Molecular insights on skewing of sex ratio in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) supplemented with dietary calcium and magnesium.

The effect of dietary calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) supplementation on serum biochemical parameters, steroid hormones, gene expression, and the sex ratio was investigated in female New Zealand white rabbits. A total of 25 rabbits were allocated into five treatment groups: The control group was fed with regular pellet feed, whereas, treatment groups were supplemented with Ca and Mg: T1 (0.40% and 0.01%), T2 (0.60% and 0.02%), T3 (0.80% and 0.03%) and T4 (1.00% and 0.04%), respectively. The rabbits were subjected to three breeding cycles. The T3 group skewed towards females (65.33%) from all three breeding. There was elevated Ca concentration in T3 (15.26 ± 0.77 mg dL-1) and T4 (15.61 ± 0.82 mg dL-1) groups compared to the control. The concentration of estradiol was significantly high in T3 and T4 groups at 0.5 days post-coitus (dpc) and T2, T3 and T4 groups at 21dpc. Testosterone was significantly high in T4 group at 0.50 dpc and T2 and T4 group at 21dpc. The expression of 13 genes was studied in the oviduct. Genes such as OVGP1, CCT4, ANXA2 and TLR4 were up-regulated and positively correlated with the female sex ratio. The molecular functions and pathways of up-regulated genes were suggestive of their role in fertilization such as sperm selection, sperm storage, immune regulation, implantation and early embryonic development. The variations in the serum electrolytes, steroid hormones and gene expression might have an impact on the skewing process.

In vitro production of desired sex ovine embryos modulating polarity of oocytes for sex-specific sperm binding during fertilization.

The present study aimed to modulate the oxidative status-mediated polarity of the oocytes for sex-specific sperm fertilization to generate desired sex embryos. In vitro embryos were produced at different oxidative status, varying O2 concentrations, and without/with L-carnitine in maturation and culture media. The majority of the embryos produced at high oxidative stress were males whereas; low oxidative status favoured female embryos production. Low O2 doubled the proportion of female embryos (10.59 vs 21.95%); however, L-carnitine supplementation in media increased approximately seven-folds of the female embryos (12.26 vs. 77.62%) production. Oocytes matured at high oxidative status were in the repolarized state favouring positively charged Y sperm fertilization to produce significantly more male embryos. Low oxidative status favoured negatively charged X sperm fertilization to the oocytes in the depolarized state to produce more female embryos. Intracellular ROS was significantly low in female embryos than in males; however, female embryos were more stressful than males. The study concluded that the oxidative status-mediated alteration in pH of the medium to modulate the intracellular positive ions is the main critical factor to influence the sex of embryos through sex-specific sperms fertilization to the oocytes as per their polarity.

Organic mineral supplementation on differential protein profile of Osmanabadi bucks (Capra hircus).

The present study aimed to determine the differential protein profile of seminal plasma proteins of bucks supplemented with trace minerals. Forty bucks of uniform size and body weight were assigned as ten groups (n = 4). The control group (T1) was fed with the control diet (concentration mixture and roughages) whereas the remaining groups were supplemented the control diet with Zn20 mg (T2), Zn40 mg (T3), Zn60 mg (T4), Cu12.5 mg (T5), Cu25 mg (T6), Cu37.5 mg (T7), Zn20 mg + Cu12.5 mg (T8), Zn40 mg + Cu25 mg (T9), and Zn60 mg + Cu37.5 mg (T10) for eight months. Seminal plasma proteins from each group were subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis and fifteen differential proteins were selected based on differential expression, subjected to identification using Nano-LC-MS/MS (LTQ-Qrbitrap-MS). The identified proteins were Triacylglycerol lipase, EGF like repeats and discoidin domains 3, Lipocalin, Iodothyronine deiodinase, Transcription factor AP2-delta, 60S ribosomal protein L13, IST1 factor associated with ESCRT-III, Lysozyme, Uncharacterized protein (BRI3-binding protein), Uncharacterized protein, Histone deacetylase 11, General transcription factor IIF subunit 2, Nudix hydrolase 6, Protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit beta and Elongin C. The organic Cu supplemented group is the better than the organic Zn and organic Zn + Cu supplemented groups.

Cryoprotective role of organic Zn and Cu supplementation in goats (Capra hircus) diet.

The current study focused on cryopreservation and assessment of characters of post-thaw semen of indigenous Osmanabadi bucks maintained with standard diet, supplemented with different concentrations of organic zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) or in combination, for a period of 180 days. The different doses of organic Zn and Cu were fed per kg DM basis, Zn groups (low: Zn20, medium: Zn40 and high: Zn60), Cu groups: (low: Cu12.5, medium: Cu25 and high: Cu37.5) and combination of Zn + Cu groups (low: Zn20 + Cu12.5, medium: Zn40 + Cu25 and high: Zn60 + Cu37.5) respectively. The control group bucks were maintained mainly on the basal diet without any additional mineral supplementation. Two hundred and forty (240) semen samples were collected from 40 bucks aged 11 months, through electro ejaculator method, processed and analysed for sperm quality parameters both at pre freeze and post-thaw stage. The semen samples were diluted in Tris egg yolk extender, cooled and equilibrated for 4 h at 5 °C, cryopreserved using programmable freezer (PLANER Kryo 360-1.7) and stored at -196 °C. The organic trace minerals (Zn, Cu and Zn + Cu) protected the spermatozoa against the cryoinjury and maintained higher post-thaw semen parameters except in high Zn group. Additional feeding of organic Cu and Zn to bucks had a protective role and resulted in higher sperm liveability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, motility and velocity and reduced oxidative stress in supplemented goats (P < 0.05).