The Functional Role of Oxytocin in the Induction of Oocyte Meiotic Resumption in Cattle

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of oxytocin (OT) in the progesterone (P4) and prostaglandins (PGs) pathway to induce oocyte meiotic resumption. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were co‐cultured with follicular hemisections for 15 h to determine the effects of different doses of OT or atosiban (ATO; oxytocin receptor antagonist) on oocyte meiotic resumption. In another experiment, we examined the effect of the interaction between P4, OT and PGs on the regulatory cascade of the oocyte meiotic resumption. Oxytocin at 1 μm was effective in inducing meiotic resumption in oocytes co‐cultured with follicular cells (84.0%), not differing from the positive control group (74.4%). Atosiban inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner the positive effect of OT on the meiotic resumption (27.6% metaphase I with 10 μm of ATO, which did not differ from the 25.5% of the negative control group). Furthermore, a third experiment showed that P4 was able to induce oocyte meiotic resumption, which was inhibited by ATO. However, the OT positive effect was not blocked by mifepristone (P4 antagonist), but was inhibited by indomethacin (a non‐selective PTGS2 inhibitor). Collectively, these data suggest a sequential role of P4, OT and PGs in the induction of oocyte meiotic resumption.     

The importance of trifluoromethyl pyridines in crop protection

The pyridine ring, substituted by a trifluoromethyl substituent has been successfully incorporated into molecules with useful biological properties. During the period 1990 to September 2017, 14 crop protection products bearing a trifluoromethyl pyridine have been commercialized or proposed for an ISO common name, covering fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and nematicides. Chemical processes have been developed to provide trifluoromethyl pyridine intermediates, from non‐fluorinated pyridine starting materials, at scale and with affordable costs of goods. These attractive starting materials were readily adopted by research chemists, and elaborated through simple chemical modifications into new active ingredients. In a second approach, substituted trifluoromethyl pyridine rings have been constructed from acyclic, trifluoromethyl starting materials, which again has served to identify new active ingredients. Molecular matched pair analysis reveals subtle, yet important differences in physicochemical and agronomic properties of trifluoromethyl pyridines compared with the phenyl analogues. This review focuses on the past 27 years, seeking to identify reasons behind the success of such research programmes, and inspire the search for new crop protection chemicals containing the trifluoromethyl pyridine ring. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Abortion in goats by Caprine alphaherpesvirus 1 in Spain

An abortion outbreak occurred in a goat herd of Murciano‐Granadina breed in Almeria Region in Spain where 80 pregnant females aborted. All bacteriological and parasitological examinations resulted negative, whereas virological investigations and real‐time PCR assay showed the presence of Caprine alphaherpesvirus 1 DNA in the pathological specimens from aborted foetuses. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the DNA was highly close related to the Swiss strain E‐CH (99.7%) and a little less extent to the Italian BA.1 strain (99.4%). Histopathological examination revealed multifocal, well‐circumscribed, 50‐ to 200‐μm‐diameter foci of coagulative necrosis in the liver, lungs and kidneys of three foetuses. In the periphery of the necrosis, there were frequently epithelial cells with the chromatin emarginated by large, round, amphophilic intranuclear viral inclusion bodies. The source of the infection in the herd could not clearly find out even some hypothesis were formulated. This seems to be the first report of an abortion outbreak due to Caprine alphaherpesvirus 1 in a goat herd in Spain.     

Expression of genes for interleukins, neuropeptides, growth hormone receptor, and leptin receptor in adipose tissue from growing broiler chickens

In this study, total RNA was collected from abdominal adipose tissue samples obtained from 10 broiler chickens at 3, 4, 5, and 6 wk of age and prepared for quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was used to examine the influence of age on the expression of the adipose tissue genes for IL-1β, -6, -10, -15, -18; brain-derived neurotropic factor; ciliary neurotropic factor; interferon γ, neuropeptide Y receptor Y1; neuropeptide Y; nucleobindin 2; growth hormone receptor; leptin receptor; and visfatin. Between 3 and 6 wk of age, leptin receptor expression decreased (P = 0.013) with age, whereas expression of IL-15 (P = 0.015) and growth hormone receptor (P = 0.002) increased. Furthermore, IL-18 (P < 0.001) and visfatin (P = 0.007) expression increased between 4 and 6 wk of age. This is a unique exhibition of age-related changes in cytokine gene expression in chicken adipose tissue. Future studies are needed to elucidate the role of adipose tissue cytokines in growth and, possibly, disease resistance.     

Sera-controlled preadipocyte growth in culture: an ontogeny study with sera from lean and obese pigs

Genetically lean and obese swine were used to investigate the control of preadipocyte growth in culture by porcine serum. Sera were collected from fetuses from obese and lean strains at 70, 90 and 110 d of gestation. Postnatal serum samples were collected from both lines of pigs at 23 to 27 kg. Rat preadipocytes were isolated and grown in culture. Preadipocyte and stromal-vascular cell proliferation was greater in cultures grown in sera obtained postnatally than in cultures grown in sera from fetuses. Sera from lean and obese fetuses were equipotent in promoting cell proliferation. Glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was higher in cultures fed serum from obese pigs and fetuses than in cultures fed serum from lean pigs and fetuses. Cultures grown in serum from obese fetuses and pigs had soluble protein levels similar to cultures grown with serum from lean pigs and fetuses. These results demonstrate that serum from genetically obese swine, in the pre-obese (fetal) and obese (postnatal) state, caused increased adipogenic activity in adipocytes in culture.     

Elimination of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in New Zealand: a review of research progress and future directions

The major impacts of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) on cattle health and production have prompted many countries to embark on national elimination programmes. These programmes typically involve identifying and removing persistently infected (PI) cattle in infected herds and implementing biosecurity measures, such as pre- or post-movement testing. In order to design a systematic national control programme to eliminate BVD in New Zealand, which achieves the greatest benefits to the industries at the lowest cost to individual farmers, an accurate understanding is necessary of the epidemiology, economics and social motivation for BVD control in New Zealand. In this article we briefly review the pathogenesis of BVD, transmission and diagnosis of BVD virus infection, and effectiveness of vaccination. We summarise the current state of knowledge of the prevalence, risk factors for transmission, and financial impacts of BVD in New Zealand. We describe control programmes in Europe and then discuss the challenges that must be addressed to design a cost-effective national control programme to eliminate BVD in New Zealand.     

The histology of developing porcine adipose tissue

At each of the following days after conception (45, 60, 75, 90 and 105), pig fetuses were removed from sows representing lean and fat stains. From two additional litters, postnatal pigs were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 d. Pelikan dye was injected into fetuses and pigs. The whole of the dorsal subcutaneous tissue, including some underlying muscle, was removed. Tissue was fixed into paraffin blocks or was frozen. Paraffin and frozen sections were stained and examined for stromal-vascular and cellular changes during growth. Organized stromal-vascular changes occurred during a period of adipocyte formation from 45 d gestation until 9 d postnatally. At 45 d gestation, the subcutaneous tissue contained many short unorganized connective tissue fibers. Gradually, these fibers became more organized in a ventral to dorsal and caudal to cranial gradient, so that by 1 d postnatally, they formed complete lobules around all existing fat cell clusters. The presumptive adipose space of the complete lobules contained delicate strands of connective tissue and reacted metachromatically for mucin. Connective tissue around lobules became progressively thinner throughout the remaining postnatal ages. Vascularity of the subcutaneous tissue increased as the stromal became organized. Lipid was not present in the subcutaneous tissue at 45 d gestation, but some deposition was apparent in the inner layer at 60 d. Between 60 d gestation and 9 d postnatally, fat cells filled both subcutaneous layers in a ventral to dorsal formation. Presumptive adipose lobules were the source of adipocytes and capillaries of developing fat cell clusters. Adipocytes from fetuses through 1-d postnatal pigs were multilocular, while unilocular fat cells were first observed at 3 d. At 9 d, multilocular adipocytes were found singly or in groups within unilocular fat cell lobules.     

Semitendinosis muscle development in several strains of fetal and perinatal pigs

At 110 d of gestation, fetuses were removed from Ossabaw, Yorkshire and crossbred sows and from sows selected for high (obese) or for low (lean) backfat thickness. Ossabaw and obese fetuses were smaller than lean, Yorkshire and crossbred fetuses (595 +/- 32 and 863 +/- 44 g vs 1,030 +/- 77, 1,380 +/- 1,144 +/- 80 g; means +/- SE), respectively. Minimum fiber diameters in the semitendinosus muscle were larger in obese, lean and Ossabaw fetuses than in Yorkshire and crossbred fetuses (12.9 +/- .3, 12.5 +/- .2 and 11.8 +/- .2 micron vs 10.2 +/- .2 and 11.1 +/- .8 micron), respectively. Histochemical analysis for NADH-tetrazoleum reductase (NADH-TR) and esterase activities indicated no fiber type differentiation and no strain differences. Fiber type differentiation was obvious with acid ATPase histochemistry in muscles from all fetuses. The white portion of the semitendinosus from Ossabaw, obese and lean fetuses had many fibers that contained no histochemically detectable lipid (oil red O staining). The unstained fibers (oil red O) were always the most peripherally located fibers in a fasciculi. In some instances, 50% of the fibers in a fasciculi were not stained for lipid. All the fibers in the red portion of muscle from Ossabaw, obese and lean fetuses contained lipid. All the fibers in the red and white portions of muscles from crossbred and Yorkshire fetuses contained lipid. Muscles from young (1 to 2 d old) Ossabaw, Yorkshire and crossbred pigs were also histochemically analyzed. Analysis for NADH-TR, esterase and alkaline phosphatase (capillary staining) activities indicated no fiber type differentiation and no strain differences. As in the fetuses, the white portion of muscle from Ossabaw pigs had many fibers with no lipid (oil red O). Lipid was present in all fibers in the deep portions of muscle from Ossabaws and in all fibers in both portions of muscle from crossbred and Yorkshire pigs. These results indicate that when lipid staining is used as the criterion, fiber type differentiation is evident in muscle from fetuses and young pigs from strains not genetically selected for muscling (Ossabaw, obese and lean strains). Furthermore, fiber type differentiation is not evident in muscle from strains of pigs genetically selected for greater muscling (crossbred and Yorkshires).     

Adipose tissue development in the fetal pig examined using monoclonal antibodies

Two anti-adipocyte monoclonal antibodies (MAbs: AD-1 and AD-2) have been used to study the development of dorsal s.c. adipose tissue in fetuses from 50 to 110 d of gestation. Immunofluorescent staining of cryostat sections with each antibody revealed antigen-positive cells in fetal s.c. mesenchyme prior to lipid deposition. Lipid droplets as well as AD-1 and AD-2 positive cells were detected within the underlying muscle at 50 d. From 70 to 110 d of development, the AD-1 and AD-2 MAbs each detected all adipocytes examined, as well as capillaries associated with fat cell clusters in s.c. tissues. Reactivity toward both antibodies, as well as lipid deposition, also was detectable in the muscle underlying the s.c. mesenchyme from 70 d onward. Each MAb possessed a distinct pattern of reactivity. The AD-2 MAb stained arrector pili muscles and vessels in the s.c. mesenchyme and vessels in the underlying muscles, whereas the AD-1 did not. No reactivity using either MAb was detectable toward any other cell types within s.c. tissues. These results established the presence of cells expressing surface determinants found on mature adipocytes and associated capillaries prior to adipogenesis. A lineage relationship between adipocytes and capillary endothelial cells is suggested.     

Administration of hCG 5 days after Breeding and Reproductive Performance in Nulliparous Dairy Goats

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hCG administration 5 days after breeding on plasma progesterone (P4) concentration and reproductive performance of oestrous-induced nulliparous dairy goats. A total of 59 nulliparous goats (36 Alpine and 23 Saanen) received intravaginal sponges with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 9 days plus 200 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) and 22.5 microg d-cloprostenol 24 h before sponge removal. After detection of oestrus (day of oestrus = day 0) and breeding, 49 females were randomly assigned, according to the breed, into two treatments (T1 and T2). In T1 (n = 25) and T2 (n = 24), animals received intramuscular injection of 1 ml of saline solution (control) or 250 IU hCG, respectively, 5 days after breeding. Plasma P4 concentration (ng/ml) was determined from blood sampled on days 0, 5, 7, 13, 17, 21, 28 and 45 after breeding. Animals were scanned by transrectal ultrasound (5 MHz probe) on days 35 and 70 after breeding for detection of pregnancy. Plasma P4 concentration did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments in all days, but it was increased (p < 0.05) in Saanen than in Alpine goats from days 13 to 45. Pregnancy and parturition rates, litter size and gestation period were similar (p > 0.05) to treatments and breeds. Results of this study indicate that human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration 5 days after breeding did not significantly alter reproductive performance in dairy nulliparous goats and that plasma P4 differed between Saanen and Alpine goats.