Evaluation of the Karras Spermdensimeter in Relation to the Neubauer Counting Chamber for Sperm Concentration Measurement in Boar Semen

The correct measurement of spermatic concentration in boar semen is one of the basic tasks routinely performed at the Swine Artificial Insemination Center (CIAS). This article explains two experiments whose objectives were: Experiment 1: This trial had two objectives: (1) to evaluate the precision of the spermdensimeter (SPM) with relation to the Neubauer count chamber (CN) which is considered the standard technique in the field and (2) to correct the scale on the SPM table. Experiment 2: This trial also had two objectives: (1) to evaluate the time and repetitions required in the SPM and (2) to compare the SPM adjusted table produced in Expt 1 with the SPM standard table. The methods in Expt 1 were used to measure total spermatic concentration in 141 boar ejaculates. The average spermatic concentrations (10(6) spermatozoids/ml) and average dose number were 229.1 and 22.6 for CN, and 283.6 and 28.0 for SPM. These results indicate that the SPM has a tendency to overestimate spermatic concentration with relation to the CN. The SPM produced a smaller coefficient of variation and needed lesser examination time than the CN (p < 0.05). The SPM adjusted table created in Expt 1 produced similar results as the SPM and CN standard tables (2.96 billion live spermatozoids/dose vs 2.36 billion live spermatozoids/dose). Incorporation and evaluation of supplemental data from other CIAS regarding the use of the SPM adjusted table in the field entitled 'Adjusted Table for Karras Spermdensimeter LPS-FMVZ-USP' would be valuable to prove its efficiency.     

Use of protocatechuic acid as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine isolated secondary follicles

This study evaluated the effect of the protocatechuic acid (PCA) as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine secondary follicles. Secondary follicles (200‐230 μm) were isolated and cultured in α‐minimal essential medium supplemented with BSA, insulin, glutamine and hypoxanthine (α‐MEM: antioxidant‐free medium) or α‐MEM also added by transferrin, selenium and ascorbic acid (α‐MEM+: with antioxidant) or α‐MEM added by PCA (56.25; 112.5; 225; 450; or 900 μg/ml). Moreover, after culture, oocytes were matured and the chromatin configuration and DNA fragmentation were evaluated. After 12 days, the treatment containing 56.25 μg/ml PCA showed higher percentage of normal follicles than control medium or the other treatments (p < .05), except for 900 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). The antrum formation was significantly higher in treatments containing 56.25, 112.5 or 900 μg/ml PCA, compared to the α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to the other treatments. The rates of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) were similar (p > .05) among all treatments containing PCA and α‐MEM+, and those were superior (p < .05) than α‐MEM, except for 450 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). GSH levels and mitochondrial activity were higher (p < .05) in α‐MEM+ than in α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to all PCA treatments. The rates of meiotic resumption and DNA fragmentation were similar (p > .05) among α‐MEM+ and 56.25 μg/ml PCA. In conclusion, PCA at 56.25 μg/ml as the sole antioxidant added to the medium for ovine isolated secondary follicle culture maintains follicular survival, GSH and active mitochondria levels, meiotic developmental competence and DNA integrity of cultured oocytes.     

Ultrasonic shear wave velocities of MgSiO3 perovskite at 8 GPa and 800 K and lower mantle composition

Ultrasonic interferometric measurements of the shear elastic properties of MgSiO3 perovskite were conducted on three polycrystalline specimens at conditions up to pressures of 8 gigapascals and temperatures of 800 kelvin. The acoustic measurements produced the pressure (P) and temperature (T) derivatives of the shear modulus (G), namely ( partial differentialG/ partial differentialP)T = 1.8 +/- 0.4 and ( partial differentialG/ partial differentialT)P = -2.9 +/- 0.3 x 10(-2) gigapascals per kelvin. Combining these derivatives with the derivatives that were measured for the bulk modulus and thermal expansion of MgSiO3 perovskite provided data that suggest lower mantle compositions between pyrolite and C1 carbonaceous chondrite and a lower mantle potential temperature of 1500 +/- 200 kelvin.     

Grb14 mRNA Levels During Follicular Deviation in Cattle are Higher in Granulosa Cells of Subordinate Compared to Dominant Follicles

The growth factor receptor‐bound protein 14 (Grb14) is a cellular adapter protein belonging to the Grb7 family of proteins. Studies with human and rodent cells have demonstrated that Grb14 acts as a negative regulator of tyrosine kinase receptor signalling through the MAPK and PI3K pathways. In cattle, tyrosine kinase receptors are activated during follicular development but the role of Grb14 in this process has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to characterize Grb14 mRNA expression in ovarian somatic cells during follicular growth and deviation in cattle. We found Grb14 mRNA expressed in both granulosa and theca cells derived from follicles at different stages of development (3–5 , 6–8, >8 mm in diameter). The abundance of mRNA for Grb14 was higher in granulosa cells of subordinate compared with those from dominant follicles at days 3 and 4 of the follicular wave (p < 0.05). Further, there was a negative correlation between the abundance of mRNA for Grb14 and P450Arom in granulosa cells (R² = 0.367; p < 0.05) and between the abundance of mRNA for Grb14 in granulosa cells and concentration of oestradiol in follicular fluid (R² = 0.545; p < 0.05). In theca cells, the expression of Grb14 mRNA did not differ between dominant and subordinate follicles (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that Grb14 may play a regulatory role in granulosa cells during follicular deviation in cattle.     

海刺猬和中间球海胆性腺的组织学和组织化学

对海刺猬Glyptocidaris crerularis和中间球海胆Stronylocentrotus intermedius性腺的组织学和组织化学进行了比较研究。结果表明,两者性腺结构均为滤泡型,滤泡由生殖细胞和营养细胞组成,随着生殖细胞的发育成熟,营养细胞中颗粒逐渐减少,当生殖细胞排放后,营养颗粒的数量逐渐增加,且中间球海胆的营养颗粒数量较海刺猬多。观察和分析了海刺猬和中间球海胆的雌、雄生殖细胞、营养颗粒、滤泡细胞的DNA、RNA、多糖、蛋白质和结合脂类的分布、数量及其变化,发现中间球海胆滤泡中营养颗粒的多糖和蛋白质含量比海刺猬高,其它指标两者都很相近。