Efficacy of different methods for detecting the onset of ovarian cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes.

This study was designed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of three methods for detecting the onset of cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes. The methods investigated were visual signs, transrectal ultrasonography, and serum progesterone (P4) assay. For this study, 102 post-partum Murrah buffalo cows were grouped for monitoring their ovarian activity. The first group of buffaloes was between 26 and 35 days post-partum. Thereafter, the buffalo cows that calved were grouped after every 10 days for the study sample. Thus, the study animals were adjudged between 26 and 35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66-75, 76-85, and 86-95 days post-partum with an average of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 days post-partum, respectively. Visual estrus signs were monitored twice daily, and simultaneously, ultrasound examination was carried out at 10 days interval for accessing the presence of corpus luteum (CL). Serum P4 was estimated in the animals which were adjudged cyclic by ultrasound examination, and the assay was repeated after 10 days. The buffalo cows in estrus were inseminated artificially, and pregnancy status was assessed after 30 days post-insemination. In this study, the sensitivity and specificity of visual observation were low (39.37 and 70.73%, respectively) when compared to P4 assay (98.80 and 96.47%) and ultrasound examination (single, 97.59 and 97.59%; double, 100 and 100%), respectively. Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity of single and double ultrasound examination and P4 assay were comparable. In conclusion, this study reports that single and double ultrasound examination and P4 assay are more efficient than visual observation in detecting the onset of ovarian cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes.

Relationship of temperament with oestrous behaviour, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post-partum Murrah buffaloes.

This study was designed to investigate the relationship of temperament with oestrus, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post-partum buffaloes. For this study, 102 post-partum Murrah buffaloes were observed for temperament in open paddock and during milking. Based on the temperament score (1-5 score), they were classified into docile, slightly restless, restless, aggressive and nervous. Oestrous behaviour was monitored twice daily in all the buffaloes along with milk yield (weekly), body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) at day 0, 30, 60 and 90 post-partum. Based on the temperament score, the number of buffaloes classified as docile, slightly restless, restless and aggressive was 37 (36.27%), 28 (27.45%), 30 (29.41%) and 7 (6.86%), respectively, but none under nervous category. Number of buffaloes resuming cyclicity in various temperaments groups were as follows: docile (n = 35; 94.59%), slightly restless (n = 22; 78.57%), restless (n = 20; 66.67%) and aggressive (n = 7; 85.71%). Temperament was not correlated (p = .128; r=-.152) with oestrous behaviour. But, temperament was correlated (p < .0001; r = .384) with the resumption of cyclicity as docile and slightly restless buffaloes resumed cyclicity (p < .0016) earlier. Temperament of buffaloes was weakly correlated (p = .0017; r=-.306) with milk production with higher (p < .0358) total milk yield in docile (1022 ± 23.75 kg) and slightly restless buffaloes (948 ± 35.86 kg) as compared to other temperament groups. In summary, temperament of post-partum buffaloes was related with resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield, but not oestrous behaviour.

Advances in reproductive biotechnologies.

In recent times, reproductive biotechnologies have emerged and started to replace the conventional techniques. It is noteworthy that for sustained livestock productivity, it is imperative to start using these techniques for facing the increasing challenges for productivity, reproduction and health with impending environment conditions. These recent biotechniques, both in male and female, have revolutionized and opened avenues for studying and manipulating the reproductive process both in vitro and in vivo in various livestock species for improving tis efficiency. This review attempts to highlight pros and cons, on the recent developments in reproductive biotechnologies, both in male and female in livestock species.

Extradural myxopapillary ependymoma with sacral osteolysis--a case report.

Extradural ependymomas arising from filum terminale externa in the sacrococcygeal region are very rare. Since 1937, out of 58 cases reported in English literature, only 13 cases of tumor located presacrally in the retrorectal space, have been reported. The authors report a 38 yrs old male with a primary ependymoma of the sacrococcygeal region causing extensive sacral destruction.

The ex vivo differential expression of apoptosis signaling cofactors in the developing perinatal lung: essential role of oxygenation during the transition from placental to pulmonary-based respiration.

The signaling pathways implicated in regulating apoptosisin the perinatal developing lung are not well characterized. We have previously shown that apoptosis signaling cofactors in the fetal alveolar epithelium are redox-sensitive and differentially expressed in response to oxyexcitation (Haddad and Land, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 271, 257-267, 2000). In this report we investigated the role of oxygenation during the transition period from placental to pulmonary-based respiration in regulating the differential expression of apoptosis cofactors ex vivo. The antiapoptotic proto-oncogene, Bcl-2, exhibited suppressed abundance commencing after birth, an effect which was partially restored at a later stage of development. Oxygenation-mediated down-regulation of Bcl-2 was accompanied by suppression of Bax, such that Bcl-2/Bax equilibrium ratio remained steadily constant postnatally. Analysis of whether a Bax-independent pathway is involved in cell death in the perinatal lung revealed a novel role for p53, whose abundance predominated that of Bcl-2 and Bax at different stages of gestational development. We conclude that apoptosis ex vivo is partly Bax-insensitive and mediated by suppression of Bcl-2 in a p53-dependent mechanism.