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Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024This study investigated the antioxidant effect of quercetin-treated semen on frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality and fertility in crossbred Kamori goats. In total, 32...
This study investigated the antioxidant effect of quercetin-treated semen on frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality and fertility in crossbred Kamori goats. In total, 32 ejaculates from four fertile bucks were diluted in Tris-based egg yolk extender with varying levels of quercetin (0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 μM). Qualified semen samples were pooled and frozen in French straws. The results revealed that the addition of quercetin in the semen extender increased ( < 0.05) frozen-thawed sperm total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), rapid velocity (RV), average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), and amplitude of lateral head (ALH) displacement in contrast to the control group. Quercetin supplementation had no effect on beat cross frequency (BCF), straightness (STR), and linearity (LIN) ( > 0.05). Quercetin showed significantly higher ( < 0.05) plasma membrane and acrosome integrity and viability ( < 0.05) of spermatozoa in contrast to the control group. Quercetin in the semen extender significantly increased ( < 0.05) superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels while reduced ( < 0.05) the contents of total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which were in contrast to the control group. Ultrasound results revealed that 24 out of 30 (80%) goats were found pregnant when semen was treated with 5 μM quercetin while the control group showed 18 out of 30 (60%) animals were pregnant. Thus, the study concluded that 5 μM quercetin-treated semen was found to be efficient, showed increased antioxidant status, and reduced oxidant production, leading to improved spermatozoa quality and fertility in goats.
PubMed: 38803803
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1385642 -
Veterinary World Apr 2024The quality of canine sperm can be influenced by many factors, such as breed, body weight, age, ejaculatory frequency, nutrition, and environment. In the UK, it is...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The quality of canine sperm can be influenced by many factors, such as breed, body weight, age, ejaculatory frequency, nutrition, and environment. In the UK, it is common practice for standard Bull Terriers (SBT) and miniature Bull Terriers (MBT) to require male donors during a short breeding period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of semen collection frequency on ejaculate volume and nine sperm parameters in SBT and MBT males, considering age and body condition score (BCS).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ejaculates from six adult SBTs and four MBTs were collected 5 times at two consecutive intervals (Time Series [TS]1, 24 h . TS2, 48 h), 1 week apart. Ejaculate volume, concentration, total output, viability (live sperm), subjective total motility, vigor, and total morphological defects, including head, midpiece, and tail defects of sperm, were evaluated. A multivariable mixed linear model for repeated measures was used to analyze the effects of semen collection frequency, age, breed, and BCS on ejaculate volume and sperm parameters.
RESULTS
Semen collection frequency, age, and, to a lesser extent, breed, and BCS significantly affected sperm parameters. Semen collection frequency affected all sperm parameters (p < 0.05) but not ejaculate volume (p > 0.05). Total sperm output, sperm vigor, total motility, and tail defects decreased (p < 0.05) at the end of TS1. However, sperm parameters remained relatively constant (p > 0.05) in TS2 between semen collection sessions. Overall, poorer sperm parameters were observed in older dogs (aged 5-8 years) than in younger dogs (aged 4 years). MBT produced less (p < 0.001) ejaculate volume (3.2 ± 0.2 mL . 4.3 ± 0.2 mL: Least Squares Mean ± Standard Error of Mean), lower total sperm output (221.8 ± 19.2 × 10 vs. 348.6 ± 19.2 × 10) and lower total morphological defects (25.0 ± 1.1% . 31.3 ± 0.9%), and a higher percentage of live sperm (77.0 ± 1.4% . 71.7 ± 1.1%) than SBT. In addition, a BCS of 4 positively influenced (p < 0.05) viability, vigor, and total sperm motility.
CONCLUSION
Despite differences in age, breed, and BCS, better sperm parameter values were observed in all semen collection sessions. However, intensive semen collection (TS1) appears to be less effective in maintaining good sperm quality. For breeding or artificial insemination purposes, a 48-h interval between collection sessions is recommended for both breeds. The results of this study could be used to further optimize assisted reproductive technologies in both breeds.
PubMed: 38798297
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.820-828 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide. Close contact between dogs and people increases the risk of transmission of various zoonotic parasitic infections. Given the...
Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide. Close contact between dogs and people increases the risk of transmission of various zoonotic parasitic infections. Given the importance of veterinary medicine in preserving the One Health concept, the aim of this research was to identify intestinal parasites that may have zoonotic potential and to evaluate risk factors (individual and environmental). The research was conducted in Serbia in 2022 and 2023 on 382 owned dogs, using qualitative methods of coprological examination with a concentration on parasitic elements. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 62.6%, with the following detected: protozoa: spp. (9.2%), spp. (4.5%), / spp. (3.7%), (11.8%); nematoda: (11.5%), (4.2%), family Ancylostomatidae (38.0%), (21.5%), spp. (10.5%); trematoda: (1.6%) and cestodes from the Taeniidae family (1.3%). Factors like age, size and coat length, as well as the way of living, attitude and diet were linked to a significantly higher ( < 0.05) prevalence of intestinal parasites. Based on the results of coprological diagnostics, this research indicates the importance of educating dog owners, conducting routine parasitological tests on their pets and regular deworming strategies.
PubMed: 38791680
DOI: 10.3390/ani14101463 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024Y-27632, as a cytoskeleton protector, is commonly used for low-temperature preservation of cells. Goat sperm are prone to damage to the cytoskeleton under...
Y-27632, as a cytoskeleton protector, is commonly used for low-temperature preservation of cells. Goat sperm are prone to damage to the cytoskeleton under low-temperature conditions, leading to a loss of sperm vitality. However, the Y-27632 small molecule has not yet been used in research on low-temperature preservation of goat semen. This study aims to address the issue of low temperature-induced loss of sperm motility in goats by using Y-27632, and explore the regulation of Y-27632 on goat sperm metabolism. At a low temperature of 4 °C, different concentrations of Y-27632 were added to the sperm diluent. The regulation of Y-27632 on the quality of low temperature-preserved goat semen was evaluated by detecting goat sperm motility, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial activity, cholesterol levels, and metabolomics analysis. The results indicated that 20 µM Y-27632 significantly increased plasma membrane integrity ( < 0.05), and acrosome integrity ( < 0.05) and sperm motility ( < 0.05), increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) ( < 0.01), increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) ( < 0.05), decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) ( < 0.01), and significantly increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The levels of ATP, Ca, and TC in sperm increased ( < 0.01). Twenty metabolites with significant differences were identified, with six metabolic pathways having a significant impact, among which the D-glutamic acid and D-glutamine metabolic pathways had the most significant impact. The artificial insemination effect of goat semen treated with 20 μM Y-27632 was not significantly different from that of fresh semen. This study indicates that Y-27632 improves the quality of low-temperature preservation of sperm by protecting the sperm plasma membrane, enhancing sperm antioxidant capacity, regulating D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and promoting the application of low-temperature preservation of semen in artificial insemination technology.
PubMed: 38791659
DOI: 10.3390/ani14101441 -
Journal of Dairy Science May 2024In this study, the main objective was to assess if long luteal phases could have other causes than pregnancy losses. We enrolled Holstein dairy cows ≥50 d in milk...
In this study, the main objective was to assess if long luteal phases could have other causes than pregnancy losses. We enrolled Holstein dairy cows ≥50 d in milk (DIM) from a commercial herd in Brazil from October 2016 to August 2017. All cows received an estradiol-based synchronization protocol, and, on the day of insemination (d 0), were randomly assigned either an artificial insemination (AI) or a placebo insemination (PBO) in a 3:1 ratio. An ultrasound was used to assess the presence of a CL on d17, 24, and 31, which, combined to the information from patches for the detection of estrus, was used to determine the length of the luteal phase following AI or PBO. Pregnancy was assessed by ultrasound on d 31 and cows that were pregnant were excluded from the analyses. The length of the estrous cycles was categorized as short (<17 d), normal (17-23 d), long (24-30 d), and very long (≥31 d). We compared the proportion of cows in each category between the AI and PBO groups using a cumulative ordinal mixed model. We define prolonged luteal phase as estrous cycles ≥24 d and tested its association with potential risk factors (parity, season, DIM, uterine size and position score, milk production, body condition score, and the presence of a corpus luteum (CL) at enrollment to the synchronization protocol) using mixed logistic regression models. Results are presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% credible intervals (BCI). Data from 876 inseminations (AI: n = 616, PBO: n = 260) was collected. Overall, 12% of estrous cycles were short, 31% were normal, 19% were long, and 38% were very long. There was no difference in the odds of being in longer estrous cycle categories for the AI compared with the PBO group (OR = 0.92, 95% BCI = 0.76-1.10). Season and presence of a CL at enrollment were associated with prolonged luteal phase. In the AI group, there was a possible effect of early pregnancy losses on the lifespan of the CL, but not the PBO group, which led us to conclude that long and very long estrous cycles were not all caused by the embryonic loss. In fact, the high prevalence of cows with an extended CL lifespan in the present study suggests this could be an under- or miss-reported characteristic of high-producing lactating Holstein cows. This finding may have important repercussions in the understanding of the CL function physiology of lactating Holstein cows.
PubMed: 38788835
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24792 -
Genetics, Selection, Evolution : GSE May 2024Nine male and eight female calves born to a Normande artificial insemination bull named "Ly" were referred to the French National Observatory of Bovine Abnormalities for...
BACKGROUND
Nine male and eight female calves born to a Normande artificial insemination bull named "Ly" were referred to the French National Observatory of Bovine Abnormalities for multiple fractures, shortened gestation, and stillbirth or perinatal mortality.
RESULTS
Using Illumina BovineSNP50 array genotypes from affected calves and 84 half-sib controls, the associated locus was mapped to a 6.5-Mb interval on chromosome 19, assuming autosomal inheritance with germline mosaicism. Subsequent comparison of the whole-genome sequences of one case and 5116 control genomes, followed by genotyping in the affected pedigree, identified a de novo missense substitution within the NC1 domain of the COL1A1 gene (Chr19 g.36,473,965G > A; p.D1412N) as unique candidate variant. Interestingly, the affected residue was completely conserved among 243 vertebrate orthologs, and the same substitution in humans has been reported to cause type II osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a connective tissue disorder that is characterized primarily by bone deformity and fragility. Moreover, three COL1A1 mutations have been described to cause the same syndrome in cattle. Necropsy, computed tomography, radiology, and histology confirmed the diagnosis of type II OI, further supporting the causality of this variant. In addition, a detailed analysis of gestation length and perinatal mortality in 1387 offspring of Ly and more than 160,000 progeny of 63 control bulls allowed us to statistically confirm in a large pedigree the association between type II OI and preterm delivery, which is probably due to premature rupture of fetal membranes and has been reported in several isolated cases of type II OI in humans and cattle. Finally, analysis of perinatal mortality rates and segregation distortion supported a low level of germ cell mosaicism in Ly, with an estimate of 4.5% to 7.7% of mutant sperm and thus 63 to 107 affected calves born. These numbers contrast with the 17 cases reported and raise concerns about the underreporting of congenital defects to heredo-surveillance platforms, even for textbook genetic syndromes.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, we describe a large animal model for a recurrent substitution in COL1A1 that is responsible for type II OI in humans. More generally, this study highlights the utility of such datasets and large half-sib families available in livestock species to characterize sporadic genetic defects.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Mutation, Missense; Osteogenesis Imperfecta; Collagen Type I; Male; Female; Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; Cattle Diseases; Premature Birth; Pedigree; Pregnancy
PubMed: 38773368
DOI: 10.1186/s12711-024-00909-3 -
Comprehensive exploration unveiling the sonography and histopathology of uterine leiomyoma in a cow.Veterinary Research Forum : An... 2024Genital tumours are rare among cattle, largely due to their relatively short lifespans. Leio-myoma, a smooth muscle tumour being more prevalent in dogs, appears only at...
Genital tumours are rare among cattle, largely due to their relatively short lifespans. Leio-myoma, a smooth muscle tumour being more prevalent in dogs, appears only at a rate of 1.00 - 2.00% in cattle, affecting reproductive efficiency in cases of complete uterine obstruction. This case report involves an 8-year-old cow with repeated insemination attempts unveiled 5.00 cm intra-luminal uterine mass, obstructing the right uterine horn. Transrectal sonography (TRUS) revealed a highly vascularized mass with normal ovarian function. Confirmation of clinical condition, , uterine leiomyoma, uterine biopsy concluded the presence of neoplastic smooth muscle cells arranged in interlacing bundles showing mild pleomorphism, and special staining using Masson's trichrome revealed an unappreciable amount of connective tissue; subsequently right flank celiotomy was performed to remove the benign tumour. Forty-five days after celiotomy, TRUS examination confirmed an unobstructed uterine horn, and bilateral oviduct patency was adjudged with 2.50% methylene blue. Following treatment for chronic endometritis, artificial insemination led to conception nearly 90 days post-procedure. The TRUS aids preliminary diagnosis, while definitive identification demands necropsy and surgical methods. This case underscores the diagnostic significance of TRUS, histopathology and celiotomy for identifying and managing uterine leiomyoma in cattle.
PubMed: 38770205
DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2024.2018975.4112 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2024The most crucial factor in improving animal reproduction efficiency is early pregnancy diagnosis. Early diagnosis not only reduces the time interval between two...
The most crucial factor in improving animal reproduction efficiency is early pregnancy diagnosis. Early diagnosis not only reduces the time interval between two calvings but also aids farmers in identifying open animals, thereby preventing significant milk production losses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discover circulatory miRNAs that would be useful for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo. Blood samples were taken on 0, 6, 12, and 18 day after artificial insemination from pregnant animals (n = 30) and non-pregnant animals (n = 20). During these stages of pregnancy, total RNA was extracted, and a small RNA library was subsequently generated and sequenced on the Illumina platform. Subsequently, Real-time PCR was used to validate the findings. There were 4,022 miRNAs found during the pregnancy, with 15 of those lacking sequences and 4,007 having sequences already in the database. From the beginning of pregnancy until the 18 day, 25 of these miRNAs showed a substantial shift in expression levels in the maternal blood, with a change more than two logs. Furthermore, based on qPCR results, 19 miRNAs were found to be more abundant in pregnant animals than in non-pregnant animals. We used target prediction analysis to learn how maternally expressed miRNAs relate to fetal-maternal communication. In conclusion, miRNA based biomarkers that could be associated with the diagnosis of pregnancy were identified including miR-181a and miR-486 highly upregulated on the 18 day of pregnancy. This study also provides a comprehensive profile of the entire miRNA population in maternal buffalo blood during the early stages of pregnancy.
PubMed: 38770151
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1386241 -
Theriogenology Aug 2024The aims of this study were to determine the effect of the embryo flushing technique and the number of flushing attempts performed by operators of different experience...
The aims of this study were to determine the effect of the embryo flushing technique and the number of flushing attempts performed by operators of different experience on embryo recovery (ER). Ten non-lactating mares were inseminated with the same stallion in six cycles each (n = 60). Embryo flushing (EF) was performed 7-9 days after ovulation by three operators (OP; 20 EF cycles each): OP1 had performed >500 EF before the study, while OP2 and 3 had performed 0 EF. Each EF was performed with 2 flushing attempts (FA) using 1L of ringer's lactate "in-and-out" using two EF techniques: 1) uterine massage (UM): continuous ballottement and massage of the uterus per rectum during ringer lactate recovery, 2) gravity flow (GF): the ringer lactate was allowed to flow back without massaging the uterus. In both groups, 20 IU of oxytocin were administered at the second FA and the ringer lactate was allowed to remain in the uterus for 3 min before recovery. An extra FA was performed in each group using 0.5 L of ringer lactate and uterine massage. More embryos (P < 0.05) per ovulation were recovered in the UM (17/33, 0.51) than in the GF group (8/36, 0.22). For the UM group, 16/17 embryos (94.1 %) were recovered in the first FA, while only one embryo in the second FA (1/17, 5.9 %). In the GF group, 4 embryos were recovered in each FA. No embryo was found in the extra FA in the UM group, while seven additional embryos were found in the GF group (5/7 flushed by OP1; P < 0.05). The overall ER per cycle was 70, 40, and 45 % for OP1, 2 and 3, respectively. In conclusion, highest embryo recovery is achieved in EF performed with UM, with the majority of embryos being flushed in the first FA.
Topics: Animals; Female; Horses; Uterus; Massage; Embryo Transfer; Embryo, Mammalian; Pregnancy; Insemination, Artificial
PubMed: 38759609
DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.05.017 -
Animal Reproduction 2024This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the HSP70 gene and protein in spermatozoa of Bali bulls of different age groups and to examine its potential as a...
This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the HSP70 gene and protein in spermatozoa of Bali bulls of different age groups and to examine its potential as a biomarker determining bull fertility. This study used frozen semen produced from six Bali bulls divided into two groups based on age (≤ 9 years and ≥ 12 years). Parameters of frozen semen quality analyzed included sperm motility and kinetics using computer-assisted semen analysis, sperm morphological defects using Diff-Quick staining, acrosome integrity using FITC-PNA staining, and DNA fragmentation using acridine orange staining. HSP70 gene expression characterization was analyzed using qRT-PCR, and HSP70 protein abundance was analyzed using enzyme immunoassays. Fertility field data were obtained by analyzing the percentage conception rate for each bull based on the artificial insemination service data contained in the Indonesian-integrated system of the National Animal Health Information System (iSIKHNAS). The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in total and progressive motility, morphological defects of the neck and midpiece, and tail of sperm, and acrosome integrity between the age groups of Bali bulls. HSP70 gene expression and protein abundance showed no significant differences (P>0.05) in different age groups. HSP70 gene expression correlated with fertility rate (P<0.05). Age affected several semen quality parameters but did not affect HSP70 gene expression and protein abundance. The HSP70 gene molecule could be a biomarker that determines the fertility of Bali bulls.
PubMed: 38756622
DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-AR2023-0048