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.     

Effects of different concentrations of Chir98014 as an activator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway on oocyte in-vitro maturation and subsequent embryonic development in Sanjabi ewes

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the activator factor of the WNT pathway, chir98014, leading to the in vitro sheep oocyte maturation medium, on the cumulus cell development, different nuclear maturation stages and the following process of embryonic development. Experiments included (a) addition of different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1 µm) of chir98014 to the maturation medium and evaluation of the cumulus cell expansion, (b) addition of different concentrations of chir98014 to the maturation medium and investigation of different nuclear maturation stages, (c) addition of different concentrations of chir98014 to the maturation medium and examination of the subsequent embryonic maturation process and (d) addition of different concentrations of chir98014 to the embryonic development culture medium (the first 48 hr) and investigation of the subsequent embryonic development process. The extracted data were analysed using the SPSS software, considering the significance level of p < .05 and making the mean comparisons. The results showed that the addition of the 0.1 µM concentration of chir98014 to the maturation medium had no significant effects on the oocyte maturation and embryo development post-fertilization but it enhanced the Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) expansion. In the fourth experiment, the low concentration of chir98014 in the embryo culture media improved the embryo development process, whereas the high one had a detrimental effect on it, as compared to the control group. Thus, the presence of the lower concentrations of this compound in the embryonic culture medium had favourable effects on the development of embryos.     

Effect of sexed semen,puberty and breeding ages on fertility of Holstein dairy heifers treated with double Ovsynch protocol

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertility of sexed semen compared with conventional semen with regard to the puberty and breeding ages of Holstein dairy heifers subjected to double Ovsynch protocol with fixed time of artificial insemination. A total of 468 Holstein heifers were divided into two groups. The first group was 122 dairy heifers inseminated via conventional semen, while the second group was 346 heifers inseminated with sexed semen. The puberty and breeding ages of heifers were determined from the farm records. Estrus was synchronized using the double Ovsynch protocol. Numbers were estimated for pregnancy at 40 and 60 days post insemination, embryonic loss, and abortion. The results revealed that the heifers inseminated with sexed semen had a significantly lower first-service pregnancy rate (51.45%) than those inseminated with conventional semen (61.47%). Heifers achieving puberty before 350 days old had a higher pregnancy rate. Embryonic losses and abortion rates did not differ between the two types of semen. Holstein heifers subjected to Ovsynch protocol with sexed semen had an acceptable first-insemination pregnancy rate. Even the applications of sexed semen reduce the reproductive fertility and pregnancy rate in Holstein heifers.

     

Past,present and future suitable areas for the relict tree Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Juglandaceae): Integrating fossil records,niche modeling,and phylogeography for conservation

European Journal of Forest Research - Pterocarya fraxinifolia, native to the southern Caucasus and adjacent areas, has been widely introduced in Europe. In this study, we investigate the following:...     

Prevalence,phenotypic and genotypic diversity,antibiotic resistance,and frequency of virulence genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from shrimps

Preventive measures should be prioritized for the increased growth of bacterial contamination in aquatic organisms. This study is aimed at molecular investigation of the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antibiotic resistance, and virulence factor encoding genes. After confirmation of P. aeruginosa collected from shrimp samples (in the same size) in Isfahan and Chabahar (Iran) in summer and autumn, antibiotic resistance encoding genes, virulence factor encoding genes, and multi-drug resistance (MDR) patterns were assessed. Bacterial contamination from Isfahan was higher than Chabahar despite having a cooler climate on summer days. Antibiotic resistance to piperacillin in fresh shrimp samples in summer in Isfahan was contrary to its usage as a front-line antibiotic agent. Lowered MDR pattern in frozen shrimp viability of bacteria was related to the varied expression of antibiotic resistance, highlighting the importance of regulations for cold chain in storage, transportation, and distribution of marine samples compared to fresh shrimps. Foodborne pathogens are of clinical and environmental importance. Results of our study indicated a high rate of frequency for P. aeruginosa isolated from marine samples. Maintenance of cold chain has indispensable roles in preservation, and reduction of P. aeruginosa frequency in aquatic organisms.

     

A survey on hydatidosis in livestock in Northern Iran based on data collected from slaughterhouses from 2004 to 2008

Data have been collected from slaughterhouses in three provinces across the Northern Iran (Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan) from March 2004 to March 2008. These data were collected to evaluate the prevalence of hydatidosis in slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats. During the study, 3,347,797 animals were slaughtered. These included 621,686 cattle, 1,719,725 sheep and 1,006,386 goats. The prevalence of infection in cattle, sheep and goats was 12%, 14.6% and 10.1%, respectively. The association of condemnation rates with seasons was not proven statistically.     

Effect of organic-phase solvents on physicochemical properties and cellular uptake of astaxanthin nanodispersions

A simplex centroid mixture design was used to study the interactions between two chosen solvents, dichloromethane (DCM) and acetone (ACT), as organic-phase components in the formation and physicochemical characterization and cellular uptake of astaxanthin nanodispersions produced using precipitation and condensation processes. Full cubic or quadratic regression models with acceptable determination coefficients were obtained for all of the studied responses. Multiple-response optimization predicted that the organic phase with 38% (w/w) DCM and 62% (w/w) ACT yielded astaxanthin nanodispersions with the minimum particle size (106 nm), polydispersity index (0.191), and total astaxanthin loss (12.7%, w/w) and the maximum cellular uptake (2981 fmol/cell). Astaxanthin cellular uptake from the produced nanodispersions also showed a good correlation with their particle size distributions and astaxanthin trans/cis isomerization ratios. The absence of significant (p > 0.05) differences between the experimental and predicted values of the response variables confirmed the adequacy of the fitted models.     

Improved model for studying hydrological process in the field-to-field irrigation system

Paddy and Water Environment - One of the common irrigation systems in the paddy fields is field-to-field irrigation. The management of these irrigation systems is difficult and essential because of...