Matthewswilcox9121

This study was conducted to evaluate oocyte recovery and in-vitro blastocyst production of donor cows superstimulated for ovarian follicular development with FSH administered as twice-daily injections in saline or a single injection diluted in 0.5 % hyaluronan before oocyte aspiration. In Experiment 1, cows were treated with 160 mg of Folltropin-Vdiluted in saline, administered in four twice-daily i.m. injections for 2 days (Multiple FSH group); 160 mg of Folltropin-V diluted in hyaluronan and administered in a single i.m. injection (Single FSH group); or no FSH treatment (Control). In Experiment 2, donor cows were treated with either a single FSH i.m. injection or there was no treatment (Control) before ovum pick up (OPU) was performed. In both experiments, COCs collected using OPU were classified, matured, fertilized and cultured at 38.8 °C in a humidified atmosphere for 7 days. In Experiment 1, the number of follicles aspirated and COCs recovered were greater (P less then 0.05) in cows treated with multiple and single doses of FSH. Number of blastocysts produced, however, did not differ among groups. In Experiment 2, mean number of follicles aspirated and COCs recovered were also greater (P less then 0.05) in FSH-treated cows. Nevertheless, number of blastocysts produced did not differ. In summary, single and multiple FSH administrations induced similar follicular stimulation for OPU. Furthermore, with both FSH treatments there was induction of development of a larger number of follicles to be aspirated and COCs recovered by OPU compared with these values for donor beef cows with no FSH treatment for follicular stimulation. Lophiosilurus alexandri is a freshwater carnivorous fish for which there is fishing pressure in its natural environment, yet the species has potential for captive rearing. Information on growth and sexual development for the species is scarce, and age and size at first maturation have yet to be determined. A total of 400 fish, therefore, were reared from hatching to 968 days after hatching (DAH). Fish gonads were histologically analyzed throughout the rearing period, and growth, the hepatosomatic index and the gonadosomatic index were compared between males and females. Estradiol, testosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations were quantified at 845 and 968 DAH to compare sexually mature males and females. Weight and length did not differ between males and females (P >  0.05). Males were sexually mature at 593 DAH, with body lengths of 29.88 ± 1.76 cm and weights of 444.1 ± 77.03 g, while females were sexually mature at 845 DAH, with lengths of 36.51 ± 1.06 cm and body weights of 783.05 ± 48.57 g. The results provided important information regarding the minimum capture size of L. alexandri for identifying the appropriate period to begin reproductive management of the species. There is an epidemic in New Zealand of infectious bovine anaemia associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda type, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. To establish whether T. orientalis Ikeda type infection adversely affects fertility of bulls used for natural mating, a randomised controlled experimental study was conducted. Ten of 17 2-year-old Friesian bulls that had not been previously infected with T. orientalis were infected with T. orientalis Ikeda type and then evaluations occurred during a 20-week period. There were semen and libido evaluations every 2 weeks, starting 4 weeks before the date of infection. NPD4928 solubility dmso In addition, there were blood collections, for haematocrit and infection intensity evaluations, rectal temperatures recorded, and bulls weighed three times weekly for 13 weeks after infection and then once weekly until completion of the study. Physical activity meters were also attached from Days 9-60 and 65-124 post-infection. The ten bulls were successfully infected with T. orientalis Ikeda type and this resulted in a decrease in HCT to about 0.25 by 70 days post-infection. There were no effects of infection on semen quality; however, during the acute phase of infection, when the infection intensity was rapidly increasing, the infected bulls took a longer time period for repeated mounting of females, and were less dominant in the herd social heiracrchy. In conclusion, although the transitory effects on libido could reduce conception rates, the overall effects of T. orientalis Ikeda type infection on bull fertility will probably be little. This experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of estrous expression and intensity of behavioral estrous expression, assessed by evaluating physical activity, on variables associated with fertility in beef cows. The following treatment regimen was imposed on lactating, multiparous cows (n = 273) 100-μg injection of GnRH and an intravaginal progesterone (P4) releasing device (CIDR) administered on d -10, 25-mg injection of prostaglandin F2α at CIDR removal on d -3, and another GnRH injection + fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) 60-66 h following CIDR removal (d 0). Cows were fitted with a pedometer on d -10, and an estrous detection patch on the tail-head on d -3. Cows were classified as not expressing estrus (NOESTR) or expressing estrus with net physical activity greater (HIESTR) or less than the median (LWESTR). Only data from cows responsive to the estrous synchronization treatment regimen were utilized (NOESTR, n = 119; LWESTR, n = 50; HIESTR, n = 50). Diameter of dominant follicles on d 0 and corpus luteum volume on d 7 were greater in HIESTR compared with LWESTR and NOESTR groups (P less then 0.01). Plasma P4 concentrations on d 7 and pregnancy rates to TAI were greater in HIESTR and LWESTR than the NOESTR group (P less then 0.01). Hence, if there was estrous expression during the period of the GnRH-based TAI treatment regimen, there were greater pregnancy rates to TAI, whereas when there was greater intensity of behavioral estrous symptoms, there were larger dominant follicles and corpora lutea dimensions but not greater pregnancy rates. Spermatogenesis in reptiles is a seasonally dependent physiological process that is not temporally associated with male mating behavior. Characteristics of seasonal spermatogenesis in reptiles, however, remain largely unknown. In this review, there is a coverage of the characteristics of soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, during seasonal spermatogenesis that provides insights into spermatogenesis of testudines. The seminiferous epithelium of P. sinensis are undergoing spermatogenesis during the summer and fall, but are quiescent throughout the rest of the year; germ cells progress through spermatogenic stages in a temporal rather than a spatial pattern. While apoptotic germ cells mainly appear in the non-spermatogenic phase, these are seldom present during active spermatogenesis. It is inferred that apoptosis may be one of the reasons for germ cell loss during the resting phase of spermatogenesis. During the period when spermatogenesis is occurring, Sertoli cells become very narrow and are in contact with several round/elongated spermatids.