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.     

半胱氨酸对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精及GSH水平的影响

体外受精技术也称胚胎生产技术（invitro production,IVP）,包括卵母细胞的体外成熟、精子的获能、卵子的体外受精和受精卵的体外培养等几个连续的过程。半胱氨酸是GSH的前体物质,在牛体外胚胎生产过程中疏基复合物能增加细胞内GSH的合成,在受精和胚胎的开始阶段保持高浓度GSH可以增加发育率。试验的目的是评价半胱氨酸对猪卵母细胞的成熟率、受精率及成熟培养时期卵母细胞内GSH水平的影响,现报道如下。     

猪胚胎的体外生产技术

应用体外受精技术,可以有效地利用屠宰的青年母猪卵巢巾的未成熟卵,大量、廉价地实验室生产胚胎。这对加速我国良种猪群的繁殖是一项行之有效的胚胎工程技术。借鉴国内外实验室生产猪胚胎的经验及根据我们实验室的实践,本文比较详细地叙述了体外受精猪胚胎的生产过程,包括卵母细胞的获得、培养、精子获能、体外受精以及受精后的体外培养、冷冻保仃与移植等。     

In Vitro Cerclage Wiring Analysis

The ability of six different instruments to apply a cerclage wire under tension to a tension gage was compared. The loop knot produced greater final wire tension than the twist knot, both before and after bending. No significant difference in tension was found between the Swiss Osteo and A.S.I.F. instruments. The Rhinelander and Richards instruments gave approximately the same tension before the bend. The Rhinelander, Richards, and Vise Grip instruments showed no statistical difference in tension produced after the bend. The Bowen instrument developed the least amount of tension, both before and after bending the twist. All twist knots lost a significant amount of tension during the bending process. The twist-type knots that were twisted until breakage in the middle of the knot produced greater tension than those that were cut once they were tight. Cutting the twisted knot caused a significant decrease in wire tension. No correlation was found between operator pull and final cerclage wire tension.     

山羊卵母细胞体外成熟的研究

在38℃和39℃不同温度条件下培养山羊卵母细胞,结果表明:在38℃和39℃下成熟率分别为63.6%和57.3%,二者之间差异不显著,说明只要培养温度在山羊正常体温的变动范围内,对其卵母细胞的成熟率没有影响;在38℃温度条件下用10?S的M199培养液成熟率为62.5%,而10 mg/ml BSA的M199培养液成熟率为58.7%,二者之间差异不显著,说明无血清培养可以代替血清培养.     

降血脂益生菌体外筛选模型的建立

心血管疾病是对人类危害最大的疾病之一，而血清胆固醇含量的升高是引起这一疾病的重要因素。实验证明特殊种类益生菌具有降低血清胆固醇的功能。不过还需要大量的人体临床实验来证实。本文的工作是建立一种筛选具有降血清胆固醇功能益生菌的体外模型。在前人实验结论的基础上。经过大量实验我们建立了从菌种分离，培养，扩增到最后培养物中胆固醇含量测定的一整套实验方法；菌源经过72小时的平板厌氧培养后分离出单菌落，再经72小时的平板划线扩增，然后接种到含有胆固醇和牛胆汁的液体培养基中培养24小时，最后用高铁硫酸比色法测定培养物中的胆固醇含量。目前这个体外模型已经通过动物实验的验证，是行之有效的。     

卵母细胞成熟及其成熟调控因子

卵母细胞成熟过程是个复杂的减数分裂过程,许多因子参与这个过程的调控.为了探讨哺乳动物卵母细胞体外成熟的机理,指导家畜体外胚胎生产,本文就卵母细胞体外成熟培养(in vitro maturation IVM)及影响因子等方面进行综述.认为在卵母细胞体外成熟过程中,仍需对胞质成熟、基因调控及影响因子等方面进行深入研究.     

In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence of the Involvement of CXCL1, a Keratinocyte-Derived Chemokine, in Equine Laminitis

Background: C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) is an important chemokine of epithelial origin in rodents and humans.
Objectives: To assess in vivo and in vitro the regulation of CXCL1 in equine laminitis.
Animals: Twenty adult horses.
Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess expression of CXCL1 in samples of laminae, liver, skin, and lung from the black walnut extract (BWE) model of laminitis, and in cultured equine epithelial cells (EpCs). Tissue was obtained from control animals (CON, n = 5), and at 1.5 hours (early time point [ETP] group, n = 5), at the onset of leukopenia (developmental time point [DTP] group, n = 5), and at the onset of lameness (LAM group, n = 5) after BWE administration. EpCs were exposed to Toll-like/Nod receptor ligands, oxidative stress agents, and reduced atmospheric oxygen (3%). In situ PCR was used to localize the laminar cell types undergoing CXCL1 mRNA expression.
Results: Increases in laminar CXCL1 mRNA concentrations occurred in the ETP (163-fold [ P = .0001]) and DTP groups (21-fold [ P = .005]). Smaller increases in CXCL1 expression occurred in other tissues and organs. In cultured EpCs, increases ( P < .05) in CXCL1 mRNA concentration occurred after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS [28-fold]), xanthine/xanthine oxidase (3.5-fold), and H₂O₂ (2-fold). Hypoxia enhanced the LPS-induced increase in CXCL1 mRNA ( P = .007). CXCL1 gene expression was localized to laminar EpCs, endothelial cells, and emigrating leukocytes.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance: These findings indicate that CXCL1 plays an early and possibly initiating role in neutrophil accumulation in the BWE laminitis model, and that laminar keratinocytes are an important source of this chemokine. New therapies using chemokine receptor antagonists may be indicated.     

Developmental Capacity In Vitro of Prepubertal Oocytes

A 2-year comparative study was carried out to evaluate the effect of ovary size, follicle size and oocyte quality of 3-month-old Simmental calves and the efficiency of using calf ovaries in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. We evaluated the effects of different concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol-17beta (E-17beta) in the maturation medium on the in vitro development of calf oocytes into morula and blastocysts. The proportion of recovered oocytes (62.1%; 42.8%; 25.3%) and the percentage of good quality cumulus oocyte complexes (84.2%: 59.8%; 45.9%) decreased significantly (P < 0.01) with decreasing ovary size (L, M and S). The rates of two or more cells on Day 2 and of blastocysts on Day 7 and Day 9 were significantly lower (P < 0.01) for calf oocytes (61.5%; 18.9%: 15.9%) compared with those from sexually matured females (70.1%: 32.3%; 22.2%). Calf oocytes. matured in medium supplemented with 20 microg/ml or 10 microg/ml FSH plus 2 microg/ml E-17beta had higher rates of cleavage on Day 2 (64.1% and 64.7%) and blastocysts on Day 7 (24.5% and 22.4%) than the control supplemented with 10 microg/ml FSH (55.6% and 19.2%, respectively). Groups supplemented with 20 microg/ml FSH plus 2 microg/ml E-17beta and 10 mg/ml plus 4 mg/ml E-17beta showed a significantly lower developmental rate of blastocysts on Day 7 (14.6% and 14.5%). High concentrations of E-17beta (4 microg/ml) resulted in a significantly lower development of blastocysts on Day 9 (8.1%) and hatched blastocysts on Day 13 (3.5%) (P < 0.01). We conclude that the proportion of calf oocytes obtained from immature animals and their suitability for IVF are lower than those of cows. Thus, the use of oocytcs from sexually immature females would decrease the relative efficiency of IVF programmes. Supplementation with high concentrations of FSH can improve the maturation and developmental capacity of oocytes from prepubertal calves.     

牛腔前卵泡的体外培养

通过在α- MEM和 D- MEM/ F1 2 基础液中添加不同比例的 ITS、丙酮酸钠、谷氨酰胺、次黄嘌呤和血清 ,观察了不同基础液对牛腔前卵泡体外生长发育的影响 ,从而筛选出较好的组别。在筛选出的基础液组别中添加 3个水平的FSH、L H、E2 ,观察了其对牛腔前卵泡体外生长发育的影响。结果表明 ,α- MEM和 D- MEM/ F1 2 2种基础液中以α-MEM为好 ,不同的基础培养液组合对牛腔前卵泡的体外培养有一定的影响。添加不同水平的激素对牛腔前卵泡体外培养也有显著影响。试验初步筛选出最佳的培养液成分为α- MEM ITS(I- 5 m g/ L ,T- 5 mg/ L ,S- 5μg/ L ) 丙酮酸钠(0 .2 3mmol/ L) 谷氨酰胺 (1.5 m mol/ L) 次黄嘌呤 (2 m mol/ L) 血清 (7.5 % ) FSH(0 .2 5 mg/ L) L H(5 IU/m L ) E2 (0 .5 mg/ L )。     

In Vivo and In Vitro Sperm Interaction with Oviductal Epithelial Cells of Llama

Sperm reservoirs in South American Camelids would be crucial for successful fertilization. Since ovulation occurs approximately 36 h after mating, the maintenance of the sperm viability in the oviduct waiting for the ovum is a critical reproductive event. Our study aimed at determining whether the isthmus or the utero tubal junction (UTJ) could function as a sperm reservoir in llama by means of in vivo and in vitro experiments. For the in vivo experiments, the oviducts of adult females with a dominant follicle bigger than 7 mm were examined for the presence of sperm at 6, 18, 24, 28 and 35 h after mating. The results using scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed ultrastructural differences between isthmus and UTJ with respect to (1) predominance of secretory cells in the UTJ and ciliated cells in the isthmus epithelium and (2) cytoplasmic bulbous projection of the secretory cells in the UTJ. Sperm adhered by a mucus‐like substance were seen only in the UTJ at 6, 18, 24 and 28 h post‐mating. Lack of sperm adhered to oviductal mucosa was observed around ovulation (35 h). In vitro experiments demonstrated higher ability of UTJ epithelial cell explants with respect to isthmus explants to bind sperm in a co‐cultured system. The anatomical features and the presence of a sperm bonding agent in the UTJ together with the in vitro differential binding of sperm to UTJ explants strongly suggest that both may be feasible mechanisms that facilitate sperm storage in this oviductal region in llama.     

Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls 28, 30 and 118 on Bovine Spermatozoa In Vitro

Decline of semen quality due to endocrine‐disrupting chemicals is of concern globally. Among endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are associated with reduced semen quality in various epidemiological studies. In this study, we evaluated the direct effects of selected PCBs (28, 30 and 118) on fresh spermatozoa of Simmetial bulls aged 2–4 years were evaluated in vitro by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) (SCA; Microptics) analysis. IC50 values were found as 8.45, 5.45 and 9.55 ng/ml for PCB 28, 30 and 118, respectively. Total motility, progressive motility and viability decreased dependent on dose and duration of exposure (0, 2, 4 h). Total motility at IC50 doses decreased the most in PCB 28 (72.24%) followed by 30 (60.75%) and 118 (64.77%) at 2nd hour following exposure. Motility results were found to be in accordance with the vitality and morphology data where total abnormalities (especially reacted acrosome rate) were found to have increased.     

Role of Benzoic,Lactic and Sorbic Acid in In Vitro Swine Cecal Fermentation

Veterinary Research Communications - Piva, A. and Grilli, E., 2007. Role of benzoic, lactic and sorbic acid in in vitro swine cecal fermentation. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1),...     

In Vitro Sperm Penetration Speed and its Relationship with In Vivo Bull Fertility

The in vitro tests utilized to evaluate sperm quality represent an interesting and important approach to evaluate ejaculated fecundant capacity. In the present work, the oocyte-penetrating ability of sperm from two bulls with low and two with high in vivo fertility rate was investigated. Sperm-quality parameters, such as sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, acrosome and total sperm anomalies, proximal cytoplasmic drops and live : dead sperm ratio were assessed and batches of sperm homologues in these parameters were selected. In expt 1, a sperm : oocyte ratio of 3000 was used and the oocytes were fixed 5, 10, 15 and 18 h post-insemination (hpi). In expt 2, the sperm : oocyte ratio was reduced to 1000 and the eggs were fixed at 8 and 10 hpi. The results, analysed by chi-square test, showed significant differences (p <0.001) among bulls at 15 hpi in expt 1 and 8 hpi in expt 2; nevertheless, no accordance was found between sperm penetration rate and in vivo fertility. At 18 hpi, the low-fertility bulls exceeded the two high-fertility bulls, supporting previous reports that suggest an opposite correlation between in vivo and in vitro fertility rate at low doses of heparin. Furthermore, a more efficient zona binding ability of one high-fertility bull was pointed out in expt 2 after the reduction of sperm : oocyte ratio, as it reached the highest percentage of penetration when compared with all the others.     

Vasculogenesis by Endothelial Progenitor Cells In Vitro

The present study investigated the arrangement and chemical coding of intramural nerve structures supplying the porcine stomach. Tissue samples comprising all layers of the wall of the ventricular fundus were collected from juvenile female pigs ( n  = 4), which were first deeply anaesthetized and then transcardially perfused with buffered paraformaldehyde. The cryostat sections were processed for double-labelling immunofluorescence to study the distribution of the intramural nerve structures (visualized with antibodies against protein gene-product 9.5) and their neurochemical characteristics using antibodies against vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), galanin (GAL), vasoactive intestinal-polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM) and substance P (SP). The study confirmed the presence of three distinct nerve plexuses within the wall of the porcine stomach including one myenteric plexus and two, outer and inner, submucous plexuses. The outer and inner submucous plexuses (OSP and ISP, respectively) were similar in respect to the chemical coding of neurons they contained. Most of the neurons expressed immunoreactivity to SP (ISP 58%; OSP 60%) or to VAChT (ISP 56%; OSP 56%), some of them stained for GAL (ISP 18%; OSP 15%) and solitary nerve cells were SOM-positive (in ISP only). No neurons in the submucous plexuses displayed immunoreactivity to VIP or NOS. In the myenteric plexus, some neurons stained for NOS (20%), VAChT (15%), GAL (10%), VIP (8%) or SP (8%) while no neurons immunoreactive for SOM were encountered. In both submucous and myenteric plexuses, many varicose nerve fibres expressed immunoreactivity to VAChT, GAL or SP, while VIP-, SOM- or NOS-positive nerve terminals were less numerous. The comparison of the present results with those obtained by other authors has revealed distinct inter-species differences regarding the arrangement and chemical coding of nerve structures supplying the mammalian stomach.     

Boar Sperm Encapsulation Reduces In Vitro Polyspermy

A boar sperm encapsulation technology in barium alginate has been developed to enhance reproductive performances and spermatozoa preservation time; aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of in vitro sperm encapsulation on polyspermy as a function of storage time at 18°C. A total number of 40 in vitro fertilization (IVF) tests were performed using encapsulated or diluted spermatozoa (20 IVF each treatment). Overall, 1288 in vitro matured oocytes were fertilized with spermatozoa stored at 24, 48 or 72 h at 18°C for both treatments polyspermy and normospermy, and the non‐penetration rates were assessed by optical microscopy. Results indicate a significant reduction in risk of polyspermic oocytes when spermatozoa are preserved in barium alginate membranes (incidence risk ratio: 0.766 with respect to diluted); such enhancement could be explained by lesser damage of sperm membranes achieved by encapsulation technology.