Reproduction in Domestic Animals最新文献

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of kisspeptin supplementation (0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0 and 40.0 μM) in cryodiluent on freezability and in vivo fertility of buffalo bull spermatozoa. Twenty-four semen ejaculates were collected using an artificial vagina from four Murrah buffalo bulls. Ejaculates having > 70% sperm motility, < 25% morphological abnormalities and > 500 million/ml concentration were diluted with Tris-egg yolk extender containing 0.0 (control), 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0 and 40.0 μM kisspeptin and cryopreserved following established protocol. The CASA-based progressive motility and viability were higher (p < 0.05) in cryodiluent containing 20.0 μM of kisspeptin in comparison to other experimental concentrations and control. Addition of kisspeptin at 20.0 and 40.0 μM in extender exhibited higher (p < 0.05) CASA-based total motility and plasma membrane integrity. Regarding CASA-based sperm kinematics, supplementation of kisspeptin (20.0 μM) in extender improved (p < 0.05) VCL and VAP as compared to other tested concentrations and control. The acrosome integrity revealed no difference (p > 0.05) in all the experimental extenders compared to control. The MDA levels were lower (p < 0.05) in cryodiluent supplemented with kisspeptin (20.0 μM) than in other concentrations and control. Sixty artificial inseminations were performed with the post-thaw semen having the most effective dose of kisspeptin (20.0 μM) and control (30 inseminations each). The conception rates were recorded to be higher (p > 0.05) using post-thaw semen containing kisspeptin (20.0 μM; 43.3%) as compared to control (33.3%). In conclusion, complementing the cryodiluent with 20.0 μM kisspeptin improved the quality and in vivo fertility of cryopreserved Murrah buffalo bull semen.

Embryonic diapause is widespread among mammals. This is the first report of successful post-thaw in vivo development of mammalian embryos cryopreserved at the diapause stage using mouse as a model species. Live offspring were obtained after cryopreservation of murine embryos and their transfer to pseudo-pregnant recipients. The sex ratio at birth was male-skewed, and the offspring were fertile. The results may open new possibilities for applying the Genome Resource Banking concept to diapausing mammalian species.

During the in vitro maturation process of oocytes, oxidative stress is commonly present, and excessive oxidative stress can affect oocyte maturation. Thus, adding antioxidants during maturation is an effective strategy for reducing oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a derivative of cysteine, participates in glutathione (GSH) metabolism and stimulates glutathione synthesis. However, a clear understanding of the effect of NAC on sheep oocytes remains unknown. In this study, we investigated NAC's impact on the maturation of sheep oocytes, and the results revealed that the maturation rate, and subsequently the cleavage and blastocyst formation, were significantly enhanced by incubation with 1 mM NAC. The GSH and Ca²⁺ levels increased, and the cortical granules were significantly elevated, whereas the reactive oxygen species levels were significantly reduced in the 1 mM NAC-treated group. Additionally, the number of inner cell masses was significantly increased. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that NAC increases oocyte maturation rate by protecting them from oxidative stress damage. These discoveries provide a new approach for improving the efficiency of in vitro production of sheep embryos.

Cryopreservation of ram sperm is a cornerstone in reproductive biotechnology but is often accompanied by oxidative damage that compromises post-thaw sperm quality. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol with potent antioxidant properties, may offer protection against cryo-induced injuries. This study evaluated the effects of curcumin supplementation at two concentrations (10% and 20%) in semen extenders on the functional and molecular characteristics of ram spermatozoa. A total of 14 ejaculates were collected from healthy adult rams and randomly allocated into three groups: control (no curcumin), C1 (10% curcumin) and C2 (20% curcumin). Semen samples were cryopreserved using a Tris-based extender, and post-thaw evaluations included total motility, viability (eosin-nigrosin), morphology (head, midpiece, tail abnormalities), membrane integrity (HOST), chromatin integrity (toluidine blue) and PRDX5 gene expression via qPCR. Curcumin supplementation, particularly in the C2 group, significantly improved total motility and viability (p < 0.01), while reducing head and tail morphological abnormalities and chromatin damage (p < 0.05), compared to the control. No significant difference was observed in PRDX5 gene expression among groups (p > 0.05). These improvements are likely attributed to curcumin's antioxidant activity, including ROS scavenging and membrane stabilisation. Curcumin supplementation in semen extenders enhances post-thaw sperm quality in rams by improving functional parameters and maintaining chromatin integrity, without modulating PRDX5 gene expression. These findings support the potential of curcumin as a safe and effective cryoprotective additive in ovine artificial insemination and genetic conservation protocols. Further research combining transcriptomic and proteomic analyses (or approaches), along with validation of post-thaw sperm fertility, is needed to clarify curcumin's effects and its potential in livestock breeding.

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of aglepristone for the management of canine pyometra-either as a sole therapy or in combination with different antibiotic regimens-and investigated the association between aglepristone dosing and the occurrence of vaginal hyperplasia during the subsequent estrous cycle. Eighty-seven intact bitches diagnosed with pyometra were enrolled and divided into two experiments. In Experiment I, 57 bitches were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (n = 19/group): (1) AGL, aglepristone alone; (2) AGL-CEF, aglepristone plus ceftriaxone; and (3) AGL-CEF-MET, aglepristone plus ceftriaxone and metronidazole. Clinical examinations and haematological and biochemical profiles were assessed every 48 h for 15 days. In Experiment II, 30 bitches were treated with aglepristone using two protocols: AGL 4X (10 mg/kg s.c. on Days 0, 1, 8 and 15) or AGL 2X (10 mg/kg s.c. on Days 0 and 1). Incidence and severity of vaginal hyperplasia, as well as post-treatment reproductive performance, were evaluated during the subsequent oestrus. All three treatment protocols achieved clinical resolution of pyometra-including the aglepristone-only group-with normalisation of leukocyte counts and serum biochemical markers. In Experiment II, vaginal hyperplasia occurred in 53.3% of bitches in the AGL 4X group versus 7% in the AGL 2X group. Grade III hyperplasia was associated with pyometra recurrence and reduced pregnancy rates. Overall pregnancy rate in Experiment II was 80%. These findings indicate that aglepristone is an effective, fertility-preserving treatment for canine pyometra, even when administered without systemic antibiotics. However, high-dose or prolonged administration may induce oestrogen-mediated adverse effects such as vaginal hyperplasia and disease recurrence. A reduced dosing regimen appears safer while maintaining equivalent clinical and reproductive efficacy.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. A lesser-known form, equine genital leptospirosis (EGL), has been identified as a chronic and often silent infection involving the colonisation of the mare's genital tract. Despite its potential impact, EGL remains underdiagnosed and poorly understood, particularly in its association with reproductive inefficiency. This study showed the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA by lipL32-PCR in the genital tract of mares with a history of reproductive disturbances. Cervicovaginal mucus samples were collected from 120 adult mares exhibiting recent reproductive problems. Results showed that 30 (25%) of the mares tested positive for Leptospira DNA. Among these 30 positive cases, 23.3% had experienced abortions, 3.3% had stillbirths, 53.3% showed placental alterations, and 36.6% were subfertile. These findings suggest a possible association between EGL and reproductive disorders in mares. The high detection rate of Leptospira DNA in genital samples reinforces the need for increased awareness and improved diagnostic efforts.