Sequestration of PDC‐109 Protein by Specific Antibodies and Egg Yolk Cryoprotects Bull Spermatozoa

PDC‐109, one of the most abundant proteins in bovine seminal plasma, has detrimental effect on spermatozoa in a time‐ and concentration‐dependent manner. Therefore, we hypothesized that sequestration of detrimental protein from ejaculates would be beneficial following cryopreservation of sperm cells. To this aim, we evaluated the effect of sequestration of PDC‐109 either by anti‐PDC‐109 antibodies (Ab) or egg yolk (EY) alone or by the synergistic action of EY + Ab in minimizing cryoinjury to bull spermatozoa. PDC‐109 protein was purified by applying two‐step chromatography procedures. The purified protein was injected in rabbits to raise antibodies which were isolated using ion‐exchange chromatography. After checking the Ab cross‐reactivity, they were quantitated and added to ejaculates, either alone or in addition to EY in Tris‐glycerol (TG) extender. Thus, ejaculates were processed in extender containing EY + TG (group I), Ab + TG (group II) or EY + Ab + TG (group III). Semen quality parameters (SQPs) viz. viability and acrosome integrity (FITC‐PSA), cryoinjury to spermatozoa (chlortetracycline, CTC assay) and in vitro fertility of protein‐sequestered‐semen (zona‐penetration assay) were evaluated. A significant (p < 0.05) improvement in post‐thaw SQPs as well as in non‐capacitated spermatozoa observed at pre‐freeze and post‐thaw stages of cryopreservation in group III compared with other groups indicated reduction in protein‐mediated cryoinjury. From this study, it can be concluded that sequestration of PDC‐109 by synergistic action of EY+Ab as compared to either of them alone significantly improve sperm quality and minimize cryoinjury to bull spermatozoa upon storage at ultra‐low temperatures.     

Differential Ovarian Morphometry and Follicular Expression of BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B Influence the Prolificacy in Goat

The variation in the kidding size of Black Bengal and Sirohi breed of goats makes them an interesting genetic material to study the underlying genetic mechanism of prolificacy. Accordingly, we studied the comparative ovarian morphometry including disparity in numbers of antral follicles of different sizes between these two breeds. Further, we evaluated the differential expression of the important candidate genes (viz., BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B) known to influence the ovulation rates and the prolificacy. The ovaries of Black Bengal (n = 20) goat were lighter (p < 0.01) in weight and smaller (p < 0.01) in diameter than those of Sirohi (n = 19) goats but possessed more numbers (p < 0.05) of corpus luteum (CL), large and small antral follicles. Quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) analysis revealed differential expression of mRNAs encoding for the BMP15 and GDF9. Small antral follicles of Black Bengal goats expressed 2.78‐fold more (p < 0.05) of BMP 15 than those of Sirohi goat. Expression of BMP15 (p < 0.01) and GDF9 (p < 0.05) mRNAs was more abundant in the small than the large antral follicles of Black Bengal goat. The more numbers of antral follicles per unit of ovarian mass and differential expression of BMP15 and GDF9 may serve as an important clue for higher prolificacy.     

Impact of Buserelin Acetate or hCG Administration on the Day of First Artificial Insemination on Subsequent Luteal Profile and Conception Rate in Murrah Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

This study was designed to investigate the impact of buserelin acetate (BA) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on the day of first artificial insemination (AI) on subsequent luteal profile (diameter of corpus luteum (CL) and plasma progesterone) and conception rate in Murrah buffalo. The present experiment was carried out at two locations in 117 buffalo that were oestrus‐synchronized using cloprostenol (500 μg) administered (i.m.) 11 days apart followed by AI during standing oestrus. Based on treatment (i.m.) at the time of AI, buffalo were randomly categorized (n = 39 in each group) into control (isotonic saline solution, 5 ml), dAI‐BA (buserelin acetate, 20 μg) and dAI‐hCG (hCG, 3000 IU) group. Out of these, 14 buffalo of each group were subjected to ovarian ultrasonography on the day of oestrus to monitor the preovulatory follicle and on days 5, 12, 16 and 21 post‐ovulation to monitor CL diameter. On the day of each sonography, jugular vein blood samples were collected for the estimation of progesterone concentrations. All the buffalo (n = 117) were confirmed for pregnancy on day 40 post‐ovulation. The conception rate was better (p < 0.05) in dAI‐BA (51.3%) and dAI‐hCG (66.7%) groups as compared to their control counterparts (30.8%). Furthermore, the buffalo of dAI‐hCG group had improved (p < 0.05) luteal profile, whereas the buffalo of dAI‐BA group failed (p > 0.05) to exhibit stimulatory impact of treatment on luteal profile when compared to control group. In brief, buserelin acetate or hCG treatment on the day of first AI leads to an increase in conception rate; however, an appreciable impact on post‐ovulation luteal profile was observed only in hCG‐treated Murrah buffalo.     

Soil carbon and related soil properties along a soil type and land‐use intensity gradient,New South Wales,Australia

The aim of this study was to systematically quantify differences in soil carbon and key related soil properties along a replicated land‐use intensity gradient on three soil landscapes in northwest New South Wales, Australia. Our results demonstrate consistent land‐use effects across all soil types where C, N and C:N ratio were in the order woodland > unimproved pasture = improved pasture > cultivation while bulk density broadly showed the reverse pattern. These land‐use effects were largely restricted to the near surface soil layers. Improved pasture was associated with a significant soil acidification, indicating that strategies to increase soil carbon through pasture improvement in these environments might also have associated soil degradation issues. Total soil carbon stocks were significantly larger in woodland soils, across all soil types, compared with the other land‐uses studied. Non‐wooded systems, however, had statistically similar carbon stocks and this pattern persisted whether or not carbon quantity was corrected for equivalent mass. Our results suggest that conversion from cultivation to pasture in this environment would yield between 0.06 and 0.15 t C/ha/yr which is at the lower end of predicted ranges in Australia and well below values measured in other cooler, wetter environments. We estimate that a 10% conversion rate (cultivation to pasture) across NSW would yield around 0.36 Mt CO₂‐e/yr which would contribute little to emission reductions in NSW. We conclude that carbon accumulation in agricultural soils in this environment might be more modest than current predictions suggest and that systematically collected, regionally specific data are required for the vegetation communities and full range of land‐uses before accurate and reliable predictions of soil carbon change can be made across these extensive landscapes.     

Changes in Vertisol properties as affected by organic amendments application rates

There is considerable global interest in using recycled organic materials because of perceived benefits to soil health and environment. However, information on the effects of organic waste products and their optimal application rates on the quality of heavy clay soils such as Vertisols is sparse. An incubation experiment was therefore conducted using five organic amendments at various rates to identify their optimal application rates, which could improve the quality of the Vertisol. Cotton gin trash, cattle manure, biosolids (dry weight basis 7.5–120 t/ha), chicken manure (dry weight basis 2.25–36 t/ha) and a liquefied vermicast (60–960 L/ha, volumetric basis) changed the soil chemical, physical and microbiological properties compared with a control where no amendments were applied, viz. higher light fraction of organic matter, nutrient content (N and P) and soil microbial activity. Higher application of chicken manure resulted in an increase in dry‐sieved mean weight diameter. Increasing rates of cattle manure increased exchangeable Na concentration and ESP. Although vermicast itself did not contribute a significant amount of N into the soil, when applied at higher rates (60–960 L/ha), its application resulted in increased concentration of NO₃‐N in soil by amounts ranging from 43 to 429%. Optimal application rates for cattle manure and cotton gin trash were 30 t/ha, whereas for biosolids and chicken manure, the optimum rate was 60–18 t/ha, respectively.     

Host factors, occupation, and testicular cancer in Saskatchewan, Canada: 1979-2002

The incidence rates of testicular cancer are increasing in several countries, especially among younger adults. The role of agricultural exposure in the etiology of testicular cancer is contentious. We extracted information related to the host, lifestyle, and tumor characteristics from the files of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for all cases (n = 517) of testicular cancer diagnosed in Saskatchewan between 1979 and 2000. The following questions were the subject of this initial inquiry: (1) Are tumor characteristics similar or different among occupational groups dichotomized into farmer/nonfarmer? (2) Are host characteristics similar or different among occupational groups? (3) Is farming as an occupation one of the independent predictors of tumor stage at diagnosis? Statistical analyses were restricted on 486 cases. The nonfarmers (n = 349) had smaller tumors in length on average, and more of them were diagnosed at stage I compared to farmers (n = 72). Occupation was not recorded for 65 cases. Farmers were older than nonfarmers. In logistic regression analyses with adjustment for relevant variables as cited in the literature, individuals with nonseminomas [OR (95% CI) 1.99 (1.30-3.31)] and < or = 26 years old at diagnosis [2.12 (1.15-3.93)] were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a stage 2 or higher tumor. Farmers were significantly more likely than nonfarmers to be diagnosed at stage 2 or higher [1.76 (1.00-3.10)]. Based on our data, the significant predictors of being diagnosed with stage 2 and higher are: presence of nonseminoma, < or = 26 years old, and farming as an occupation.