BACKGROUND Myostatin (MSTN) negatively regulates skeletal muscle development; however, its functions in internal organs have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we compared the morphological, molecular, and biological characteristics of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and tongue of homozygous MSTN mutant (MSTN−/−), heterozygous MSTN mutant (MSTN+/−), and wild‐type (WT) piglets. RESULTS The heart and liver were lighter in MSTN−/− piglets than in MSTN+/− piglets, while the tongue was heavier in MSTN−/− piglets than in WT piglets (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the tongue was longer in MSTN−/− piglets than in WT piglets, and myofibers of the tongue were significantly larger in the former piglets than in the latter ones (P < 0.01). mRNA expression of MSTN in all organs was significantly lower in MSTN−/− and MSTN+/− piglets than in WT piglets (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, mRNA expression of follistatin, which is closely related to MSTN, in the heart and liver was significantly higher in MSTN−/− piglets than in MSTN+/− and WT piglets (P < 0.05). In addition, protein expression of MSTN in the heart, kidneys, and tongue was significantly lower in MSTN−/− piglets than in WT piglets (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION These results suggest that MSTN is widely expressed and has marked effects in multiple internal organs. Myostatin has crucial functions in regulating internal organ size, especially the tongue. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Baicalin, a traditional Chinese medicinal monomer whose chemical structure is known, can be used to treat female infertility. However, the effect of baicalin on embryonic development is unknown. This study investigated the effects of baicalin on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated (PA) and in vitro fertilized (IVF) pig embryos and the underlying mechanisms involved. Treatment with 0.1 μg/ml baicalin significantly improved (P < 0.05) the in vitro developmental capacity of PA pig embryos by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and apoptosis and increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and ATP level. mRNA and protein expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and GLI1, which are related to the SHH signaling pathway, in PA pig embryos at the 2-cell stage, were significantly higher in the baicalin-treated group than in the control group. To confirm that the SHH signaling pathway is involved in the mechanism by which baicalin improves embryonic development, we treated embryos with baicalin in the absence or presence of cyclopamine (Cy), an inhibitor of this pathway. Cy abolished the effects of baicalin on in vitro embryonic development. In conclusion, baicalin improves the in vitro developmental capacity of PA and IVF pig embryos by inhibiting ROS production and apoptosis, regulating mitochondrial activity and activating SHH signaling.

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