Pituitary responsiveness to GnRH in mares following deslorelin acetate implantation to hasten ovulation

The present experiment characterized the pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH in the first 10 d after ovulation following commercially available deslorelin acetate implantation at the normal dosage for hastening ovulation in mares. Twelve mature, cyclic mares were assessed daily for estrus and three times weekly for ovarian activity starting May 1. Mares achieving a follicle at least 25 mm in diameter or showing signs of estrus were checked daily thereafter for ovarian characteristics. When a follicle >30 mm was detected, mares were administered either a single deslorelin acetate implant or a sham injection and then assessed daily for ovulation. On d 1, 4, 7, and 10 following ovulation, each mare was challenged i.v. with 50 microg GnRH, and blood samples were collected to characterize the LH and FSH responses. The size of the largest follicle on the day of treatment did not differ (P = 0.89) between groups. The number of days from treatment to ovulation was shorter (P < 0.001) by 2.0 d for the treated mares indicating a hastening of ovulation. The size of the largest follicle present on the days of GnRH challenge was larger in the treated mares on d 1 (P = 0.007) but smaller on d 10 (P = 0.02). In addition, the interovulatory interval was longer (P = 0.036) in the treated mares relative to controls by 4.4 d. Concentrations of FSH in plasma of the treated mares were lower (P < 0.05) than control concentrations from d 3 to 12; LH concentrations in the treated mares were lower (P < 0.05) relative to controls on d 0 to 5, d 7, and again on d 20 to 23. Progesterone values were the same (P = 0.99) for both groups from 2 d before ovulation though d 23. There was an interaction of treatment, day, and time of sampling (P < 0.001) for LH and FSH concentrations after injection of GnRH. Both the LH and FSH responses were suppressed (P < 0.009) in the treated mares relative to controls on d 1, 4, and 7; by d 10, the responses of the two groups were equivalent. In conclusion, deslorelin administration in this manner increased the interovulatory interval, consistently suppressed plasma LH and FSH concentrations, and resulted in a complete lack of responsiveness of LH and FSH to GnRH stimulation at the dose used during the first 7 d after the induced ovulation. Together, these results are consistent with a temporary down-regulation of the pituitary gland in response to deslorelin administered in this manner.     

ADP-核糖基化调控精子形成的研究进展

ADP-核糖基化是由ADP-核糖基转移酶((ADP-ribosyl) transferases,ARTs)催化的一种蛋白质翻译后修饰,分为聚-ADP-核糖基化和单-ADP-核糖基化,在着丝点和纺锤体组装、DNA损伤修复及精子染色质重塑等多个精子发生生物学事件中发挥重要调控作用.部分ARTs基因缺失使精子形成异常,导致精...     

鸡Toll样受体15单克隆抗体的制备及其初步应用

旨在制备鸡Toll样受体15 (ChTLR15)的特异性单克隆抗体(mAb),并初步应用.利用PCR技术扩增ChTLR15第162-386位氨基酸,克隆于载体pET-30a中进行诱导表达,获得高纯度的重组ChTLR15 (162-386 aa)蛋白.然后采用皮下多点注射方式将ChTLR15免疫6周龄的雌性BALB/c小...     

新型兽医服务体系建设要素

兽医服务体系对畜牧业持续建康发展,动物重大疫病防控,保障公共卫生安全等起着十分重要的作用。论文结合国家对"三农"工作的发展要求,从兽医服务体系改革思路、构建新型体制机制、提升兽医专业技能水平、政策支持,建立有效的财政保障运行机制、推广普及和新技术应用、完善兽医法律体系建设和兽医信息化建设等方面进行了论述,以期为人类和社会提供更好的服务。     

Transmission studies with the contagious equine metritis bacterium in albino Swiss mice

Aspects of experimental transmission of the causal bacterium of contagious equine metritis (CEM) to albino Swiss mice were investigated. Whereas infection was established in the majority of female mice, the organism was recovered from only a limited number of male mice after challenge. No clinical evidence of infection was observed in the experimental mice. There was only one instance of presumptive venereal transmission of the CEM bacterium. One third of infected females conceived and had normal litters.     

Comparative studies on three isolates of Breda virus of calves

Three isolates of Breda virus of calves were compared morphologically and antigenically. The isolates demonstrated similar morphology and shared common antigens, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoelectron microscopy. On the basis of results of the hemagglutination-inhibition test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoelectron microscopy, the 3 isolates were further subdivided into 2 serotypes: serotype 1 (Breda virus 1) represented by the Iowa isolate 1; and serotype 2 (Breda virus 2), by the Ohio isolate and the Iowa isolate 2. The 3 isolates caused diarrhea in gnotobiotic calves.     

The protection given by pilus and whole cell vaccines of Bacteroides nodosus strain 198 against ovine foot-rot induced by strains of different serogroups

A highly purified pilus vaccine prepared from cells of Bacteroides nodosus strain 198 provided a high level of protection against homologous challenge and small, not statistically significant, levels of protection against challenge with 4 other strains each from different serogroups. In a second experiment, a partially purified pilus vaccine from strain 198 induced significant immunity to 1 of 4 heterologous strains which were different from those used in the first experiment. In a third experiment a strain 198 whole cell vaccine produced significant immunity against 3 of 6 heterologous strains used in the first 2 experiments. There was no obvious relationship between the colony type, degree of piliation and level of cross-protection obtained against a particular strain. The results provide further evidence that immunogens associated with, but distinct from, the pilus are involved in cross-protection and that cross-protective antigens are common to some, but not all, strains.     

Effects of exercise conditioning on semen characteristics from hyper- and hypotensive lines of turkeys

Twenty-one male Broad Breasted White turkeys which had been selected for high or low blood pressure were put on an exercise regimen to determine its effect on semen quality. Eleven were from the hypertensive line and 10 from the hypotensive line. Eleven (6 hypertensive and 5 hypotensive) turkeys were placed on an exercise regime of walking (herding) about 1 mile daily for 6 weeks before the experiment began, and then for a further 6 weeks during semen collection. Semen was collected from 11 turkeys on the exercise regime and 10 nonexercised control birds which were kept in their experimental pens during the trial. Both hypertensive and exercised groups showed an improved semen colour score at the first collection period (P less than or equal to 0.09). Only the exercised group showed a significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) better score than the control group during periods 2 and 3. The hypertensive line showed significantly higher spermatozoa count than the hypotensive line during the first collection period. There was no effect of either exercise or selection for high or low blood pressure on semen volume.     

Enhancement of resistance of lambs to Haemonchus contortus by previous infection with Ostertagia circumcincta

Two experiments were performed to determine whether previous infection of young lambs with Ostertagia circumcincta increased their resistance to the development of Haemonchus contortus and to explore alterations in the microenvironment of the abomasum related to the interaction. The parasitic infections were monitored with periodic fecal egg counts and by recovery and enumeration of parasites at necropsy of the lambs. Alteration of the microenvironment was examined by measurement of serum gastrin concentrations at critical times during both experiments. The results indicated that the numbers of H contortus were significantly (P less than 0.05) less in lambs which had O circumcincta infections before their exposure to H contortus. There was less reduction in lambs from which O circumcincta was removed (anthelmintic therapy) before their exposure to H contortus. Fecal egg counts also were significantly (P less than 0.05) less in the former group of lambs (exposed to both parasites) than those in lambs exposed only to H contortus. Serum gastrin values were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased in lambs infected with O circumcincta and indicated that the interaction observed could be due, in part, to alteration of abomasal pH.