Journal: Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
Article Title: Dietary supplementation with N -acetyl-L-cysteine ameliorates hyperactivated ERK signaling in the endometrium that is linked to poor pregnancy outcomes following ovarian stimulation in pigs
doi: 10.1186/s40104-024-01109-1
Figure Lengend Snippet: Dietary NAC supplementation alleviates the endometrial overproliferation and enhances pregnancy outcomes in gilts. A Schematic illustration of experimental design where gilts were supplemented with or without NAC. B and C The pregnancy rate ( B ) and litter size ( C ) in gilts supplemented with different doses of NAC. D and E The number of ovulated oocytes after GnRH administration ( D ) determined by counting the number of corpora lutea, and conceptuses ( E ) on d 12 of pregnancy. F Immunohistochemical analysis of PCNA in the endometrium of gilts on d 12 of pregnancy in OS and OS + NAC groups. Scale bar: 20 μm. G The percentage of gilts with morphologically abnormal conceptuses on d 12 of pregnancy. H The morphology of conceptuses from gilts on d 17 of pregnancy in OS and OS + NAC groups. Right panel: the percentage of gilts with morphologically abnormal conceptuses. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. n value represents the number of gilts. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01. ns, not significant. OS, ovarian stimulation; NAC, N -acetyl-L-cysteine; PMSG, pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; AI, artificial insemination; D12, d 12 of pregnancy; D17, d 17 of pregnancy; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen
Article Snippet: In the OS group, mice were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 5 IU PMSG (Ningbo Sansheng) and a further 5 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; Ningbo Sansheng) 46–48 h later.
Techniques: Immunohistochemical staining