This article examines the Greek noun σαγγάνδης ‘messenger’ which is attested in two lexica, dated to Roman or early Byzantine periods: Cambridge Rhetorical Lexicon by an anonymous author and Difficult Words Attic Orators Claudius Casilo. In both works, appears together with three words of likely Iranian provenance: ὀροσάγγης ‘benefactor Persian king; bodyguard’, παρασάγγης ‘parasang; messenger’...

Zygotic gene expression programs control cell differentiation in vertebrate development. In Xenopus, these programs are initiated by local induction of regulatory genes through maternal signaling activities in the wake of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) at the midblastula transition (MBT). These programs lay down the vertebrate body plan through gastrulation and neurulation, and are accompanied...

Evolutionary developmental biology (EVO-DEVO) tries to decode evolutionary constraints on the stages of embryonic development. Two models--the "funnel-like" model and the "hourglass" model--have been proposed by investigators to illustrate the fluctuation of selective pressure on these stages. However, selective indices of stages corresponding to mammalian preimplantation embryonic development ...

During in vitro cultivation of preimplantation embryos, the balance between ROS production and clearance is disturbed and may lead to incompetent embryos, which might be a main reason of IVF-ET failure. Icariin (ICA) is reported to be active in clearing ROS. The present study aimed to investigate whether ICA could reverse H2O2 pretreatment-induced mouse preimplantation embryo development arrest...

Abstract Study question What is the underlying mechanism contributing to transgenerational defects of oocytes and embryos polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Summary answer The inheritance abnormal chromatin accessibility in PCOS responsible for defect transgeneration. known already Studies have provided evidence compromised oocyte quality related adverse impacts. Observed animal-model include me...

Background Despite successful cloning of many mammalian species, the cloning efficiency is extremely low compared to that of IVF raising the possibility of the existence of epigenetic barrier preventing successful cloning. MaterialsAndMethods Using comparative transcriptome analysis comparing transcriptomes of IVF and SCNT embryos and that of donor cells, we identified epigenetic barrier and fi...

Abstract Study question What are the effect and corresponding mechanisms of chromosome chaos sperm caused by mutation MEIKIN gene on preimplantation embryo development? Summary answer Sperm induced mutations directly causes blastocyst formation failure affecting activation embryonic genome lineage differentiation. is known already In mice, Meikin a meiosis-specific kinetochore factor that plays...

Abstract Study question Screen the key gene groups that determine development of blastocyst. Explore effect ovol1/2 on early embryonic development. Summary answer We founded there were insufficient activation Major ZGA genes in AE group,and focused candidate ovol1/2. What is known already At present, clinical success rate assisted reproductive technology (ART) less than 50%. A large number embr...

STUDY QUESTION Is the postovulatory aging-dependent differential decrease of mRNAs and polyadenylation of mRNAs coded by maternal effect genes associated with altered abundance and distribution of maternal effect and RNA-binding proteins (MSY2)? SUMMARY ANSWER Postovulatory aging results in differential reduction in abundance of maternal effect proteins, loss of RNA-binding proteins from spec...

•Aberrant acetylated regions (AARs) are an epigenetic barrier in SCNT embryos•TSA partly fixes AARs but is restricted by native epi-environments donor cells•Dux restores H3K9ac occupancy, drives 2C activation, and improves efficiency•Rescue efficiency Kdm4b TSA largely relies on Dux cluster activation Differentiated somatic cells can be reprogrammed to totipotent embryos through cell nuclear tr...