On the Ultrastructure of Seven Day Old Normal (Blastocysts) and Abnormal Bovine Embryos

Twenty-four 7 day old bovine embryos were collected from spontaneously ovulating heifers. The embryos were classified into three groups; normal, morphologically deviating or degenerated. Electron microscopy was used to ascertain the ultrastructural correlates to the phase contrast microscope classification. This study sustains the conclusion that only those embryos classified as normal blastocysts are likely to undergo further development.     

不同来源牛囊胚IFN-τ分泌水平的比较

干扰素-tau(IFN-)τ在妊娠建立中有重要生物学功能,对提高体外胚胎移植成功率有重要意义。为了探明不同来源的牛囊胚分泌的IFN-τ水平,本实验用细胞病变抑制法对牛孤雌发育(PA)、体外受精(IVF)、体外受精冷冻解冻(FT-IVF)及体细胞核移植(SC N T)等4种囊胚进行了检测。结果表明:在C R 1aa体系中培养7 d的PA、IVF、FT-IVF囊胚分泌的IFN-τ量没有显著性差异(P>0.05),但它们都显著高于相同日龄SC N T囊胚的分泌量(P<0.05)。分别在C R 1aa和SO FaaBSA体系中生产的PA囊胚分泌的IFN-τ量没有显著性差异(P>0.05),即2种体系对牛孤雌发育囊胚分泌IFN-τ量没有影响。在C R 1aa培养体系中生产的PA和IVF囊胚分泌的IFN-τ量与囊胚细胞数均无相关性。PA囊胚分泌的IFN-τ与囊胚直径平方无相关性,IVF囊胚的IFN-τ的分泌量与囊胚直径平方中等相关。     

规模化牧场奶牛屡配不孕的综合治疗效果

奶牛屡配不孕是指奶牛性周期正常或基本正常、生殖系统临床无异常、且配种两次及两次以上未妊娠的病症，是影响规模化奶牛场受胎率最主要的因素之一。由于其临床症状不明显、病因复杂，治疗效果往往不佳。有些奶牛因长期不孕，最后被迫淘汰，其淘汰率占繁殖疾病的20％-30％，给奶牛场生产造成一定的损失。笔者采用多种药物和不同给药途径综合治疗奶牛屡配不孕197例，共受胎126头，情期受胎率为63．96％，收到良好的效果。现总结分析如下。     

牛体外受精胚的玻璃化保存及细胞遗传学研究

用25％的乙二醇和0.2mol/L蔗糖与25％忆二醇混合的玻璃化溶液对牛体外受精的早期囊胚用1步法冷漠保存，融解后，在D－PBS液（含有0.5mol蔗糖）中15min除去冷冻保护剂，培养48和96h。结果表明：用含有0.2mol的蔗糖和25％的乙二混合的玻璃化溶液保存的早期囊胚的生态力明显高于不含蔗糖的玻璃化溶液（P＜0.001）。染色体分析结果表明：含有蔗糖的玻璃化溶液保存的囊胚的卵裂细胞数明显高于单独使用25％乙醇保存的囊胚（P＜0.05）。染色体异常发生率无明显变化。     

The Reproductive Tract of Bovine Slaughter Heifers (A Biometrical Study)

A specific method for measuring the component parts of the bovine female reproductive tract is outlined.

Three hundred specimens, recovered from animals within an age group of 15 to 30 months, were examined.

Means and standard deviations on recorded measurements as well as abnormalities and pregnancies are presented in tabular form.

     

Exercising the Pregnant Mare from Day 16 to Day 80 of Gestation

Our previous research has demonstrated moderate exercise can be detrimental to early pregnancy in the mare, but little work has examined exercise after pregnancy has been detected. We exercised mares (n = 8) 6 days a week for 45 min from Day 16 until Day 80 of gestation. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to evaluate embryonic vesicle size, fetal length, and uterine blood flow. Blood was sampled every other day to analyze cortisol and progesterone concentrations. Results indicated that exercising pregnant mares (n = 4) led to greater (P < .01) cortisol concentrations 30 min after the exercise period. No overall treatment effect could be detected in progesterone concentrations; however, following Day 60 of gestation, progesterone concentrations were lower (P < .05) in exercised mares. Additionally, progesterone concentrations peaked earlier in exercised mares at Day 52 of gestation compared to peak levels at Day 68 of gestation for control mares. No significant effects were detected in embryonic vesicle size. Fetal length tended (P = .06) to be longer in the conceptus of exercised mares. Uterine blood flow did not differ between groups but increased as pregnancy progressed (P < .001) in both groups. All mares in this study went on to deliver healthy foals and suffered no difficulties during parturition. These results indicated that moderate exercise was not detrimental to mare pregnancy.     

Effects of Serum-Free In Vitro Maturation of Bovine Oocytes on Subsequent Embryo Development and Cell Allocation in Two Developmental Stages of Day 7 Blastocysts

Maturation of oocytes and the subsequent outcome of the in vitro production (IVP) are affected by the composition of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium. To determine the use of serum interfering with effects of single molecules, we aimed at developing simplified IVM medium. The experimental IVM media were: (1) M199-medium supplemented with hormones and serum (control), (2) as 1 but serum was substituted with fatty acid-free serum albumin (FAFBSA) and (3) M199-medium without hormonal and serum supplementation (M199). The quality of embryos was assessed on day 7 by morphology and cryotolerance, as well as by Terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Biotin-dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) and differential staining. Results showed that the nuclear maturation was suppressed in M199 group alone. Embryo cleavage and development rates, and the proportion of quality 1 blastocysts were lower in the FAFBSA and M199 groups compared to the control. Differences in the cell allocation of fresh embryos were observed at the blastocyst stage, but not at the expanded blastocyst stage. The control group blastocysts had larger number of cells allocated to the inner cell mass (ICM), and the FAFBSA group blastocysts larger apoptotic cell proportion compared to the blastocysts derived from other groups. After cryopreservation, the reduction of ICM proportion and increase of apoptotic cell proportion of embryos were equal between the experimental groups. In conclusion, exclusion of serum from the IVM media reduces embryo development and may cause perturbations in blastocyst development. Differences in the cell allocation of blastocysts between IVM media may appear only when the developmental stages are taken into account.     

新鲜、玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚全基因组甲基化模式初探

旨在初步分析新鲜及玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚全基因组甲基化模式。本研究采用单细胞全基因组甲基化测序技术(scWGMS)检测新鲜、玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚全基因组甲基化水平和差异甲基化区域(DMR),探讨两者之间DNA甲基化水平上的差异。结果表明,新鲜卵母细胞体外受精囊胚的整体甲基化水平显著高于玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞体外受精囊胚的整体甲基化水平(P<0.05)。采用基因本体分析(GO)和相关信号通路(KEGG)对143个DMRs分析,发现生物学过程主要显著富集在新陈代谢、生长发育、细胞定位、细胞刺激反应等,通路主要富集在生长发育、核酸结合及组蛋白乙酰化上,并筛选出几个与之相关的候选基因(FARP2、PI4KA、FAM3D、NCOR2、ZNF827等)。本研究初步发现,玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚的全基因组甲基化水平显著降低,且DMR区域主要集中在ATP结合、生长发育及组蛋白乙酰化,为提高玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞体外受精囊胚质量提供信息参考。     

Calves Born after Direct Transfer of Vitrified Bovine In Vitro-produced Blastocysts Derived from Vitrified Immature Oocytes

Vitrification has been the method of choice for the cryopreservation of bovine oocytes, as rapid cooling decreases chilling sensitivity. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro and in vivo survival and the viability of immature oocytes vitrified using super‐cooled liquid nitrogen. Immature oocytes were randomly allocated to three groups: (i) non‐vitrified control group, (ii) vitrified in normal (?196°C) liquid nitrogen (LN₂) and (iii) vitrified in super‐cooled LN₂ (≤?200°C). Open‐pulled glass micropipettes were used as vitrification containers. Immature oocytes were in vitro‐matured, fertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage. In vitro viability was assessed by cleavage and blastocyst rates on days 2 and 7 of culture respectively. Vitrified blastocysts derived from the immature vitrified oocytes were directly transferred to synchronous recipients. The in vitro embryo development of vitrified immature oocytes was not influenced by the LN₂ state. After direct transfer (one embryo per recipient) of 16 embryos obtained from immature vitrified oocytes (eight from each vitrified group), two healthy calves were born in each group. These results indicated that vitrification of immature bovine oocytes using glass micropipettes under normal or super‐cooled LN₂, resulted in viable blastocysts and live calves following in vitro embryo production.     

Transfer of Bovine Blastocysts Derived from Short-term In Vitro Culture of Low Quality Morulae Produced In Vivo

The aim of this study was to evaluate if blastocysts arising from in vitro culture of Grade 3 bovine morulae produced in vivo can promote acceptable pregnancy rates when transferred into recipients. Embryos of different stages and qualities were recovered from superovulated Bos taurus and B. indicus donors. Grade 3 morulae were cultured in either Holding Plus® or TCM‐199 (supplemented with 10% bovine fetal serum) media for 24 h at 38.5°C. After this culture period, the resulting blastocysts were morphologically classified (Grades 1, 2 and 3) and transferred into recipients previously synchronized with the donors. Non‐cultured Grades 1 and 3 morulae were used as control. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 60 days after embryo transfer and the data were analysed by logistic regression, considering variables, such as embryo quality (Grade), donor breed, culture medium, donor‐recipient synchrony and seasonality. Embryo quality was the only variable, showing significant effect on the pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rates for non‐cultured Grade 1 and 3 morulae, and blastocysts arising from cultured Grade 3 morulae were 58.1% (n = 31), 17.1% (n = 35) and 51.1% (n = 47), respectively (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences between non‐cultured Grade 1 morulae and cultured blastocysts. Pregnancy rates for Grades 1 (65.0%) and 2 (60.0%) were higher than Grade 3 (29.4%) cultured blastocysts (p < 0.05). It was concluded that short‐term in vitro culture is a very convenient method of identifying morphologically low quality morulae with higher chances of continuing development after the transfer into recipients.     

Developmental Competence of Frozen-thawed Blastocysts from Fair-quality Bovine Embryos Cultured with β-Mercaptoethanol

Two-hundred-and-thirty-one fair-quality embryos at the compacted morula stage collected from 89 superovulated cows were cultured in TCM199 or Brinster's BMOC-3 medium with or without 100 microM beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME). After 24 h culture, a total of 142 fair-quality embryos developed to the blastocyst stage, of which 106 were subsequently frozen with 1.8 M ethylene glycol. The mean cell number and development rates of frozen-thawed blastocysts from the fair-quality embryos cultured in TCM199 containing beta-ME were higher than those of the fair-quality embryos directly frozen without culture. The pregnancy rates obtained with frozen blastocysts from fair-quality embryos tended to be lower than those of non-cultured fresh fair-quality embryos and cultured fresh blastocysts. These results indicate that the inclusion of beta-ME in pre-freezing culture media improve the development of frozen-thawed blastocysts from fair-quality embryos, but not the pregnancy rate.     

The Effect of Bovine Growth Hormone on Growth,Carcass Composition and Meat Quality of Dairy Heifers

Abstract

Our objective was to examine the effects of bovine growth hormone (bGH) on growth, carcass composition and meat quality of dairy heifers. Nine monozygotic twin pairs of Friesian or Red Danish cattle were used, and pair-fed à diet consisting of grass silage, barley and soybean meal. Within each pair, one animal was given daily subcutaneous injections of 20 IU of pituitary-derived bGH (15–20 mg), while the other animal was injected with saline (excipient). Treatments started at 179±2 kg body weight and lasted for 15.6 weeks. At slaughter, carcass composition and meat quality were analyzed. bGH treatment increased gain by 8% (948 vs. 877 g/d; P <0.03). The amount of saleable meat in carcass and lean content of four main carcass cuts were on average increased by 2% (P <0.05). Concomitantly, carcass fat trim was reduced by 12% (P <0.001), fat trim of individual cuts by 4–21% (P <0.05), and kidney fat by 13% (P <0.01). Except for a 20% reduction of intramuscular fat content (P <0.001), meat quality assessed by objective as well as subjective methods was unaffected by bGH treatment. In summary, bGH treatment of dairy heifers around puberty stimulated growth and reduced carcass fattening including intramuscular fat, while eating quality of the meat was unaffected.     

胎牛血清在猪孤雌囊胚玻璃化冷冻后恢复培养中的作用研究

【目的】研究胎牛血清(fetal bovine serum, FBS)在猪孤雌囊胚玻璃化冷冻后恢复培养中的作用。【方法】本试验以体外培养第5天的猪孤雌激活囊胚为材料,将新鲜和冷冻囊胚分别在含10%FBS(V/V)的胚胎培养液中继续培养48 h,即分为新鲜组(Fresh)、新鲜+FBS组(Fresh+FBS)、冷冻组(Vitrified)、冷冻+FBS组(Vitrified+FBS)。观察各组囊胚的扩张和孵化能力,检测胚胎的细胞膜损伤、凋亡细胞数目、总细胞数目、胞内活性氧(ROS)水平、线粒体活性以及发育相关基因的表达水平。【结果】与Fresh和Vitrified组相比,Fresh+FBS和Vitrified+FBS组的完全扩张率、孵化率和囊胚细胞总数均显著提高(P<0.05),细胞膜损伤率和细胞凋亡率均显著降低(P<0.05)。与Fresh组相比,Vitrified组ROS水平显著升高(P<0.05),Fresh+FBS和Vitrified+FBS组ROS水平均显著降低(P<0.05)。Vitrified+FBS组的线粒体活性显著高于Vitrified组(P&l...     

MLVA方法对奶牛乳房炎金黄色葡萄球菌的分型研究及效果评价

奶牛乳房炎金黄色葡萄球菌的分型对预防菌株在牛体之间传播、了解菌株地域性分布特点及针对性疫苗的研制均有重要的意义。本研究旨在将多位点可变数目串联重复序列分析(MLVA)法应用于国内乳房炎金葡菌的分型研究,以进行分子流行病学调查。同时,将其与16-23SrRNA基因间区分析法(RS-PCR)的分型结果比较,以评价MLVA法对乳房炎金葡菌的分型效果。作者建立MLVA方法(多重PCR体系)对27株乳房炎金葡菌进行分型,同时应用RS-PCR法进行分型。结果2种方法均可将8个地区17个牛场分离到的27株菌全部分型,分型率为100%。MLVA法将菌株分为19个型,不同牛场来源的金葡菌均属于不同型,相同牛场来源的菌株除上海和北京某牛场外均属于相同型;此方法的分型力为0.969。RS-PCR法将菌株分为10个型,其中Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅴ型菌株均来源于不同地区,分型力为0.829。结果显示,MLVA分型法具有快速、操作方便和分型能力强等特点,可应用于乳房炎金葡菌的分子流行病学研究。同时,研究表明,我国不同牛场的乳房炎金葡菌具有型特异性,该结果与少数优势型金黄色葡萄球菌引起绝大多数乳房炎的报道相反。     

采用dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A技术调控玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞IVF囊胚中IGF2R基因甲基化水平

旨在探究dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A编辑系统对玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞IVF囊胚中IGF2R基因甲基化水平及胚胎发育能力的影响,为冷冻卵母细胞/胚胎特定位点DNA甲基化的精确调控奠定基础。本研究将经过体外成熟的牛卵母细胞进行玻璃化冷冻,随后进行体外受精,将受精所得到的原核胚进行dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A编辑系统的注射,统计并计算卵母细胞的发育情况;通过亚硫酸盐测序的方式检测IGF2R基因启动子的甲基化水平,并利用荧光定量PCR检测IGF2R及相关基因的表达水平。与冷冻组相比,注射不同浓度的dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A编辑系统后,只有40 ng·μL^-1组显著地提高了玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞IVF后的发育能力(P＜0.05),20和60 ng·μL^-1组间差异不显著(P＞0.05),但40 ng·μL^-1组发育效果仍然显著低于新鲜对照组(P＜0.05);对检测冷冻组、新鲜组、40 ng·μL^-1组IGF2R基因启动子甲基化水平分析发现,40 ng·μL^-1组水平与新鲜组相似,显著高于冷冻组(P＜0.05);荧光定量试验结果显示,40 ng·μL^-1组IGF2R基因mRNA表达水平相较于冷冻组显著降低(P＜0.05),与新鲜组相似。注射40 ng·μL^-1的dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A甲基化编辑系统能够通过有效升高IGF2R基因启动子甲基化水平(P＜0.05)及显著降低其mRNA表达水平(P＜0.05),来正向调节玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞IVF胚胎的发育情况,提高胚胎发育能力,使得其卵裂率和囊胚率都得到显著提高(P＜0.05),同时促进胚胎发育相关基因的表达。     

Cell Counts and Survival to Vitrification of Bovine In Vitro Produced Blastocysts Subjected to Sublethal High Hydrostatic Pressure

This work analyses the effects of a high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment on in vitro survival of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos vitrified with the Cryologic Vitrification Method (CVM). Consequences on embryo quality in terms of cell proliferation and differentiation, and levels of embryonic Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp‐70) were also examined. Day 7 and 8 bovine in vitro‐produced blastocysts were submitted to an HHP treatment (60 MPa, at 32°C for 1 h) and allowed to recover for 1 or 2 h in culture medium. The HHP treatment did not improve blastocyst survival rates after vitrification/warming. Survival (24 h post‐warming) and hatching (48 h post‐warming) rates were 79.3 ± 4.9 and 51.8 ± 4.2 vs 73.9 ± 4.2 and 44.7 ± 4.1 for untreated controls and HHP‐treated embryos, respectively. Total cell numbers measured in fresh embryos were reduced after 1 h at 32°C, with or without HHP treatment, indicating that cell proliferation was stopped as a result of stress. Vitrified HHP‐treated embryos that hatched at 48 h after warming showed increased cell numbers in their ICM compared with untreated controls (50.2 ± 3.1 vs 38.8 ± 2.7), indicating higher embryo quality. Treatment of blastocysts with HHP did not alter the level of the Hsp‐70 protein. In our conditions, HHP treatment did not affect the cryoresistance of these embryos. However, combination of HHP treatment and vitrification in fibreplugs resulted in an increase in the ICM cell number of hatched embryos 48 h post‐warming.     

Insemination of Susceptible Heifers with Semen from a Non-Viraemic Bull with Persistent Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus Infection Localized in the Testes

Bulls shedding bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in semen and simultaneously having a high concentration of circulating antibodies may cause reproductive problems and spread the viral infection within cattle populations. To investigate this in detail, three heifers were inseminated with BVDV‐infected semen from a non‐viraemic, seropositive Holstein–Friesian bull, named `Cumulus'. One control heifer was inseminated with semen from a healthy bull that was free of BVDV. All four heifers remained clinically healthy throughout the experiment. The conception succeeded in the control animal and in two of the three heifers inseminated with semen containing BVDV. The heifer with the failed conception was the only one that became systemically infected with BVDV. This animal was deemed non‐pregnant by ultrasonic examination on day 34 after insemination and showed no signs of subsequent oestrus during the entire experimental period. At slaughter, 42 days after insemination, there were no histopathological changes in the ovaries and virus was not detected in ovarian tissue. The fact that seronegative dams served with semen from persistently infected bulls have occasionally produced persistently infected calves together with the present findings and the fact that non‐viraemic, seropositive bulls can constantly shed BVDV, suggest that the use of semen from such bulls in BVDV‐free herds could have far‐reaching consequences, especially if it led to the birth of persistently infected (P1) calves.     

Bovine Vibriosis: The Distribution and Specificity of Antibodies Induced by Vaccination and Infection and the Immunofluorescent Localization of the Organism in infected Heifers

Two groups of three Holstein heifers were immunized respectively with Vibrio fetus venerealis and Vibrio fetus intestinalis incorporated in Freund's complete adjuvant. Both serum and vaginal mucus agglutination titers increased following immunization. Vaginal mucus samples were more frequently positive when the homologous cells were used as antigen in the agglutination test.

Ten non-immunized heifers were inoculated with another strain of V. fetus venerealis and slaughtered at periods of 30 to 40 and 60 to 70 days post-inoculation (DPI). Agglutinating antibodies were present in the vaginal mucus of some infected individuals by five weeks post-inoculation. In the course of the experiment 11 vaginal mucus samples were obtained which agglutinated heated cells of the infecting strain; one aggglutinated whole cells. Precipitins toward homologous antigens could not be demonstrated in vaginal mucus but four of six samples tested precipitated a heat stable extract from an intestinal strain of the same O-serotype. Bacterial antigen was detected by immunofluorescence on the surface, as well as within and beneath the epithelium at all levels of the reproductive tract regardless of time of slaughter. Lesions in infected animals consisted of focal and diffuse lymphocytosis, plasmacytosis, and epithelial vacuolation. Diffuse neutrophilic infiltration of the oviducts was observed.

Agglutinins appeared in the serum of each of nine heifers immunized with whole cells of same venereal strain. Group mean serum titers for whole and heated cells were 1/28,000 and 1/1,300 respectively. Vaginal mucus samples agglutinated whole cells in 48% of tests while 6.3% reacted with heated cells. Serum, but not vaginal mucus, of immunized animals precipitated soluble antigens of the immunizing strain. The immunizing strain of V. fetus did not infect the reproductive tract of any of six immunized heifers upon challenge.