妊娠期山羊卵巢中雄激素受体的免疫组化定位

用免疫组织化学技术对不同妊娠时期山羊卵巢组织中雄激素受体的表达及其变化规律进行研究,以探讨雄激素受体在卵巢生殖功能中的调节作用。结果显示,妊娠期黄体细胞的形态结构随所处妊娠的不同阶段而变化,退化黄体细胞数量随周期进程逐渐增多。在妊娠各时期卵巢的被膜、次级卵泡颗粒层细胞和黄体细胞均存在雄激素受体的阳性表达,从阳性反应产物定位来看,阳性反应主要位于细胞膜和细胞质内;随妊娠进程雄激素受体的表达强度逐渐减弱。     

山羊子宫内肽能神经分布及妊娠时的变化

采用免疫组化方法，研究了山羊子宫内含P物质（SP）和含血管活性肠肽（VIP）神经的分布。结果，妊娠及未妊娠山羊子宫颈内有粗细不等的神经束行经于外膜和肌层中，神经分支形成丛状分布于血管壁，子宫颈部未见SP神经元胞体及VIP神经元胞体；未妊娠山羊子宫角内SP神经和VIP神经均呈丛状围绕血管并分布于血管壁；妊娠中期的孕角和非孕角均有胎盘形成，除胎盘内无神经分布外，SP神经及VIP神经同样分支形成丛状分布于血管壁。结果提示，山羊子宫内SP神经和VIP神经主要支配子宫内血管，妊娠时除胎盘内无神经分布外，SP神经及VIP神经的分布无明显变化。     

脱防冻剂方法对牛体外受精胚胎冷冻后成活率的影响

为了观察脱防冻剂方法对牛体外受精冷冻胚胎在体内、外发育率的影响,应用常规冷冻法在０．７５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ甘油＋０．５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ丙二醇溶液中冷冻受精后７、８ｄ的囊胚,解冻后在０．２５、０．５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖液中二步或在０．２５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖液中三步脱防冻剂的胚胎孵化率（分别为６８．６％、６２．２％、６８．７％）与用ＰＢＳ／ＦＣＳ六步脱防冻剂的差异不显著（７０．４％,Ｐ＞０．０５）,但在０．５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖液中三步脱防冻剂后,孵化率显著降低（４７．６％,Ｐ＜０．０１）。用０．２５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ或０．５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖或海藻糖预先使胚胎脱水后冷冻,解冻后可使胚胎直接在ＰＢＳ中一步脱掉防冻剂,胚胎孵化率（４５．０％～４９．５％）与在０．２５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖液中二步脱防冻剂的相似（５１．５％,Ｐ＞０．０５）。移植试验表明,在０．２５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖液中二步脱防冻剂获得的妊娠率与六步脱防冻剂相似,与在ＰＢＳ中一步脱防冻剂的亦无明显差异,但妊娠率均偏低（２１．４％～３７．５％）。     

The influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F2α on decorin and the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells of bovine placenta at early-mid pregnancy—Part II

One of the most important processes determining the proper course of gestation and its physiological termination in cows is the adhesion of epithelial cells allowing for direct contact of maternal and foetal parts of the placenta. Throughout pregnancy, placental cells are under strict hormonal control, which among others regulates the concentration and activity of specific proteins participating in the extracellular matrix remodelling of foetal membranes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α on the adhesion of epithelial cells at early-mid pregnancy in cows. Additionally, the impact of selected hormones on anti-adhesive properties of decorin was evaluated. Caruncular epithelial cells were isolated from healthy cows during pregnancy, immediately after slaughter. Primary cell cultures derived from the 2nd and 4th month of gestation were used in the experiments. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay. The adhesion of cells to fibronectin was measured spectrophotometrically. The activity of metalloproteinases was confirmed by the metalloproteinase assay. Progesterone (10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) and prostaglandin F_2α (10^–4_, 10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) increased the viability of bovine caruncular epithelial cells in the 2nd month of pregnancy. The treatment with prostaglandin F_2α significantly reduced the number of adherent cells from the 2nd month of gestation at the doses of 10^–4 and 10^–5 mol/L. Both progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α were shown to have an effect of decorin resulting in both a decrease in metalloproteinase activity and an increase in adhesion of cells to fibronectin.     

Ultrasonographic findings of the corpus luteum and the gravid uterus during heat stress in dairy cattle

The objectives of this study were to assess alterations in, echogenic appearance, size and blood flow in the corpus luteum, the placentomes and the blood flow in umbilical and uterine arteries that heat stress can cause in cooled pregnant dairy cows. Pregnant cows were allocated in two groups and the gravid uteri, along with the ipsilateral corpora lutea were examined during the winter (group W, n = 9) or the summer (group S, n = 10). The grey-scale ultrasound and colour flow imaging of the corpus luteum and placentome were performed. In addition, the umbilical and uterine artery diameters and haemodynamic parameters in the vessels were calculated. At the time of ultrasonographic examination, cortisol concentrations were higher, and progesterone levels tended to be lower in group S compared to group W. The grey-scale ultrasound evaluation of corpora lutea and placentomes was lower in group S compared to group W. The diameter of umbilical artery and the blood volume in the vessel were less in group S than in group W. We infer that heat stress affects foetal blood supply and possibly the structure of placentomes and corpora lutea, but it differently affects the blood flow characteristics in the umbilical and uterine arteries.     

Effects of increased ambient temperature and supplemental altrenogest before pregnancy establishment in gilts

Heat stress (HS) mitigation strategies are critically needed to combat the substantial economic effects on animal agriculture. The manifestations of seasonal infertility include delayed puberty onset, reduced conception rates, decreased litter size, and increased wean to estrus interval. To assess the effects of HS during early gestation and evaluate the benefit of supplemental altrenogest (ALT) as a mitigation strategy, 30 crossbred postpubertal gilts (157 ± 11 kg body weight) were subjected to estrous synchronization via 14 d oral administration of ALT. Artificial insemination during estrus was performed, and gilts were then placed into one of four treatment groups: HS (35 ± 1 °C for 12 h/31.60 ± 1 °C for 12 h) with (HSALT, n = 7) or without (HSCON, n = 7) 15 mg/d ALT supplementation or thermal neutral (TN; 20 ± 1 °C) conditions with (TNALT, n = 8) or without (TNCON, n = 8) 15 mg/d ALT supplementation until 12 d post-estrus (dpe). Administrating ALT occurred at 0600 hours from 3 to 12 dpe, and rectal temperatures (T_R) and respiration rates (RR) were recorded. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture on 0, 4, 8, and 12 dpe. Gilts were euthanized humanely at 12 dpe followed by the collection of ovarian tissue, and uterine flushing for conceptus collection. In HS compared with TN gilts, RR and T_R were increased (P < 0.01) but unaffected by ALT supplementation. Feed intake was reduced (P < 0.01) by HS but unaltered by the ALT treatment. Corpora lutea (CL) weight was reduced (P < 0.01) in HSCON gilts when compared with TNCON and HSALT gilts despite progesterone concentrations in serum and luteal tissue not being affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.10). CL diameter was reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in HSALT gilts compared with other treatments. Interleukin-1β (IL1B) uterine flush concentration was not affected (P > 0.20) by environment or ALT supplementation, although moderate (P = 0.06) interaction between environment and ALT existed, as IL1B concentration in TNALT was increased (P = 0.03) compared with TNCON gilts. While environment did not affect conceptus development (P = 0.90), ALT supplementation advanced conceptus elongation (P < 0.01). Collectively, these data demonstrate that HS may affect luteal development before pregnancy establishment, and ALT increases conceptus elongation by 12 dpe.     

一例布偶猫分娩期单子宫扭转破裂的病例报告

一只2岁布偶猫,体重4.3 kg,怀孕61 d,精神不好,血常规检查严重贫血,腹部彩超检查死胎、子宫扭转、子宫破裂、血腹,诊断为子宫扭转破裂。母猫交叉配血后输血60 mL,呼吸麻醉,行卵巢子宫切除术,术后消炎止血,1周拆线恢复。     

壳寡糖对妊娠后期母猪免疫功能和仔猪初生重的影响

[目的]研究饲粮中添加壳寡糖对妊娠后期母猪免疫功能和仔猪初生重的影响,并探讨壳寡糖的适宜添加量。[方法]选择健康的、体重和预产期相近的四胎次"长×大"母猪35头,随机分为5组,每组7个重复,每个重复1头母猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(不添加壳寡糖),试验组Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ在基础饲粮中分别添加壳寡糖30、90、270和810 g/t。试验从母猪妊娠85 d开始,至产仔结束。[结果]饲粮中添加壳寡糖对仔猪初生重、母猪血清白介素2(IL-2)浓度和补体C3蛋白浓度均无显著影响(P0.05)。饲粮添加不同水平的壳寡糖显著提高母猪血清中溶菌酶的浓度(P0.05)。饲粮中添加不同水平的壳寡糖显著提高母猪血清猪瘟抗体sIgA的浓度(P0.05),而试验组Ⅰ和Ⅱ初乳中猪瘟抗体sIgA浓度无显著差异(P0.05),试验组Ⅲ和Ⅳ初乳母源猪瘟抗体sIgA浓度显著提高(P0.05)。[结论]妊娠后期母猪饲粮中壳寡糖的适宜添加量为270 g/t。     

Early pregnancy alters the metabolic responses to restricted nutrition in sheep

This study investigated whether a 27-day period of nutrition at half-maintenance during early pregnancy (up to Day 14) could alter maternal endocrine responses. Forty-six ewes were fed all or half of their maintenance requirements and slaughtered on Day 14 of the oestrous cycle or pregnancy. We used real time RT-PCR to study gene expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and leptin in adipose tissue and GHR, GHR1A and of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the liver. Blood profiles of metabolites and metabolic hormones were also determined. Throughout the experiment, underfed animals presented lower body weight and body condition, greater plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and lower plasma concentrations of leptin, compared to adequately fed animals. Undernutrition affected the patterns of gene expression in adipose and hepatic tissues, and the responses differed between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. In adequately fed ewes, pregnancy up-regulated leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissue, a response that was impaired in underfed ewes. The hepatic expression of IGF-I mRNA was increased by pregnancy in underfed animals while no effect was observed in adequately fed ewes. It remains to be determined whether the changes in the endocrine milieu are paralleled by modifications in uterine gene expression that could alter the environment of the embryo during early pregnancy.