In addition to the primary stimulus of glucose, specific amino acids may acutely and chronically regulate insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells in vivo and in vitro. Mitochondrial metabolism is crucial for the coupling of glucose, alanine, glutamine and glutamate recognition with exocytosis of insulin granules. This is illustrated by in vitro and in vivo observations discussed in the present review. Mitochondria generate ATP (the main coupling messenger in insulin secretion) and other factors that serve as sensors for the control of the exocytotic process. The main factors that mediate the key amplifying pathway over the Ca(2+) signal in nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion are nucleotides (ATP, GTP, cAMP and NADPH), although metabolites have also been proposed, such as long-chain acyl-CoA derivatives and glutamate. In addition, after chronic exposure, specific amino acids may influence gene expression in the beta-cell, which have an impact on insulin secretion and cellular integrity. Therefore amino acids may play a direct or indirect (via generation of putative messengers of mitochondrial origin) role in insulin secretion.

There has been a marked decline in the fertility of dairy cows over the past decades, and metabolomic analysis offers a potential to investigate the underlying causes. Metabolite composition of the follicular fluid, which presents the intrafollicular environment, may be an important factor affecting oocyte maturation and subsequent early embryo development. The aim of the present study was to investigate the metabolic differences between follicular fluid from the dominant follicle of lactating cows and heifers using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolomics. Follicular fluid and serum were collected from cows and heifers over three phases of follicle development: newly selected dominant follicles, preovulatory follicles prior to oestrus and post-LH surge follicles. Analysis of the fatty acids revealed that there were 24 fatty acids and 9 aqueous metabolites significantly different between cows and heifers. Of particular interest were the higher concentrations of saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, PZ0.001; stearic acid, PZ0.005) in follicular fluid from cows and higher docosahexaenoic acid levels (PZ0.022) in follicular fluid from heifers. Analysis of the metabolite composition of serum revealed that follicular fluid had a unique lipid composition. The higher concentrations of detrimental saturated fatty in cows will have a negative impact on oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Overall, the results suggest that the follicle microenvironment in cows potentially places their oocytes at a developmental disadvantage compared with heifers, and that this may contribute to well-characterised differences in fertility.

Specific amino acids are known to acutely and chronically regulate insulin secretion from pancreatic ␤-cells in vivo and in vitro. Mitochondrial metabolism is crucial for the coupling of amino acid and glucose recognition to exocytosis of insulin granules. This is illustrated by in vitro and in vivo observations discussed in the present review. Mitochondria generate ATP, which is the main coupling messenger in insulin secretion, and other coupling factors, which serve as sensors for the control of the exocytotic process. Numerous studies have sought to identify the factors that mediate the key amplifying pathway over the Ca 2؉ signal in nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion. Predominantly, these factors are nucleotides (ATP, GTP, cAMP, and NADPH), although metabolites have also been proposed, such as long-chain acyl-CoA derivatives and glutamate. This scenario further highlights the importance of the key enzymes or transporters, e.g., glutamate dehydrogenase, the aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, and the malate-aspartate shuttle in the control of insulin secretion. In addition, after chronic exposure, amino acids may influence gene expression in the ␤-cell, which subsequently alters levels of insulin secretion. Therefore, amino acids may play a direct or indirect (via generation of putative messengers of mitochondrial origin) role in insulin secretion. Diabetes 55 (Suppl. 2)

There is increasing evidence that sebaceous fatty acids play a role in the maintenance of skin barrier integrity. We have shown for the first time that patients with PPR have an abnormal sebaceous fatty acid composition, with reduced levels of long chain saturated fatty acids. These new findings may have therapeutic implications for the development of sebum-modifying nonantibiotic treatments for patients with PPR.

Abstract. The follicle is a unique micro-environment within which the oocyte can develop and mature to a fertilisable gamete. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a panel of follicular parameters, including intrafollicular steroid and metabolomic profiles and theca, granulosa and cumulus cell candidate gene mRNA abundance, to predict the potential of bovine oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Individual follicles were dissected from abattoir ovaries, carefully ruptured under a stereomicroscope and the oocyte was recovered and individually processed through in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture. The mean (AE s.e.m.) follicular concentrations of testosterone (62.8 AE 4.8 ng mL ) were not different (P . 0.05) between oocytes that formed (competent) or failed to form (incompetent) blastocysts. Principal-component analysis of the quantified aqueous metabolites in follicular fluid showed differences between oocytes that formed blastocysts and oocytes that degenerated; L-alanine, glycine and L-glutamate were positively correlated and urea was negatively correlated with blastocyst formation. Follicular fluid associated with competent oocytes was significantly lower in palmitic acid (P ¼ 0.023) and total fatty acids (P ¼ 0.031) and significantly higher in linolenic acid (P ¼ 0.036) than follicular fluid from incompetent oocytes. Significantly higher (P , 0.05) transcript abundance of LHCGR in granulosa cells, ESR1 and VCAN in thecal cells and TNFAIP6 in cumulus cells was associated with competent compared with incompetent oocytes.