Effect of Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does.

Goji berry shows a wide range of beneficial properties in human health, but only a few studies evaluated its effects in livestock animals. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of goji berry supplementation on the hormonal profile, productive, and reproductive performance of does. Two months before artificial insemination, 105 nulliparous does were randomly divided into three groups (n = 35) based on the dietary treatment: commercial diet (C), or a diet supplemented with either 1% (G1), or 3% (G3) of goji berry, respectively. The results showed that receptivity was higher in G1 than in the C group (p < 0.05). Trends toward significance for differences between the G1 and G3 groups in marginal means of LH concentrations (p = 0.059), and between G1 and C in LH AUC values (p = 0.078), were evidenced. Estrogen concentrations showed a more fluctuating trend but a significant interaction effect (p < 0.001). The G1 group showed higher litter weight than C at birth (p = 0.008) and weaning (p < 0.001), as well as higher litter size at weaning (p = 0.020). The G1 group also exhibited the highest mean milk production (p < 0.01). In conclusion, goji berry influenced reproductive and productive performance, probably via modulating hormonal patterns and milk production in rabbits. However, further studies are needed to validate these preliminary results.

Approaches to Identify Pregnancy Failure in Buffalo Cows.

The aim of this work was to find the best strategy to diagnose pregnancy failures in buffalo. A total of 109 animals belonging to a buffalo herd subjected to a synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) program were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected at days 0, 14, 25, 28 and 40 after AI for the determination of progesterone (P4) and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on day 25, 28 and 40 after AI to monitor pregnancy. The animals included in the data analysis were assigned ex post in pregnant (n = 50) and mortality (n = 12) groups. By ultrasonography, the predictive sign of mortality was the heartbeat. At day 25, the PAGs concentration was significant in predicting embryonic mortality with respect to ultrasonography and P4, at the cut-off of 1.1 ng/mL. At day 28, either PAGs, at a cut-off of 2.2 ng/mL, or ultrasonography, with no detection of heartbeat, were highly predictive of embryonic mortality. PAGs were the best marker (p < 0.05) for predicting embryonic mortality between 25 and 40 days of gestation in buffalo. Its utilization as a diagnostic tool can influence management decisions in order to improve farm reproductive management.

Gonadotropin secretion and pituitary responsiveness to GnRH in mares with granulosa-theca cell tumor.

Granulosa-theca cell tumors (GTCTs) are able to secrete variable amounts of sex steroids and immunoreactive inhibin (ir-INH). Although the pituitary appears to be affected by the presence of a GTCT, pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH has not been examined. The aims of the present study were to: (i) assess the plasma hormone concentrations of ir-INH, gonadotropins and sex steroids in eight mares with GTCT and (ii) assess the responsiveness of pituitary gonadotroph cells to exogenous GnRH stimulus both before and after tumor removal. In seven mares, the contralateral ovary was firm, small and inactive. Histopathological observations of the tumors confirmed the presumptive diagnosis of a GTCT. Four mares, judged to be in vernal transition period (n=2) and in the breeding season (n=2), were used as controls. A single intravenous injection of 40 microg of GnRH agonist was given to each mare and blood samples were collected every 15 min from 2 h before to 4 h after injection. In four GTCT mares, this procedure was repeated 20 (n=2) and 90 (n=2) days after tumors removal. All plasma samples were analyzed for concentrations of ir-INH, LH, FSH, estradiol-17beta (E2), testosterone (T) by RIA and progesterone (P) by EIA. Results showed that E2 levels were significantly higher (P<0.001) in control animals compared to E2 levels in GTCT mares before and after surgery. P and T concentrations were not statistically different between the groups. Baseline levels of ir-INH were greater (P<0.05) in GTCT mares before surgery than in control mares, and decreased to undetectable levels after neoplasia ablation. Baseline FSH did not differ between control and GTCT animals either before or after the ovaries were removed. LH baseline values appeared to be higher for affected mares, but the difference was not statistically significant. Maximum release (MR) and area under the gonadotrophin release curve (AUC) after the GnRH challenge for both the gonadotrophins were similar between the groups.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic characteristics of the diseased canine prostate gland.

The work was carried out on a total of 26 male dogs that on the basis of clinical examination, prostate ultrasound and prostate biopsy, were divided prospectively into four groups: (1) normal dogs (control group; n = 8); (2) dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (group BPH; n = 8); (3) dogs suffering from prostatitis (group prostatitis; n = 4); (4) dogs with prostatic tumors (group tumors; n = 6). The examination of the prostate by means of contrast medium and dedicated ultrasound system allowed a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of prostatic vessels in normal and diseased conditions, enabling the detection and characterization of different disease states, and quantification of parameters such as peak intensity of perfusion (%), arrival time of the contrast medium to its maximum value of video intensity (time to peak [TTP; seconds]), regional blood volume, regional blood flow, and mean transit time (MTT [seconds]). The hemodynamic indices TTP (P < 0.01) and MTT (P < 0.001) of diseased prostate groups were significantly lower than those in the normal prostate group although there were no differences among diseases. Optimal cutoff values were 31 seconds (Sensitivity: 72%; Specificity: 88%) and 47 seconds (Sensitivity: 100%; Specificity: 88%) while area under receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.86 (P < 0.01) and 0.97 (P < 0.01) for TTP and MTT, respectively. The qualitative evaluation of vascular patterns showed differences between normal and diseased prostate glands. The latter were characterized by an alteration of the normal vascular appearance consisting of loss of the subcapsular arterioles and lack of a centripetal vascular pattern. The qualitative aspect of the study highlighted the different vascular architecture between BPH, prostatitis, adenocarcinoma, and lymphoma. This study shows how contrast-enhanced ultrasound represents a valid and noninvasive method for highlighting and characterizing prostatic vasculature. Furthermore, it allows the operator to obtain qualitative and quantitative data that are useful for the diagnosis of selected prostatic diseases. In conclusion, contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be a valuable noninvasive diagnostic tool to improve the diagnostic accuracy of prostate diseases in the dog.

Effect of L-carnitine administration on the seminal characteristics of oligoasthenospermic stallions.

The effect of orally administered l-carnitine on the quality of semen obtained from stallions with different semen qualities was investigated. Four stallions with proven fertility (high motility group, HM) and with normal seminal characteristics (>50% progressive motility and > 80 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml), and four questionable breeders (low motility group, LM) with <50% of sperm progressive motility and < 80 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml, received p.o. 20 g of l-carnitine for 60 days. Blood and semen samples were collected before treatment (T0) and after 30 (T1) and 60 days (T2). Semen evaluation were performed on five consecutive daily ejaculates (n = 120 ejaculates) and conventional semen analysis was carried out on each ejaculate, both at collection and after refrigeration for 24, 48, and 72 h. Furthermore l-carnitine, acetylcarnitine, pyruvate, and lactate concentrations, and carnitine acetyltransferase activity (CAT) were determined both in raw semen and seminal plasma. There were an increase in progressive motile spermatozoa only in the LM group (26.8 +/- 12.9, 39.1 +/- 15.5, and 48.8 +/- 8.6 for T0, T1, and T2, respectively). Free seminal plasma carnitine concentration was higher in the LM group compared to the HM one. Both pyruvate and lactate were higher in the LM group. Raw semen and seminal plasma carnitine and acetylcarnitine levels correlate positively with both sperm concentration and progressive motility; moreover, acetylcarnitine content was positively correlated with total motile morphologically normal spermatozoa. In conclusion, oral administration of l-carnitine to stallions with questionable seminal characteristics may improve spermatozoa kinetics and morphological characteristics; whereas, it seem to be ineffective in normospermic animals.

Immunohistochemical localization of orexin A and orexin type 2 receptor-positive cells in the placenta of dogs.

The aim of the present study was to examine the presence and distribution of cells that express immunopositivity for orexin A (OXA) and its type 2 receptor (OX2R) in the dog placenta toward the end of pregnancy using immunohistochemical techniques. In the placental fetal portion, a few OXA and OX2R-positive cells were seen scattered in the outermost coating layer of chorionic villi and in the trophoblastic protrusions. Closer to the maternal portion, immunopositive labeling for both peptides was visible in the glandular epithelia and that for OXA also in the endothelium of the capillaries. These observations allow us to hypothesize that the canine placenta may be not only a source of orexin A, but also its target, and that orexin A may play an important role in controlling the function of this important organ for normal fetal development.