Nutrient intake, digestibility, and blood metabolites of goats fed diets containing processed jatropha meal

This study was conducted to record the ideal source and level of alkali treatment to treat jatropha meal (JM) and to determine the effect of inclusion of variously processed JM (pJM) on nutrient intake, digestibility, blood metabolites and hormonal status in goats. The JM was treated with 10 g/kg sodium chloride and 5 g/kg calcium hydroxide. The content of phorbol ester and hemagglutination (HA) activity of JM and pJM were assessed. A feeding trial for 90 days was conducted in short-haired multipurpose goats (n?=?15; five per group). The experimental animals were offered oat (Avena sativa) straw ad libitum throughout the experimental period of 90 days. Each group was assigned to one of the three diets, viz. R₁—soybean meal, R₂—sodium chloride (10 g/kg dry matter, DM), and R₃—calcium hydroxide (5 g/kg DM), with pJM substituting 250 g/kg DM of crude protein (CP) of control (R₁). At the end of the feeding period, digestion trial of 7 days was conducted. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experimental period to assess the blood metabolites and hormonal status. The phorbol ester and HA activity were reduced considerably in pJM. The intake of DM, organic matter, CP, and nitrogen-free extract were comparable among all the groups. However, the intake of ether extract was significantly higher in pJM-fed groups. The hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum urea, triiodothyronine and testosterone contents decreased in R₂ and R₃ as compared to R₁. Concentration of glucose and activity of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase increased (P?<?0.01) in goats fed pJM. It was concluded that phorbol ester content and HA activity markedly decreased by processing JM with sodium chloride and calcium hydroxide. However, they were not reduced to the levels of safe feeding, as reflected in unusual values of blood metabolites among the experimental animals.     

Surgical Correction of Uterine Torsion and Mare–Foal Survival in Advance Pregnant Equine Patients

This article describes the surgical management of uterine torsion by midline celiotomy and cesarean section on 12 mares presented with signs of colic to a teaching veterinary hospital. The mares were either in full term of gestation (n = 7) or in advanced stage of pregnancy (n = 5). Six mares were in first parity. Uterine torsion was diagnosed by per rectal and per vaginal examinations. For surgical intervention, mares were anesthetized using a combination of xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg), intravenously. After intubation, the animals were maintained on halothane (n = 4) or isoflurane (n = 8) inhalation anesthesia. Midline celiotomy was performed, and foals were delivered by cesarean section. In 11 mares, before closing the abdominal wound, the uterus was detorted manually and confirmed for its normal position. Both anesthetic protocols using halothane and isoflurane were found satisfactory for surgical correction of uterine torsion. After long-term follow-up, the study reported 75.0% (9/12) survival rate for mares. One mare was euthanized because of devitalized, necrosed, and adhered uterus to the abdominal wall. Of the nine surviving mares, seven were successfully bred. Three foals were born alive, and only one could survive on long-term basis. Of the nine dead foals, two had umbilical cord torsion.     

Assessment of intracellular Ca2+, cAMP and 1,2-diacylglycerol in cryopreserved buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa on supplementation of taurine and trehalose in the extender

In mammalian spermatozoa, intracellular calcium plays a major role in sperm functions like motility and capacitation. Cryopreservation-induced modifications to sperm membrane result in an influx of intracellular calcium affecting calcium-dependent intracellular signalling pathways. Intracellular calcium activates adenyl cyclase to produce cAMP that activates phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2) ) and phospholipase C (PLC) generating lysophosphatidyl choline, 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) and IP(3) , acting as intracellular secondary messengers required for sperm capacitation. Present study was designed to determine levels of intracellular calcium, cAMP and DAG in fresh and frozen-thawed buffalo spermatozoa cryopreserved in the presence and absence of taurine or trehalose. A total number of nine ejaculates from three randomly chosen buffalo bulls were cryopreserved in Tris-based egg yolk extender and thawed in warm water at 37°C. The cAMP was measured by enzyme immuno assay, and intracellular calcium was quantified using fluorescent dye FURA 2-AM. Total lipid was extracted from spermatozoa, and DAG was estimated using thin layer chromatography followed by spectrophotometric analysis. Intracellular calcium, cAMP and DAG levels in spermatozoa were significantly (p < 0.01) increased following cryopreservation as compared to fresh ejaculate. Addition of taurine or trehalose to the freezing medium significantly decreased (p < 0.01) the levels of intracellular calcium and cAMP in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. 1,2-diacylglycerol content was also decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in spermatozoa cryopreserved in presence of additives. Moreover, significant (p < 0.01) improvement in post-thaw motility, viability and membrane integrity of spermatozoa on addition of taurine or trehalose clearly indicated the reduced level of capacitation-like changes in buffalo spermatozoa.     

Histamine receptors mediate contraction of reticular groove smooth muscle of adult goats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of histamine and to characterise its receptor subtypes in reticular groove (RG) smooth muscle of adult goats. The studies were done using floor and lip regions of RG. We used tension experiments on smooth muscle of RG isolated from adult goat for functional characterisation of H₁ and H₂ receptors. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry experiments were conducted for molecular characterisation of these receptors. Histamine evoked concentration-dependent contraction of isolated RG circular and longitudinal smooth muscle preparation. Pyrilamine antagonised the action of histamine. Histamine did not induce any relaxant effect on RG preparations. Additionally, cimetidine did not produce any significant effect on histamine-induced response. Non-selective histaminic receptor antagonist cyproheptadine attenuated the contraction response to histamine in the smooth muscle. Molecular characterisation and localisation of H₁ and H₂ receptor proteins confirmed the presence of these receptors in RG. It is most likely that histamine-induced contractile effect in RG smooth muscle of goats is mediated by H₁ histaminic receptors.     

Molecular detection of important abortion-causing microorganisms in preputial swab of breeding bucks using PCR-based assays

Infectious diseases and aetiological agents related to female reproductive systems were extensively covered compared to its male counterpart. There needs a proper study to bridge this gap, where microflora and infectious agents of both male and female reproductive are mutually intelligible. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of the preputial cavity and also screened for abortion-causing agents which are zoonotic as well. In goats, such types of abortions are caused by Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter and Coxiella etc. One of the major sources of contamination of semen is the preputial cavity, which is exposed to the external environment leading to spread of infection into the female via semen straws or by natural service. In the current study, good quality bucks (n = 32, Barbari = 12, Jamunapari = 10, Jakhrana = 10) which were routinely used for semen collection were screened for their preputial swabs, for the presence of the above pathogens. For detection of Brucella melitensis, OMP31 based TaqMan® probe real-time PCR assay was used, and for Chlamydia, 16srRNA gene based SYBR® green real-time PCR assay was employed for detection of Chlamydophila abortus. While for Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii, 16srRNA gene based conventional PCR and Trans-PCR were used, respectively. In the current study, of the screened preputial swabs, none of them showed positive for Brucella and Coxiella, but of the screened 32 samples 17 showed positive for Chlamydia (53.13%) and two (6.25%) showed positive for Campylobacter spp. The current study emphasizes on the farms and laboratories which were regularly involved in screening of brucellosis also often overlook the other potential non-brucella pathogens, causing abortions eventually incurring severe economic losses to the goat keepers.     

Impact of heat stress,nutritional restriction and combined stresses (heat and nutritional) on growth and reproductive performance of Malpura rams under semi‐arid tropical environment

A study was conducted to assess the combined effect of heat stress and nutritional restriction on growth and reproductive performances in Malpura rams. Twenty‐eight adult Malpura rams (average body weight (BW) 66.0 kg) were used in this study. The rams were divided into four groups: CON (n = 7; control), HES (n = 7; heat stress), NUS (n = 7; nutritional stress) and COS (n = 7; combined stress). The study was conducted for a period of 2 months. CON and HES rams had ad libitum access to their feed while NUS and COS rams were under restricted feed (30% intake of CON rams) to induce nutritional stress. The HES and COS rams were kept in climatic chamber at 42 °C and 55% relative humidity for 6 h a day between 10 : 00 h and 16 : 00 h to induce heat stress. Body weight increased significantly (p < 0.05) in CON as compared to NUS and COS. When compared within groups, scrotal width morning, scrotal width afternoon, scrotal circumference morning and scrotal circumference afternoon were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in CON while smaller in COS rams. The higher testicular length was recorded both during morning (p < 0.05) and afternoon (p < 0.01) in COS rams while the lowest in NUS rams. The highest plasma testosterone concentration was recorded in CON and lowest in COS rams. Semen volume and mass motility also differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the groups. The highest semen volume and mass motility was recorded in CON and NUS while lowest in both HES and COS rams. It can be concluded from this study that when two stressors occur simultaneously, they may have severe impact on reproductive performance of rams.     

Effects of low‐density lipoproteins as additive on quality parameters and oxidative stress following cryopreservation of mithun (Bos frontalis) spermatozoa

Artificial breeding of mithun poses several challenges including lack of standard protocol for cryopreservation of spermatozoa. This is further complicated by harmful effects of hen's egg yolk (EY) as additive in extender. Purified low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) extracted from EY have been shown as beneficial over EY extender for long‐term semen storage in several species. This investigation explored use of LDL versus EY on semen quality and oxidative stress following freezing–thawing of spermatozoa. A total of 25 of 50 ejaculates based on biophysical parameters were selected for the experiment. After diluting with the Tris‐citrate‐glycerol (TCG) extender, each sample was split into three equal aliquots: Group I, control, EY; Group II and Group III contained 8% and 10% purified LDL, respectively. Frozen–thawed samples were evaluated for motility parameters (progressive, and in the bovine cervical mucus penetration test [BCMPT]), viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, and enzymatic (leakage of intracellular contents) and biochemical (oxidative stress) profiles and in vitro fertility (IVF) assay. Study revealed a significant (p < .05) improvement in viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, motility (progressive and in cervical mucus), cholesterol content, and reduction in the leakage of intracellular enzymes in Group II. Moreover, intactness of acrosome and biochemical membranes was protected significantly (p < .05) in addition to significant (p < .05) improvement in binding per cent and binding index in IVF assay in extender containing 8% LDL. These results demonstrate that although cryopreservation of mithun's spermatozoa in EY was comparable with other species, addition of 8% LDL holds a clear advantage over EY or 10% LDL.     

Organic zinc and copper supplementation on antioxidant protective mechanism and their correlation with sperm functional characteristics in goats

Trace minerals feeding had significant effects on sperm production and fertility with better absorption and proper utilization within the body for optimum reproductive function. Several studies have shown that more influenced trace elements in the diets of animals are copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Bucks showing deficiency of this mineral might affect the quality of semen production which in turn would affect the fertility. This experiment was thus designed to test the effects of organic Cu and Zn supplementation on antioxidants enzyme activities and sperm functional attributes in fresh semen of bucks. Forty bucks (n = 40, Aged 5 months) were assigned to ten groups of four animals in each group, supplemented (for a period of 8 months) with different levels of organic Zn: 20 mg (T2), 40 mg (T3) and 60 mg (T4), organic Cu: 12.5 mg (T5), 25 mg (T6), 37.5 mg (T7) and combined organic Zn and Cu: 20 + 12.5 mg (T8), 40 + 25 mg (T9), 60 + 37.5 mg (T10), respectively, per kg dry matter and no additional mineral diet (control; T1). One hundred and sixty semen samples were collected through electro‐ejaculator and analysed for sperm quantity, quality, acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity and correlated with the catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in seminal plasma. The results indicated organic Cu and zinc supplemented bucks produced more sperm cells, had higher sperm concentrations, maintained higher (p < .01) sperm livability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, more motility and velocity. The increased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative stress and lowered lipid peroxidation were positively correlated (p < .05) with the sperm functional attributes. In conclusion, organic Cu and Zn supplement to male goats showed protective roles against oxidative damage and maintained better fresh semen characteristics.     

Neuromuscular pedicle graft for restoration of arytenoid abductor function in dogs with experimentally induced laryngeal hemiplegia

Left laryngeal hemiplegia was induced by resection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in 12 dogs. A neuromuscular pedicle graft formed from the first cervical nerve and sternothyroideus muscle was transplanted after 1 week to the denervated cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle in 8 dogs. The remaining 4 dogs served as controls. Left arytenoid abduction was blindly evaluated by laryngoscopy with video photography at time 0, at 1 week, and at 19 weeks in all dogs. At 19 weeks, biopsy specimens of the left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle and the neuromuscular pedicle were taken from 4 of the treatment dogs, and biopsy specimens of the left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle were taken from the 4 control dogs. All biopsy specimens were blindly evaluated by histologic and histochemical examination. At 36 to 44 weeks, the remaining 4 treatment dogs, from which biopsy specimens had not been taken, were reevaluated by use of laryngoscopy with video photography. Complications and difficulties encountered during surgery included hemorrhage in the area of the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle, location of a branch of the first cervical nerve that was long enough to prevent tension at the graft site, orientation of the muscle pedicle in the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle without the use of an operating microscope, and preservation of the terminal portion of the first cervical nerve while forming the neuromuscular pedicle. Results of the arytenoid movement evaluations revealed improvement in arytenoid abductor function in the treatment group, compared with that in the control group at 19 weeks. Arytenoid abduction in the treatment group at this time, however, was still significantly decreased (P less than 0.05), compared with presurgical movement evaluations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)