Follicle Turnover and Pregnancy Rates Following Oestrus Synchronization Protocols in Mediterranean Italian Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

An ultrasound assessment of follicle turnover following two different protocols for synchronization of oestrus and ovulation, as well as an assessment of achieved synchronization between ovulation and AI and conception rates in nulliparous and pluriparous buffaloes were carried out during months of increasing day length. Nulliparous buffaloes (n = 30) were subjected only to Ovsynch protocol whereas pluriparous buffaloes (n = 31) were assigned to Ovsynch (n = 14) or to PRID-pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) (n = 17) protocol according to the presence of functional CL confirming cyclic and acyclic conditions. Ultrasound examination of ovarian follicular dynamics at critical days in the course of synchronization treatments was employed to monitor the fate of the largest available follicles at the beginning of treatments. Such available dominant follicle would persist throughout the protocol as ovulating follicle (no-follicle shift) or would regress giving way to a new follicle to become dominant and ovulate (follicle shift). Furthermore, ultrasound monitoring would determine the degree of synchronization of ovulation and final outcome represented by pregnancy rates. Pregnancy rate following Ovsynch protocol was 40% (12/30) and 42.8% (6/14) in nulliparous and pluriparous buffaloes respectively (p = 0.8575). Most ovulations were synchronized and recorded at AI and the following day in nulliparous (24/30; 80%) and pluriparous (12/14; 85.7%) buffaloes respectively (p = 1.000). A follicle shift was recorded in 14 of 30 (46.6%) and 11 of 14 (78.5%) in nulliparous and pluriparous buffaloes respectively (p = 0.0466). Among established pregnancies: eight derived from follicle shift (66.6%) and four from no-follicle shift (33.3%) in nulliparous buffaloes, p = 0.0729 whereas in pluriparous buffaloes five (83.3%) derived from follicle shift and one from no-follicle shift (16.6%), p = 0.6154. Collectively, from 18 pregnancies in nulliparous and pluriparous buffaloes following Ovsynch protocol, 13 derived from follicle shift (72.2%) and five from no-follicle shift (27.7%), p = 0.0860. Pregnancy rate in pluriparous buffaloes following PRID-PMSG protocol was 70.5% (12/17). The majority of ovulations were synchronized and recorded at first, second AI and following day (13/17; 76.4%). A follicle shift occurred in 15/17 buffaloes (88.2%) and among the 12 recorded pregnancies, 11 derived from follicle shift (91.6%), p = 0.5147. In conclusion, pregnancy rates following Ovsynch protocol were similar in nulliparous and pluriparous cyclic buffaloes. A progestagen treatment on acyclic buffaloes but still displaying some ovarian follicular dynamics, resulted in significantly higher pregnancy rate compared with Ovsynch (p = 0.0376). According to the time of scheduled AI, a high degree of synchronized ovulations were recorded following the implementation of both protocols.     

Hydroureteronephrosis and fetal mummification secondary to uterine torsion in a Merino ewe

A 6 year old pluriparous Merino ewe was presented for investigation of a large intra-abdominal mass. Post-mortem examination revealed a 360° clockwise uterine torsion was present with a mummifying fetus. The torsion involved the left ureter resulting in a severe hydroureteronephrosis. Uterine torsion is uncommon in the ewe, occurring in less than 0.1% of pregnancies in one report (Mahmoud et al. Livest Res Rural Dev 2018;30), but cases are likely to be undiagnosed, particularly under the extensive management conditions typical of Australia. The chronicity of the condition in this ewe would support this statement. To the authors' knowledge this is the first reported case of hydroureteronephrosis secondary to uterine torsion in any species.     

Differential Expression of IGF Family Members in Heat‐Stressed Embryos Produced In Vitro from OPU‐Derived Oocytes of Nelore (Bos indicus) and Holstein (Bos taurus) Cows

The IGF system is related to embryo quality. We aim to determine the effect of the heat stress on the mRNA expression of IGF1 and IGF2, IGFR1 and IGFR2, IGFBP2 and IGFBP4, and PAPPA in in vitro production (IVP) blastocysts from Nelore and Holstein after ovum pick up (OPU) to better understand the differences between these breeds. Oocytes from four Nelore and seven Holstein were collected in six OPU sessions. Following in vitro maturation and fertilization using six Nelore or Holstein sires, embryos were divided into control (cultured at 39°C) and heat stress (HS; exposed to 41°C for 9 h). Blastocysts were submitted to RNA extraction. The IGF1 expression was higher in blastocysts under HS in both breeds, and the expression of IGFBP2 and IGFBP4 was higher in Holstein blastocysts under HS. The high PAPPA expression and the low expression of IGFBP2 and IGFBP4 are associated with a more efficient degradation of IGFBPs, which results in greater IGF bioavailability in Nelore blastocysts and may contribute to the superior HS tolerance in Nelore, when compared to Holstein.     

X-ray Photographs of a Solar Active Region with a Multilayer Telescope at Normal Incidence

An astronomical photograph was obtained with a multilayer x-ray telescope. A 4-centimeter tungsten-carbon multilayer mirror was flown as part of an experimental solar rocket payload, and successful images were taken of the sun at normal incidence at a wavelength of 44 angstroms. Coronal Si-XII emission from an active region was recorded on film; as expected, the structure is very similar to that observed at O-VIII wavelengths by the Solar Maximum Mission flat crystal spectrometer at the same time. The small, simple optical system used in this experiment appears to have achieved a resolution of 5 to 10 arc seconds.