Paraoxonase (PON) 1, 2 and 3 Expression in Granulosa Cells and PON1 Activity in Follicular Fluid of Dairy Cows

Normal metabolic activity in ovarian follicles may result in oxidative stress and damage to oocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression of the natural anti‐oxidants paraoxonase (PON) 1, 2 and 3 in granulosa cells and PON1 activity in follicular fluid (FF) and plasma of dairy cows. For the first experiment, ovaries were collected from cows at slaughter, after which follicles were dissected and classified as oestrogen active (EAF) or atretic (ATF). Expression of PON1, PON2 and PON3 mRNA was evaluated in granulosa cells, and activity of PON1 was measured in FF. PON1 mRNA was undetectable in granulosa cells, PON2 mRNA expression was not different between follicle types, and PON3 mRNA tended to be higher in EAF (p = 0.11). The activity of PON1 in FF was higher (p = 0.01) for EAF (82.6 ± 8.0 kU/L) than ATF (53.9 ± 6.8 kU/L), as were high‐density lipoproteins (HDL), low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) and total cholesterol concentrations. In the second experiment, we aimed to compare plasma and FF PON1 activity in early lactation Holstein cows (n = 15) with pre‐ovulatory EAF. Activity of PON1 was twofold higher (p < 0.0001) in plasma (122.5 ± 11.1 kU/L) than in FF (61.4 ± 5.2 kU/L). Plasma concentrations were also higher (p < 0.0001) for HDL, LDL and total cholesterol when compared to FF. In conclusion, FF concentrations of PON1, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol were higher in healthy oestrogen active bovine follicles than in atretic follicles. PON1 was not expressed by granulosa cells indicating that high PON1 activity in bovine FF is apparently derived by transfer from blood in association with HDL.     

The Effects of Anesthesia on Laryngeal Function and Laryngeal/Pharyngeal Trauma in the Horse

Laryngeal paralysis in horses has been reported after inhalational anesthesia and can result in significant morbidity/mortality. The cause of the condition is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a standardized anesthetic protocol on laryngeal function and laryngeal/pharyngeal trauma in the peri-anesthetic period in a prospective study. A 30- to 60-second digitalized video clip of laryngeal movement from a standardized endoscopic view was recorded at five time points: before sedation, post-sedation, post-induction, immediately after recovery to standing, and at 24 hours after recovery. A standardized anesthetic regimen was used in all cases. Video clips were randomized and evaluated by two blinded assessors. Each assessor scored each clip for laryngeal function and trauma using previously validated scoring systems. Agreement between assessors was calculated using the mean of the five time-specific weighted kappa statistics. Post-anesthesia laryngeal function and trauma scores were compared with initial scores using the Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni adjustment. Spearman's rank coefficient was used to assess correlation between trauma and function scores and between anesthetic duration and laryngeal function and trauma scores.There was no significant effect of anesthesia on laryngeal function. Trauma scores were not significantly higher after tracheal intubation. The trauma scoring system requires further validation. There was no correlation between higher trauma scores and laryngeal function or duration and laryngeal function or trauma.Further work is required to evaluate other variables that may affect laryngeal function after anesthesia, using a larger number of horses with varying degrees of laryngeal dysfunction.     

Cryopreservation and In Vitro culture of Preimplantation Embryos in Djungarian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Although embryo cryobanking was applied to Syrian golden and to Campbell's hamsters, no attempt has been made at freezing embryos in Djungarian hamsters. Four‐cell stage embryos were flushed from the reproductive ducts of pregnant females before noon of the third‐day post coitum and frozen in 0.25‐ml straws according to standard procedures of slow cooling. A mixture of permeating (ethylene glycol) and non‐permeating (sucrose) cryoprotectants was used. The thawing was performed by incubating at RT for 40 s followed by 40 s in a water bath at 30.0°C. Most (66.7%) of the non‐frozen four‐cell embryos developed up to the morula stage in rat one‐cell embryo culture medium (R1ECM). The use of hamster embryo culture medium (HECM) yielded fewer morulas (18.2%) during the same 24‐h period of culture. The rate of embryo's surviving the freezing–thawing procedures, as estimated by light microscopy, was 60.7–68.8%. After 24‐h culturing in R1ECM, 64.7% of frozen–thawed four‐cell embryos developed and all of them reached the morula stage. Supplementation of R1ECM with GM‐CSF (2 ng/ml) improved the rate of Djungarian hamster frozen–thawed embryo development: 100% of the four‐cell stage embryos developed, 50% of them achieved the morula stage, and 50% developed even further and reached the blastocyst stage within 24 h of culturing. This study reports the world's first successful transfer of frozen–thawed Djungarian hamster embryos yielding term pups. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the possibility of applying some key reproductive technologies, that is, embryo freezing/cryopreservation and in vitro culture, to Djungarian hamsters.     

Detecting reproductive system abnormalities of broiler breeder roosters at different ages

The objective of this study was to detect the reasons of rooster's fertility decrease at 50 weeks of age. Therefore, the reproductive system of broiler breeder roosters was laparoscopic, macroscopic and histopathology evaluated, and a comparison of the anatomical aspect with the sperm analysis and birds’ age was realized. Cobb roosters (n = 59) were distributed into two groups (30 and 50 weeks). Evaluations were performed with laparoscopy, macroscopy and histopathology, and seminal quality, blood serum testosterone concentration and weight were also determined. The old roosters presented smaller testicle size, higher intensity epididymal lithiasis and lower testicle sperm production, compared to the young roosters. The use of the endoscope could easily distinguish a normal‐sized testicle than an atrophic one. Four old roosters with severe testicular atrophy did not show spermatogenesis, although three still had sperm in the ejaculate. This would falsely indicate a wrong diagnosis of normal fertility before the testicular atrophy took place. In conclusion, in addition to the weight increase with age, the testicular atrophy and impairment of sperm production seemed to be the main reason to the decrease in the rooster's fertility at 50 weeks of age. Therefore, the use of the laparoscopy as a way to detect the roosters with testicular atrophy before 50 weeks of age and their removal from them flock could be useful as a diagnostic tool to prevent the birds’ fertility loss.     

Ocean warming alters species abundance patterns and increases species diversity in an African sub‐tropical reef‐fish community

The impacts of ocean warming resulting from recent climate change on the abundance patterns of marine species have been well documented in temperate seas of the northern hemisphere, but the impacts of a widening tropical belt are largely unexplored. Using measurements of sea surface temperature and spear‐fishing records for 84 species spanning a 19‐yr period, we examined the effects of ocean warming on a sub‐tropical reef‐fish community on the southeastern coast of Africa. Corresponding with a 0.46°C increase in average sea surface temperature between the time periods 1989–97 and 2002–2007, the ratio of species showing an overall decrease/ no change/increase in abundance was 1 : 3 : 2 among six species at the northern limits of their distribution in the region (temperate species), 1 : 15 : 6 among 22 broadly distributed species, and 1 : 5 : 9 among 15 species at the southern limits of their distribution (tropical species). Also, the relative abundance of temperate species as a whole decreased by 10–13% whereas that of tropical species increased by 9%, and broadly distributed species showed little change. Average species richness and diversity increased 33 and 15% respectively between the two time periods. These results are broadly consistent with a predicted poleward shift in species ranges and a predicted increase in species richness and diversity with increasing sea temperature. Our findings confirm that large‐scale climate change causing a widening of the tropical belt and subsequent ocean warming is having a profound impact on marine species abundance patterns and community composition at a local scale in the sub‐tropics.     

Studies on preweaning piglet diarrhoea

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to determine the cause and risk factors Involved in preweaning piglet diarrhoea. Faecal samples from 2380 diarrhoeic piglets, 5 to 30 days of age, were examined for enteropathogens. Isospora suls oocysts were detected in 53.8% of samples, Escherichia coll in 18.2% and rotavirus in 16.9%. I suis had the widest distribution, being present on 70.9% of 151 piggeries. The onset of diarrhoea occurred mainly between 7 and 14 days (77.5%), peaking at 10 days. Records of 4086 litters from two intensive piggeries were analysed and showed no seasonal variation or effect of sow parity on the incidence of piglet diarrhoea. I suis was the most common enteropathogen associated with diarrhoea in piglets from 5 days of age until weaning.