Protocatechuic Acid Delays Postovulatory Oocyte Ageing in Mouse

Updating the Role of JUNO and Factors Involved in Its Function during Fertilization

INTRODUCTION

The final step of the fertilization process involves gametes adhesion and fusion. JUNO is an essential folate receptor 4 protein present in the ooplasm of oocytes, which binds to IZUMO1, its receptor on the sperm surface. Both proteins are indispensable for the sperm-oocyte interaction, and their absence results in infertility. Despite the importance of JUNO in reproduction, there is still controversy about how different factors affect the functionality of JUNO. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of what we know so far about the presence and functionality of JUNO.

METHODS

In order to accomplish this, a total of 198 articles were identified. Based on both inclusion and exclusion criteria, 40 articles were finally included in this study.

RESULTS

The results showed that during oocyte maturation, the expression levels of JUNO undergo alterations and, in some instances, cross-species gamete fusion is possible. Additionally, it has been observed that exposure of oocytes to factors such as bisphenol A, 17α-ethynylestradiol, diazinon, benzo(a)pyrene, butylparaben, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, hydroxyurea, dichlorophenol, isoniazid, and para-phenylenediamine disrupt JUNO and decrease the fertilization process rates. Moreover, exposure to ionic radiation, vitrification, and synthetic materials as microplastics has the same effect. Nonetheless, other compounds such as melatonin, mogroside V, cholesterol-loaded methyl-β-cyclodextrin, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, protocatechuic acid, coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, and Shoutai pills have been shown to enhance female fertility in terms of JUNO functionality.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this update highlights the crucial role of JUNO during fertilization and reveals how different factors and experimental procedures affect its activity.

A non-antibiotic antimicrobial drug, a biological bacteriostatic agent, is useful for treating aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis

Background

Vaginitis is a common infection in women, with approximately 75% of women experiencing at least one episode during their lifetime. Although antimicrobial agents are widely used to treat vaginitis, recurrent vaginitis occurs in some patients. Resistance to these agents is the major cause of recurrent vaginitis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs.

Methods

We investigated the efficacy of a new biological bacteriostatic agent (BBA), composed of lysozyme, phytoalexin, chitosan oligosaccharide, sinensetin, 18β/20α-glycyrrhizin, and betaine, against vaginitis using in vitro and in vivo studies. First, we evaluated the antibacterial effects of BBA against 13 microbial strains commonly present in aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and healthy vaginas. Second, we assessed the safety of various doses of BBA administered orally for 4 weeks in female mice. Third, we examined the in vivo anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of BBA in Candida albicans-, Candida glabrata-, and Gardnerella-induced vaginitis models. Finally, we evaluated the anti-vaginitis effect of a BBA gel prepared with 0.5% (w/v) ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp copolymer.

Results

BBA effectively suppressed the growth of the main causative pathogens of vaginitis in vitro. BBA, either undiluted or diluted two-fold, inhibited all microorganisms cultured for 8 h. No obvious organ damage was detected when BBA was administered to mice. Both BBA alone and 70% BBA in a gel formulation effectively inhibited the proliferation of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and Gardnerella in vaginal lavage samples and alleviated tissue inflammation in mice with vaginitis. The 70% BBA gel performed better than BBA alone at treating vaginitis in mice infected with Gardnerella vaginalis.

Conclusion

BBA alone and a 70% BBA gel inhibited the growth of pathogens and effectively alleviated inflammation caused by C. albicans, C. glabrata, and G. vaginalis.

Phytosterol organic acid esters: Characterization, anti-inflammatory properties and a delivery strategy to improve mitochondrial function

Phytosterol organic acid esters are important food resources and the components of biomembrane structure. Due to the lack of extraction and synthesis techniques, more research has been focused on phytosterols, and the research on phytosterol acid esters have encountered a bottleneck, but phytosterol acid esters confer substantial benefits to human health. In this study, stigmasteryl vanillate (VAN), stigmasteryl protocatechuate (PRO) and stigmasteryl sinapate (SIN) were prepared through the Steglich reaction. The processes are promotable and the products reach up to 95% purity. In addition, their stability was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. HPLC analysis revealed an enhancement in water solubility after esterification with phenolic acid. In an in vitro digestion model, the bioaccessibility of stigmasteryl phenolates was significantly higher than that of stigmasterols (STIs). Regarding the anti-inflammatory properties, VAN, PRO, and SIN exhibit superior effects against TNF-α induced pro-inflammatory responses compared to STI. All stigmasteryl phenolates supplementation increased the ATP production, the basal, and maximal oxygen consumption rate in mitochondrial stress test. Overall, we present a synthesis method for stigmasteryl phenolates. It will contribute to the development and research of phytosterol acid ester analysis, functions and utilization in food. Moreover, the nutrient-stigmasterol hybrids tactic we have constructed is practical and can become a targeted mitochondrial delivery strategy with enhanced anti-inflammatory effects.

Fisetin Delays Postovulatory Oocyte Aging by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Function through Sirt1 Pathway

The quality of oocytes determines the development potential of an embryo and is dependent on their timely fertilization after ovulation. Postovulatory oocyte aging is an inevitable factor during some assisted reproduction technology procedures, which results in poor fertilization rates and impairs embryo development. We found that fisetin, a bioactive flavonol contained in fruits and vegetables, delayed postovulatory oocyte aging in mice. Fisetin improved the development of aged oocytes after fertilization and inhibited the Sirt1 reduction in aged oocytes. Fisetin increased the GSH level and Sod2 transcription level to inhibit ROS accumulation in aged oocytes. Meanwhile, fisetin attenuated aging-induced spindle abnormalities, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. At the molecular level, fisetin decreased aging-induced aberrant expression of H3K9me3. In addition, fisetin increased the expression levels of the mitochondrial transcription factor Tfam and the mitochondrial genes Co2 and Atp8 by upregulating Sirt1 in aged oocytes. Finally, inhibition of Sirt1 reversed the anti-aging effects of fisetin. Taken together, fisetin delayed postovulatory oocyte aging by upregulating Sirt1.