Comparison of Whole Ovary Cryotreatments for Fertility Preservation

The goal of this study was to compare a traditional slow‐freeze method (TF) with an open unidirectional slow freeze cooling system (UF) for whole ovary cryopreservation. Therefore, whole pig ovaries were randomly assigned to (A) fresh control, (B) traditional slow freeze (TF) or (C) unidirectional slow freeze (UF). Ovaries were perfused with 10% DMSO in Krebs‐Ringer. For TF, whole ovaries were placed in specimen jars containing 10% DMSO and placed into a specialized container for freezing filled with propan‐2‐ol. For UF, whole ovaries were placed within a specially designed container containing 10% DMSO and transferred to a specialized freezing machine (CTE 920). Histological evaluation demonstrated intact morphology of follicles in all groups; however, an overall decrease of follicle numbers in TF (46%) and UF (50%) compared to fresh control. Live/dead assay indicated significantly lower populations of live cells in both TF (60%) and UF (58%) compared to fresh tissue (74%). TUNEL assay confirmed a difference in percentage of apoptotic follicles between fresh and TF, but there was no significant difference between fresh and UF. To improve the structural and functional integrity of whole ovaries, further investigation, especially into directional freezing, is needed. Whole ovary cryopreservation could provide opportunities for women facing fertility loss due to chemo‐ or radiotherapy treatment.     

Colliding beam fusion reactor

Recent results with Tokamak experiments provide insights into the problem of magnetic confinement. They demonstrate how to avoid anomalous transport and thus solve the major problems of Tokamak reactors: size, the production of 14-megaelectron volt neutrons, and maintenance. An alternate confinement system, the field-reversed configuration, confines beams of protons and boron-11. For the proton-boron-11 fusion reaction, the fusion products are all charged particles for which direct conversion is feasible and neutron flux is negligible.     

The Role of Oestradiol in the Uterine Peristalsis in the Perfused Swine Uterus

This study was designed to examine the effects of oestradiol (E2) on sperm transport in the swine uterus. The bicornuate swine uterus is optimal for the study of the uterine transport and peristalsis because the influence of various factors can be examined on each uterine horn independently. Forty swine uteri (with or without ovarectomy) were perfused for a period of up to 7 h. Two different E2 concentrations (3 or 30 pg/ml) in the perfusion medium were administered for 30 min unilaterally. Through an intracervical catheter 1 ml of a high concentrated dextran blue solution was administered directly in the upper part of the cervix. After bilateral perfusion of the swine uterus with a bolus of 0.3 IU oxytocin the distribution of coloured particles was assessed macroscopically before and after incision of the uterine horns. Coloration was evaluated by two observers blinded to the site-specific administration of E2. In the 10 ovarectomized uteri with the 3 pg/ml E2 concentration a unilateral distribution towards the side of oestradiol administration was observed in six uteri, in four it was a bilateral distribution. In the 10 non-ovarectomized uteri with the 3 pg/ml E2 concentration a uni- and ipsilateral coloration was observed in five uteri, in five it was a bilateral distribution. In the 20 uteri with 30 pg/ml E2, a unilateral coloration of the uterus horns was observed in all uteri. Oestradiol is one of the main factors, which influences the direction of the sperm transport in a dose-dependent manner, in the perfused swine uterus.     

The spread of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection to unvaccinated and vaccinated sheep

SUMMARY The decrease in the prevalence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis after two generations of vaccination against the disease it causes, was used to estimate the rate of control of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). Three groups of 150 sheep, of which 50 in each group were artificially infected with C pseudotuberculosis and 100 in each group were uninfected sheep, were run separately for 40 months and shorn 5 times to promote the spread of CLA. One lot of 50 infected sheep and 2 lots of 100 uninfected sheep were vaccinated against CLA. The rate of spread of CLA was recorded. Sheep vaccinated against CLA and naturally exposed to infection had a 74% lower infection rate than unvaccinated sheep. Sheep vaccinated against CLA and exposed to only vaccinated infected sheep had a 97% lower infection rate. Unvaccinated sheep had a 76% infection rate, with 77% of the transmission occurring at the 4th and 5th shearings, without any discharging CLA abscesses being observed. This study supports the view that in Australian wool producing flocks, CLA spreads mainly from sheep with discharging lung abscesses to sheep with shearing cuts. Vaccinated sheep infected with CLA have 96% fewer lung abscesses compared with unvaccinated infected sheep and are therefore less likely to spread this disease to other sheep .     

New infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis reduces wool production

SUMMARY The effect of natural Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection on wool production and quality in sheep was examined in light of evidence that artificial C pseudotuberculosis infection causes wool production loss. A toxin ELISA was used to identify sheep that had been infected with C pseudo tuberculosis. Greasy and clean fleece weights and fibre diameter were compared in infected and uninfected sheep. C pseudotuberculosis infection caused a 3.8 to 4.8% decrease in greasy wool production and a 4.1 to 6.6% decrease in clean wool production. C pseudotuberculosis infection did not affect fibre diameter. The effects of caseous lymphadenitis (the disease caused by C pseudotuberculosis infection) cause an annual loss of about $17 million in wool production to the Australian wool industry.