This study characterizes the expression of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors in the porcine corpus luteum (CL) across distinct stages of the oestrous cycle, and evaluates the regulatory role of FGF2 on angiogenesis, steroidogenesis, and cell survival in vitro. The CL was classified morphologically into four phases: Phase I (days 1–8; corpus haemorrhagicum; ELP), Phase II (days 9–14; highly vascularized CL; MLP), Phase III (day 15 onward; ischemic regression; LLP), and Phase IV (corpus albicans; avascular and regressed; RR). Each phase included 10 biological replicates (n = 10). Quantitative RT-PCR revealed significant upregulation (p < 0.001) of FGF1, FGF2, FGF7, FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR4 during early and mid-luteal stages. FGFR3 and FGFR2IIIC showed no significant variation, while FGFR2IIIB was downregulated (p < 0.001) during early/mid-luteal stages and upregulated during luteal regression. FGF10 expression declined significantly (p < 0.001) during regression. Western blotting Densitometry confirmed trends mRNA expression. In-vitro supplementation of FGF2 (1, 10, and 100 ng/ml) during the mid-luteal stage enhanced mRNA expression of angiogenic (vWF), steroidogenic (StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD), and cell survival (PCNA, BAX) markers. StAR, CYP11A1, and 3β-HSD were significantly upregulated (p < 0.001) from 24 to 72 h in a dose-dependent manner. vWF and PCNA showed significant increases at 48 and 72 h, while BAX expression progressively declined (p > 0.001). The 100 ng/ml dose elicited the most pronounced effects. These findings suggest that FGF family members exert autocrine/paracrine effects that support luteal cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, steroidogenesis, and survival, underscoring their critical role in porcine ovarian physiology.

Embryo implantation in pigs represents a complex immunological and biochemical interaction between the developing conceptus and the maternal endometrium. The present study investigated temporal changes in key cytokines associated with successful implantation and early pregnancy in pigs. Twelve healthy sows (HDK75: 75% Hampshire × 25% local) were divided equally into pregnant and non-pregnant groups. Blood samples were collected from day 0 to day 42 post-insemination at weekly intervals, and plasma concentrations of cytokines—IFN-γ, IFN-β, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, and TNF-α were quantified using ELISA.A significant (p < 0.05) progressive increase was observed in all cytokines in pregnant pigs, indicating active immunomodulation during early gestation. IFN-γ, IL-1β, and TNF-α showed sharp elevations, reflecting their roles in endometrial receptivity, inflammation, and trophoblast invasion. Concurrently, IL-1RA, IL-4 and IL-10 exhibited marked increases, suggesting an anti-inflammatory shift crucial for maternal-fetal immune tolerance. The coordinated rise of IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18 further indicated involvement in vascular remodeling and angiogenesis essential for placental development. In contrast, non-pregnant pigs displayed stable cytokine levels across all sampling points, confirming the absence of immune activation or inflammatory stimuli. These findings demonstrate that successful implantation in pigs is governed by a dynamic cytokine network balancing pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. The interplay among these cytokines ensures immune tolerance, endometrial remodeling and vascular adaptation necessary for embryo attachment and maintenance of early pregnancy. The study highlights cytokine profiling as a potential biomarker approach for monitoring reproductive status in pigs. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

The angiogenic cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) also exerts non-angiogenic effects on endocrine functionality of porcine luteal cells critical for progesterone (P4) production. The expression dynamics of VEGFA-FLT/KDR system were investigated using RT-qPCR during luteal stages and VEGFA gene knock out (KO) porcine luteal cells were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The downstream effects of VEGFA ablation were studied using RT-qPCR, Annexin V, MTT, ELISA for P4 estimation and scratch wound assay. Bioinformatics analysis of RNA-Seq data of porcine mid-luteal stage was conducted for exploring protein–protein interaction network, KEGG pathways, transcription factors and kinase mapping for VEGFA-FLT/KDR interactomes. The VEGFA-FLT/KDR system expressed throughout the luteal stages with highest expression during mid- luteal stage. Cellular morphology, structure and oil-red-o staining for lipid droplets did not differ significantly between VEGFA KO and wild type cells, however, VEGFA KO significantly decreased (p < 0.05) viability and proliferation efficiency of edited cells on subsequent passages. Expression of apoptotic gene, CASP3 and hypoxia related gene, HIF1A were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in KO cells. The relative mRNA expression of VEGFA and steroidogenic genes STAR, CYP11A1 and HSD3B1 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) upon KO, which was further validated by the significant (p < 0.05) decrease in P4 output from KO cells. Bioinformatics analysis mapped VEGFA-FLT/KDR system to signalling pathways associated with steroidogenic cell functionality and survival, which complemented the findings of the study. The ablation of VEGFA gene resulted in decreased steroidogenic capability of luteal cells, which suggests that VEGFA exerts additional non-angiogenic regulatory effects in luteal cell functionality.

Luteal steroidogenesis is critical to implantation and pregnancy maintenance in mammals. The role of androgen receptors (AR) in the progesterone (P4) producing luteal cells of porcine corpus luteum (CL) remains unexplored. The aim of the present study was to establish AR gene knock out (KO) porcine luteal cell culture system model by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology and to study the downstream effects of AR gene deficiency on steroidogenic potential and viability of luteal cells. For this purpose, genomic cleavage detection assay, microscopy, RT-qPCR, ELISA, annexin, MTT, and viability assay complemented by bioinformatics analysis were employed. There was significant downregulation (p < 0.05) in the relative mRNA expression of steroidogenic marker genes STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B1 in AR KO luteal cells as compared to the control group, which was further validated by the significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the P4 production. Significant decrease (p < 0.05) in relative viability on third passage were also observed. The relative mRNA expression of hypoxia related gene HIF1A was significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated in AR KO luteal cells. Protein-protein interaction analysis mapped AR to signaling pathways associated with luteal cell functionality. These findings suggests that AR gene functionality is critical to luteal cell steroidogenesis in porcine.

Infrared thermography (IRT) is an advanced, safe, non-invasive, and contactless technology used to determine the surface temperature of an object. Thermal cameras absorb the infrared radiation generated by the surface, then transform it into electrical signals, and provide a thermal image of the body's surface temperature distribution. In addition to human medicine, IRT has mostly been used in veterinary medicine for diagnostic purposes and to detect distress in an animal. However, IRT can be a very effective technique for livestock and poultry breeding research viz. thermoregulation, reproduction, animal welfare, etc. Before preclinical testing, it is crucial to intervene to reduce the stress levels in experimental animals for the betterment of the experimental outcome. Where the infrared thermography could help us to monitor and assess the health status or the stress level in addition to behavioral and physiological parameters before the pre-clinical testing might be beneficial for better outcome and reproducibility. Therefore, this manuscript reviews the recent advances in infrared thermography and its use in animal science.

A study was undertaken to know the socio-economic status of women pig farmers, pig rearing system, feeding management, annual income from piggery and constraints faced by women farmers and involvement and contribution of women in backyard piggery in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district under North bank plain zone of Assam. A total of 577 women farmers involved actively in pig farming were randomly selected and interviewed with a standard questionnaire. Involvement of married (40.9%) and middle aged women (26-35 years) with formal education adopted piggery through low input traditional management practices for fattening purpose (49.04%). The management system followed was scavenging system (47.05%). Kitchen waste and leftover of local rice beer along with rice bran were the common feeds offered to pigs. The major constraints to women involvement in pig farming was found to be inadequate capital (37.43%) followed by high cost of medication and commercial ration (28.94%) and pre-occupation with household chores (17.67%). The average age at puberty of pig (16.55 +/- 0.11 months) was longer. The average weight gain (2.31 +/- 0.01 kg/month), litter size at birth (10.57 +/- 0.13) and litter size at weaning (5 76 +/- 0.14) were poor. It was found that 70% of the women farmers could generate medium level of annual income (40-50 thousand) followed by 19.5% with high level income (>50 thousand). The study recommended that easy access to credit facilities from the financial institution and improve technical skills on pig farming may increase the level of involvement and help in doubling the annual income of the women piggery farmers. Backyard piggery may act as way of women empowerment in rural areas and enhance the socio-economic status of the women in piggery.

Research has proved the link of saturated fats to various chronic diseases, due to which there is an increasing trend on maintaining health and demand for food with lower fat content has been ever increasing by the modern society. This demand has necessitated developing value added products including meat products with low-fat content. Fat reduction can be achieved by using whey and whey based preparation. Whey protein has fat like properties and improves water binding capacity, increases juiciness and gives mouth feel of fat making it an excellent fat replacer in low fat meat products. In addition to their functional characteristics, they also contain readily digestible and bio-available essential amino acids, which provide a high nutritive value and plays a significant role in promotion of wellbeing. This paper reviews the various properties of whey and their use in the development of various value added meat products with lower fat contents.

To better understand the molecular basis of corpus luteum (CL) development and function RNA-Seq was utilized to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in porcine CL during different physiological stages of the estrous cycle viz. early (EL), mid (ML), late (LL) and regressed (R) luteal. Stage wise comparisons obtained 717 (EL vs. ML), 568 (EL vs. LL), 527 (EL vs. R), 786 (ML vs. LL), 474 (ML vs. R) and 534 (LL vs. R) DEGs with log2(FC) ≥1 and p < 0.05. The process of angiogenesis, steroidogenesis, signal transduction, translation, cell proliferation and tissue remodelling were significantly (p < 0.05) enriched in EL, ML and LL stages, where as apoptosis was most active in regressed stage. Pathway analysis revealed that most annotated genes were associated with lipid metabolism, translation, immune and endocrine system pathways depicting intra-luteal control of diverse CL function. The network analysis identified genes AR, FOS, CDKN1A, which were likely the novel hub genes regulating CL physiology.