NCERA_OLD57: Swine Reproductive Physiology

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[06/18/2010] [07/22/2011] [06/22/2012] [05/30/2013]

Date of Annual Report: 06/18/2010

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/25/2010 - 05/26/2010
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2009 - 09/01/2010

Participants

Baker, John [baker@anr.msu.edu] Michigan;
Davis, Duane [davis@ksu.edu] Kansas;
Diekman, Mark [mdiekman@purdue.edu] Indiana;
Flowers, William [william_flowers@ncsu.edu] North Carolina;
Guthrie, H. Dave [dave.guthrie@ars.usda.gov] USDA-BARC;
Khauer, Mark [mkhauer@pork.org] National Pork Board (visitor);
Kirkwood, Roy [kirkwood@cvm.msu.edu] Michigan;
Knox, Rob [rknow@illinois.edu] Illinois (visitor);
Miles, Jeremy [jeremy.miles@ars.usda.gov] USDA-USMARC;
Miller, Dave [djmille@illinois.edu] Illinois;
Parrish, John [parrish@ansci.wisc.edu] Wisconsin;
Pettigrew, Jim [jepettig@illinois.edu] Illinois (visitor);
Rempel, Lea [lea.rempel@ars.usda.gov] USDA-USMARC (visitor);
Ross, Jason [jwross@iastate.edu] Iowa;
Safranski, Tim [safranskit@missouri.edu] Missouri;
White, Brett [bwhite2@unlnotes.unl.edu] Nebraska;
Wilson, Matt [mwilso25@wvu.edu] West Virginia;

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2010 annual meeting of the NCERA057 was held at the magnificent Corporate Office of the Maschhoff's in Carlyle, IL. The meeting was called to order by Dave Miller, Vice Chair and local host, at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, May 25. Dave provided background information on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign pertaining to the academic enrollment, costs, and administrative structure. He also provided details on the Animal Science department at Illinois, which has 43 faculty, ~100 graduate students, and ~535 undergraduate students. Dave also noted that the Animal Science department was taking significant budget cuts (9.5%) this year.

John Baker, Adminstrative Advisor to NCERA057, addressed the committee stating that the NCERA057 five year renewal had become effective and runs through 2014. He indicated that we need to submit a mid-term report next year (2011) and that the rewrite will occur in 2013. John also praised the organization and accomplishments, especially the biennial symposium, of the NCERA057 committee and indicated that this specific committee was among the best that he serves as an Adminstriative Advisor.

Since the program was running ahead of schedule, Matt Wilson, Chairman, initated the business meeting. Jason Ross was unanimously elected as the next Secretary, Jeremy Miles will move up to Vice Chair, and Dave Miller will become the Chair. After an intense battle between BARC and USMARC, it was decided that the USMARC would host the next annual meeting. The tentative dates selected for the 2011 annual meeting were May 24th and 25th (Tuesday and Wednesday) with travel day on Monday May 23rd.

Adele Turzillo, National Program Leader for Animal Production Systems within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), addressed the committee via conference call at 9:00 am. Adele provided an update on the newly established Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and the seven Requests for Applications (RFA) within AFRI. She also provided details regarding the NIFA budget and highlighted some personnel updates. She noted that many complaints had arisen with the current RFAs and indicated that NIFA would have a public stakeholder meeting in Washington, DC on June 2, 2010 to help rectify some of these issues. She also suggested that we submit comments to NIFA prior to this meeting as individuals and more importantly as groups, likely NCERA057. Jim Pettigrew noted that the Federation of Animal Science Societies would be submitting a formal comment and suggestion letter to NIFA. Finally, Adele indicated that she would be at the Joint ASAS/ADSA meeting in Denver and Mark Mirando would be at the SSR meeting in Milwakee if there were additional questions or comments.

Station reports began at 9:45 am with reports from Billy Flowers, Dave Guthrie, Matt Wilson, Jeremy Miles, and Jason Ross. Prior to Jeremy's report, Lea Rempel introduced herself and her research interests (sow productive lifetime) to the committee as she will become a co-representative for the USMARC in the very near future. Following a pork barbeque sandwich lunch provided by the Maschhoffs, the 2010 Biennial NCERA057 symposium entitled "Gilt Development" began at 1:00 pm with the following program:
- Rob English, TML: Welcome to TML.
- Charles Francisco, Intervet/Schering-Plough: Recent Experiments in France.
- Billy Flowers, NCSU: Neonatal Environment and Adult Fertility.
- Roy Kirkwood, MSU: Inducing Puberty and Maintaining Cyclicity.
- Duane Davis, KSU: Review of Approved Systems to Synchronize Estrus in Gilts.
- Archie Clutter, Newsham Choice Genetics: Genetic Selection for Lifetime Productivity.
- Matt Frizzo, TML: Gilt Development Current State at The Maschhoffs.

The symposium and meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm. We then had dinner at the LuBar & Bistro in Carlyle, IL with all the committee members and visitors along with some individuals from the Maschhoffs.

The continuation of the business meeting was called to order by Matt Wilson at 8:30 am on Wednesday, May 26th. The dates for the 2011 meeting in Clay Center, NE were finalized as May 24th and 25th. Hotel rooms will be blocked off at the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings, NE. Members flying into to either Omaha or Lincoln airports will be picked up by Jeremy Miles or Lea Rempel, local hosts on Monday, May 23rd.

Discussions were initiated by Duane Davis on how to improve the symposium by getting better feedback from producers (i.e., focus groups or Q&A sessions). Tim Safranski noted that the past symposiums have covered most of the topics facing reproductive issues in swine production and now the question is what the next symposium should cover. Lea Rempel suggested that we have a focus group with key stakeholders and producers during the year between the symposiums to get ideas for the next symposium for key reproductive issues. It was noted by Duane and Billy that consultants would likely give the best input on these issues and that Don Levis would be an excellent facilitator for this focus group. As a result, it was decided that we will organize a focus group of around 6 consultants with Don Levis as the facilitator to be held as a Webinar during the 2011 annual meeting at Clay Center, NE to help identify the next topic for the biennal symposium. The organizing committee will consist of Duane Davis, Jeremy Miles, Lea Rempel, and John Parrish.

Next, Tim Safranski noted that a thank you letter should be sent to the Maschhoffs for hosting the annual meeting and symposium with special thanks given to Bradley Wolters, TML Chief Operating Officer, and Missy. It was noted that Matt Wilson and Dave Miller would send this letter.

Following the business meeting, Duane Davis and Dave Guthrie discussed some of the comments and issues that had been returned from the submitted AFRI grant on Seasonal Infertility, which was not funded. More comments, questions, and complaints regarding the new AFRI RFAs and format were brought up during this discussion. It was decided that the committee will submit a comment and suggestion letter to NIFA and that Matt Wilson and Dave Miller would draft and submit of this letter.

Final station reports were then given and these included John Parrish, Brett White, Roy Kirkwood, Duane Davis, Tim Safranski, and Dave Miller. During Tim's report, he suggested that an abstract be submitted at the next Midwest ASAS meeting summarizing the past biennial symposia. Furthermore, it was suggested that this abstract be submitted and presented during the Billy Day symposium. The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Jeremy Miles, Secretary, NCERA057

Accomplishments

1. The Biennial NCERA057 symposium entitled "Gilt Development" was presented at the Maschhoffs Corporate Office and included speakers from the NCERA057 committee as well as from industry that presented on various aspects of gilt development. This symposium had a diverse audience of around 100 guests that included many academic, government, and industry researchers and stakeholders. 2. Several publications were published by committee members and their associates during the past year that provide scientific knowledge and impact on reproductive efficiency in swine. 3. Inititated the Swine Consultant Focus Group to determine key issues on swine reproduction. This will help the committee determine the next Biennial NCERA057 symposium topic and ensure that research focuses of the committee meet the current concerns of swine production.

Publications

Am-in N, Kirkwood RN, Techakumphu M, Tantasuparuk W. 2010. Relationship between boar sperm motility and quality after storage for 24 h at 18 C. Canadian Journal of Animal Science (in press). Am-in N, Kirkwood RN, Techakumphu M, Tantasuparuk W. 2010. Lipid profiles of sperm and seminal plasma from boars having normal or low sperm motility. Theriogenology (in press). Anderson, LL. 2009. EDITORIAL FORWARD for Cell Secretion Review SeriesCell Secretion: an orchestra involving intracellular protein transport, the universal secretory machinery-porosome, and secretory vesicle swelling-induced content release. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. (In press). Anderson, LL. 2009. Reproductive biology of pigs. Animal Industry Report. A.S. Leaflet R2443. Ansenberger K, Richards C, Zhuge Y, Barua A, Bahr JM, Luborsky J and Hales DB. 2010. Decreased severity of ovarian cancer and increased survival in hens fed a flaxseed enriched diet for one year. Gynecolic Oncology 117:341-347. Ansenberger K, Zhuge Y, Lagman JAJ, Mahon C, Barua A, Bahr JM, Hales DB. 2009. E-cadherin expression in ovarian cancer in the laying hen, Gallus domesticus. Gynecologic Oncology 113: 362-269. Artac, R.A., R.M. McFee, R.A. Smith, M.M. Baltes-Breitwisch, D.T. Clopton, and A.S. Cupp. 2009. Neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor antiangiogenic isoforms is more effective than treatment with proangiogenic isoforms in stimulating vascular development and follicle progression in the perinatal rat ovary. Biology of Reproduction 81:978-988. Baldock, K. D., M. E. Wilson and D. L. Smith. 2010. Short Communications: Effect of a Pre-synchronization Injection of Prostaglandin F2a during the Voluntary Waiting Period on Dairy Cattle. Journal of Dairy Science (Submitted 2/19/10). Baltes-Breitwisch, M.M., R.A. Artac, R.C. Bott, R.M. McFee, J.G. Kerl, D.T. Clopton, and A.S. Cupp. 2010. Neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor antiangiogenic isoforms or administration of proangiogenic isoforms stimulates vascular development in the rat testis. Reproduction [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID:20457593. Bakst MR, Donoghue AM, Yoho DE, Moyle JR, Whipple SM, Camp MJ, Liu GQ, Bramwell K. comparisons of sperm storage tubule distribution and number in 4 strains of mature broiler breeders and in turkey hens before and after the onset of photostimulation. Poultry Science 2010 89:986-992. Bakst MR, Akuffo V. Morphology of the turkey vagina with and without an egg mass in the uterus. Poultry Science 2009 88:631-635. Barua A, Bitterman P, Abramowicz JS, Dirks AL, Bahr JM, Hales DB, Bradaric MJ, Edassery SL. Rotmensch J, Luborsky JL 2009. Histopathology of ovarian tumors in laying hens, a preclinical model for human ovarian cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 19 (4):531-539. Barua A, Bitterman P, Bahr JM, Bradaric M, Hales DB, Luborsky JL, and Abramowicz J. 2010. Detection of tumor associated neo-angiogenesis by Doppler ultrasound during early stage ovarian cancer in laying hens: A preclinical spontaneous model of human ovarian cancer. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine 29:173-182. Bass, B.E., R.A. Cederberg, G.A. Mills, C.M. Clay, and B.R. White. 2010. Responsiveness of GnRH receptor and gonadotropin subunit genes to GnRH in lines of swine divergent for ovulation rate. Reproduction (Submitted). Benoit, AM, Molina, JR, Lkhagvadorj, S, Anderson, LL. 2009. Prolactin secretion after hypothalamic deafferentation in beef calves: response to haloperidol, a-methyl-r-tyrosine, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and ovariectomy. Animal Reproduction Science 111:54-98. Bischoff, S.R., Tsai, S., Hardison, N., Motsinger-Reif, A.A., Freking, B.A., Nonneman, D., Rohrer, G., Piedrahita, J.A. 2009. Characterization of conserved and nonconserved imprinted genes in swine. Biology of Reproduction 81(5):906-920. Bischoff, S.R., Tsai, S., Hardison, N., Motsinger-Reif, A.A., Freking, B.A., Piedrahita, J.A. 2009. Functional genomic approaches for the study of fetal/placental development in swine with special emphasis on imprinted genes. Society of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:245-264. Bleck GT, MB Wheeler, LB Hansen, H Chester-Jones, and DJ Miller. 2009. Lactose synthase components in milk: Concentrations of a-lactalbumin and b1,4galactosyltransferase in milk of cows from several breeds at various stages of lactation. Reproduciton in Domestic Animals 44:241-247. Blomberg L. A., Schreier, L. L, Guthrie, H. D., Sample, G. L., Vallet, J., Caperna, T. Ramsay, T. 2010. The Effect of Intrauterine Growth Retardation on the Expression of Developmental Factors in Porcine Placenta Subsequent to Placentation. Placenta 2010 Apr 7. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 20381143. Blomberg L.A., Schreier L.L, Li R.W. Characteristics of Peri-Implantation Porcine Concepti Population and Maternal Milieu Influence the Transcriptome Profile. Submitted for publication to Molecular Reproduction and Development. (Pending review). Boltz CR, Belton RA, Boltz DA, Dirks A, Bunick D, Scherba G, Bahr JM. 2010. Vaccination of roosters against avian infectious bronchitis virus results in autoimmunity to sperm (submitted). Caperna T. J., Shannon A. E., Blomberg L. A., Garrett W. M., Ramsay T.G. 2010. Identification of protein carbonyls in serum of the fetal and neonatal pig. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology [Epub ahead of print]. Cassar G, Kirkwood RN, Friendship RM. 2009. Low sow reproductive performance related to estrus detection and timing of insemination. The Pig Journal 62:7-9. Cassar G, Friendship RM, Zak L, Kirkwood RN. 2010. Effect of eCG dose on the estrus response of gilts and weaned sows and effect of the interval between eCG and pLH injections on sow performance. Journal of Swine Health and Production (in press). Cederberg, R.A., E.A. McDonald, C. Lee, R.A. Friedrich, A.R. Cropp, and B.R. White. 2010. Activity of the porcine GnRH receptor gene in aT3-1 cells is partially conferred by a distal swine upstream promoter enhancing region (SUPER) and two proximal steroidogenic factor-1 binding sites. Endocrinology (Submitted). Checura C.M., Beg M.A., Gastal E.L., Gastal M.O., Wiltbank M.C., Parrish J.J., and Ginther O.J. 2009. Effect of Suppression of FSH with a GnRH Antagonist (Acyline) Before and During Follicle Deviation in the Mare. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 44(3):504-11 Checura C.M., Beg M.A., Parrish J.J., and Ginther O.J. 2010. Functional relationships among intrafollicular insulin-like growth factor 1, circulatory gonadotropins, and development of the dominant follicle in mares. Animal Reproduction Science 118(2-4):270-8. Chen L, Belton Jr. RJ, Nowak RA. 2009. Basigin-mediated gene expression changes in mouse uterine stromal cells during implantation. Endocrinology 150:966-976 [Epub October 1, 2008], PMID18832103. Chen L, Bi J, Nakai M, Bunick D, Couse JF, Korach KS, Nowak RA. 2010. Expression of Basigin in reproductive tissues of estrogen receptor-alpha or beta null mice. Reproduction [Epub April 13, 2010], PMID20388736. Cherrington, B.D., T.A. Farmerie, R.A. Cederberg, C.M. Clay, and B.R. White. 2010. Emergence of a new regulatory element in the proximal promoter of the gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor in Chinese Meishan swine. Biology of Reproduction (Provisionally Accepted). Conley, A., Ford, J. 2009. Comment: The comparative and evolutionary biology of vertebrate aromatase. Journal of Experimental Zoology 311A(5):313. Corbin, C.J., Berger, T., Ford, J.J., Roselli, C.E., Sienkiewicz, W., Trainor, B.C., Roser, J.F., Vidal, J.D., Harada, N., Conley, A.J. 2009. Porcine hypothalamic aromatase cytochrome P450: Isoform characterization, sex-dependent activity, regional expression, and regulation by enzyme inhibition in neonatal boars. Biology of Reproduction 81(2):388-395. Cupp, A.S., J. Matthews, E. Huff-Lonergan, D.M. Spurlock, and D. McLean. 2009. Cell biology symposium: the role of microRNA in cell function. Journal of Animal Science 87 (Suppl. 14):E19-20. Cushman, R.A., M.F. Allan, L.A. Kuehn, W.M. Snelling, A.S. Cupp, and H.C. Freetly. 2009. Evaluation of antral follicle count and ovarian morphology in crossbred beef cows: investigation of influence of stage of the estrous cycle, age, and birth weight. 87:1971-1980. Cushman, R.A., J.R. Wood, R.G. Slattery, D.T. Clopton, J. Smith, K.A. Beavers, W.E. Pohlmeier, J.W. Bergman, K.V. Moline, and A.S. Cupp. 2010. Reproductive aging influences ovarian function in beef cows. 2010 Nebraska Beef Report pp. 16-17. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Davis, D.L., Stevenson, J.S. 2010. Estrus Synchronization: Horses, Pigs, Sheep, and Goats. In : Encyclopedia of Animal Science, 2nd Edition (in press). Echternkamp, S.E., Cushman, R.A., Allan, M.F. 2009. Size of ovulatory follicles in cattle expressing multiple ovulations naturally and its influence on corpus luteum development and fertility. Journal of Animal Science 87(11):3556-3568. Erkens, T., Rohrer, G.A., Van Zeveren, A., Peelman, L.J. 2009. SNP detection in the porcine PPARGC1A promoter region and 3'UTR, and an association analysis in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire population. Czech Journal of Animal Science 54(9):408-416. Flowers, W.L. 2009. Swine: Reproduction Management. In: Encyclopedia of Animal Science. W.G. Pond and A.W. Bell (eds.), Marcell Dekker, Inc., New York , 829-831. Flowers, W.L. 2009. Biotechnology: Artificial Insemination. In: Encyclopedia of Animal Science. W.G. Pond and A.W. Bell (eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York , pp. 137-139. Flowers, W.L. 2009. Selection for boar fertility and semen quality the way ahead. Soceity of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:67-78. Ford, J.J., Rohrer, G.A., Nonneman, D.J., Lunstra, D.D., Wise, T.H. 2010. Association of allelic variants of thyroid-binding globulin with puberty in boars and responses to hemicastration. Animal Reproduction Science 119(3-4):228-234. Ford, J.J., Wise, T.H. 2009. Sertoli cell differentiation in pubertal boars. Journal of Animal Science 87(8):2536-2543. Garcia JC, Dominguez JC, Pena FJ, Alegre B, Gonzalez R, Castro MJ, Habing GG, Kirkwood RN. 2010. Thawing boar semen in seminal plasma: Effects on sperm quality in vitro and sow fertility. Animal Reproduction Science 119:160-165. Garcia JC, Dominguez JC, Manjarin R, Alegre B, Kirkwood RN. 2010. Effect of thawing frozen boar semen in 50% seminal plasma on sow fertility. Livestock Science (submitted). Guthrie H. D, Welch G. R. 2010. Using fluorescence-activated flow cytometry to determine reactive oxygen species formation and membrane lipid peroxidation in viable boar spermatozoa. Ed. Armstrong., In: Advanced Protocols for Oxidative Stress II. Humana Press Inc., New York. pp. 163-171. Grudzien MM, Low P, Manning PC, Arredondo M, Belton Jr. RJ, Nowak RA. 2010. The antifibrotic drug halofuginone inhibits proliferation and collagen production by human leiomyoma and myometrial smooth muscle cells. Fertility and Sterility 93:1290-8 [Epub January 9, 2009], PMID19135664. Hao, Y., D. Wax, Z. Zhong, C.N. Murphy, L. Spate, M. Samuel, A. Rieke, P. Dyce, J. Li, R.S. Prather. 2009. The potential of the porcine skin-derived stem cells as donors cells for nuclear transfer. Cloning and Stem Cells 11:101-110. Harris, D.L., Huderson, A.C., Niaz, M.S., Ford, J.J., Archibong, A.E., Ramesh, A. 2009. Comparative metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by ovarian microsomes of various species. Environmental Toxicology 24(6):603-609. Holl, J.W., Rohrer, G.A., Brown-Brandl, T.M. 2010. Estimates of genetic parameters among scale activity scores, growth, and fatness in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 88(2):455-459. Hughes PE, Smits RJ, Kirkwood RN. 2010. Relationship between sow liveweight, P2 backfat depth and culling rates. Journal of Swine Health and Production (in press). Isom, S.C., L. Lai, R.S. Prather, E.B. Rucker III. 2009. Heat shock of porcine zygotes immediately after oocyte activation increase viability. Molecular Reproduction and Development 76:548-554. Isom, S.C., R.S. Prather, E.B. Rucker, III. 2009. The enhanced developmental potential of heat stressed porcine parthenogenetic embryos is associated with accelerated inactivation of the MAP kinase signaling cascade. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21:892-900. Khatib H., Huang W., Schutzkus V., Khatib R., Monson, R.L., and Parrish J.J. 2010. Validation of in-vitro fertility genes in a Holstein bull population. Journal of Dairy Science (accepted). Koch, J. M., T. A. Wilmoth and M. E. Wilson. 2010. Peri-conceptional growth hormone treatment alters fetal growth and development. Journal of Animal Science 88:1619-1625. Koh, S, Lee, K, Wang, C, Cabot, RA, and Machaty, Z. 2009. STIM1 regulates store-operated Ca2+ entry in oocytes. Developmental Biology 330:368-376. Knox, R. M. Day, G. Lewis, M. Lucy, and K. Vonnahme. 2009. Triennial Reproduction Symposium: Challenges and opportunities facing livestock reproduction in the 21st century. http://jas.fass.org/cgi/reprint/jas.2009-2717v1. Knox, R., J. Taibl, M. Altmyer, S. Breen, D. Canaday, and A. Visconti. 2009. Assessment of follicle population changes in sows from day of weaning and during estrus using real-time ultrasound. Soceity of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:199-200. Krisher, R.L., Wheeler, M.B. 2010. Towards use of microfluidics for individual embryo culture. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 22:32-39. Lan Levengood, S.K., Polak, S.J., Wheeler, M.B., Maki, A.J., Clark, S.G., Jamison, R.D., Wagoner Johnson, A.J. 2010. Multiscale osteointegration as a new paradigm for the design of calcium phosphate scaffolds for bone regeneration. Biomaterials 31, 3552-3563. Lan Levengood, S.K., Polak, S.J., Wheeler, M.B., Maki, A.J., Clark, S.G., Jamison, R.D., Wagoner Johnson, A.J. 2010. The effect of BMP-2 on micro and macroscale osteointegration of biphasic calcium phosphate scaffolds with multiscale porosity. Acta Biomaterialia (accepted) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2010.02.026. Landers EA, HR Burkin, GT Bleck, L Lesley Howell-Skalla, and DJ Miller. 2009. Porcine b 1,4galactosyltransferase-I sequence and expression. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 44:228-234. Larson, D.M., A.S. Cupp, and R.N. Funston. 2010. Extending grazing in heifer development systems decreases cost without compromising production. 2010 Nebraska Beef Report pp. 7-10. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Larson, D.M., J.A. Musgrave, and R.N. Funston. 2010. Estrous synchronization increases early calving frequency, which enhances steer progeny value. 2010 Nebraska Beef Report pp. 13-15. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lee K-H, Bunick D, Lamprecht G, Choi I, Bahr JM. 2009. Differential expression of genes important to efferent ductules in homeostasis across postnatal development in estrogen receptor-± knockout and wildtype mice. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 21:510-522. Lee K-H, Bunick D, Lubahn D, Bahr JM. 2009. Morphological comparisons of the testis and efferent ductules between wild type and estrogen receptor ± knockout mice during postnatal development. Journal of Anatomy 214:916-925. Lee K, Hyslop JM, Nanassy L, and Machaty Z. 2009. Incidence of apoptosis in parthenogenetic porcine embryos generated by using protein kinase or protein synthesis inhibitors. Animal Reproduction Science 112:261272. Lemley, C. O., J. M. Koch, K. P. Blemings and M. E. Wilson. 2009. Alterations in progesterone catabolic enzymes, CYP2C and CYP3A, in hepatocytes challenged with insulin and glucagon. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 8:39-46. Lemley, C. O., K. A. Vonnahme, L. R. Tager, K. M. Krause and M. E. Wilson. 2010. Insulin secretion, cytochrome P450 activity, liver blood flow and progesterone clearance in dairy cows fed a high cornstarch versus a high fiber diet. Journal of Endocrinology 205:233-241. Lemley, C. O., T. A. Wilmoth, L. R. Tager, K. M. Krause, and M. E. Wilson. 2010. Effect of a high cornstarch diet on hepatic cytochrome P450 2C and 3A activity and progesterone half-life in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93:1012-1021. Lemley, C. O. and M. E. Wilson. 2010. Effect of cytochrome P450 and aldo-keto reductase inhibitors on progesterone decay in primary bovine hepatic cell cultures. Journal of Dairy Science (In Press). Li, R., C.N. Murphy, L. Spate, D. Wax, S.C. Isom, A. Rieke, E. Walters, M. Samuel, R.S. Prather. 2009. Production of piglets after cryopreservation by using a centrifugation-based method for delipation without micromanipulation. Biology of Reproduction 80:563-571. Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Rohrer, G.A., Holl, J.W., Shackelford, S.D., Wheeler, T.L., Koohmaraie, M., Nonneman, D. 2009. Relationships among calpastatin single nucleotide polymorphisms, calpastatin expression and tenderness in pork longissimus. Animal Genetics 40(5):713-721. Liu, G.E., Hou, Y., Zhu, B., Cardone, M.F., Jiang, L., Cellamare, A., Mitra, A., Alexander, L.J., Coutinho, L.L., Dell'Aquila, M.E., Gasbarre, L.C., Lacalandra, G., Li, R.W., Matukumalli, L.K., Nonneman, D., Regitano, L.C.A., Smith, T.P.L., Song, J., Sonstegard, T.S., Van Tassell, C.P., Ventura, M., Eichler, E.E., McDaneld, T.G., Keele, J.W. 2010. Analysis of copy number variations among diverse cattle breeds. Genome Research 20(5):693-703. Lkhagvadorj, S, Qu, L, Cai, W, Couture, OP, Wang, Y, Barb, CR, Hausman, GJ, Rekaya, R, Nettleton, DS, Anderson, LL, Dekkers, JCM, Tuggle, CK. 2009. Microarray gene expression profiles of fasting-induced changes in liver and adipose tissues of pigs expressing the melanocortin-4 receptor D298N variant. Physiological Genomics 38:98-111. First published April 14, 2009; doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.90372.2008. Long JA, Bongalhardo DC, Pelaéz J, Saxena S, Settar P, O'Sullivan NP, Fulton JE. 2010. Rooster semen cryopreservation: Effect of pedigree line and male age on postthaw sperm function. Poultry Science 89(5):966-973. Manandhar G, Miranda-Vizuete A, Pedrajas JR, Krause WJ, Zimmerman S, Sutovsky M, Sutovsky P. 2009. Peroxiredoxin-2 and Peroxidase Enzymatic Activity of Mammalian Spermatozoa. Biology of Reproduction 80(6):1168-77 Manjarin R, Garcia JC, Dominguez JC, Castro MJ, Alegre B, Munoz JD, Trottier NL, Kirkwood RN. 2010. Effect of gonadotropin treatment on estrus, ovulation and litter size in weaned and anestrous sows. Journal of Animal Science (in press) Martin J.L., D.M. Larson, H.L. Stroh, A.S. Cupp, and R.N. Funston. 2010. Effect of dietary crude protein source on hormone and follicle characteristics in beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science 88:937-942. McDonald, E.A., J.E. Smith, R.A. Cederberg, and B.R. White. 2010. Divergent activity of the porcine GnRH receptor gene promoter in aT3-1 cells is partially conferred by nuclear factor (NF)-kB, specificity protein (Sp)1-like, and GATA4 elements. Endocrinology (Submitted). McFee, R.M., R.A. Artac, R.M. McFee, D.T. Clopton, R.A. Smith, T.G. Rozell, and A.S. Cupp. 2009. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signal transduction blocks follicle progression but does not necessarily disrupt vascular development in perinatal rat ovaries. Biology of Reproduction 81:966-977. Mesquita FS, Dyer SN, Heinrich DA, Bulun SE, Marsh EE, Nowak RA. 2010. Reactive oxygen species mediate mitogenic growth factor signaling pathways in human leiomyoma smooth muscle cells. Biology of Reproduction 82:341-351[Epub September 9, 2009], PMID19741209. Metzler-Zebeli BU, Caine WR, McFall M, Miller B, Ward TL, Kirkwood RN, Mosenthin R. 2010. Supplementation of diets for lactating sows with zinc amino acid complex and gastric nutriment-intubation of suckling pigs with zinc-methionine on mineral status, intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation in lipopolysaccharide-challenged weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition (in press). Miao, Y.L., Q.Y. Sun, X. Zhang, J.-G. Zhao, M.T. Zhao, L. Spate, R.S. Prather, H. Schatten. 2009. Centrosome abnormalities in porcine oocytes during aging. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 50:666-671. Miles, J.R., Vallet, J.L., Freking, B.A., Nonneman, D.J. 2009. Molecular cloning and characterisation of heparanase mRNA in porcine placenta throughout gestation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(6):757-772. Molina, JR, Benoit, AM, Lkhagvadorj, S, Anderson, LL. 2009. Hypothalamic deafferentation in prepuberal beef heifers: effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and estradiol benzoate on luteinizing hormone secretion. Livestock Science 120:13-24. Mônaco, E., Lima, A.S., Bionaz, M, Maki, A., Wilson, S.M., Hurley, W.L. Wheeler, M.B. 2009. Morphological and transcriptomic comparison of adipose and bone marrow derived porcine stem cells. The Open Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Journal 2:20-33. Montagner, M.M, A.R. Cropp, J.J. Swanson, R.A. Cederberg, Paulo B.D. Goncalves, and B.R. White. 2010. Role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on mouse preimplantation embryonic development. Molecular Reproduction and Development (In Preparation). O'Neil, M. R., G. P. Lardy, C. O. Lemley, M. E. Wilson, L. P. Reynolds, J. S. Caton, and K. A. Vonnahme. 2009. Estradiol-17b and linseed meal interact to alter visceral organ mass and hormone levels from ovariectomized ewes. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 37:148-158. Paczkowski, M., Krisher R.L. 2010. Aberrant Protein Expression is Associated with Decreased Developmental Potential in Porcine Oocytes. Molecular Reproduction and Development 77:51-58. Published Online: 2 Sep 2009; DOI 10.1002/mrd.21102. Park, K-E, Magnani, L, and Cabot, RA. 2009. Differential remodeling of mono- and trimethylated H3K27 during porcine embryo development. Molecular Reproduction and Development 76(11): 1033-1042. Park, K-E, Johnson, C, Magnani, L, Wang, X, Biancardi, M, and Cabot, RA. 2010. Global H3K9 dimethylation status is not affected by transcription, translation or DNA replication in porcine zygotes. Molecular Reproduction and Development (in press). Park, J., S.L. Marjani, L. Lai, M. Samuel, D. Wax, S.R. Davis, R.S. Bruno, R.S. Prather, X. Yang, X.C. Tian. 2010. Altered gene expression profiles in the brain, kidney, and lung of deceased neonatal cloned pigs. Cellular Reprogramming (in press). Perez Laspiur J, Burton JL, Weber PSD, Moore J, Kirkwood RN, Trottier NL. 2009. Dietary protein intake and stage of lactation differentially modulate amino acid transporter mRNA abundance in porcine mammary tissue. Journal of Nutrition 139:1677-1684. Powell, M.D., G. Manandhar, L. Spate, M. Sutovsky, S. Zimmerman, S. Sachdev, M. Hannink, J.A. Green, R.S. Prather, P. Sutovsky. 2010. Discovery of putative oocyte quality markers by comparative ExacTag proteomics. Proteomics: Clinical Applications 4:337-351. Prather R.S., Ross J.W., Isom S.C., Green J.A. 2009. Transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic control of porcine oocyte maturation and embryogenesis. Society for Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:165-176. Onteru S.K., Ross J.W., Rothschild M.F. 2009. The role of gene discovery, QTL analyses, and gene expression in reproductive traits in the pig. Society for Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66: 87-102. Ramos, A.M., Crooijmans, R.P.M.A., Affara, N.A., Amaral, A.J., Archibald, A.L., Beever, J.E., Bendixen, C., Churcher, C., Clark, R., Dehais, P., Hansen, M.S., Hedegaard, J., Hu, Z.L., Kerstens, H.H., Law, A.S., Megens, H.J., Milan, D., Nonneman, D.J., Rohrer, G.A., Rothschild, M.F., Smith, T.P.L., Schnabel, R.D., Van Tassell, C.P., Taylor, J.F., Wiedmann, R.T., Schook, L.B., Groenen, M.A.M. 2009. Design of a high density SNP genotyping assay in the pig using SNPs identified and characterized by next generation sequencing technology. PloS One 4(8):e6524. Ramsay T.G., Stoll M.J., Caperna T.J. 2010. Adipokine gene transcription level in adipose tissue of runt piglets. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 155(2):97-105. Rempel, L.A., Nonneman, D.J., Wise, T.H., Erkens, T., Peelman, L.J., Rohrer, G.A. 2010. Association analyses of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms on reproductive traits in swine. Journal of Animal Science 88(1):1-15. Ross J.W., Ashworth M.D., Stein D.R., Couture, O.C., Tuggle C.K., Geisert R.D. 2009. Identification of differential gene expression during porcine conceptus rapid trophoblastic elongation and attachment to the uterine luminal epithelium. Physiological Genomics 36:140-148. Ross J.W., Prather R.S., Whyte J.J., Zhao J. 2009. Cloning and transgenics: progress and new approaches. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 4:13. Ross, J.W., J.J. Whyte, J. Zhao, M. Samuel, K.D. Wells, R.S. Prather. 2010. Optimization of square-wave electroporation for transfection of porcine fetal fibroblasts. Transgenic Research (in press). Ruiz A, Cassar G, Kirkwood RN, Friendship RM, deGrau AF. 2010 Influence of sperm cell concentration and seminal dose volume on sow fertility. The Pig Journal (submitted). Silva, C., J.R. Wood, L. Salvador, Z. Zhang, I. Kostetskii, C.J. Williams, and J.F. Strauss III. 2009. Expression profile of male germ cell-associated genes in mouse embryonic stem cell cultures treated with all-trans retinoic acid and testosterone. Molecular Reproduction and Development 76:11-21. Spate, L.D., K.M. Whitworth, K.A. Walker, B.K. Bauer, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2010. Low density lipoprotein receptor message and protein during swine embryogenesis: LDL may partially substitute for bovine serum albumin in vitro. Molecular Reproduction and Development (in press). Stewart, K.R., Flowers, W.L., Rampacek, G.B., Greger, D.L., Swanson, M.E., Hafs, H.D. 2010. Endocrine, ovulatory, and reproductive characteristics of sows treated with an intravaginal GnRH agonist. Animal Reproduction Science (in press). Stoltz, D., D.K. Meyerholz, A.A. Pezzulo, S. Ramachandran, M.P. Rogan, G.J. Davis, R.A. Hanfland, C. Wohlford-Lenane, C.L. Dohrn, J.A. Bartlett, G.A. Nelson, IV, E.H. Chang, P.J. Taft, P.S. Ludwig, M. Estin, E.E. Hornick, J.L. Launspach, M. Samuel, T. Rokhlina, P.H. Karp, L.S. Ostedgaard, A. Uc, T.D. Starner, A.R. Horswill, K. A. Brogden, R.S. Prather, S.S. Richter, J. Shilyansky, P.B. McCray, Jr., J. Zabner, M.J. Welsh. 2010. Cystic fibrosis pigs develop lung disease and exhibit defective bacterial eradication at birth. Science Translational Medicine (in press). Sutovsky P. 2009. New insights into sperm-egg fusion in mammals. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine. 11:e11. Sutovsky P. 2009. Proteomic analysis of mammalian gametes and sperm-oocyte interactions. Soceity of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:103-16. Telugu, B.P.V.L., L. Spate, R.S. Prather, J.A. Green. 2009. Acid peptidase activity released from in vitro produced porcine embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development 76:417-428. Tischkau SA, Howell RE, Hickok, JR, Paradkar K, Bahr JM. 2010. Effects of the luteinizing hormone surge on circadian clock gene expression in the chicken ovary. Gen. Comp. End. (submitted). Trott, J.F., Horigan, K.C., Gloviczki, J.M., Costa, K.M., Freking, B.A., Farmer, C., Hayashi, K., Spencer, T., Morabito, J.E., Hovey, R.C. 2009. Tissue-specific regulation of porcine prolactin receptor expression by estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. Journal of Endocrinology 202(1):153-166. Uzun A., Rodriguez-Osorio N., Kaya A., Wang H., Parrish J.J., Ilyin V.A., and Memili E.. 2009. Functional genomics of HMGN3a and SMARCAL1 in early mammalian embryogenesis. BMC Genomics 10:183. Vallet, J.L., Miles, J.R., Freking, B.A. 2009. Development of the pig placenta. Society of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:265-279. Vallet, J.L., Miles, J.R., Brown-Brandl, T.M., Nienaber, J.A. 2010. Proportion of litter farrowed, litter size, and progesterone and estradiol effects on piglet birth intervals and stillbirths. Animal Reproduction Science 119(1-2):68-75. Vallet, J.L., Miles, J.R., Freking, B.A. 2010. Effect of fetal size on fetal placental hyaluronan and hyaluronoglucosaminidases throughout gestation in the pig. Animal Reproduction Science 118(2-4):297-309. Wang, C, Swanson, WF, Herrick, JR, Lee, K, and Machaty Z. 2009. Analysis of cat oocyte activation methods for the generation of feline disease models by nuclear transfer. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 7:148-159. White, B.R. 2010. Swine Symposium: Environmental concerns based on swine production. Journal of Animal Science 88(Suppl. 13):E82-83. White F.J., Kimball E.M., Wyman G., Stein D.R., Ross J.W., Ashworth M.D., Geisert R.D. 2009. Estrogen and Interleukin-1² regulation of trophinin, osteopontin, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin -1² system in the porcine uterus. Society for Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 66:203-204. Whitworth, K.M., R. Li, L.D. Spate, D.M. Wax, A. Rieke, J. Whyte, G. Manandhar, J.A. Green, P. Sutovsky, R.S. Prather. 2009. Method of oocyte activation affects cloning efficiency in pigs. Molecular Reproduction and Development 76:490-500. Wilmoth, T. A., J. M. Koch, D. L. Smith and M. E. Wilson. 2010. Estradiol-17ß Alters Trophectoderm Proliferation in Pig Embryos. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 9:782-786. Wilson, ME, Anderson, LL. 2009. Mechanistic aspects of foetal development relating to postnatal health and metabolism in pigs. In: Managing Prenatal Development to Enhance Livestock Productivity. Edited by P. Greenwood and A. Bell. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria pp. 1-48 (In press). Wrench, N., Pinto, C.R.F., Klinefelter, G.R., Dix, D.J., Flowers, W.L., Farin, C.E. 2010. Effect of season on fresh and cryopreserved stallion semen. Animal Reproduction Science 119(3-4): 219-227. Xing, X, Magnani, L, Lee, K, Wang, C, Cabot, RA, and Machaty Z. 2009. Gene expression and development of early pig embryos produced by serial nuclear transfer. Molecular Reproduction and Development 76:555-563. Yi Y-J, Park C-S, Kim E-S; Song E-S, Jeong J-H, Sutovsky P. 2009. Sperm-surface ATP in boar spermatozoa is required for fertilization: Relevance to sperm proteasomal function. Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine 55(2):85-96. Yi Y-J, Manandhar G., Sutovsky P, Jonáková V., Park C-S, and Sutovsky P. 2010. Inhibition of 19S proteasomal regulatory complex subunit PSMD8 increases polyspermy during porcine fertilization in vitro. Journal of Reproductive Immunology 84:154-163. Yu Y, Edassery SL, Barua A, Bitterman P, Abramowicz JS, Bahr JM, Hellstrom I, Luborsky JL. 2010. Mesothelin expression in ovarian tumors of the laying hen model is similar to human ovarian cancer. Gynecoloic Oncology (submitted). Yuan, Y., Krisher, R.L. (2009) Effect of ammonium during in vitro maturation on porcine oocyte nuclear maturation and subsequent embryonic development. Animal Reproduction Science 117:302-307. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2009.05.012. Zamora V, Figueroa JL, Martinez M, Sanchez-Torres MT, Cardenas M, Kirkwood RN. 2010. Sexual behavior of castrated boars treated with prostaglandin F2a. Theriogenology (in press). Zhang, X., Y.L. Miao, J.-G. Zhao, L. Spate, M.W. Bennett, C.N. Murphy, H. Schatten, R.S. Prather. 2010. Oocytes denuded prior to maturation can develop to the blastocyst stage if provided a cumulous cell-derived co-culture system. Journal of Animal Science (in press). Zhao, J., Y. Hao, J.W. Ross, L.D. Spate, E.M. Walters, M.S. Samuel, A. Rieke, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2009. Significant improvement in cloning efficiency of an inbred miniature pig by Scriptaid treatment after somatic cell nuclear transfer. Biology of Reproduction 81:525-530. Zhao, M., S.C. Isom, H. Lin, Y. Hao, J. Zhao, J. Whyte, K.B. Dobbs, Y. Zhang, R.S. Prather. 2009. Tracing the stemness of GFP transgenic porcine skin derived progenitors (pSKP) back to specific marker gene expression. Cloning and Stem Cells 11:111-122. Zhao, M.T., M.W. Bennett, X. Zhang, L. Spate, K.M. Whitworth, C.N. Murphy, A. Rieke, Y. Zhang, R.S. Prather. 2010. Porcine skin-derived progenitor cells contribute to neural and mesodermal lineages in vivo. Cell Cycle (in press). Zhao, J., Y. Hao, J.W. Ross, L.D. Spate, E.M. Walters, M.S. Samuel, A. Rieke, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2010. Histone deacetylase inhibitors improve in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of somatic nuclei nuclear transfer porcine embryos. Cellular Reprogramming 12:75-83. Zhao, M.-T., K.M. Whitworth, H. Lin, X. Zhang, S.C. Isom, K. Dobbs, B. Bauer, Y. Zhang, R.S. Prather. 2010. Porcine skin derived progenitor (SKP) spheres and neurospheres: distinct stemness identified by microarray analysis. Cellular Reprogramming (in press). Zhao, M.-T., K.M. Whitworth, X. Zhang, J. Zhao, Y.-L. Miao, Y. Zhang, R.S. Prather. 2010. Deciphering the mesodermal potency of porcine skin derived progenitors (SKP) by microarray analysis. Cellular Reprogramming (in press). Zhuge Y, Lagman JAJ, Ansenberger K, Mahon C, Daikoku T, Dey SK, Bahr JM, Hales DB 2009. CYP1B1 expression in ovarian cancer in the laying hen Gallus domesticus. Gynecologic Oncology 112:171-178 Zimmerman S, Sutovsky P. 2009. Recent progress in the study of the sperm proteasome during sperm capacitation and fertilization. Journal of Reproductive Immunology 83(1-2):19-25.

Impact Statements

Developed teaching modules that will help institutions transition from traditional lecture- based animal science curriculum to online-based curriculum, including laboratories that focus on domestic animal reproduction.
Discovered specific sugars (glycans) in the oviduct that bind sperm to form a reservoir, which may alter sperm function and allow sperm to survive extended periods of time.
Developed a new miniature swine model of retinitis pigmentosa that can be viable animal model for biomedical research.
Discovered key proteins involved in ER-Golgi transport, known as porosomes, which regulate key physiological functions such as reproduction, energy production, growth, and hormone release.
Developed a better understanding of the effects of cryopreservation and post-thaw processing on boar sperm survival and reproductive performance.
Refined systems for in vitro production and nuclear transfer of pig embryos.
Developed a better understanding of the function of regulatory elements within the promoter region of the GnRH receptor by utilizing a variety of unique pig breeds and lines.
Illustrated the effects of neonatal environment and puberty induction strategies on reproductive performance in pigs.
Demonstrated reactive oxygen species formation and membrane lipid peroxidation in viable boar sperm.
Provided details on the involvement of glycosaminoglycans and their degrading enzymes on the development of the microscopic folded-bilayer in the pig placenta.
Identified many SNPs within candidate genes that have associations on reproductive traits in swine.
Refined Fourier harmonic analysis of boar sperm shape to better describe fertility of semen samples.

Date of Annual Report: 07/22/2011

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/24/2011 - 05/25/2011
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2010 - 09/01/2011

Participants

Baker, John [baker@anr.msu.edu] Michigan;

Davis, Duane [davis@ksu.edu] Kansas;

Diekman, Mark [mdiekman@purdue.edu] Indiana;

Ford, Joe [joe.ford@ars.usda.gov] Nebraska (visitor);

Guthrie, H. Dave [dave.guthrie@ars.usda.gov] USDA-BARC;

Lents, Clay [clay.lents@ars.usda.gov] Nebraska (visitor);

Levis, Donald [dlevis@unlnotes.unl.edu] Nebraska (visitor);

Meisinger, David [drdave@iastate.edu] Iowa (visitor);

Miles, Jeremy [jeremy.miles@ars.usda.gov] USDA-USMARC;

Miller, Dave [djmille@illinois.edu] Illinois;

Parrish, John [parrish@ansci.wisc.edu] Wisconsin;

Rempel, Lea [lea.rempel@ars.usda.gov] USDA-USMARC (visitor);

Ross, Jason [jwross@iastate.edu] Iowa;

Safranski, Tim [safranskit@missouri.edu] Missouri;

White, Brett [bwhite2@unlnotes.unl.edu] Nebraska;

Wilson, Matt [mwilso25@wvu.edu] West Virginia;

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2011 annual meeting of the NCERA057 was held at the United States Department of Agriculture Roman L. Hruska Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) in Clay Center, NE. The meeting was called to order by Jeremy Miles, Vice Chair and local host, at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 24th. Jeremy provided background information on the Meat Animal Research Center pertaining to research capabilities, scientists and personnel.

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

8 to 9:30 AM. We conducted a Swine Consultant Focus Group webinar to discuss research topic that address issues that are currently impacting the swine industry. The webinar was moderated by Dr. Don Levis. Consultants included in the webinar were Dr. Brad Belstra (Murphy Brown, LLC-Smithfield Premium Genetics, Rose Hill, NC), Dr. Steve Henry (Abilene Animal Hospital, Abilene, KS), Dr. Joe Connor (Carthage Veterinary Service, Carthage, IL), Dr. Paul Ruen (Fairmont Veterinary Clinic, Fairmont, MN), Dr. Larry Rueff (Swine Veterinary Service, Greensburg, IN) and Mr. Ron Ketchem (Swine Management Services, Fremont, NE). The consultant discussion focused on issues of concern that currently affect the swine industry and included: 1) tools for gilt development, 2) single insemination techniques, 3) expanding utilization of the top 10% of the boar population, 4) heat stress and seasonal infertility, 5) mitigation strategies during a PRRS virus challenge and others. The NCERA057 committee developed a list of these topics to be considered later in the meeting for symposium/workshop topics and for ideas to generate collaborative research projects.

9:30 to 10:00 AM. Dave Meisinger gave an update to the committee on the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence. This discussion detailed the current status of the Pork Information Gateway, Swine Science Online, and the current efforts of the Pork Center to develop an online troubleshooting guide that will be referred to as the National Swine Reproduction Guide and will be modeled after the National Swine Nutrition Guide.

10:00 to 10:30 AM. Adele Turzillo, National Program Leader for Animal Production Systems within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), addressed the committee via conference call. Adele provided an update on the structure of NIFA. It is composed of 4 Institutes of which each will employ a Principal Scientist for that institute. Notable items discussed were that the FY12 budget that was passed by the house possessed multiple, significant reductions in NIFA funding categories. She also informed us of Dr. Roger Beachys resignation and that NIFA leadership would in turn be restructuring. Regarding pre-and postdoc funding through NIFA, the committee was informed that the new contact is Margo Holland.

10:30 to 11:00 AM. Dr. John Pollack welcomed the NCERA057 committee to the MARC. Dr. Pollack described the animal facilities and expressed his encouragement for the development of strategic collaborations between members of the NCERA057 committee and faculty at the MARC.

11:00 to 11:30 AM. Jeremy Miles discussed the swine reproduction capabilities at MARC and introduced the investigators that are doing research relevant to swine reproduction. It was pointed out by Tim Safranski that the boar stud at MARC represents a unique facility that could be capitalized on from a research standpoint. Don Levis suggested the importance of maintaining valuable and unique germplasm.

11:30 to Noon. Matt Wilson led discussions on collaborative grants that could be written and submitted by members of the committee. Dave Meisinger suggested the willingness of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence to contribute to grant writing efforts and interest in sow lifetime productivity research. Duane Davis suggested meeting more regularly to discuss grants, for example at the Midwest Animal Science sectional meetings in March. The committee categorized the areas of importance from the consultant discussion earlier in the day. The top nine areas of interest are: 1) Sow Productive Lifetime, 2) Number of AI services and AI technology, 3) Gilt Development/Predictions/checkpoints, 4) Sow housing, 5) Pig Quality/Survival, 6) Seasonal Infertility, 7) Mammary glands-milk quality/quantity, 8) Semen evaluation/strategy for contingency/ Management of backup boars, and 9) Virus mitigation.

12:30 to 12:45 PM. John Baker addressed the committee and praised the organization and accomplishments of the NCERA057 committee and indicated that this specific committee was among the best that he serves as an Administrative Advisor. He stated that the NCERA057 committee very accurately conducts the purposes intended for this program.

Beginning at 12:45 PM. Station Reports: 1st Station Report: Dave Guthrie- USDA-ARS-Beltsville, MD, 2nd Station Report: Matt Wilson-West Virginia, 3nr Station Report: Mark Diekman-Purdue, 4th Station Report: John Parrish-Wisconsin, 5th Station Report: David Miller-Illinois, 6th Station Report: Tim Safranski-Missouri
-Tim has identified a boar stud that is willing to provide aliquots of semen so that retrospective fertility data can be correlated to the data. Miller, Guthrie and Parrish offered ideas on how to process samples for storage. Simple protocols are necessary to provide to the boar stud.

3:30 to 5 PM. The committee was given a tour of the MARC animal facilities and outlying farms.

Evening. The committee returned to the hotel for a social hour then reconvened at the home of Jeremy Miles for a barbecue hosted by Dr. Joe Ford (former US
MARC representative to the NCERA057 committee).

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

8:00 to 9:00 AM. Began the business meeting. Dave Miller calls the meeting to order. It was determined that the 2012 meeting would be held at Iowa State University and hosted by Jason Ross. This will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 22nd and 23rd, 2012). In addition, the 2012 meeting will deliver a producer symposium/workshop. It was determined that the symposium would be focused on AI and AI technology. The committee then discussed potential speakers for the workshop and the idea of having a discussion panel at the workshop.

It was also noted that this was the 50th year anniversary of the NCERA057 committee.

The 2013 meeting was determined to be held in Beltsville, Maryland.
The new officers for the committee are: Jeremy Miles (new Chair), Jason Ross (new Vice Chair) and Dave Guthrie (new Secretary).

It was then discussed that thank you letters be distributed to appropriate people for contributing to the meeting. Jason Ross agreed to write and send those documents.

Dave Miller and Duane Davis agreed to write a new impact statement for the mid-term review.

9:00 to 10:00 AM. The committee began discussion on collaborative grants. Ideas included: utilization of frozen semen as a contingency with new AI technology, development of frozen semen delivery, ovulation control, and seasonal control of reproduction. The current plan is that Duane Davis, Dave Guthrie, Matt Wilson, Tim Safranski, Jeremy Miles and Lea Rempel will work out necessary preliminary data for an AFRI RFP.

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Station reports continued: 7th Station Report: Jason Ross- Iowa State, 8th Station Report: Duane Davis-Kansas State, 9th Station Report: Lea Rempel-MARC

The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Jason Ross, Secretary, NCERA057

Accomplishments

1. The committee members interacted with influential members of the swine industry during our consulting webinar that enabled the committee to be fully up to date on current reproductive issues facing the swine industry. 2. Numerous publications were published by committee members and their associates during the past year that provide scientific knowledge and impact on reproductive efficiency in swine. 3. The topic for the Biennial NCERA057 symposium was established based on the consultant group webinar. It was also established that this symposium would be conducted at Iowa State University. 4. A plan was established to write and submit proposals for funding in critical areas of swine reproductive physiology that are impacting the swine industry.

Publications

Am-in N, Tantasuparuk W, Manjarin R, Kirkwood RN. Effect of site of sperm deposition on fertility to insemination with aged semen. J Swine Health Prod. 2011; (in press). Ansenberger K, Richards C, Zhuge Y, Barua A, Bahr JM, Luborsky J and Hales DB. 2010. Decreased severity of ovarian cancer and increased survival in hens fed a flaxseed enriched diet for one year. Gynecol. Oncology 117:341-347. Ashworth M.D., Ross J.W., Stein D., White F.J., Geisert R.D. Porcine endometrial Gene expression of acute phase extracellular matrix components following estrogen disruption of pregnancy. Animal Reproduction Science 2010; 122:215-221. Ashworth, M.D., Ross J.W., Stein D.R., DeSilva U., White F., Geisert R.D. Endometrial caspase 1 and interleukin-18 expression during the porcine estrous cycle and peri-implantation period of pregnancy and response to early exogenous estrogen administration. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2010; 8:33. Bakst MR. Physiology and endocrinology symposium: Role of the oviduct in maintaining sustained fertility in hens. J Anim Sci. 2011; 89:1323-1329. Barb CR, Hausman GJ, Rekaya R, Lents CA, Lkhagvadorj S, Qu L, Cai W, Couture OP, Anderson LL, Dekkers JC, Tuggle CK. Gene expression in hypothalamus, liver and adipose tissues and food intake response to melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist in pigs expressing MC4R mutations. Physiol Genomics 2010; 41-254-268. Barb, C.R., Hausman, G.J., Rekaya, R., Lents, C.A., Lkhagvadorj, S., Qu, L., Cai, W., Couture, O.P., Anderson, L.L., Dekkers, J.C.M., Tuggle, C.K. 2010. Gene expression in hypothalamus, liver, and adipose tissues and food intake response to melanocortin-4 receptor agonist in pigs expressing melanocortin-4 receptor mutations. Physiological Genomics 41(3):254-268. Barua A, Bitterman P, Bahr JM, Basu S, Sheiner E, Bradaric MJ, Hales DB, Luborsky JL, Abramowicz JS (2011). Contrast-enhanced sonography depicts spontaneous ovarian cancer at early stages in a preclinical animal model. J Ultrasound Med. 2011; 30(3):333-45 PMID: 21357555 Barua A, Bitterman P, Bahr JM, Bradaric M, Hales DB, Luborsky JL, and Abramowicz J. 2010. Ultection of tumor associated neo-angiogenesis by Doppler ultrasound during early stage ovarian cancer in laying hens: A preclinical spontaneous model of human ovarian cancer. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (JUM) 29:173-182. Barua A, Bitterman P, Bahr JM, Bradaric MJ, Hales DB, Luborsky JL, Abramowicz JS. (2010). Detection of tumor-associated neoangiogenesis by Doppler ultrasonography during early-stage ovarian cancer in laying hens: a preclinical model of human spontaneous ovarian cancer. J Ultrasound Med. 2010; 29(2):173-182. PMID: 20103787. Barua A, Bitterman P, Bahr JM, Vasu S, Sheiner e, Bradaric MJ, Hales DB, Luborsky JL, and Abramowicz JA. 2011. Contrast enhanced ultrasonography detects spontaneous ovarian cancer at early stage in a preclinical animal model. J. Ultrasound Med 30:333-345. Bauer BK, Isom SC, Spate LD, Whitworth KM, Spollen WG, Blake SM, Springer GK, Murphy CN, Prather RS. Transcriptional profiling by deep sequencing identifies differences in mRNA transcript abundance in in vivo-derived versus in vitro-cultured porcine blastocyst stage embryos. Biol Reprod. 2010 Nov;83(5):791-8. Blanco JM, Long JA, Gee G, Wildt DE, Donoghue AM. Comparative cryopreservation of avian spermatozoa: benefits of non-permeating osmoprotectants and ATP on turkey and crane sperm cryosurvival. Anim Reprod Sci. 2011; 123:242-248. Blomberg, L.A., Schreier, L.L., Guthrie, H.D., Sample, G.L., Vallet, J., Caperna, T., Ramsay, T. 2010. (Short Communication) The effect of intrauterine growth retardation on the expression of developmental factors in porcine placenta subsequent to the initiation of placentation. Placenta 31(6):549-552. 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By B Wang and G-J Boons. Medicinal Research Reviews. In Press. Moore K, Lovercamp KW, FenD, Antelman J, Sutovsky M, Manandhar K, van Leyen, Safranski T, Sutovsky P. 2010. Altered epididymal spem maturation and cytoplasmic droplet migration in subfertile male Alox15 mice. Cell Tissue Res. 340:569-581. Murack, PJ. Parrish, JJ. Barry, TP. (2011) Effects of progesterone on sperm motility in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Aquatic Toxicology. In Press Newell-Fugate, A,E Taibl, JN, Clark, SG, Alloosh, M, Sturek, M, Krisher, RL. 2011. Baseline and superovulation hyperandrogenism and follicular dynamics in the ossabaw pig suggest an animal model for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 23(1): 256-257. Nguyen K, Cassar G, Friendship RM, Dewey C, Farzan A, Kirkwood RN. Stillbirth and preweaning mortality in litters of sows induced to farrow with supervision compared to litters naturally farrowing sows with minimal supervision. J Swine Health Prod. 2011; (in press) Nowak RA, Koohestani F, Bi J, Mehrotra P, Mesquita FS, Masoud F, Machado SM. Uterine Tumors and the Environment. In: Comprehensive Toxicology, ed. by CA McQueen, Section IV Female Reproductive Toxicology- Female Reproductive C: 2010;499-522. Oliver, W.T., Miles, J.R. 2010. A low-fat liquid diet increases protein accretion and alters cellular signaling for protein synthesis in 10-day-old pigs. Journal of Animal Science 88(8):2576-2584. Park, KE, Johnson, C, Magnani, L, Wang, X, Biancardi, M, and Cabot, RA. 2010. Global H3K9 dimethylation status is not affected by transcription, translation or DNA replication in porcine zygotes. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 77(5):420-429. Park, KE, Johnson, CM, Wang, X, and Cabot, RA. 2010. Differential developmental requirements for individual histone H3K9 methyltransferases in cleave stage porcine embryos. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, In press. Parrish JJ. 2010. Biology and physiology of fertilization. In: Reproductive Toxicology Third Edition, Target Organ Toxicology Series. (Hayes AW, Thomas JA, Gardner DE eds.) pp. 1-13. Peláez J, Bongalhardo DC, Long JA. Characterizing the glycocalyx of poultry spermatozoa: III. Semen cryopreservation methods alter the carbohydrate component of rooster sperm membrane glycoconjugates. Poult Sci. 2011;90:435-443. Rahman MB, Vandaele L, Rijsselaere T, Maes D, Hoogewijs M, Frijters A, Noordman J, Granados A, Dernelle E, Shamsuddin M, Parrish JJ, Van Soom A. 2011 Scrotal Insulation and Its Relationship to Abnormal Morphology, Chromatin Protamination and Nuclear Shape of Spermatozoa in Holstein-Friesian and Belgian Blue Bulls. Theriogenology (accepted). Rempel, L.A., Freking, B.A., Miles, J.R., Nonneman, D.J., Rohrer, G.A., Schneider, J.F., Vallet, J.L. 2011. Association of porcine heparanase and hyaluronidase 1 and 2 with reproductive and production traits in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire population. Frontiers in Livestock Genomics 2:20. Rogan MP, Reznikov LR, Pezzulo AA, Gansemer ND, Samuel M, Prather RS, Zabner J, Fredericks DC, McCray PB Jr, Welsh MJ, Stoltz DA. Pigs and humans with cystic fibrosis have reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) levels at birth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Nov 23;107(47):20571-5. Ross J.W., Ashworth M.D., Mathew D., Regan P., Ritchey J.W., Hayashi K., Spencer T.E., Lucy M., Geisert R.D. Activation of nuclear factor kappa B during the opening of the implantation window in the pig. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2010; 8:39. Ross J.W., Prather R.S. 2010. Transgenics and Modern Reproductive Technologies. In: Genetics of the Pig, 2nd Edn. Eds. A. Ruvinsky and M.F. Rothschild. CAB International 2011; pp 242-262. Ross J.W., Whyte J.J., Zhao J., Samuel M., Wells K.D., Prather R.S. Optimization of square-wave electroporation for transfection of porcine fetal fibroblasts. Transgenic Research 2010; 19:611-620. 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Mesothelin expression in ovarian tumors of the laying hen model is similar to human ovarian cancer. Gynecol. Oncology (submitted). Yuan, Y, JM Ida, M Paczkowski, RL Krisher. Identification of developmental competence related genes in mature porcine oocytes. Submitted. Zhang X, Miao Y, Zhao JG, Spate L, Bennett MW, Murphy CN, Schatten H, Prather RS. Porcine oocytes denuded before maturation can develop to the blastocyst stage if provided a cumulous cell-derived coculture system. J Anim Sci. 2010 Aug;88(8):2604-10. Zhao J., Hao Y., Ross J.W., Spate L., Walters E., Samuel M.S., Rieke A., Murphy C.N., Prather R.S. Histone deacetylase inhibitors improve in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of somatic nuclei nuclear transfer porcine embryos. Cellular Reprogramming 2010; 12:75-83. Zhao MT, Bennett MW, Zhang X, Spate L, Whitworth KM, Murphy CN, Rieke A, Zhang Y, Prather RS. Contribution to neural and mesodermal lineages by porcine skin-derived progenitors (SKPs) in vivo. 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Impact Statements

Continued developed teaching modules that will help institutions transition from traditional lecture- based animal science curriculum to online-based curriculum, including laboratories that focus on domestic animal reproduction.
Characterized the functions of specific glycans in the oviduct that bind sperm to form a reservoir, which may alter sperm function and allow sperm to survive extended periods of time.
Identified non-coding RNA molecules that impact cellular function in swine reproductive tissues.
Refined systems for in vitro production and nuclear transfer of pig embryos.
Characterization of the function of regulatory elements within the promoter region of the GnRH receptor by utilizing a variety of unique pig breeds and lines.
Worked towards improving boar sperm cryopreservation techniques.
Demonstrated the effects of sow exercise during gestation on placental function and fetal amino acids.
Furthered development of estrus synchronization and utilization of aged semen.
Mapping of QTL in the swine genome associated with reproductive traits.
Characterization of piglet growth and blood components following reciprocal embryo transfer between different swine breeds.
Developed associations between candidate genes and production traits in Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire population.
Improved understanding of mechanics of boar training for semen collection.
Further developed utilization of Fourier harmonics to analyze collected semen and predict fertility.
Developed a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms contributing to porcine oocyte function and embryo development.
Improved the efficiency of isolating pig Wharton jelly derived stem cells and demonstrated their ability to migrate throughout the neonatal pig intestine.
Advanced teaching techniques and strategies to improve education of animal science students.

Date of Annual Report: 06/22/2012

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/22/2012 - 05/23/2012
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2011 - 09/01/2012

Participants

Baker, John [baker@anr.msu.edu] Michigan;
Davis, Duane [davis@ksu.edu] Kansas;
Diekman, Mark [mdiekman@purdue.edu] Indiana;
Geisert, Rodney [geisertr@missouti.edu] Missouri;
Guthrie, H. David [dave.guthrie@ars.usda.gov] USDA-BARC;
Hogberg, Maynard [hogberg@iastate.edu] Iowa (visitor);
Keating, Aileen [akeating@iastate.edu] Iowa (visitor);
Meisinger, David [drdave@iastate.edu] Iowa (visitor);
Miles, Jeremy [jeremy.miles@ars.usda.gov] USDA-USMARC;
Miller, Dave [djmille@illinois.edu] Illinois;
Morrical, Dan [morricol@iastate.edu] Iowa (visitor);
Ross, Jason [jwross@iastate.edu] Iowa;
Safranski, Tim [safranskit@missouri.edu] Missouri (visitor);
Turzillo, Adele [aturzillo@nifa.usda.gov] Washington, DC (visitor);
White, Brett [bwhite2@unlnotes.unl.edu] Nebraska;
Wilson, Matt [mwilso25@wvu.edu] West Virginia

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2012 annual meeting of the NCERA57 was held at the Iowa State University in Ames, IA in the Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall in the Department of Animal Science. The meeting was called to order by Jason Ross, Vice Chair and local host, at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 22th. At 8:15 Department Chair Dr. Maynard Hogberg welcomed the group to Iowa State and gave an informative presentation describing the staffing and research facilities at Iowa State, and the status of Iowa livestock and poultry industries. Dr. Dan Morrical went into greater detail on the swine facilities.

At 9:15 AM. Adele Turzillo, National Program Leader for Animal Production Systems within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), attended the meeting and provided a NIFA update which included the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy as the new Director of NIFA on May 7, 2012 replacing Dr. Roger Beachy who had resigned last year. Of note the Food Security FY20012 proposals are currently under review and the Foundational Programs for FY2012 and FY2013 have been combined with the release RFAs scheduled for 8/15/2012. Adele also pointed out some competitive grant programs that could provide unique funding opportunities for animal scientists thinking outside the box and joint NIH-NIFA Programs featuring dual purpose research grants in biomedicine and agriculture using domestic livestock species as experimental models.

At about 10:00AM Dave Meisinger that the Swine Repro Guide had been proposed for funding in the 2008 Farm bill, but was not funded. It will not be included in the 2012 Farm Bill.

10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Station Reports: University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Brett White, USMARC - Jeremy Miles, and Illinois - Dave Miller.

After a catered lunch provided by the Iowa State University College of Agriculture on Tuesday 5/22/12, the Producer Symposium on AI Technology was held in Ensminger Room in Kildee Hall featuring four speakers from 1-5 PM. The speakers and the titles of their talks were Ron Ketchem, Swine Management Services, LLC, Fremont, NE, Use and economics of some AI technologies across a subset of commercial farms; Hanneke Feitsma, Institute for Pig Genetics, The Netherlands, Sperm numbers: how low can you go?; Brad Didion, Minitube USA, Successful implementation of frozen semen in a commercial setting; and Howard Hill, Iowa Select: AI technologies and personnel: applying technologies with real people. A total of approximately 45-50 swine producers, students, and scientists attended the symposium. Approximately 10-20% of the US sow inventory was represented by individuals in the audience. The evaluation of the symposium demonstrated that the symposium was of significant value to those in the audience and the audience overwhelmingly suggested they would like to attend future NCERA57 producer symposiums.

Evening: The committee and guests took a break and then reconvened at the Open Flame Restaurant for dinner.

Second day session Wednesday, May 23, 2012

8:00 to 9:00 AM Business meeting: John Baker addressed the committee and praised the organization and accomplishments of the NCERA057 committee and indicated that this specific committee was among the best that he serves as an Administrative Advisor. He stated that the NCERA057 committee very accurately conducts the purposes intended for this program. Members were reminded to start thinking about forming a writing committee in that the renewal process for NCERA57 will begin with our meeting in 2013. According to tradition vice-chair Jason Ross moved up to committee chair, the secretary Dave Guthrie moved to vice-chair and a returning member, Rod Geisert, was drafted as secretary. It was confirmed the 2013 meeting would be held in Beltsville MD during the week before Memorial Day. Members were reminded to be thinking about topics for the 2014 Swine Producers Symposium.

At 9:00 AM Matt Wilson initiated the discussion of the preliminary work on fresh and frozen conducted by Jeremy Miles and Lea Rempel for the purpose of utilization of frozen semen as a contingency with new AI technology, development of frozen semen delivery, ovulation control, and seasonal effects on reproduction. The second experiment conducted at USMARC show one of two boars was superior to the other with respect to fertility of cryopreserved spermatozoa. A summary of the discussion and plans for additional preliminary experiments for the proposal will be forthcoming.

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Station reports continued: Illinois - Dave Miller (continued), Maryland - Dave Guthrie (BARC), Missouri - Rod Geisert, Kansas - Duane Davis, Indiana - Mark Diekman (Purdue), and Iowa State- Jason Ross.

Dave Guthrie agreed to send messages of appreciation to Peg Pluthe and Drs. Maynard Hogberg and Dan Morrical for their contributions as hosts for our meeting

The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Dave Guthrie, Secretary, NCERA57

Accomplishments

1. From the Producer Artificial Insemination Symposium committee members learned the industry has considerable interest in improving the efficiency of artificial insemination with non-frozen boar semen by close monitoring of the onset of estrus to 1) permit insemination at the optimum time in relation to ovulation, and 2) reduction of the sperm dose per insemination and the number of inseminations during the estrus period as much as possible to maintain high farrowing rates. Training and monitoring performance of inseminators is critical the success of the swine breeding program. Fertility with frozen semen could approach that of liquid semen when the number of sperm per insemination and the number of inseminations during the estrus period were increased. 2. Numerous publications were published by committee members and their associates during the past year that provide scientific knowledge and impact on reproductive efficiency in swine. 3. We discussed the preliminary experiments at USMARC in order to design, write, and submit a NIFA Foundational Grant proposal this autumn to support a study of the relative contributions of the male and female to seasonal infertility in swine using frozen semen.

Publications

Aarabi, M., Yu, Y., Xu, W., Man, Y., Tse, M.Y., Pang, S.C., Yi, Y-J., Sutovsky, P., Oko, R. (2012)The Testicular and epididymal expression profile of PLC¶ in mouse and human does not support its role as a sperm-borne oocyte activating factor. PLoS ONE, 7(3):e33496. Bhattacharya, P. and Keating, A.F. 2011. Ovarian metabolism of xenobiotics. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 236(7):765-71; PMID 21616964. Blanco JM, Long JA, Gee G, Wildt DE, Donoghue AM. Comparative cryopreservation of avian spermatozoa: effects of freezing and thawing rates on turkey and sandhill crane sperm cryosurvival. Anim Reprod Sci. 2012 131(1-2):1-8. Blomberg LE, Schreier L, Li RW. Characteristics of peri-implantation porcine concepti population and maternal milieu influence the transcriptome profile. Mol Reprod Dev. 2010; 77(11):978-89. Boltz CR, Belton RA, Boltz DA, Dirks A, Bunick D, Scherba G, Bahr JM. 2011. Vaccination of roosters against avian infectious bronchitis virus results in autoimmunity to sperm (submitted). Braundmeier AG, Dayger CA, Mehrotra P, Belton Jr. RJ, Nowak RA. EMMPRIN is secreted by human uterine epithelial cells in microvesicles and stimulates metalloproteinase production by human uterine fibroblast cells. Reproductive Sciences, accepted/in press 2012. Braundmeier AG, Jackson K, Hastings J, Koehler J, Nowak RA, Fazleabas A. Endometriosis alters the peripheral and endometrial regulatory T cell population in the non-human primate. Human Reproduction 2012 Mar 22 [Epub ahead of print]. Caires, K.C., J.M. de Avila, A.S. Cupp, and D.J. McLean. 2012. VEGFA family isoforms regulate spermatogonial stem cell homeostasis in vivo. Endocrinology 153:887-900. Cederberg, R.A., E.A. McDonald, C. Lee, R.A. Friedrich, A.R. Cropp, and B.R. White. 2011. Activity of the porcine GnRH receptor gene in T3-1 cells is partially conferred by a distal swine upstream promoter enhancing region (SUPER) and two proximal steroidogenic factor-1 binding sites. Endocrinology (Submitted). Cepica, S., Óvilo, C., Masopust, M., Knoll, A., Fernandez, A., Lopez, A., Rohrer, G.A., Nonneman, D. 2012. Four genes located on a SSC2 meat quality QTL region are associated with different meat quality traits in Landrace x Chinese-European crossbred population. Animal Genetics 43(3):333-336. Chen, K., Hawken, R., Flickinger, G.H., Rodriguez-Zas, S.L., Rund, L.A., Wheeler, M.B., Abrahamsen, M., Rutherford, M.S., Beever J.E., Schook, L.B. 2012. Association of the Porcine Transforming Growth Factor Beta Type I Receptor (TGFBR1) Gene with Growth and Carcass Traits. Animal Biotechnology, 23: 43-63 Clapper, J.A., Taylor, A.R. 2011. Components of the porcine anterior pituitary IGF system throughout the estrous cycle. Dom. Anim. Endocrinol. 40:67-76. Clapper, J.A., Tomlin, A.K. 2012. Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on the porcine anterior pituitary IGF system. Dom. Anim. Endocrinol. 42:173-182. Curry, E., Safranski, T.J., Pratt, S.L. 2011. Differential expression of porcine sperm microRNAs and their association with sperm morphology and motility. Theriogenology, 76 (8), pp. 1532-1539. Cushman, R.A. 2012. Evidence that the autoimmune regulator gene influences thymic production of ovarian antigens and prevents autoimmune-mediated premature reproductive senescence. Biology of Reproduction 86(4):109. Dorsey KM, Guthrie HD, Welch GR, Mohler J, Theisen DD, Siewerdt F, Vinyard BT, Woods LC III. Quality assessment of wild Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) semen under conditions of short-term storage. North American Journal of Aquaculture 73:418-425. Echternkamp, S.E., Thallman, R.M. 2011. Factors affecting pregnancy rate to estrous synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 89(10):3060-3068. Foye-Jackson OT, Long JA, Bakst MR, Blomberg LA, Akuffo VG, Silva MV, Guthrie HD, McMurtry JP. Oviductal expression of avidin, avidin-related protein-2, and progesterone receptor in turkey hens in relation to sperm storage: effects of oviduct tissue type, sperm presence, and turkey line. Poult Sci. 2011; 90:1539-1547. Fricke, P.M., Cushman, R.A. 2012. Physiology and Endocrinology Symposium: Factors controlling puberty in beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science 90(4):1150-1151. Godke, RA and CR Youngs. 2011. Cattle: Embryo Technology. In (WG Pond and AW Bell, Eds). Encyclopedia of Animal Science, 2nd Ed. 1:193-195. Gottlieb, S., and Wheeler, M.B. 2011, Genetically Engineered Animals And Public Health: Compelling Benefits for Health Care, Nutrition, the Environment, and Animal Welfare, BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization), 37 pgs., 2nd ed. Guthrie HD, Welch GR, Theisen DD, Woods LC III. Effects of hypothermic storage on intracellular calcium, reactive oxygen species formation, mitochondrial function, motility, and plasma membrane integrity in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) sperm. Theriogenology. 2011 75:951-961. Guthrie HD, Welch GR. 2012. Effects of reactive oxygen species on sperm function. Theriogenology (accepted for publication). Isom, S.C., R. Li, K.M. Whitworth, R.S. Prather. 2012. Timing of first embryonic cleavage is a positive indicator of the in vitro developmental potential of porcine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization, somatic cell nuclear transfer and parthenogenesis Mol. Reprod. 79:197-207. Keating, A.F., Fernandez, S.M., Mark-Kappeler, C.J., Sen, N., Sipes, I.G. and Hoyer, P.B. 2011. Inhibition of PIK3 signaling pathway members by the ovotoxicant 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide in rats. Biology of Reproduction. 84(4): 743-751. Klassen H., J.F. Kiilgaard, K. Warfvinge, M.S. Samuel, R.S. Prather, F. Wong, R.M. Petters, M. LaCour, M.J. Young. 2012. Photoreceptor differentiation following transplantation of allogeneic retinal progenitor cells to the dystrophic rhodopsin Pro347Leu transgenic pig. Stem Cells International (accepted 1/26/2012). Knox, R. V. The current value of frozen-thawed boar semen for commercial companies. 2011. Dom. Anim. Reprod. 46 (Suppl 2): 4-6. Knox, R. V., K. L. Willenburg, S. L. Rodriguez-Zas, D. L. Greger, H. D. Hafs, and M.E. Swanson. Synchronization of ovulation and fertility in weaned sows treated with intravaginal triptorelin is influenced by timing of administration and follicle size. Theriogenology 2011. 75:308-19. Konno, T., Rempel, L.A., Rumi, M.A.K., Graham, A.R., Asanoma, K., Renaud, S.J., Soares, M.J. 2011. Chromosome-substituted rat strains provide insights into the genetics of placentation. Physiological Genomics 43(15):930-941. Krisher, R.L., R.S. Prather. 2012. A role for the Warburg Effect in preimplantation embryo development: metabolic modification to support rapid proliferation. Molecular Reproduction and Development (accepted 3/5/12). Larson, D.M., A.S. Cupp, and R.N. Funston. 2011. Heifer development systems: A comparison of grazing winter range or corn residue. J Anim Sci. 89:2365-2372. Lents, C.A., Randel, R.D., Stelzleni, A.M., Caldwell, L.C., Welsh, T.H., Jr. 2011. Function of the corpus luteum in beef heifers is affected by acute submaintenance feeding but is not correlated with residual feed intake. Journal of Animal Science 89(12):4023-4031. Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Kuehn, L.A., Rempel, L.A., Smith, T.P.L., Cushman, R.A., McDaneld, T.G., Wheeler, T.L., Shackelford, S.D., King, D.A., Freetly, H.C. 2012. Evaluation of bovine chemerin (RARRES2) gene variation on beef cattle production traits. Frontiers in Genetics 3:39. Lorson, M., L.D. Spate, M.S. Samuel, C.N. Murphy, C. Lorson, R.S. Prather, K. Wells. 2011. Disruption of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene in pigs using ssDNA. Transgenic Research accepted 20:1293-1304. PMID 21350916 Machado SA, Bahr JM, Hales DB, Braundmeier AG, Quade BJ, Nowak RA. Validation of the aging hen as an animal model for uterine leiomyomas. Biology of Reproduction, accepted/in press 2012. Machado, SA, Bahr JM, Hales DB, Quade BJ, and Nowak RA. 2011. Validation of the aging hen as an animal model for uterine leiomyomas. Biology of Reproduction (submitted). Mack, E.M., J.E. Smith, and J.R. Wood. 2011. IGF-1 has an additive effect on cAMP-dependent regulation of granulosa cell gene expression through activation of Akt- and Erk1/2 signaling, Endocrinology (Submitted). Mao, J., K.M. Whitworth, L.D. Spate, E.M. Walters, J. Zhao, R.S. Prather. 2012. Regulation of oocyte mitochondria DNA copy number by follicular fluid, EGF, and neuregulin 1 during in vitro maturation affects embryo development in pigs. Theriogenology (accepted 4/9/12). McDonald, E.A., J.E. Smith, R.A. Cederberg, and B.R. White. 2010. Divergent activity of the porcine GnRH receptor gene promoter in ±T3-1 cells is partially conferred by nuclear factor (NF)-±B, specificity protein (Sp)1-like, and GATA4 elements. Endocrinology (Submitted). McFee, R.M., T.G. Rozell, and A.S. Cupp. 2012. The balance of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic VEGFA isoforms regulate follicle development. Cell Tissue Res. Feb 10. [Epub ahead of print]. Men, H. C. Zhao, S. Wei, C.N. Murphy, Y. Liu, E.M. Walters, M.S. Samuel, R.S. Prather, J.K. Critser. 2011. Birth of piglets from in vitro produced, zona-intact porcine embryos vitrified in a closed system. Theriogenology 76:280-289. PMID 21458047 Miles, J.R., McDaneld, T.G., Wiedmann, R.T., Cushman, R.A., Echternkamp, S.E., Vallet, J.L., Smith, T.P.L. 2012. MicroRNA expression profile in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes: Possible role of let-7 and miR-106a in the development of bovine oocytes. Animal Reproduction Science 130(1-2):16-26. Miller D, T. Rathbun, D. Boyle, D. Troyer, and D. L. Davis. 2011. Confocal Imaging of Trans-epithelial Trafficking by Immune and Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in the Neonatal Porcine Intestine. Anat. Hist. Embryol. (In Press). Miller DJ. 2011. Physiology and Endocrinology Symposium: Sperm-oviduct interactions in livestock and poultry. J Anim Sci 89:1312-1314. Miller DJ. 2011. The enigma of fertilization. In: Biology: The Dynamic Science, 2nd Edition, Ed. by Peter Russell, Stephen Wolfe, Paul Hertz, Cecie Starr, and Beverly McMillan. Miller DJ. 2011. The roles of carbohydrate binding in fertilization. In: Carbohydrate Recognition: Biological Problems, Methods, and Applications, Ed. By B Wang and G-J Boons. Medicinal Research Reviews. Monaco, E., Bionaz, M. Rodriguez-Zas, S., Hurley, W.L., Wheeler, M.B. 2012. Transcriptomics comparison between porcine adipose and bone marrow mesenchymal stem sells during in vitro osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. PLoS ONE 7(3): e32481. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032481 Monaco, E., Bionaz, M., Hollister, S. Wheeler, M.B. 2011. Strategies for regeneration of the bone using porcine adult adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Theriogenology 75:1381-1399. Mousel, M.R., Leymaster, K.A., Christenson, R.K., Nonneman, D.J., Rohrer, G.A. 2012. Validation and fine mapping of a QTL for ovulation rate on swine chromosome 3. Animal Genetics 43(2):220-224. Nagyova E, Scsukova S, Nemcova L, Mlynarcikova A., Yi Y-J, Sutovsky M, Sutovsky P (2012). Inhibition of proteasomal proteolysis affects expression of extracellular matrix components and steroidogenesis in porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes. Dom. Anim. Endocrin., 42(1):50-62 Newcomer, SC, Taheripour, P, Bahls, M, Sheldon, R, Foust, KB, Bidwell, CA, and Cabot, RA. 2011. Impact of porcine maternal exercise training during pregnancy on endothelial call function of offspring at birth. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. In press. Newell-Fugate, A,E Taibl, JN, Clark, SG, Alloosh, M, Sturek, M, Krisher, RL. 2011. Baseline and superovulation hyperandrogenism and follicular dynamics in the ossabaw pig suggest an animal model for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 23(1): 256-257. Nonneman, D., Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Shackelford, S.D., King, D.A., Wheeler, T.L., Rohrer, G.A., Bierman, C.D., Schneider, J.F., Miller, R.K., Zerby, H., Moeller, S.J. 2011. Predictive markers in calpastatin for tenderness in commercial pig populations. Journal of Animal Science 89(9):2663-2672. Oliver, W.T., Miles, J.R., Diaz, D.E., Dibner, J.J., Rottinghaus, G.E., Harrell, R.J. 2012. Zearalenone enhances reproductive tract development, but does not alter skeletal muscle signaling in prepubertal gilts. Animal Feed Science and Technology 174(1-2):79-85. Ostedgaard, L.S., D.K. Meyerholz, J.-H. Chen, A.A. Pezzulo, P.H. Karp, T. Rokhlina, S.E. Ernst, R.A. Hanfland, L. Reznikov, P.S. Ludwig, M.P. Rogan, G.J. Davis, C.L. Dohrn, P.J. Taft, M.V. Rector, E. Hornick, P. Nassar, M. Samuel, S.S. Richter, A. Uc, J. Shilyasky, R.S. Prather, P.B. McCray, Jr., J. Zabner, M.J. Welsh, and D.A. Stoltz. 2011. The F508 mutation causes CFTR misprocessing and cystic fibrosis-like disease in pigs. Science Translational Medicine 3: 74ra24. PMID 21411740 Park, J., L. Lai, M. Samuel, D. Wax, R.S. Bruno, R. French, R.S. Prather, X. Yang, X.C. Tian. 2011. Altered gene expression profiles in the brain, kidney, and lung of one-month old live cloned pigs. Cellular Reprogramming 13:215-223. PMCID: PMC3104288 Park, K-E, Johnson, CM, and Cabot, RA. 2011. BIX-01294, an inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase EHMT2, disrupts H3K9 dimethylation in the cleavage stage porcine embryo. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. In press. Peippo, J, Machaty, Z, and Peter, A. 2011. Terminologies for the pre-attachment bovine embryo. Theriogenology 76:1373-1379. Polak, S.J., Lan Levengood, S.K., Maki, A.J., Clark, S.G., Wheeler, M.B., Wagoner Johnson, A.J. 2011. Analysis of the roles of microporosity and BMP-2 on multiple measures of bone regeneration and healing in calcium phosphate scaffolds. Acta Biomaterialia 7:1760-1771. Redel, B.K., A.N. Brown, L.D. Spate, K.M. Whitworth, J.A. Green, R.S. Prather. 2012. Glycolysis in preimplantation development is partially controlled by the Warburg Effect. Mol. Reprod. 79:262-271. PMID 22213464 Redmond, J.S., Baez-Sandoval, G.M., Spell, K.M., Spencer, T.E., Lents, C.A., Williams, G.L., Amstalden, M. 2011. Developmental changes in hypothalamic Kiss1 expression during activation of the pulsatile release of luteinising hormone in maturing ewe lambs. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 23(9):815-822. Rempel, L.A., Casas, E., Shackelford, S.D., Wheeler, T.L. 2012. Relationship of polymorphisms within metabolic genes and carcass traits in crossbred beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 90(4):1311-1316. Rempel, L.A., Nonneman, D.J., Rohrer, G.A. 2012. Polymorphism within thyroid hormone responsive (THRSP) associated with weaning-to-oestrus interval in swine. Animal Genetics 43(3):364-365. Richards, M.P., P. Kathirvel, Y. Gong, A. Lopez-Hernandez, E. Walters, R.S. Prather. 2011. Long chain omega-3 fatty acid levels in loin muscle from transgenic (fat-1 gene) pigs and effects on lipid oxidation during storage. Food Biotechnology 25:103-114. Ross, J.W., J.F. Castro, J. Zhao, M. Samuel, E. Walters, C. Rios, P. Bray-Ward, B.W. Jones, R.E Marc, W. Wang, L. Zhou, J.M. Noel, M. McCall, P. DeMarco, R.S. Prather, H.J. Kaplan. 2012. Generation of an inbred miniature pig model of retinitis pigmentosa. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences 31:501-507. Safranski, T.J., Ford, J.J., Rohrer, G.A., Guthrie, H.D. 2011. Plenary contribution to International Conference on Boar Semen Preservation 2011. Genetic selection for freezability and its controversy with selection for performance. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 46(Supplement 2):31-34. Schneider, J.F., Rempel, L.A., Rohrer, G.A., Brown-Brandl, T.M. 2011. Genetic parameter estimates among scale activity score and farrowing disposition with reproductive traits in swine. Journal of Animal Science 89(11):3514-3521. Scolari, S., S. Clark, M. Tomassia, and R. Knox. Vulvar skin temperature changes significantly during estrus in swine as determined by digital infrared thermography. J. Swine Health and Prod. 2011, 19:151-55. Sears, K.E., Bormet, A.K., Rockwell, A., Powers, L.E., Noelle Cooper, L., Wheeler, M.B. 2011. Developmental basis of mammalian digit reduction: a case study in pigs. Evolution & Development, 13: 533541. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-142X.2011.00509.x Segers, J.R., Stewart, R.L., Jr., Lents, C.A., Pringle, T.D., Froetschel, M.A., Lowe, B.K., McKeith, R.O., Stelzleni, A.M. 2011. Effect of long-term corn by-product feeding on beef quality, strip loin fatty acid profiles, and shelf-life. Journal of Animal Science 89(11):3792-3802. Seizer P, Ochmann C, Schonberger T, Zach S, Lengerke C, Rose M, Borst O, Klingel K, Kandolf R, MacDonald HR, Nowak RA, Engelhardt S, Lang F, Gawaz M, May AE. Disrupting the EMMPRIN-Cyclophilin A interaction reduces infarct size and preserves systolic function after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2011 [Epub March 24]. Seizer P, Ochmann C, Schonberger T, Zach S, Lengerke C, Rose M, Klingel K, Kandolf R, MacDonald HR, Nowak RA, Engelhardt S, Gawaz M, May AE. 2011. Disrupting the EMMPRIN (CD147)-Cyclophilin A interaction reduces infarct size and preserves systolic function after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology; 31:1377-1386 [Epub March 24, 2011]. Snelling, W.M., Cushman, R.A., Fortes, M.R.S., Reverter, A., Bennett, G.L., Keele, J.W., Kuehn, L.A., McDaneld, T.G., Thallman, R.M., Thomas, M.G. 2012. Physiology and Endocrinology Symposium: How single nucleotide polymorphism chips will advance our knowledge of factors controlling puberty and aid in selecting replacement beef females. Journal of Animal Science 90(4):1152-1165. Spate, L.D., B.K. Redel, A.N. Brown, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2012. Replacement of bovine serum albumin with N-methyl-D-aspartic acid and homocysteine improves development over no bovine serum albumin, but doesnt translate into piglets. (accepted). Telugu, B.P.V.L., T. Ezashi, S. Sinha, A.P. Alexenko, L. Spate, R.S. Prather, R.M. Roberts. 2011. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-dependent, pluripotent stem cells established from inner cell mass of porcine embryos. Journal of Biological Chemistry 286: 28948-28953. Tischkau SA, Howell RE, Hickok, JR, Paradkar K, Bahr JM. 2011. Effects of the luteinizing hormone surge on circadian clock gene expression in the chicken ovary. Chronobiology International 28:1-10. Vallet, J.L., Freking, B.A., Miles, J.R. 2011. Effect of empty uterine space on birth intervals and fetal and placental development in pigs. Animal Reproduction Science 125(1-4):158-164. Walters, E.M., E. Wolf, J. Whyte, J. Mao, S. Renner, H. Nagashima, E. Kobayashi, J. Zhao, K.D. Wells, J.K. Critser, L.K. Riley, R.S. Prather. 2012. Completion of the swine genome will simplify the production of swine as a large animal biomedical model. BMC Medical Genomics. Accepted 10/28/2011. Wang, X, Park, K-E, Koser, S, Liu, S., Magnani, L, and Cabot, RA. 2012. KPNA7, an oocyte- and embryo-specific karyopherin ± subtype, is required for porcine embryo development. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 24(2):382-391. Wheeler MB, Malusky SA (2011) Stem Cell and Germ Cell Technology. Encyclopedia of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Food, Taylor & Francis, London, 594 - 596. Wheeler, M.B., 2012. Transgenic Animals In Agriculture. Nature Education (accepted). Whitworth, K.M., J. Zhao, L.D. Spate, R. Li, R.S. Prather. 2011. Scriptaid corrects gene expression of a few aberrantly reprogrammed transcripts in nuclear transfer pig blastocyst stage embryos. Cellular Reprogramming 13:191-204. PMID 21548827 Whyte, J.J., J. Zhao, K.D. Wells, M. Samuel, K.M. Whitworth, E. Walters, M.H. Laughlin, R.S. Prather. 2011. Gene targeting with zinc finger nucleases to produce cloned eGFP knockout pigs. Molecular Reproduction and Development 78:2. PMID 21268178 Whyte, J.J., M. Samuel, E. Mahan, J. Padilla, G.H. Simmons, A. Arce, S.B. Bender, K. Whitworth, Y.H. Hao, C.N. Murphy, E.M. Walters, R.S. Prather, M.H. Laughlin. 2011. Vascular endothelium-specific overexpression of human catalase in cloned pigs. Transgenic Research 5:989-1001. PMID 21170678 Whyte, J.J., R.S. Prather. 2011. Genetic modifications of pigs for medicine and agriculture. Molecular Reproduction and Development 78:879-891. NIHMSID #299529 Whyte, J.J., R.S. Prather. 2012. Zinc-finger nucleases to create custom-designed modifications in the swine (sus scrofa) genome. J. Animal Science 90:1111-1117. PMID 22038991. Wilson, S.M., Goldwasser, M.S., Clark, S.G., Monaco, E., Bionaz, M. Hurley, W.L., Rodriguez-Zas, S., Feng, L., Dymon, Z,. Wheeler, M.B. 2012. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhance healing of mandibular defects in the ramus of swine. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 70:e193-e203. Yang C.X. and Ross J. W. 2011 Genetic Modification of Domestic Animals for Agriculture and Biomedical Applications. In: Biomedical Science, Engineering and Technology. Ed. D.N Ghista. InTech Publishing, pp 697-726. Yang, X., J. Mao, E.M. Walters, L.D. Spate, M. Zhao, J. Teson, K. Lee, R.S. Prather. 2012. Treatment of donor cells with xenopus egg extract reduced global DNA methylation and enhanced somatic cell nuclear transfer embryo development in pigs. BioResearch Open Access (accepted 4/19/2012). Yang, Z., K.A. Norwood, J.E. Smith, J.G. Kerl, and J.R. Wood. 2012. Genes involved in the immediate early response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition are regulated by adipocytokines in the female reproductive tract. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:128-137. Yellapa Y, Bahr JM, Bitterman P, Abramowicz JS, Edassery SL, Penumatsa K, Basu S, Rotmensch J and Barua A (2012). Association of Interleukin 16 with the development of ovarian tumor and tumor associated neo-angiogenesis in laying hen model of spontaneous ovarian cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 22(2):199-207. PMID: 22274315 Yi Y-J, Sung D Y, Millette C, Sutovsky M, Kennedy C, Sutovsky P, Thompson W, Thomas K (2011) Sperm GIRK2-Containing K+ Inward Rectifying Channels Participate in Sperm Capacitation and Fertilization. Systems Biol. Reprod. Med., 57(6):296-308. Yi Y-J, Zimmerman SW, Manandhar G, Odhiambo JF, Kennedy C, Jonakova V, Manaskova-Postlerova P, Sutovsky M, Park C-S, Sutovsky P. (2012) Ubiquitin activating enzyme UBA1 is required for sperm capacitation, acrosomal exocytosis and sperm-egg coat penetration during porcine fertilization. Int. J. Androl., 35: 196-210. Yi Y-J, Zimmerman SZ, Sutovsky P (2011) Gamete binding and fusion. In: Cell Fusion: Regulation and Control. Lars-Inge Larsson, Editor, Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, New York, NY; p. 185-201 Yi, Y-J, Kennedy, C., Sutovsky, M., Sutovsky, P. (2012) Identification of the inorganic pyrophosphate metabolizing, ATP substituting pathway in mammalian spermatozoa. PLoS ONE, 7(4):e34524. Youngs CR. 2011. Cryopreservation of preimplantation embryos of cattle, sheep, and goats. Journal of Visualized Experiments 54. http://www.jove.com/details.php?id=2764; DOI: 10.3791/2764. Youngs, CR, SP Leibo, RA Godke. 2011. Embryo cryopreservation in domestic mammalian livestock species. In (D. Hemming, Ed.) Animal Science Reviews 2010, CABI, Oxfordshire, UK, pp. 245-256. Youngs, CR. 2011. Embryo cryopreservation in food animal species. In (DR Heldman, MB Wheeler, DG Hoover, Eds.) Encyclopedia of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Food DOI: 10.1081/E-EBAF-120047342. Zhao, M.-T., R.S. Prather. 2011. The multi-potentiality of skin-derived stem cells in pigs. Theriogenology 75:1372-1380. PMCID: PMC2975041 Zhao, M.-T., X. Yang, K. Lee, J. Mao, J.M. Teson, K.M. Whitworth, M.S. Samuel, L. Spate, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2012. The in vivo developmental potential of porcine skin-derived progenitors (SKPs). Stem Cells and Development (accepted 4/6/2012). Zimmerman S.W., Manandhar G., Yi Y-J, Gupta S. K., Sutovsky M., Odhiambo J.F. , Powell M. D., Miller, D.J., Sutovsky P. (2011) Sperm proteasomes degrade sperm receptor on the egg zona pellucida during mammalian fertilization. PLoS ONE, 6(2):e17256

Impact Statements

Microinjected zygotes containing two small hairpin RNA species that can knockdown the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone II receptor have been transferred into synchronized recipient female swine that will be allowed to gestate to term to produce the first animal model to examine the physiological implications of reduced GnRH-II receptor levels.
Introduced an eight week student training program at US MARC to introduce students to agricultural research.
A novel screening approach using a glycan array indicates that porcine sperm bind preferentially to specific glycans. Specific receptors to these glycans appear to be present in ejaculated and cauda epididymal sperm.
Porcine sperm bind to specific sialylated lactosamine-containing glycans in the oviduct and may be partially responsible for sperm adhesion to form the sperm reservoir.
Analysis of ejaculated sperm residual RNA may provide information for prediction of fertility, storage longevity, and early embryo development.
Porcine umbilical cord matrix stem cell based delivery to the small intestine may provide new methods to immunize against gut pathogens or to enhance survival of growth retarded neonates.
Exercise during pregnancy promotes an anti-atherogenic vascular phenotype in offspring of sows without altering expression of genes known to be targets of metabolic programming. These results give justification for further studies probing the effects that a sedentary or active lifestyle during pregnancy might have on fetal programming.
Attempts to improve advising/advisee relationships in animal sciences may involve hiring professional assistants in advising, continued movement of registration procedures and audit capability online and establish a reward system to recognize excellence in advising undergraduate students.
Bovine spermatozoa are able to penetrate zona-free porcine oocytes; they can also induce oocyte activation and embryo development up to the 8-cell stage. This information may be useful in the development of novel methods to stimulate parthenogenetic activation of oocytes.
Genetic parameters were estimated for boar sperm freezability including heritability and correlations with other production traits. Sperm freezability is an ideal candidate for marker assisted selection or selection for favorable alleles.
Results indicate that significant genetic markers will be found for total number born, number born alive, litter birth weight, and average piglet birth weight that will have either immediate use in industry or provide a roadmap to further research with fine mapping or sequencing of areas of significance.
Freezing studies of boar sperm indicated that semen could be held at 17 degrees C diluted 1:1 in a cooling extender for at least 24 h before freezing, that sperm quality was equivalent in for semen frozen in and thawed from 0.5 or 5.0 ml straws, season had no effect on post-thaw sperm quality, breed had no effect on post-thaw quality.
In breeding studies with frozen boar semen significant sources of variation in fertility were boar, estrus to ovulation interval, stage of follicle development at slaughter, and parity. With two inseminations of 2 billion sperm each, inseminations at 30 and 38 h or at 22 and 38 h after the onset of estrus produced the highest farrowing rates; 75.5 and 67.4%, respectively.
Characterization of piglet growth and blood components following reciprocal embryo transfer between different swine breeds.
Early embryonic development is dependent on the appropriate expression of specific mRNAs and their ability to be translated into functional protein products. Understanding the regulatory capabilities of miRNAs and mRNA binding proteins may be important for improvement of reproductive efficiency in pigs and other species.

Date of Annual Report: 05/30/2013

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/21/2013 - 05/22/2013
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2012 - 09/01/2013

Participants

Baker, John [baker@anr.msu.edu] Michigan
Blomberg, LeAnn [leann.blomberg@ars.usda.gov] USDA-ARS-ABBL (visitor)
Caperna, Tom [Thomas.caperna@ ars.usda.gov] USDA-ARS-ABBL (visitor)
Davis, Duane [davis@ksu.edu] Kansas
Diekman, Mark [mdiekman@purdue.edu] Indiana
Geisert, Rodney [geisertr@missouti.edu] Missouri
Guthrie, H. David [dave.guthrie@ars.usda.gov] USDA-BARC
Kerns, Karl [kkerns@iastate.edu] Iowa State/USDA-ARS (visitor)
Miles, Jeremy [jeremy.miles@ars.usda.gov] USDA-MARC
Mirando, Mark [mmirando@nifa.usda.gov] USDA-NIFA
Ross, Jason [jwross@iastate.edu] Iowa
Safranski, Tim [safranskit@missouri.edu] Missouri
Welcl, Glenn [glenn.Welcl@ ars.usda.gov] USDA-ARS-ABBL (visitor)
White, Brett [bwhite2@unlnotes.unl.edu] Nebraska
Wilson, Matt [mwilso25@wvu.edu] West Virginia

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2013 annual meeting of the NCERA57 was held at Beltsville, MD in room 003 of Building 003 on the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center campus. The meeting was called to order by Dave Guthrie, Vice Chair and local host at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 21st. Dave Guthrie made opening remarks and introduced the Director of BARC, Dr. Steven R. Shafer. Dr. Shafer gave a brief history of BARC and indicated that it is the largest Animal and Plant Center in the US with currently about 180 scientists. Research at BARC involves not only animal and plant studies but food safety and human nutrition. The campus has a rich history dating almost 100 years. Programs have opened the fields of genomics and molecular techniques to increase milk production as well as the first transgenic growth hormone pigs were developed at BARC.
Dr. Mark Mirando, National Program Leader for Animal Nutrition and Growth and Reproduction within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), attended the meeting and provided a NIFA update which included the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy as the new Director of NIFA on May 7, 2012. Dr. Adele Turzillo, National Program Leader for Animal Production Systems, was promoted to Director, Institute of Animal Systems April 8, 2013. The Animal Reproduction FY2013 proposals have been reviewed but notifications will not go out until the recent federal budget funding has been approved through the NIFA programs. Dr. Mirando indicated the opportunity for funding through the Dual Purpose with Dual Benefit: Research in Biomedicine and Agriculture Using Agriculturally Important Domestic Species program. Next application deadline is September 24, 2013.
Following the NIFA update, station reports were given by Dr. Brett White (Nebraska), Jeremy Miles (USMARC), Duane Davis (Kansas), Rod Geisert (Missouri), and Jason Ross (Iowa). Following lunch, Jason Ross led a discussion for the establishment of the 2014 NCERA-57 Symposium presentation speakers and committee. Location of symposium was discussed and committee agreed that the symposium will be held in Lincoln, NE with the annual meeting of the NCERA-057 group. The meeting in Lincoln, NE would coincide with the anniversary of the opening of MARC in Clay Center, NE which would be a special program with the research group at MARC. Previous topics for the symposium were reviewed by Dr. Ross and the group selected to have the symposium topic cover Improved Litter Size and Environmental Effects on Pig Quality. Possible speakers included Dr. Clay Lents (USDA-ARS-MARC), Billy Flowers (North Carolina State) and Roger Johnson (University of Nebraska). Brett White (University of Nebraska), Jeremy Miles (USDA-MARC), Tim Safranski (University of Missouri) and Jason Ross (Iowa State University) were selected to form the committee to develop the symposium and sponsors. The symposium will be held May 20, 2014.
Dr. John Parrish provided the station report for Wisconsin and the meeting was adjourned for dinner.
On Wednesday May 22, Dr. John Baker conducted the business meeting for the NCERA-57 committee. Dr. Baker praised the organization and accomplishments of the NCERA057 committee and indicated that this specific committee was among the easiest to advise and the most focused in the program. He stated that the NCERA057 committee very accurately conducts the purposes intended for this program. For the 2013-2014 officers, Jason Ross will step down as Chairman and Dave Guthrie will become the new Chairman with Rod Geisert filling the position of Vice Chairman. The group selected and approved John Parrish as secretary. Dave Guthrie was also finally added as a member of the NCERA-57 group and Rod Geisert still needs to be placed on the committee by his station. John Baker indicated that group was on the 4th year of the program and needed to develop a rewrite for the next 5 year renewal. The objectives for the proposal are to be loaded into the NIMSS are due October 15, 2013, all participants and AES must submit Appendix E forms by November 15 and the complete proposal is due in the NIMSS system by December 1. The group selected John Parrish (Wisconsin) to chair the committee to write the renewal proposal with Duane Davis (Kansas) and Rod Geisert (Missouri). The committee will work on objectives which will be email to the group for editing and approval.
The group discussed adding new members to the NCERA-57 participants. John Baker will extend invitations to Lea Rempel (USDA-MARC), Frank White (Cameron University, Cameron, OK), Greg Johnson (Texas A&M) and Kim Vonnahme (North Dakota State University) to participate in the 2014 annual meeting.
Dr. Jeremy Miles discussed developing an integrated USDA grant on Seasonal Fertility which would focus on boars. There is good strength in the male, semen, seasonality and fertility within members of the NCERA-57 group. The goal would be to develop a good proposal for the RFP on Climate Change. The proposal would investigate the use of frozen versus extend semen form boar studs during summer/winter. Possible objectives would be to evaluate sperm morphology (techniques from John Parrish lab), pregnancy rates, and epigenetic effects through methylation of DNA in the fetus and placenta. A committee consisting of Jeremy Miles (USDA-MARC), Lea Rempel (USDA-MARC), John Parrish (Wisconsin), Tim Safranski (Missouri) and Duane Davis (Kansas) were selected to develop the proposal.
Dr. Dave Guthrie provided the last station report for USDA-BARC. The meeting was adjourned and Dave provided a tour of the research buildings and laboratories on the Beltsville (BARC) campus.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 PM. respectfully submitted, Rod Geisert, Secretary, NCERA57

Accomplishments

1. Numerous publications were published by committee members and their associates during the past year that provide scientific knowledge and impact on reproductive efficiency in swine. 2. The topic, location and program committee for the 2014 NCERA-57 Symposium on Improved Litter Size and Environmental Effects on Pig Quality was completed. 3. The group discussed the preliminary experiments at USMARC to design, write, and submit a NIFA Integrated Grant proposal to support a study of the relative contributions of the male to seasonal infertility in swine using frozen semen. A committee to develop and write the proposal was formed to submit the completed proposal AFRI Foundational Program on Climate Change when the RFP is released. 4. A committee was selected to write the 5 year renewal for the NCERA-57 program.

Publications

Aad PY, Echternkamp SE, Sypherd DD, Schreiber NB, Spicer LJ. 2012. The hedgehog system in ovarian follicles of cattle selected for twin ovulations and births: evidence of a link between the IGF and hedgehog systems. Biology of Reproduction 87(4):79. Aarabi M, Yu Y, Xu W, Man Y, Tse MY, Pang SC, Yi Y-J, Sutovsky P, Oko R. 2012. The Testicular and epididymal expression profile of PLC¶ in mouse and human does not support its role as a sperm-borne oocyte activating factor. PLoS ONE, 7(3):e33496. Ashworth MD, Ross JW, Ritchey JR, DeSilva U, Stein DR, Geisert RD, White FJ. 2012. Effects of Aberrant Estrogen on the Endometrial Transcriptional Profile in Pigs. Reproductive Toxicology 2012 34:8-15. Aslam ML, Bastiaansen JW, Elferink MG, Megens HJ, Crooijmans RP, Blomberg LA, Fleischer RC, Van Tassell CP, Sonstegard TS, Schroeder SG, Groenen MA, Long JA. 2012. Whole genome SNP discovery and analysis of genetic diversity in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). BMC Genomics 14:13:391. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-391. Bakst MR, Akuffo V, Nicholson D, French N. 2012. Comparison of blastoderm traits from 2 lines of broilers before and after egg storage and incubation. Poultry Science 91:2645-2648. Bartol FF, Wiley AA, Miller DJ, Silva AJ, Roberts KE, Davolt MLP, Chen JC, Frankshun, A-L, Camp ME, Rahman KM, Vallet JL, Bagnell CA. 2013. Lactation Biology Symposium: Lactocrine signaling and developmental programming. Journal of Animal Science 91(2):696-705. Baumgard, LH, Rhoads RP, Rhoads ML, Gabler NK, Ross JW, Keating AF, Boddicker RL, Lenka S, Sejian V. 2012. Impact of climate change on livestock production. Chapter 15. Environmental Stress and Amelioration in Livestock Production. Eds. V. Sejian, S.M.K. Naqvi, T. Ezeji, J. Lakritz, and R. Lal. Springer Publishing, pp 413-468. Bhattacharya P, Madden JA, Sen N, Hoyer PB, Keating AF. 2013. Glutathione S-transferase class mu regulation of apoptosis signal-related kinase 1 protein during VCD-induced ovotoxicity in neonatal rat ovaries. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 267(1):49-56. Bi J, Li Y, Sun F, Saalbach A, Klein C, Miller DJ, Hess R, Nowak R. 2013. Basigin null mutant male mice are sterile and exhibit impaired interactions between gametes and Sertoli cells. Developmental Biology (In Press). Bischoff SR, Tsai SQ, Hardison NE, Motsinger-Reif AA, Freking BA, Nonneman DJ, Rohrer GA, Piedrahita JA. 2013. Differences in X-chromosome transcriptional activity and cholesterol metabolism between placentae from swine breeds from Asian and Western origins. PloS One 8(1):E55345. Blomberg LA, Telugu BP. 2012. Twenty years of embryonic stem cell research in farm animals. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 47 Suppl: 4:80-85. Breen, SM, Knox RV. 2012. The impact of dose of FSH (Follitropin) containing LH (Lutropin) on follicular development, estrus and ovulation responses in prepubertal gilts. Animal Reproductive Science 132:193-200. Canaday DC, Salak-Johnson JL, Visconti AM, Wang X, Bhalerao K, Knox RV. 2013. Effect of variability in lighting and temperature environments for mature gilts house in gestation crates on measures of reproduction and animal well-being. Journal of Animal Science 91:1225-1236. Caperna TJ, Shannon AE, Blomberg LA, Garrett WM, Ramsay TG. 2012. Iron dextran treatment does not induce serum protein carbonyls in the newborn pig. Animal 6:79-86. Caperna TJ, Shannon AE, Blomberg LA, Stoll M, Ramsay TG. 2012. Identification of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) as a potential marker of impaired growth in the newborn piglet. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 10.1071/RD12103. [Epub ahead of print] Caires KC, de Avila JM, Cupp AS, McLean DJ. 2012. VEGFA family isoforms regulate spermatogonial stem cell homeostasis in vivo. Endocrinology 153:887-900. Coleman, SW, Chase CC, Phillips WA, Riley DG, Olson TA. 2012. Evaluation of tropically adapted straightbred and crossbred cattle: Postweaning BW gain and feed efficiency when finished in a temperate climate. Journal of Animal Science 90(6):1955-1965. Cushman RA. 2013. Physiology and Endocrinology Symposium: The current status of heat shock in early embryonic survival and reproductive efficiency. Journal of Animal Science 91(3):1141-1142. Cushman RA, Perry GA. 2012. What we know about the genetics of reproduction. Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (Proc., Sioux Falls, SD; 3-4 Dec 2012):165-173. Echternkamp SE, Aad PY, Eborn DR, Spicer LJ. 2012. Increased abundance of aromatase and follicle stimulating hormone receptor mRNA and decreased insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor mRNA in small ovarian follicles of cattle selected for twin births. Journal of Animal Science 90(7):2193-2200. Flowers WL. 2013. Sperm characteristics that limit success of fertilization. Journal of Animal Science (in press). Flowers WL, Stewart KR, Gall T, Novack S, Dyck MK, Kirkwood RN. 2013. Boar seminal plasma proteins and their relevance to reproductive technologies. In: Control of Pig Reproduction IX, H. Rodriguez-Martinez, N. Soede, and W.L. Flowers (eds). Context Publishing, Ltd., Nottingham, U.K. pp. 33-46. Foust KB, Li Y, Park KE, Liu S, Wang X, Cabot RA. 2013. The polycomb group protein EED varies in its ability to access the nucleus in porcine oocytes and cleavage stage embryos. Animal Reproduction Science 133(3-4):198-204. Frankel TE, Theisen DD, Guthrie HD, Welch GR, Woods LC 3rd. 2013. The effect of freezing rate on the quality of striped bass sperm. Theriogenology 79:940-945. Freking BA, Purdy PH, Spiller SF, Welsh CS, Blackburn HD. 2012. Boar sperm quality in lines of pigs selected for either ovulation rate or uterine capacity. Journal of Animal Science 90(8):2515-2523. Groenen MAM, Archibald AL, Uenishi H, Tuggle CK, Takeuchi Y, Rothschild MF, Rogel-Gaillard C, Park C, Milan D, Megens H-J, Li S, Larkin DM, Kim H, Frantz LAF, Caccamo M, Ahn H, Aken BL, Anselmo A, Anthon C, Auvil L, Badaoui B, Beattie CW, Bendixen C, Berman D, Blecha F, Blomberg J, Bolund L, Bosse M, Botti S, Bujie Z, Bystrom M, Capitanu B, Carvalho-Silva D, Chardon P, Chen C, Cheng R, Choi S-H, Chow W, Clark RC, Clee C, Crooijmans RPMA, Dawson HD, Dehais P, De Sapio F, Dibbits B, Drou N, Du Z-Q, Eversole K, Fadista J, Fairley S, Faraut T, Faulkner GJ, Fowler KE, Fredholm M, Fritz E, Gilbert JGR, Giuffra E, Gorodkin J, Griffin DK, Harrow JL, Hayward A, Howe K, Hu Z-L, Humphray SJ, Hunt T, Hornshøj H, Jeon J-T, Jern P, Jones M, Jurka J, Kanamori H, Kapetanovic R, Kim J, Kim J-H, Kim K-W, Kim T-H, Larson G, Lee K, Lee K-T, Leggett R, Lewin HA, Li Y, Liu W, Loveland JE, Lu Y, Lunney JK, Ma J, Madsen O, Mann K, Matthews L, McLaren S, Morozumi T, Murtaugh MP, Narayan J, Truong Nguyen D, Ni P, Oh S-J, Onteru S, Panitz F, Park E-W, Park H-S, Pascal G, Paudel Y, Perez-Enciso M, Ramirez-Gonzalez R, Reecy JM, Rodriguez-Zas S, Rohrer GA, Rund L, Sang Y, Schachtschneider K, Schraiber JG, Schwartz J, Scobie L, Scott C, Searle S, Servin B, Southey BR, Sperber G, Stadler P, Sweedler JV, Tafer H, Thomsen B, Wali R, Wang J, Wang J, White S, Xu X, Yerle M, Zhang G, Zhang J, Zhang J, Zhao S, Rogers J, Churcher C, Schook LB. 2012. Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution. Nature 491(7424):393-398. Guthrie HD, Welch GR. 2012. Effects of reactive oxygen species on sperm function. Theriogenology 78:1700-1708. Hausman GJ, Barb CR, Lents CA. 2012. Leptin and reproductive function. Biochimie 94:2075-2081. Isom SC, Li R, Whitworth KM, Prather RS. 2012. Timing of first embryonic cleavage is a positive indicator of the in vitro developmental potential of porcine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization, somatic cell nuclear transfer and parthenogenesis. Molecular Reproduction and Development 79:197-207. Kadirvel G, Machado SA, Korneli C, Collins E, Miller P, Bess KN, Aoki K, Tiemeyer M, Bovin N, Miller D. 2012. Porcine sperm bind to specific 6-sialylated biantennary glycans to form the oviduct reservoir. Biololgy of Reproduction DOI:10.1095/biolreprod.112.103879. Klassen H, Kiilgaard JF, Warfvinge K, Samuel MS, Prather RS, Wong F, Petters RM, LaCour M, Young MJ. 2012. Photoreceptor differentiation following transplantation of allogeneic retinal progenitor cells to the dystrophic rhodopsin Pro347Leu transgenic pig. Stem Cells International doi:10.1155/2012/939801. Knox RV, Rodriguez Zas SL, Sloter NL, McNamara KA, Gall TJ, Levis DG, Safranski TJ, Singleton WL. 2013. An analysis of survey data by size of the breeding herd for the reproductive management practices of North American sow farms. Journal of Animal Science 91:433-45. Krisher RL, Prather RS. 2012. A role for the Warburg Effect in preimplantation embryo development: metabolic modification to support rapid proliferation. Molecular Reproduction and Development 79:311-320. Lee K, Redel BK, Teson J, Spate LD, Park K-W, Walters E, Samuel M, Murphy CN, Prather RS. 2013. Piglets produced from cloned blastocysts cultured in vitro with GM-CSF. Molecular Reproduction and Development 80:145-154. Lee K, Wang C, Machaty Z. 2012. STIM1 is required for Ca2+ signaling during mammalian fertilization. Developmental Biology 367:154-162. Lents CA, Barb CR, Hausman GJ. 2013. Chap. 2. Role of adipose secreted factors and kisspeptin in the metabolic control of gonadotropin secretion and puberty. In: Gonadotropin (Vizcarra, J., ed.). InTech, New York. pp. 25-56. Long JA, Conn TL. 2012. Use of phosphatidylcholine to improve the function of turkey semen stored at 4°C for 24 hours. Poultry Science 91:1990-1996. Lovercamp KW, Stewart KR, Xi L, Flowers WL. 2013. Effect of dietary selenium on boar sperm quality. Animal Reproduction Science (in press). Machaty Z, Peippo J, Peter A. 2012. Production and manipulation of bovine embryos: techniques and terminology. Theriogenology 78:937-950. Machaty Z, Wang C, Lee K. 2012. Store-operated Ca2+ entry in germ cells: role in egg activation. In: Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) pathways; (Eds.: K. Groschner, W.F. Graier, C. Romanin). pp. 461. Springer-Verlag/Wien, Austria. Mack EM, Smith JE, Kurz SG, Wood JR. 2012. Cyclic AMP dependent regulation of ovulatory response genes is amplified by IGF1 due to synergistic effects on Akt phosphorylation and NFkB transcription factors. Reproduction 144:595-602. Mani V, Harris AJ, Keating AF, Weber TE, Dekkers JCM, Gabler NK. 2013. Intestinal integrity, endotoxin transport and detoxification in pigs divergently selected for residual feed intake. Journal of Animal Science (in press). Mao J, Tessanne K, Whitworth KM, Spate LD, Walters EM, Samuel MS, Murphy CN, Tracy L, Zhao J, Prather RS. 2012. Effects of Combined Treatment of MG132 and Scriptaid on Early and Term Development of Porcine Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos. Cellular Reprogramming 14:385-389. Mao, J, Whitworth KM, Spate LD, Walters EM, Zhao J, Prather RS. 2012. Regulation of oocyte mitochondria DNA copy number by follicular fluid, EGF, and neuregulin 1 during in vitro maturation affects embryo development in pigs. Theriogenology 78:887-897. McDaneld TG, Smith TPL, Harhay GP, Wiedmann RT. 2012. Next-generation sequencing of the porcine skeletal muscle transcriptome for computational prediction of microRNA gene targets. PloS One 7(7):e42039. McFee RM, Rozell TG, Cupp AS. 2012. The balance of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic VEGFA isoforms regulate follicle development. Cell Tissue Research 349:635-647. McFee RM, Cupp AS. 2013. Vascular contributions to early ovarian development: potential roles of VEGFA isoforms. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 25:333-342. Men H, Walters EM, Nagashima H, Prather RS. 2012. Emerging applications of sperm, embryo and somatic cell cryopreservation in maintenance, relocation and rederivation of swine genetics. Theriogenology 78:1720-1729. Mesa H, Cammack KM, Safranski TJ, Green JA, Lamberson WR. 2012. Selection for placental efficiency in swine: Conceptus development. Journal of Animal Science 90:4217-22. Miao Y-L, Zhang X, Zhao J-G, Spate L, Zhao M-T, Murphy CN, Prather RS, Sun Q-Y, Schatten H. 2012. Effects of griseofulvin on in vitro porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 53:561-566. Miles EL, OGorman C, Zhao J, Samuel M, Walters E, Yi Y-J, Sutovsky M, Prather RS, Wells KD, Sutovsky P. 2013. Transgenic Pig Carrying Green Fluorescent Proteasomes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 110:6334-6339. Miles EL, Sutovsky P. 2013. Sperm proteasome as a putative egg coat lysin in mammals. In: Sexual Reproduction in Animals and Plants. Hitoshi Sawada, Naokazu Inoue, and Megumi Iwano, Editors. Springer (in press). Miles JR, Vallet JL, Ford JJ, Freking BA, Cushman RA, Oliver WT, Rempel LA. 2012. Contributions of the maternal uterine environment and piglet genotype on weaning survivability potential: I. Development of neonatal piglets after reciprocal embryo transfers between Meishan and White crossbred gilts. Journal of Animal Science 90:2181-2192. Miller D, Rathbun T, Boyle D, Troyer D, Davis DL. 2012. Confocal imaging of trans-epithelial trafficking by immune and umbilical cord stem cells in the neonatal porcine intestine. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 41:461-468. Mitchell AD, Ramsay TG, Caperna TJ, Scholz AM. 2012. Body composition of piglets exhibiting different growth rates. Archiv Tierzucht 55:356-363. Mousel EM, Cushman RA, Perry GA, Kill LK. 2012. Effect of heifer calving date on longevity and lifetime productivity. Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (Proc., Sioux Falls, SD; 3-4 Dec 2012):23-31. Nagyova E, Scsukova S, Nemcova L, Mlynarcikova A., Yi Y-J, Sutovsky M, Sutovsky P. 2012. Inhibition of proteasomal proteolysis affects expression of extracellular matrix components and steroidogenesis in porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 42:50-62. Newcomer SC, Taheripour P, Bahls M, Sheldon R, Foust KB, Bidwell CB, Cabot RA. 2012. Impact of porcine maternal exercise training during pregnancy on endothelial call function of offspring at birth. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 3:4-9. Nickelson KJ, Stromsdorfer KL, Pickering RT, Liu TW, Ortinau LC, Keating AF, Perfield JW. 2013. A comparison of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in adipose tissue from weight-matched obese male and female mice. Experimental Diabetes Research (in press). Nonneman DJ, Brown-Brandl TM, Jones SA, Wiedmann RT, Rohrer GA. 2012. A defect in dystrophin causes a novel porcine stress syndrome. BMC Genomics 13:233. Ostrup O, Olbricht G, Ostrup E, Hyttel P, Collas P, Cabot R. 2013. RNA profiles of porcine embryos during genome activation reveal complex metabolic switch sensitive to in vitro conditions. PLoS One (in press). Park KE, Inerowicz HD, Wang X, Li Y, Koser S, Cabot RA. 2012. Identification of Karyopherin ±1 and ±7 Interacting Proteins in Porcine Tissue. PLoS One 7:e38990. Park KE, Johnson CM, Cabot RA. 2012. BIX-01294, an inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase EHMT2, disrupts H3K9 dimethylation in the cleavage stage porcine embryo. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 24:813-821. Perry GA, Larimore EL, Bridges GA, Cushman RA. 2012. Management strategies for improving lifetime reproductive success in beef heifers. Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (Proc., Sioux Falls, SD; 3-4 Dec 2012):249-266. Prather RS, Lorson M., Ross JW, Whyte JJ, Walters E. 2012. Genetically Engineered Pig Models for Human Diseases. Annual Reviews in Animal Biosciences, Palo Alto, CA. Prather RS. 2013. Pig genomics for biomedicine. News & Views. Nature Biotechnology 7;31(2):122-124. Prather RS, Lorson M, Ross JW, Whyte J, Walters E. 2013. Genetically engineered pig models for human diseases. In: Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Vol. 1 (L. Andersson, D.E. Bauman, W.C. Brown, H.A. Lewin, S.J. OBrien, E.A. Ostrander, R.M. Roberts, L.J. Saif, G.E. 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Impact Statements

A functional GnRHR-II has been discovered in pigs and recent evidence suggests that GnRH-II may be directly involved in testosterone production, as boars immunized against GnRH-II displayed reduced plasma testosterone, independent of changes in luteinizing hormone levels. GnRH-II receptors have been localized in to the plasma membrane of Leydig cells. The role of GnRH-II in the development of boar testis and semen production will be evaluated through knockdown the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone II receptor. A GnRH II knockout gilt has been produced which will help serve as a founder for production of males.
Pig conceptuses secrete a unique form of interleukin-1beta which has been proposed to alter uterine function and initiate rapid trophoblast elongation prior to placental attachment. A IL-1B knockout is current being developed to determine the role of the cytokine in the establishment of pregnancy.
Breeding of pigs with frozen semen may help reduce the seasonal depression in fertility. There is question of whether frozen semen can have any epigenetic effects on offspring. Methylation analysis indicates that there was little epigenetic modification to the fetus but changes in placental genome methylation was detected in a primary study.
Methods of improving classroom learning can be enhanced through laboratory data analysis. One method is to illustrate the effects of fetal crowding on brain development evaluate fetal growth at different stages of pregnancy. The fetal response to nutritional stress leads to brain sparing as measured by an increase in the ratio of brain to liver weight. A second method is to demonstrate delayed implantation in rats with an estrogen antagonist which provides discussion on not only delayed implantation but hormones and receptor function. Third, development of case studies to introduce solving reproductive problems in an international animal program outside the US will help students to become more culturally aware and outside their comfort zone.
US MARC continues to have an eight week student training program to introduce students to agricultural research.
Heat stress of sows during gestation causes epigenetic effects on offspring which alters adolescent offspring body composition indices and metabolic parameters in pigs.
The understanding of miRNA expression on development in pigs may facilitate the development of strategies to improve the reproductive efficiency in pigs. In addition, understanding the specific mechanisms of heat stress during gestation in pigs will be beneficial in characterizing the year-round implications of periods of environmental stress.
The artificial induction on heat stress for 48 h in boars through boar pants allowed the determination of when heat has a detrimental effect on spermatogenesis. Increase in testis temperature effected development of primary spermatocytes. The shape of the sperm head is an indicator of damage and fertility.
A zinc-regulated membrane pore Staphylococcus aureus ±-hemolysin transports small impermeant protectants into sperm. Hypothesis is that intracellular transport of impermeant small molecules will better protect cellular organelles and improve the longevity and fertility of sperm during hypothermic storage in either liquid or frozen form.
Analysis of ejaculated sperm residual RNA may provide information for prediction of fertility, storage longevity, and early embryo development. However, there are problems with getting enough non-degraded RNA from the sperm preps.