Effects of glutamine on growth performance, nutrient content, fatty acid profile, and blood parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

In this study, different amounts of glutamine were added to the diet of rainbow trout, and they were then fed for a period of 90 days. The current research investigated the effects of glutamine on various aspects of rainbow trout, including growth performance, condition factor, viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, carcass composition, fatty acid profile, hematological parameters, and biochemical parameters. The study's findings revealed that adding glutamine to the diet of rainbow trout had a beneficial impact on their growth features. The rainbow trout group that was fed a 2% concentration of glutamine experienced the most notable increase in growth rate. A statistically significant difference in growth was observed among all groups (p < 0.05). Adding glutamine to the diet increased the amount of protein and decreased the fat content in the flesh of the fish. Glutamine exerted an influence on the blood and biochemistry parameters of fish, as well as their fatty acid composition. In conclusion, the inclusion of glutamine in the diet of fish could potentially enhance their immune system, improve the quality of their muscles, and enhance their growth performance.

Effects of age and sex on some hematological and biochemical parameters in Hair goats.

This study was performed to determine the blood reference values of hematological and biochemical parameters in Hair goats at different ages. For this aim, clinically healthy Hair goats (n = 180, ages of six month and 1-3 years male and female) were used to collect blood samples. In whole blood, white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)and red cell distribution width (RDW) were evaluated. The levels of, albumin, total protein, globulin, glucose, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and iron levels were investigated in sera. Age and sex had no effect on the cell structures of blood. In the either sex (male or female), age had no effect. However, sex had a significant effect on the blood cell structures except for WBC, HGB, and HCT. Albumin, protein, calcium, AST, ALT, ALP and magnesium values were not different among groups. Both the age and sex of the goats had significant effects on blood levels of glucose, phosphorus, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, GGT, CK and total bilirubin. In conclusion, this was the first study reporting the hematologic and biochemical parameters in blood of the Hair goats. The results indicated that these parameters could show variations under physiological conditions due to age and gender.

Effect of flunixin meglumine treatment during and after embryo transfer on the pregnancy rate in cattle.

This study aimed to determine the effect of flunixin meglumine treatment during and after the transfer of in vivo produced embryos to Angus (cows) and Holstein (cows and heifers) breeds of cattle on pregnancy rate. Holstein cows were used as donors in the study. A double dose of prostaglandin F2α was administered to the recipient animals for synchronization. Uterine flushing was performed in donors on day 7 after artificial insemination. A total of 295 transferable embryos were obtained. These embryos were transferred to Angus cows (n = 85), Holstein heifers (n = 80) and Holstein cows (n = 130). After the transfer, these animals were divided into three subgroups. The first subgroup (TI) was administered flunixin meglumine during embryo transfer, and the second subgroup (TII) was administered flunixin meglumine both during embryo transfer and on days 8 and 9 after the transfer. The third subgroup (TIII) was not administered anything and it was considered the control group. Pregnancy examination of the recipients was performed on days 30-35 after the transfer using real-time ultrasonography. The pregnancy rates after embryo transfer were found to be 43.52% in Angus cows, 42.5% in Holstein heifers, and 24.61% in Holstein cows (p < .05). When the animals were not classified according to breed, the pregnancy rates in subgroups TI, TII and TIII were found to be 29.29%, 45.10% and 29.79%, respectively (p < .05). In addition, the pregnancy rates were higher in TII and TIII subgroups of Angus cows and Holstein heifers compared to that of Holstein cows (p < .05). As a result, the pregnancy rates obtained after embryo transfer in Angus cows and Holstein heifers were found to be higher than that in Holstein cows. In addition, it was concluded that the administration of flunixin meglumine during and during/after embryo transfer has a positive effect on pregnancy rates in Angus cows and Holstein heifers.

Evaluation of the relationship between serum paraoxonase-1 activity and superovulation response/embryo yield in Holstein cows.

In this study, the effect of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity on superovulation response and embryo yield was evaluated. The study material comprised 50 Holstein cows aged 3-4 years on postpartum day 90-120 with a body condition score of 3-3.25. A progesterone-based estrus synchronization protocol was initially administered to the selected donors. For this purpose, progesterone source was inserted intravaginally (day 0) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone injection was performed (day 6). Seven days after the insertion of progesterone device, follicle-stimulating hormone injections (total dose of 500 µg in decreasing doses for 4 days) were administered for superovulation. On the morning of the ninth day, prostaglandin (PG) F2α was administered, and the progesterone device was removed from the vagina in the evening on the same day. Two days after PGF2α administration, fixed-time artificial insemination was performed in the morning and in the evening. On the day of artificial insemination, blood samples were taken from the donors to determine the serum PON-1 activity. Uterine flushing was performed seven days after insemination. The results revealed that the serum PON-1 activity (mean ± SD, 562.71 ± 140.23 U/l) of the cows that responded to superovulation (donors with total corpus luteum count of ≥3 in both ovaries) was higher than those (389.91 ± 80.51 U/l) that did not (P<0.05). On the day of insemination, a positive correlation was determined between serum PON-1 activity and the counts of total corpus luteum (r=0.398), total oocyte/embryo (r=0.468), transferable embryo (r=0.453), and Code I embryos (r=0.315, P<0.05). Unlike the Code I embryos, there was no significant correlation between serum PON-1 activity and the number of Code III embryos. Moreover, no significant difference in the number of Code III embryos between the two PON-1 groups was observed. However, embryo yield and quality were found to have increased with increased PON-1 activity. Therefore, it was concluded that serum PON-1 activity may be associated with superovulation response, embryo yield and quality in donor cows.

Effect of embryo quality and developmental stages on pregnancy rate during fresh embryo transfer in beef heifers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryo quality and developmental stages on pregnancy rate in beef heifer recipients. The present study used 168 Simmental breed cows as donors, and 618 beef cattle breed heifers as recipients. The quality and developmental stages of the collected embryos were evaluated according to the criteria specified by the International Embryo Technology Society. Accordingly, the embryos in the compact morula, early blastocyst, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst stages that were of Code I (excellent) and Code II (good) quality levels were transferred as fresh embryos to the recipient heifers. Prior to the transfer, the recipients were synchronized using the Ovsynch protocol, and the embryos obtained were transferred to 618 beef heifers. Pregnancy examinations were performed on days 30 and 60. On day 30, the pregnancy rates with Code I and Code II embryos were determined as 44.15% and 32.58%, respectively. According to the developmental stages, the pregnancy rates with Code I quality compact morula, early blastocyst, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst were determined as 44.64%, 45.67%, 45.83%, and 33.33%, respectively. The rates of pregnancy with Code II quality compact morula, early blastocyst, and blastocyst were determined as 32.03%, 32.14%, and 50.0%, respectively. In conclusion, the pregnancy rates with Code I quality embryos were found to be higher compared with Code II embryos (P < 0.05). It was also determined that the embryonic developmental stages had no effect on the pregnancy rate (P > 0.05).

Evaluation of the factors that affect the pregnancy rates during embryo transfer in beef heifers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the transfer side, transfer location, cervix transfer score, type and diameter of corpus luteum (CL) during embryo transfer on pregnancy rates in beef heifers. Progesterone-based synchronization and superovulation protocol were applied to Simmental cows used as donors (n = 168). Uterine flushings were performed on day 7 following artificial insemination. Obtained Code I (excellent or good) and II (fair) quality embryos were transferred to recipient beef heifers (n = 561). During embryo transfer, side of transfer (right or left), transfer location (the cranial or middle third of uterine horn), cervix transfer score (easy, moderate or difficult) and type (CLa, CLb and CLc) and diameter of CL were determined. Pregnancy rates following the transfer of Code I and II embryos were 44.66% and 33.07%, respectively (p < .05). The rates of pregnancy after transfers to the right and left uterine horn were 37% and 42.2%, respectively (p > .05). The pregnancy rates were 41.2%, 34.9% and 30.3% for cervix transfer scores as easy, moderate and difficult, respectively (p > .05). Pregnancy rates after transfer to the cranial third and middle third were 41.06% and 29.67%, respectively (p < .05). According to types of CL, pregnancy rates were 31.7%, 40.4% and 45.3% for CLa, CLb and CLc, respectively (p < .05). Moreover, it was found that as the CL diameter increased, the pregnancy rates increased. As a result, it was concluded that there was no effect of side of transfer and cervix transfer score, but embryo quality, transfer location, type and diameter of CL had significant effects on the pregnancy rate during embryo transfer in beef heifers.

Determination of the relationship between serum anti-Müllerian hormone level and superovulatory response in Simmental cows.

The most significant focal points of the embryo transfer technology are as follows: the selection of donors, the response of the selected donor to the superovulation protocol and the obtained number of the transferable embryos. For this purpose, it is suggested that donor selection can be done by anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, and embryo production is evaluated. AMH is secreted by the granulosa cells of primordial, pre-antral and antral follicles below 4 mm in the ovary, independent of FSH. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum AMH levels and the number of corpus luteum (CL), total embryos and transferable embryos that were shaped after a uniform superovulation protocol. For this reason, 48 Simmental cows, which were located at General Directory of Agricultural Enterprises (region, province, etc. instead of the general directorate), were used as donors for the embryo transfer. Blood samples were taken at random, regardless of the stage of animal's sexual cycle. AMH levels were measured by enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) method of the miniVIDAS® (bioMérieux SA) using AMH Bovine Test Kit. According to the statistical analyses of the obtained data, AMH levels were positively correlated with CL and total embryos (p < .05). No significant correlations between AMH and transferable embryos were approved (p > .05). It was also determined that each 200 pg/ml increase in serum AMH level resulted in one increase in CL number. Overall, considering the positive correlation between AMH level and the obtained number of CL and total embryos after a superovulation treatment, it was concluded that measuring blood AMH level prior to any further costly implementation may be an effective method in donor selection.

Gene expression profiles of vitrified in vitro- and in vivo-derived bovine blastocysts.

Vitrification is becoming a preferred method for pre-implantation embryo cryopreservation. The objective of this study was to determine the differentially expressed genes of in vivo- and in vitro-produced bovine embryos after vitrification. In vitro- (IVF) and in vivo-derived (IVV) bovine blastocysts were identified as follows: in vitro-produced fresh (IVF-F), in vitro-produced vitrified (IVF-V), in vivo-derived fresh (IVV-F), in vivo-derived vitrified (IVV-V). The microarray results showed that 53 genes were differentially regulated between IVF and IVV, and 121 genes were differentially regulated between fresh and vitrified blastocysts (P < 0.05). There were 6, 268, 962, and 17 differentially regulated genes between IVF-F × IVV-F, IVF-V × IVV-V, IVF-F × IVF-V, and IVV-F × IVV-V, respectively (P < 0.05). While gene expression was significantly different between fresh and vitrified IVF blastocysts (P < 0.05), it was similar between fresh and vitrified IVV blastocysts. Significantly up-regulated KEGG pathways included ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, spliceosome, and oocyte meiosis in the fresh IVF blastocyst samples, while sphingolipid and purine metabolisms were up-regulated in the vitrified IVF blastocyst. The results showed that in vitro bovine blastocyst production protocols used in this study caused no major gene expression differences compared to those of in vivo-produced blastocysts. After vitrification, however, in vitro-produced blastocysts showed major gene expression differences compared to in vivo blastocysts. This study suggests that in vitro-produced embryos are of comparable quality to their in vivo counterparts. Vitrification of in vitro blastocysts, on the other hand, causes significant up-regulation of genes that are involved in stress responses.