阴外动脉灌注氨基酸、葡萄糖混合物对奶山羊血浆总蛋白、白蛋白及相关激素受体mRNA表达量的影响

本试验旨在研究阴外动脉乳成分前体物浓度的变化对奶山羊乳腺吸收及相关激素受体mRNA表达量的影响.选用2～3岁,体重、产奶量相近、安装有阴外动脉和腹部皮下静脉血插管的关中奶山羊3只,由阴外动脉灌注氨基酸和葡萄糖混合物,在灌注前后分别采集动静脉血浆、乳腺组织,测定动静脉血浆中总蛋白、白蛋白的含量及乳腺组织β-酪蛋白、催乳素受体、生长激素受体和类胰岛素生长因子Ⅰ的mRNA表达量。结果表明,与灌注前相比,乳成分前体物含量及乳腺对其的摄取量均提高(P<0.05).乳腺组织中β-酪蛋白、生长激素受体和类胰岛素生长因子Ⅰ的mRNA表达量显著提高(P<0.05),催乳素受体的mRNA表达量极显著提高(P<0.01),说明阴外动脉灌注氨基酸、葡萄糖混合物可以显著地提高乳成分前体物的浓度,有效地刺激血液中激素发生变化,提高乳腺组织中相关受体mRNA的表达.     

Animal‐Level Factors Affecting Ovarian Function in Bos indicus Heifers Treated to Synchronize Ovulation with Intravaginal Progesterone‐Releasing Devices and Oestradiol Benzoate

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of animal‐level factors including energy balance and environmental/management stress, on the ovarian function of Bos indicus heifers treated to synchronize ovulation. Two‐year‐old Brahman (BN) (n = 30) and BN‐cross (n = 34) heifers were randomly allocated to three intravaginal progesterone‐releasing device (IPRD) treatment groups: (i) standard‐dose IPRD [Cue‐Mate^® (CM) 1.56 g; n = 17]; (ii) half‐dose IPRD [0.78 g progesterone (P₄); CM 0.78 g; n = 15]; (iii) half‐dose IPRD + 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin at IPRD removal (CM 0.78 g + G; n = 14); (iv) and a control group, 2× PGF_2α [500 μg prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α)] on Day ?16 and ?2 (n = 18). Intravaginal progesterone‐releasing device‐treated heifers received 250 μg PGF_2α at IPRD insertion (Day ?10) and IPRD removal (Day ?2) and 1 mg oestradiol benzoate on Day ?10 and ?1. Heifers were managed in a small feedlot and fed a defined ration. Ovarian function was evaluated by ultrasonography and plasma P₄ throughout the synchronized and return cycles. Energy balance was evaluated using plasma insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐I) and glucose concentrations. The impact of environmental stressors was evaluated using plasma cortisol concentration. Heifers that had normal ovarian function had significantly higher IGF‐I concentrations at commencement of the experiment (p = 0.008) and significantly higher plasma glucose concentrations at Day ?2 (p = 0.040) and Day 4 (p = 0.043), than heifers with abnormal ovarian function. There was no difference between the mean pre‐ovulatory cortisol concentrations of heifers that ovulated or did not ovulate. However, heifers that ovulated had higher cortisol concentrations at Day 4 (p = 0.056) and 6 (p = 0.026) after ovulation than heifers that did not ovulate.     

Constant Light Exposure Causes Dissociation in Gonadotrophin Secretion and Inhibits Partially Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Leydig Cells in Adult Rats

The objective of this work was to study the changes that occur in the Leydig cells of rats exposed to continuous light. The laboratory rat is considered a non-photoperiodic species because exposure to short photoperiod has little or no effect on the reproductive status. However, exposure of adult female rats to constant light induces polycystic ovaries, indicating that extreme changes in the photoperiod affect the reproductive function seriously. Adult male rats were placed under continuous light conditions for a duration of 15 weeks. After this period, the animals were killed and testicles were dissected and processed by routine histologic protocols. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) serum levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The visualization of antigens was achieved by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. Antibodies against chromogranin A, S-100 protein, P substance, synaptofisin, neurofilament protein-200, gliofibrillary acidic protein and neurone-specific enolase were used. The mean LH serum concentration was significantly lower, while the mean FSH level was significantly higher in treated animals. The expression of S-100, NSE, CrA, SP and SYN was significantly lower in treated animals. In conclusion, the constant light exposure acting directly at the pituitary level decreases LH secretion. The increased FSH secretion may be due to a partial reduction of the negative androgen feedback in the pituitary gland. Moreover, the constant light exposure affects the expression of some immunomarkers in Leydig cells, possibly because of the changes found in the gonadotrophin level and feedback mechanism.     

Influence of Heat Stress on the Cortisol and Oxidant‐Antioxidants Balance During Oestrous Phase in Buffalo‐Cows (Bubalus bubalis): Thermo‐protective Role of Antioxidant Treatment

In the present study, the effect of heat stress, which is commonly observed in the animals of Upper Egypt area in summer, as well as the effect of antioxidant treatment as a thermo‐protective was examined. In this study, the animals (n = 120) were divided into winter group (n = 40, bred during winter) and summer group (n = 80, bred during summer) as well as, animals in the summer group were divided into first subgroup animals (n = 40) and injected with Viteselen intramuscularly (15 ml) twice weekly for 10 weeks and second subgroup animals (n = 40) were not treated (as control). Serum levels of progesterone (P4), oestradiol (E2), cortisol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidase (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. The pregnancy rate of all animals was detected rectally. The levels of oestradiol and the activity of the antioxidant SOD were decreased in serum of animals in behavioural oestrus during summer as compared with those in winter. During the same time period the levels of oxidants such as LPO and NO were increased in the serum of animals again in the phase of oestrus. In another group of animals treated by intramuscular injection with 15 ml viteselen (antioxidant) twice weekly for 6 weeks during hot months, the activities of serum SOD showed an increase and the levels of oxidants and cortisol decreased. Moreover, the levels of oestradiol were increased during the oestrous behaviour. The pregnancy rate was decreased in animals under heat stress and the pregnancy rate was enhanced dramatically when these animals received antioxidants during the heat stress. This means that the heat‐stress in Upper Egypt may affect the fertility of animals and pregnancy rate and this effect may be through an increased production of free radicals and decreased production of antioxidants as well as increased levels of cortisol. Treatment of animals or supplementation with antioxidants before the beginning of months of heat‐stress and also during the stress period may correct the infertility due to heat‐stress through the decrease in cortisol secretion and a decrease in the oxidative stress. These results resulted in an increase in pregnancy rate in treated animals.     

Pregnancy loss in dairy cattle in the Waikato region of New Zealand

AIM: To define the incidence rate of pregnancy loss and risk factors for those losses in pasture-fed dairy cattle in the Waikato region of New Zealand.

METHODS: Cows (n=2,004) from 10 pasture-fed, spring-calving dairy herds in the Waikato were enrolled following confirmation of pregnancy 29–45 days after insemination, for inseminations that occurred within the first 16 days of the seasonal breeding period. Transrectal ultrasonographic examinations for pregnancy were conducted at approximately 6, 8, 10, 14 and 22 weeks gestation, and subsequent calving data were recovered. Pregnancy loss was defined as having occurred when a confirmed pregnancy was not rediagnosed, when gross abortion was detected, or when a cow calved <265 days after the confirmed conception date. Data were analysed using reverse stepwise logistic regression and Cox's proportional hazards analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 128 (6.4%) pregnancy losses were detected. The incidence rate was higher in early compared to late gestation (10.9 vs 2.8 losses/10,000 cow-days between Weeks 6–10 vs Weeks 10–14, respectively; p<0.001). Higher rates of loss were associated with the occurrence of clinical mastitis (Hazards ratio (HR)=1.57; p=0.071), being treated for anoestrus (HR=1.69; p=0.007), and in cows that had calving-to-conception intervals ≤63 days compared with those that had calving-to-conception intervals >92 days (HR=2.49; p=0.06). In addition, the rate of pregnancy loss differed between herds (p=0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The highest rate of pregnancy loss occurred in early gestation. Clinical mastitis, anoestrus and calving late in the calving season were risk factors for pregnancy loss.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasonography can be undertaken from 28 days post-insemination. However, due to the high rate of pregnancy loss at this stage of gestation, herdowners need to be warned of possible losses, and cows should be re-examined to confirm pregnancy before certification of pregnancy status is given.     

Strategies for mastitis control: dry cow therapy and culling

SUMMARY The effects of three selection strategies for dry cow therapy on prevention of new infections and rate of antibiotic usage were compared. Quarter infection status of 1044 cows in 12 herds was determined by bacteriological methods at drying off, calving and three to five months into the following lactation. Cows that were uninfected at drying off were randomly allocated to treatment (whole udder, dry cow therapy) and non-treatment groups. Infected cows were randomly allocated to whole udder or infected quarter only treatments. The strategies compared were blanket treatment (treat all quarters of all cows), selective cow treatment (treat all quarters of any cow infected in one or more quarters) and selective quarter treatment (treat infected quarters only). Selective cow treatment was identified as the preferred strategy. Blanket treatment resulted in increased antibiotic usage (15.5 vs 6.4 tubes per infection eliminated) with no additional benefit, and selective quarter treatment resulted in a higher new infection rate (6.4%vs 3.9% quarters) in the dry period. The prevalence of infection within a herd at drying off had no influence on new infection rates in the dry period or early lactation. The cure rate after dry cow treatment (mean of 66%) decreased significantly with increasing age (P < 0.001). Cows infected in the previous lactation contributed over 76% of infections at calving and nearly 70% at mid-lactation. To lower the incidence of mastitis in a herd, a greater emphasis on culling of older infected cows and prevention of new infections during lactation is needed.