Influence of Cysteamine on In Vitro Maturation, In Vitro and In Vivo Fertilization of Equine Oocytes

The effect of cysteamine on in vitro nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of equine oocytes collected by transvaginal ultrasound guided follicular aspiration was assessed. Oocytes were matured in vitro with (cysteamine group) or without (control group) cysteamine. The nuclear stage after DNA Hoechst staining, penetration rates after two different in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques (IVF media with ionophore and Hepes buffer with heparin) and the embryo yield following oocyte intra-oviductal transfer were used as a criterion for assessing nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, respectively. Contrary to the data described in other domestic species, there was no effect of cysteamine on in vitro nuclear maturation, IVF or in vivo embryonic development under our conditions. Ovum pick up yields (52%) and maturation rates (control group: 47% and cysteamine group: 55%) were similar to those previously reported. From 57 oocytes transferred to the oviduct in each group, the number of embryos collected was 10 (17%) in the control group and five in the cysteamine group (9%). Those two percentages were not statistically different (p > 0.05). No effect of IVF technique was seen on the success rate (6%) in each group.     

Factors Affecting the Readiness and Preparation of Replacement Heifers in Tropical Breeding Environments

The future of beef cattle production in tropical regions is uncertain because of land tenure concerns, threatening the survival of extensive management programmes in these areas of the world. The need to intensify production systems will inevitably lead to changes in the management of replacement animals in existing herds. The present review underlines the main constraints, which in the past could be resolved by the sheer numbers of animals present in beef cattle operations, with replacements reliant only on finding enough heifers to substitute the adult females destined for culling. This scenario is rapidly changing as beef cattle units in tropical regions subdivide to share out the land between as many farmers as possible. Consequently, issues such as the efforts needed to manage the pregnant cow, particularly her nutritional status and its effect on the new‐born calf, the future replacement heifer growing in the presence of the dam, weaning management and procedures required before a heifer can be introduced into a breeding programme, need to be adequately and efficiently addressed by farmers in tropical regions.     

The use of bovine anti-PMSG serum in beef cattle after PMSG-superovulation.

Thirteen beef cows were superovulated using 4,000 i.u. of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on days 9 to 14 of the estrous cycle, followed by two injections of 500 micrograms prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue (PGF2 alpha) 48 and 55 hrs later. Seven of them were injected intramuscularly with bovine anti-PMSG serum 12 hrs after the first signs of estrus. The remaining 6 cows were served as controls and received no antiserum. Peripheral blood concentrations of progesterone (P) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were compared in relation to the superovulatory responses. The injection of anti-PMSG serum did not significantly affect the numbers of the corpora lutea (CL), the anovulatory follicles and the transferable embryos at 7 to 8 days after superovulatory estrus, but increased the ratio of embryos classified as excellent or good quality. Although the plasma P concentration showed no significant differences between the anti-PMSG-treated and control cows, the plasma E2 concentration displayed a characteristic difference, suppressing the second E2 peak in the anti-PMSG-treated cows. It is concluded that the use of bovine anti-PMSG serum for PMSG/PGF2 alpha-treated cows at 12 hrs after the beginning of the estrus improves the quality of embryos recovered, probably due to inhibition of high estrogenic environment following ovulation.     

Adjuvant effects of sugar cane extracts (SCE) in chickens

The effects of sugar cane extracts (SCE) on immune responses in chickens were studied. Two- or 10-month-old chickens orally administered SCE (500 mg/kg/day), for 3 consecutive days before immunized with sheep red blood cells, Brucella abortus and Salmonella Enteritidis organisms, showed significantly increased and prolonged antibody responses to these antigens, compared to control chickens without SCE. Furthermore, chickens orally administered SCE also revealed enhanced delayed type hypersensitivity responses to human gamma globulin. These results indicated that SCE has immunostimulating and adjuvant effects in chickens.     

Susceptibility of liver proliferative lesions in heterozygous p53 deficient CBA mice to various carcinogens

To investigate the liver tumorigenic sensitivity to various carcinogens in heterozygous p53 deficient [p53 (+/-)] CBA mice and their wild-type littermates [p53 (+/+) mice], 71 p53 (+/-) and 74 p53 (+/+) CBA mice (male, 6-12 weeks of age) were given diet containing 4,000 or 0 ppm flumequine (FL) for 26 weeks or a single intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg body weights dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) at start of the study in Exp. 1, diet containing 6,000 or 0 ppm di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) for 26 weeks in Exp. 2, or diet containing 12,000, 6,000 or 0 ppm phenolphthalein (PhP) for 26 weeks in Exp. 3. All surviving animals of these groups were killed after completion of treatment of the test substances for 26 weeks. In the FL groups, the incidences of hepatocellular altered foci in p53 (+/-) mice, the multiplicities of those in p53 (+/-) and p53 (+/+) mice were significantly increased as compared to the corresponding control groups. The incidences and multiplicities of altered foci in the DMN groups were higher than those in the corresponding control groups in p53 (+/-) and p53 (+/+) mice, but no significant differences were indicated between the groups. There were no significant differences in the incidences, multiplicities and proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling indices of altered foci in the FL or DMN groups between p53 (+/-) and p53 (+/+) mice. There were no significant differences in the incidences and multiplicities of altered foci between the DEHP or PhP and control groups. The present results suggest that p53 gene knocked out heterozygously does not enhance the chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in CBA mice.     

Monitoring changes in back fat thickness and its effect on the restoration of ovarian activity and fertility in Bos indicus cows

With the objective of testing the hypothesis if animals with a stable layer of body fat (FAT) during the peripartum have a better chance of becoming pregnant after calving, fifty‐nine multiparous Brahman cows in their last trimester of pregnancy were used. Animals averaged four parturitions and were stocked at a rate of 1.25 animal units per hectare and divided into two groups depending on the time postpartum (dpp) that the intravaginal releasing device CIDR was inserted; Group 1 (<30 dpp; n = 30) received the implant at 25.2 ± 4.21 and withdrawn 9 days later. Group 2 (≥30 dpp; n = 29) received the CIDR at 38.41 ± 5.8. Animals were AI at detected oestrus until 170 dpp and calculated as pregnant at first service or requiring more than one service (1s and >1s), not pregnant but cycling (not pregnant) and those not cycling at all (anestrus). The FAT measurements were taken twice each month from the last trimester of gestation until 96 dpp. The onset of ovarian activity was monitored through blood levels of progesterone (P4) at days 14 and 9 prior to CIDR insertion and days 10, 13, 30 and 33 after CIDR withdrawal. Animals pregnant did not have any major changes in their fat thickness. In contrast, cows pregnant in the group ≥30 dpp had changes in their FAT homoeostasis, and pregnant animals in the 1s and >1s groups did not show differences in dorsal back fat in the last trimester of pregnancy and early postpartum. In contrast, animals not pregnant and in anestrus FAT values decreased considerably after parturition. Overall, fertility was 49%, but 18% of all the animals remained anestrus losing FAT. Thus, animals with adequate metabolic conditions will have a better chance of pregnancy regardless of the time postpartum when the reproductive programme starts.