Incidence of Unilateral Fertilizations after Low Dose Deep Intrauterine Insemination in Spontaneously Ovulating Sows under Field Conditions

A new procedure for non-surgical deep intrauterine insemination (DUI) in unrestrained sows hormonally induced to ovulate, has been reported. In comparison with standard artificial insemination (AI), with this procedure, the sperm numbers inseminated can be reduced 20-fold without reducing the reproductive performance of these hormonally treated sows. The present study evaluated, using two experiments, the reproductive performance applying 20-fold different sperm numbers per AI dose using DUI or standard AI in spontaneously ovulating sows, under field conditions. In experiment 1, AI was applied to crossbred sows at 12, 24 and 36 h after onset of spontaneous oestrus using one of the following two regimes: (i) DUI (treatment) with 0.15 x 10(9) fresh boar spermatozoa in 5 ml of Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) extender (n = 95), and (ii) standard cervical AI (control) with 2.85 x 10(9) fresh spermatozoa in 95 ml of BTS extender (n = 95). The farrowing rates of the two groups of sows were statistically similar (NS). However, a decrease (p < 0.002) in litter size and the total number of pigs born alive was observed in sows inseminated with the DUI procedure. In experiment 2, 42 post-weaned oestrus sows were inseminated following the same design described for experiment 1 during spontaneous oestrus. On day 6 after onset of oestrus, the proximal segment of the uterine horns of the sows were flushed under surgery to retrieve eventual embryos and evaluate the success of fertilization per cornua (e.g. occurrence of effective uni- vs bilateral sperm transport rendering uni- or bilateral, complete or partial fertilization). Retrieved embryos were assessed for cleavage and number of accessory spermatozoa. Although identical overall pregnancy rates were achieved in both insemination groups, the percentage of sows with partial bilateral fertilization and unilateral fertilization was markedly higher (p < 0.05) in the DUI group (35%) compared with the control (standard AI) group (5%), with a consequent lower (p < 0.001) percentage of viable early embryos after DUI. The number of accessory spermatozoa in the zona pellucida of the embryos was highly variable, but higher (p < 0.001) in control animals than in DUI-AI. No accessory spermatozoa were found in oocytes retrieved from sows depicting unilateral fertilization. In conclusion, DUI in spontaneously ovulating sows with 0.15 x 10(9) spermatozoa renders similar farrowing rates but a lower litter size compared with use of standard AI with a 20-fold higher sperm dose. The lower litter size ought to be related to a decreased distribution of spermatozoa after DUI leading to a higher incidence of partial bilateral and unilateral fertilization.     

Passive infrared camera measurements demonstrate modest effect of mechanically induced internal voids on Dracaena fragrans stem temperature

The use of infrared cameras as a tree diagnostic device was proposed on the basis that internal defects reduce thermal conductivity and surface temperatures, but existing research has failed to demonstrate a clear connection between these two features. Consequently, two experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of internal voids on stem surface temperature. Cylindrical voids were created in 5 cm diameter stems of Dracaena fragrans by mechanically removing internal tissue. In each experiment, the dimension of internal voids varied among five experimental treatments with two controls. Infrared (IR) images were collected by directly focusing the camera on the stem surfaces concealing internal voids. Infrared images were analyzed using a concurrent mixed methods approach, including qualitative image evaluation and quantitative surface temperature analysis. In each experiment, IR image evaluation revealed a noticeable reduction in surface temperature around the largest void size (3.8 cm). Analyses of linear temperature trending and surface temperature mostly corroborated the visual evaluation. The average temperature above the largest void size was 0.4–0.6 °C lower than other treatments, which remained substantially similar to one another. Overall, these results suggest the technique is exclusively able to identify relatively large internal defects occupying at least 76% of the stem cross-sectional area.     

Use of Cholesterol‐Loaded Cyclodextrin in Donkey Semen Cryopreservation Improves Sperm Viability but Results in Low Fertility in Mares

The use of cholesterol‐loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) on semen cryopreservation has been related with better sperm viability in several species; however, the effect on fertility is not known in donkey semen. Ejaculates (n = 25) from five donkeys were diluted in S‐MEDIUM with 0, 1, 2 or 3 mg of CLC/120 × 10⁶ spermatozoa. Semen was frozen, and thawed samples were evaluated by computer‐assisted sperm analyser system (CASA), supravital test, hyposmotic swelling test and fluorescent dyes to assess the integrity of sperm membranes. Mares (n = 60) were inseminated with frozen‐thawed semen treated with the doses of 0 or 1 mg CLC. Percentages of sperm with progressive motility and with functional plasma membrane were greater (p < 0.05) in the CLC‐treated groups than in the control. Percentages of intact plasma membrane and intact plasma membrane and acrosome detected by fluorescent dyes were also greater (p < 0.05) in CLC‐treated groups. Although no difference (p > 0.05) in conception rates was detected between groups (control, 3/30, 10%; CLC‐treated, 1/30, 3.3%), fertility was low for artificial insemination programs in mares. Therefore, we firstly demonstrated that frozen semen treated with CLC in S‐MEDIA extender before freezing improves the in vitro sperm viability, but semen treated or not with CLC in S‐MEDIUM extender results in a very low conception rate in mares inseminated with thawed donkey semen.     

Systemic Immunosuppression by Methylprednisolone and Pregnancy Rates in Goats Undergoing the Transfer of Cloned Embryos

The presence of the zona pellucida has been perceived as a requirement for the oviductal transfer of cloned embryos at early stages of development while protecting the embryo from an immune system response. We hypothesized that steroid hormone therapy could reduce a potential cellular immune response after the transfer of zona‐free cloned embryos into the oviduct of recipient female goats. In Experiment 1, seven does were used to study the systemic immunosuppressant effect of the methylprednisolone administration (for 3 days) on blood cell counts. Whole blood was collected prior to treatment with methyprednisolone and then on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the first dose of methylprednisolone for the analysis of haematological parameters. Methylprednisolone treatment significantly reduced circulating white blood cells and neutrophils in comparison with pre‐treatment levels, demonstrating a systemic immunosuppressant effect. In Experiment 2, a group of 58 does were used as recipient females to study the effect of administration of methylprednisolone for 3 days on the establishment of pregnancies after the transfer of zona‐free cloned embryos into the oviducts. No effects on pregnancy rates on Day 30 were observed regarding the distinct treatment groups (control vs. methylprednisolone), the source of oocytes (in vivo‐ vs in vitro‐matured) or the presence or absence of the zona pellucida in embryos. In summary, methylprednisolone was effective at inducing a systemic immunosuppressed state in goats, but the treatment prior to embryo transfer did not affect pregnancy rates. Moreover, pregnancy rates were similar between zona‐free and zona‐intact goat cloned embryos.     

Constituents of Asparagus officinalis evaluated for inhibitory activity against cyclooxygenase-2

As part of a project directed toward the discovery of new cancer chemopreventive agents from plants, two new natural products, asparagusic acid anti-S-oxide methyl ester (1) and asparagusic acid syn-S-oxide methyl ester (2), a new acetylenic compound, 2-hydroxyasparenyn [3',4'-trans-2-hydroxy-1-methoxy-4-[5-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-3-penten-1-ynyl]-benzene] (3), as well as eleven known compounds, asparenyn (4), asparenyol (5), (+/-)-1-monopalmitin (6), ferulic acid (7), 1,3-O-di-p-coumaroylglycerol (8), 1-O-feruloyl-3-O-p-coumaroylglycerol (9), blumenol C, (+/-)-epipinoresinol, linoleic acid, 1,3-O-diferuloylglycerol, and 1,2-O-diferuloylglycerol, were isolated from an ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus), using a bioassay based on the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 to monitor chromatographic fractionation. The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against both cyclooxygenase-1 and -2, with the most active compound being linoleic acid.     

云南高原甘薯地方品种的生长分析

 通过作物生长分析法对云南省中部和南部有代表性的甘薯地方品种进行物质生产性能分析。地方品种"甘心红薯"、"呈贡红皮"、"蒙自白皮"、"路南红皮"及"蒙自红皮"的LAI,RGR,LAR均显着优于对照品种"徐薯18",干物质积累量也明显高于"徐薯18".表明上述地方品种的物质生产性能较好,在云南省甘薯生产上推广利用的潜力较大。     

Model studies on the oxygen-induced formation of benzaldehyde from phenylacetaldehyde using pyrolysis GC-MS and FTIR

Benzaldehyde, a potent aroma chemical of bitter almond, can also be formed thermally from phenylalanine and may contribute to the formation of off-aroma. To identify the precursors involved in its generation during Maillard reaction, various model systems containing phenylalanine, phenylpyruvic acid, phenethylamine, or phenylacetaldehyde were studied in the presence and absence of moisture using oxidative and nonoxidative Py-GC-MS. Analysis of the data indicated that phenylacetaldehyde, the Strecker aldehyde of phenylalanine, is the most effective precursor and that both air and water significantly enhanced the rate of benzaldehyde formation from phenylacetaldehyde. Phenylpyruvic acid was the most efficient precursor under nonoxidative conditions. Phenethylamine, on the other hand, needed the presence of a carbonyl compound to generate benzaldehyde only under oxidative conditions. On the basis of the results obtained, a free radical initiated oxidative cleavage of the carbon-carbon double bond of the enolized phenylacetaldehyde was proposed as a possible major mechanism for benzaldehyde formation, and supporting evidence was provided through monitoring of the evolution of the benzaldehyde band from heated phenylacetaldehyde in the presence and absence of 1,1'-azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile) on the ATR crystal of an FTIR spectrophotometer. In the presence of the free radical initiator, the enol band of the phenylacetaldehyde centered at 1684 cm(-1) formed and increased over time, and after 18 min of heating time the benzaldehyde band centered at 1697 cm(-1) formed and increased at the expense of the enol band of phenylacetaldehyde, indicating a precursor product relationship.