The post-ovulatory rise in progesterone is lower and the persistence of oestrous behaviour longer during the first compared with the second cycle of the breeding season in mares

Mares are seasonally polyoestrous breeders. Therefore, the first ovulation of the season, following winter anoestrus, is the only cycle in which mares ovulate without the presence of an old CL from the previous cycle. The objective of this study was to compare the length of oestrous behaviour, and plasma progesterone concentrations during the early post-ovulatory period between mares after the first and second ovulation of the breeding season. Overall, 38 mares and 167 oestrous periods were used in the study. From those, 11 mares were used during the first and subsequent oestrous period to measure and compare the post-ovulatory rise in progesterone concentration, whereas all the mares were used to compare the length of the post-ovulatory oestrous behaviour between the first and subsequent cycles of the breeding season. The persistence of the post-ovulatory oestrus was longer (p < .001) following the first ovulation of the year (median of 52 h) compared with the subsequent ovulations (median of 36 h for second and later ovulations groups; n = 38 mares). The progesterone concentration at any of the four 8 h-intervals analysed (28, 36, 76 and 84 h post-ovulation) was lower (p < .01) following the first versus the second ovulation of the year. By 36 h post-ovulation the progesterone concentration of mares at the second ovulation of the year had passed the threshold of 2 ng/ml (2.1 ± 0.33 ng/ml), whereas in the first cycle it was 1.2 ± 0.13 ng/ml. In conclusion, mares had lower progesterone concentrations in their peripheral circulation and longer persistence of oestrous behaviour following the first ovulation of the year compared with the second and subsequent ovulatory periods of the breeding season.     

Role of ghrelin in regulating rabbit ovarian function and the response to LH and IGF-I

The aim of these in vivo and in vitro studies was to examine the role of ghrelin in the control of plasma hormone concentrations, the proliferation, apoptosis and secretory activity of ovarian granulosa cells and the response of these cells to hormonal treatments. Female rabbits were injected with ghrelin (10 μg/animal/day for one week before ovulation induced by 25 IU PMSG and 0.25 IU LHRH). On the day of ovulation, blood samples were collected and analyzed for concentrations of progesterone (P₄), testosterone (T), estradiol (E₂), estrone-sulphate (ES), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and leptin (L) by RIA. Some control and ghrelin-treated animals were killed in the periovulatory period, their ovaries were weighed and granulosa cells were isolated and cultured for 2 d. Cell proliferation (expression of PCNA) and apoptosis (expression of TdT) were evaluated by immunocytochemistry and TUNEL respectively. Secretion of P₄, T, E₂, IGF-I, and prostaglandin F (PGF) by granulosa cells cultured with and without LH or IGF-I (1, 10 or 100 ng/ml medium) was assessed by RIA. The remaining control and treated animals were kept until parturition, while the number, viability and body weight of pups were recorded.     

妊娠早期蒙古绵羊子宫内膜enJSRV及IFN-τ基因表达水平的分析

本研究旨在检测内源性绵羊肺腺瘤反转录病毒(enJSRV)与干扰素-τ(IFN-τ)在妊娠早期蒙古绵羊子宫内膜组织的表达以及enJSRV的表达与外周血孕酮水平变化的关系。运用TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR技术和电化学发光法对enJSRV和IFN-τ在妊娠早期蒙古绵羊子宫内膜组织相对表达及孕酮水平进行了测定。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,enJSRV和IFN-τmRNA在妊娠早期绵羊子宫内膜组织有不同程度的表达。SAS统计学软件分析得出,子宫内膜组织中enJSRV mRNA在妊娠12～14d(交配日为0d)表达较高,2～10、16～30d的表达均低于前者。IFN-τmRNA仅在妊娠12～25d表达,14d达其峰值,30d就不能检出,且差异都极显著(P<0.01)。电化学发光法结果显示,孕酮水平在妊娠2d为0.4ng·mL-1,以后升高,妊娠8～16d维持在8.3ng·mL-1左右,在妊娠19～30d孕酮水平有所下降,30d为2.5ng·mL-1。以上结果提示,子宫内膜组织中enJSRV mRNA的表达与外周血孕酮含量及IFN-τ的变化高度相关,且enJSRV在胎盘的形态发生及生殖生物学方面发挥重要作用。     

泌乳期中国荷斯坦牛转化孕酮浓度的影响因素分析及其表型预测

【目的】本研究基于试验测定的中国荷斯坦牛血液和乳汁中的孕酮浓度表型，探究了影响中国荷斯坦牛体内孕酮分泌的环境因素、孕酮浓度的变化趋势、孕酮浓度与乳成分的关联程度以及血乳中孕酮浓度的预测方法。【方法】试验于2021年8月在北京、山东两个牧场采集不同胎次、泌乳阶段和妊娠状态的中国荷斯坦泌乳牛的奶样、尾根血样，测定孕酮浓度，最终获得402条乳汁孕酮浓度和298条血液孕酮浓度表型用于数据分析。对孕酮浓度进行数据转化使其近似服从正态分布后，采用固定效应模型探究胎次、泌乳阶段、妊娠状态、牧场等固定效应对奶牛孕酮表型的影响，运用R语言cor函数计算孕酮与各乳成分间的关联，并利用偏最小二乘法和个体及乳成分信息对孕酮浓度进行预测，以建立孕酮浓度表型高通量获取手段。【结果】妊娠状态对转化乳汁孕酮浓度存在极显著影响（P<0.01），胎次、场效应对转化乳汁孕酮浓度均有显著影响（P<0.05），而转化血液孕酮浓度只受到妊娠状态影响（P<0.01）；全乳固体、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、脂蛋比与转化乳血孕酮浓度均存在显著或极显著的正相关关系（r=0.14~0.37，P<0.05；P<0.01）；基于本试验数据，乳成分与个体信息对转化乳血孕酮浓度的预测准确性不高（R²=0.030~0.17），但如果增加血液或乳汁的转化孕酮浓度对乳汁或血液的转化孕酮浓度进行预测，预测效果则有大幅提升（R²=0.40）。【结论】影响泌乳期中国荷斯坦牛转化孕酮浓度的因素除妊娠状态外，可能还包括饲养条件与胎次。此外转化孕酮浓度与乳脂率、乳蛋白率等乳成分呈极显著相关。基于乳成分信息与转化孕酮的关系，获得了对中国荷斯坦牛乳血转化孕酮浓度预测的可用策略，为今后牧场的繁殖辅助管理、奶牛育种新性状研发以及孕酮浓度的高通量获取等提供了新思路。     

孕酮处理对蛋鸡蛋壳钙化过程中CaBP-d28k基因表达的影响

实验旨在研究孕酮对蛋鸡CaBP-d28k基因表达的影响。对产蛋高峰期蛋鸡进行孕酮和孕酮受体拮抗剂(RU-486)处理,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术(QRT-PCR),测定在蛋壳形成过程中输卵管子宫部钙结合蛋白(CaBP-d28k)、孕酮受体(PGR)的表达量;同时对血液中钙离子和孕酮浓度变化进行测定。结果表明:孕酮处理后,血液中钙离子浓度显著降低(P<0.05),输卵管子宫部CaBP-d28k表达量也显著降低(P<0.05);孕酮受体拮抗剂处理后,血液中钙离子浓度显著升高(P<0.05),输卵管子宫部CaBP-d28k表达量极显著升高(P<0.01)。结果提示,在蛋壳钙化过程中,孕酮对CaBP-d28k表达和钙离子转运起负调控作用。     

Effect of a Nonsurgical Embryo Transfer Procedure and/or Altrenogest Therapy on Endogenous Progesterone Concentration in Mares

Endogenous progesterone levels may decline after transcervical embryo transfer in some mares. Progestogen therapy is commonly used to support endogenous progesterone levels in embryo transfer recipient mares or those carrying their own pregnancy. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of the transcervical transfer procedure and/or altrenogest therapy on luteal function in mares. Mares were assigned to one of six treatment groups: group 1 (untreated control; n = 7 cycles), group 2 (sham transfer, no altrenogest; n = 8 cycles), group 3 (sham transfer plus altrenogest; n = 8 cycles), group 4 (pregnant, no altrenogest; n = 9 mares), group 5 (pregnant plus altrenogest; n = 9 mares), and group 6 (nonpregnant plus altrenogest; n = 10 cycles). Mares in groups 4-6 were bred and allowed an opportunity to carry their own pregnancy. Blood samples were collected for 22 days beginning on the day of ovulation. Sham embryo transfer (groups 2 and 3, combined) did not result in a decline in endogenous progesterone levels compared with control mares (group 6). However, sham embryo transfer did result in luteolysis and an abrupt decline in endogenous progesterone levels in one of the 16 (6.2%) sham-transferred mares. Altrenogest therapy in sham-transferred mares (group 3) was associated with lower endogenous progesterone levels on days 10, 12, and 13 postovulation when compared with sham-transferred mares that did not receive altrenogest (group 2). Administration of altrenogest to pregnant mares (group 5) was associated with lower concentrations of endogenous progesterone from days 14 to 18 and on day 21 compared with endogenous progesterone levels in pregnant mares not administered altrenogest (group 4). In conclusion, a transcervical embryo transfer procedure can cause luteolysis in a low percentage of mares. Altrenogest therapy may be associated with a reduction in endogenous progesterone secretion, presumably mediated by a reduction in pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) release and a decrease in luteotropic support.     

春季繁殖鮸鱼亲鱼血清中雌二醇、孕酮和睾酮水平变化分析

模拟鮸鱼自然繁殖生境,采用调控水温、光照,并结合注射生物激素,促使鮸鱼在春季达到性成熟,以春季繁殖鮸鱼亲鱼为材料,检测了其血清中雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(P)和睾酮(T)变化情况。结果表明:1~3月,E2、P和T含量很低;从4月份开始E2、P和T含量逐渐上升;5月份E2、P和T的含量急剧上升,最大值分别到达416.8±254.6 pg/ml、1.75±0.41 ng/ml和0.39±0.18 ng/ml;6月份E2、P和T维持较高的含量;多次催产后到7月份,E2、P和T明显下降,均处于较低水平。说明E2、P和T的检测较准确地反映了人工控制条件下春季繁殖鮸鱼亲鱼的生殖生理活动。     

甘肃高山细毛母羊血浆中雌二醇和孕酮的含量变化

选用6只甘肃高山细毛周岁母羊,于5月30日～9月20日采集血样,用RIA方法进行血浆中雌二醇、孕酮激素含量的测定分析。结果表明:乏情期雌二醇的平均值为(7.42±4.69)pg/mL,7月17日达到第一个峰值(16.81±7.03)pg/mL,P<0.05,8月11日达到第二个峰值(9.82±1.37)pg/mL,P<0.05;孕酮的平均值为(0.26±0.08)ng/mL,7月9日达到峰值(0.5±0.3)ng/mL,P<0.05,波动周期在15d左右;发情后24h雌二醇的平均值为(9.76±2.4pg/mL),孕酮的平均值为(0.76±0.21)ng/mL。     

日粮中高碘对母鸡繁殖性能的影响

在２５周龄母鸡日粮中添加高剂量碘化钾，持续１６周，观察产蛋率，种蛋受精率及孵化率的变化，并用ＲＩＡ法测定鸡血浆中的雌激素、孕酮浓度．结果表明，高碘组母鸡产蛋率下降，种蛋爱精率无明显变化但孵化率降低．母鸡血浆雌激素的基础分泌量无显著变化，但高碘引起孕酮基础分泌量升高，而且导致雌激素、孕酮的周期分泌率紊乱．