines. The aim of this work was to propose a possible pathogenic mechanism for cardiac lesions in cattle affected by copper deficiency. Because of the possible existence of oxidative distress caused by low levels of copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase and cytochrome oxidase, ultrastructural and histological lesions have been evaluated in the heart of bovines in which a Cu deficiency had been induced using high molybdenum and sulfur levels in the diet. Our results indicated that copper deficiency produces significant damage in myocardium with high levels of lipid oxidation and a significant reduction in copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase activity leading to an oxidative distress situation. However, cytochrome oxidase activity was not significantly reduced. Histological observation revealed a significant increase in the amount of connective tissue, enlarged basement membranes of myocytes, and numerous Anichkov cells, in the hearts of deficient animals. Ultrastructural observation showed a significant enhancement in the mitochondrial volume density, with presence of lesions such as swelling and cristae disruption. We conclude that copper deficiency in bovines causes morphological lesions in the heart due to an oxidative damage produced by copper-dependent enzyme alterations.

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The aim of this work was to study the regulation of PFK 1 and G6PDH, two key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism in cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs), and its relationship with the oocyte maturation process. It was observed that the activity of PFK 1 in the presence of ATP was inhibited whereas the addition of AMP increased the activity (P < 0.05). To verify the effect of the physiological modulators on the COC glycolytic pathway, the lactate production during IVM and the maturation rate were evaluated. In accordance with the enzymatic activity, the glycolytic activity evaluated by lactate production and the maturation rate diminished (P < 0.05) with the addition of ATP. While the AMP had a dose response effect on the lactate production, the maturation rate remained unaltered. It was observed that NADPH inhibited the activity of the G6PDH and the addition of NADP increased the activity of the enzyme (P < 0.05). To verify the effect of the physiological modulators on the COC pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), the proportion of colourless oocytes evaluated by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and the maturation rate were carried out. In presence of NADPH an inhibition (P < 0.05) on PPP and maturation rate was observed. On the other hand, NADP had no effect on PPP activity and maturation rate. The present study shows that the regulation of key enzymes of glucose metabolism in bovine COCs are regulated mainly by the energetic charge and the redox status. We also reported a tight relation between the activity of the PFK 1 and G6PDH enzymes, glycolytic and PPP activities and the oocyte maturation process.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aim of this work was to study the regulation of PFK 1 and G6PDH, two key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism in cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs), and its relationship with the oocyte maturation process. It was observed that the activity of PFK 1 in the presence of ATP was inhibited whereas the addition of AMP increased the activity (P < 0.05). To verify the effect of the physiological modulators on the COC glycolytic pathway, the lactate production during IVM and the maturation rate were evaluated. In accordance with the enzymatic activity, the glycolytic activity evaluated by lactate production and the maturation rate diminished (P < 0.05) with the addition of ATP. While the AMP had a dose response effect on the lactate production, the maturation rate remained unaltered. It was observed that NADPH inhibited the activity of the G6PDH and the addition of NADP increased the activity of the enzyme (P < 0.05). To verify the effect of the physiological modulators on the COC pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), the proportion of colourless oocytes evaluated by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and the maturation rate were carried out. In presence of NADPH an inhibition (P < 0.05) on PPP and maturation rate was observed. On the other hand, NADP had no effect on PPP activity and maturation rate. The present study shows that the regulation of key enzymes of glucose metabolism in bovine COCs are regulated mainly by the energetic charge and the redox status. We also reported a tight relation between the activity of the PFK 1 and G6PDH enzymes, glycolytic and PPP activities and the oocyte maturation process.(AU)

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Cryopreservation is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species which lead to lipid peroxidation of sperm membranes. The objective was to determine an alpha-tocopherol concentration capable of improving the quality of cryopreserved porcine semen. Boar spermatozoa frozen with 200, 500 or 1000 microg/mL alpha-tocopherol were thawed and incubated at 37 degrees C for 4 h. Routine parameters of semen quality, susceptibility to lipid peroxidation 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and oxygen uptake were evaluated. Motility was higher (P<0.05) in samples treated with different concentrations of alpha-tocopherol up to 2 h of incubation. Viability and acrosome integrity significantly decreased during incubation (no significant differences between treatments). Two hundred micrograms per milliliter alpha-tocopherol protected spermatozoa against lipid peroxidation during incubation, but 1000 microg/mL failed to protect after 2 h of incubation. There was a negative association between TBARS and motility, suggesting that lipid peroxidation affected sperm motility. Both control and 200 microg/mL alpha-tocopherol samples preserved the capacity to generate oxidative energy up to 1 h of incubation. The addition of 200 microg/mL alpha-tocopherol in the semen extender could be useful to preserve boar spermatozoa against the oxidative stress generated by cryopreservation.

Assuntos