Reducing oxidative stress by κ-carrageenan and C60HyFn: The post-thaw quality and antioxidant status of Azari water buffalo bull semen.

Azeri water buffalo is a species of great interest due to the high quality of its products such as milk. Due to the decreasing trend of its number and risk of extinction in the future, our attention is directed towards ensuring the preservation of its genetic reserves by keeping its sperm. Using antioxidants in semen extender is one of the ways to reduce the detrimental effects of freezing process on post-thawed quality of spermatozoa. This study was conducted to determine the effect of κ-carrageenan (k-CRG) and C60HyFn supplemented semen extender on the quality of post-thawed Azari water buffalo spermatozoa. A total of 30 semen samples were obtained from three buffaloes using an artificial vagina (twice a week for five weeks = 10 replicates). The samples (n = 3) from each replicate were pooled and divided into equal aliquots to prepare 14 extender groups, including control (C), k-0.2, K-0.4, K-0.6, K-0.8 (containing 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mg K-CRG/mL, respectively), C-0.1, C-0.2, C-0.4, C-0.8, C-1, C-5, C-10, C-20, and C-40 (containing 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40 µM C60HyFn, respectively), and then frozen. After thawing, motility and velocity parameters, plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and functionality (PMF), DNA damage, Hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase glutathione activities and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging were evaluated. In vivo fertility was compared between k-0.6, C-1 and control groups. 60 buffalo were inseminated 24 h after the onset of estrus. The diagnosis of pregnancy was performed rectally at least 60 days after fertilization. Total and progressive motility and velocity parameters were improved by k-0.4, k-0.6, k-0.8, C-0.4, C-0.8, C-1, C-5, and C-10 groups) compared to the other groups. Plasma membranes integrity and PMF were improved by k-0.4, k-0.6, C-0.4, C-0.8, C-1, C-5, and C-10 groups compared to other groups, while in terms of sperm DNA damage K-0.4, K-0.6, K-0.8, C-0.2, C-0.4, C-0.8, C-1, C-5, and C-10 groups showed better results compared to the control group. The evidence also showed that k- 0.4, k-0.6, k-0.8, C-0.4, C-0.8, C-1, C-5, and C-10 groups could improve TAC, and decrease MDA levels. Also, k-0.4, k-0.6, k-0.8, C-0.2, C-0.4, C-0.8, C-1, C-5, and C-10 groups could improve GPx, CAT, and GSH levels, but no significant difference was found regarding SOD compared to the other groups. DPPH scavengers were tested by K-0.6, K-0.8 and C-1, C-5, C-10, C-0.8, C-0.4 and C-0.2 groups and compared to other groups improved. The fertility rate [70% (14/20)] was higher in C-1 than other groups. To conclude that k-CRG and C60HyFn supplementation can increase the quality parameters of cryopreserved buffalo semen after thawing and that 1 M C60HyFn can increase in vivo fertility of buffalo semen.

Detection of twin pregnancies in ewes by pregnancy-associated glycoprotein assay and transabdominal ultrasonography.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate and compare the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography and pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) assay in the diagnosis of twin pregnancies in ewes and to evaluate the utility of the PAG assay for predicting fetal gender in singleton pregnancies. The animals in the study consisted of 179 pregnant ewes. The number of fetuses in the ewe was determined using transabdominal ultrasonography between days 40 and 60 (on days 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60). Blood samples were collected from all the ewes on the same day to determine the PAG concentrations. The results found were highly sensitive for the detection of twin pregnancies by transabdominal ultrasonography. The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography in detecting twin pregnancies was found to be higher on day 60 than on other days (P < 0.05). The sensitivities of PAG assay in detecting twin pregnancies on days 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 were 91.67%, 66.67%, 81.82%, 88.89%, and 33.33%, respectively. The accuracies of the PAG assay in detecting twin pregnancies on days 40, 45, and 50 were found to be statistically significant higher than other days (P < 0.05). The PAG assay had low sensitivity and specificity for predicting fetal gender. It was concluded that twin pregnancies in ewes can be diagnosed with high accuracy using transabdominal ultrasonography on day 60 of pregnancy and as well as using the PAG assay during the early days of pregnancy (on days 40, 45, and 50). The PAG assay is not useful for predicting fetal gender.

[Follow-up ultrasonographic examinations in pregnant bitches - evaluation of frequency and significance of embryo resorption]. / Sonographische Verlaufsuntersuchungen an trächtigen Hündinnen - ein Beitrag zur Bedeutung der Fruchtresorption beim Hund.

OBJECTIVE: Follow-up ultrasonographic examinations in pregnant bitches to evaluate frequency and significance of embryo resorption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 39 Kangal bitches the number of gestational sacs was measured and vitality of embryos/fetuses was evaluated by real time ultrasonography daily from the 15th till the last day of gestation. RESULTS: Five bitches (12.8%) showed embryonic resorption and one of these bitches exhibited a complete resorption. Fetal death could be observed in four females and was related to a total loss of the litter. After the first evidence of embryonic death gestational sacs remained detectable for 8.6±0.5days. The number of embryos of bitches with (10.8±1.8) or without embryo resorption (8.2±2.1) was statistically significantly different (p<0.05). On the other hand there was no statistically significant difference within the number of embryos of bitches suffering fetal death and bitches without embryo resorption (8.2±2.1) (p>0.05). A relationship between litter size and gestational length could not be verified (r=0.15; p>0.05). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Due to these results the hypothesis is postulated that embryonic resorption is a kind of protective mechanism of the maternal organism against too large litter sizes.

Number of follicular waves and their effect on pregnancy rate in the cow.

In the study, the relationship of follicular growth waves, oestradiol and pregnancy rates were investigated during oestrus cycle in cows. A total of 22, Brown Swiss cows (3-5 years old) were used for the study. The ovaries of animals were examined from sixth day of cycle to next oestrus by ultrasound. The follicles that were present in the ovarium were recorded. Follicular growth was observed every day by means of ultrasound examination. The blood samples were taken for analysis of oestradiol simultaneously with ultrasound examinations. The oestrus animals were inseminated. Each animal that inseminated was examined by ultrasound on day 28 after insemination for pregnancy diagnosis. Two follicular growth waves were observed in nine of 22 (40.9%), three waves in 13 of 22 (59.1%) animals. The oestradiol was found in the same concentration but in different release patterns between two and three waves animals. Pregnancy rate in cows with three and two follicular waves did not differ. In conclusion, emergence of three waves of follicular growth was higher in Brown Swiss cows, the analysis of oestradiol could be used for determination of the wave numbers and the animals with different waves may have had the same pregnancy rates.

[Occurrence and radiological studies of different teat changes in milk cows]. / Vorkommen und röntgenologische Untersuchungen verschiedener Zitzenveränderungen bei Milchkühen.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of different teat lesions in cows that cause obstruction of milk flow. 18,400 teats were palpated in Konya slaughterhouse. From these 1000 hard milking or obstructed teats were found (5.4%). Based on the radiographical results, distal 1/3, proximal 2/3, complete teat lesions and congenital obstructions were found in 70.1, 16.6 and 0.7% respectively.