Effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract on antimicrobial activity and in vitro fertilization ability of cryopreserved ram semen.

Cryopreservation has adverse effects on the post-thaw sperm quality due to oxidative stress and the presence of bacteria. To minimize such effects, plant extracts have been included in the composition of the semen diluents. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of Moringa oleifera seed extract (MOSE) on cryopreserved ram semen, as well as its impact on in vitro fertilization. Semen from six hair rams was treated with five treatments before cryopreservation: Control (without any antibiotic), Standard (conventional antibiotic), 1.0, 10.0, and 50.0 mg/ml of MOSE. Post-thawing sperm characteristics were evaluated by the computer-assisted semen analysis. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by counting colony-forming units (CFU) and the antioxidant capacity by the ferric reducing antioxidant power method. A heterologous in vitro fertilization technique was implemented to measure the fertilization rate. Progressive and rapid motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, and active mitochondria were higher (p < .05) in the 10.0 mg/ml treatment compared with Standard after thawing. All M. oleifera treatments showed inhibition of CFU. The antioxidant capacity of M. oleifera seed extract was higher in the 10.0 and 50.0 mg/ml treatments. Fertilization rate (cleavage percentage) was higher (p < .05) in the 10.0 mg/ml (82.9 ± 10.0) and Control (82.5 ± 9.9) treatments compared with Standard (73.7 ± 9.1). The addition of 10.0 mg/ml of MOSE to ram semen inhibits the development of microorganisms and improves sperm characteristics and the in vitro fertility of the semen.

Corpora lutea affect in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes and embryonic development after fertilization with sex-sorted or conventional semen.

Influence of both the presence of a corpus luteum on the ovary and semen sex-sorting on development following in vitro fertilization is not yet conclusive. To determine the effect of these factors, 376 bovine oocytes were processed in vitro according to luteal presence on the ovary (CL+ and CL-) and type of semen used (sexed or conventional). Maturation rate was higher (P < 0.01) in CL- (136/138; 98.6%) than in CL+ (217/238; 91.2%). Cleavage rate was lower (P < 0.01) in CL+ with sexed semen (60/172; 34.9%) than in CL- with sexed semen (42/71; 59.1%), CL+ with conventional semen (47/66; 71.2%), and CL- with conventional semen (54/67; 85.1%). Compaction was similar (P = 0.69) in CL- (49/99; 49.4%) and CL+ (50/107; 46.7%). Blastulation rate was higher (P < 0.01) in CL- (26/99, 26.2%) than in CL+ (13/107; 12.1%) group. Expansion rate was higher (P = 0.01) in CL- (22/99; 22%) than in CL+ (11/107; 10.2%) group. Compaction rates were similar (P = 0.78) in sex-sorted (50/102; 49.0%) or conventional semen (49/104; 47.1%) groups. Blastulation was also similar (P = 0.91) with sex-sorted semen (19/102; 18.6%) and conventional semen (20/104; 19.2%). The rate of expanded blastocysts was similar (P = 0.89) in sex-sorted (16/102; 15.6%) and conventional (17/104; 16.3%) semen groups. In conclusion, the presence of CL can compromise maturation of the oocytes and their development, as a higher proportion of cleavage-stage embryos can be obtained with non-sexed semen with oocytes from ovaries without a CL.

Comparison of three sampling procedures for evaluating intestinal villi: A swine model / Comparación de tres procedimientos de muestreo para evaluar vellosidades intestinales: Modelo porcino / Comparação de três métodos de amostragem para a avaliação das vilosidades intestinais: Modelo suíno

Abstract Background: Villi morphology and function affect the absorption capacity of the small intestine. Most tissues are fragile and their morphology may change with excessive manipulation and inadequate sampling techniques. Intestinal sampling includes methodologies such as cutting longitudinally or transversely, keeping the intestinal content in it and preserving all in a 10% formalin solution; washing the intestinal sample in saline solution while emptying it by pressing downwards with two fingers, conserving the sample in a 10% formalin solution and knotting both ends of the sample, introducing 10% formalin into it and preserving it in the same solution. Objective: To compare height, area and desquamation caused by washing, pressing, and knotting used in sampling and conservation techniques of small intestine villi of pigs. Methods: Samples (n = 270) from duodenum, jejunum and ileum of 30 Landrace × Yorkshire crossed pigs, aged 7 to 8 months were randomly subjected to washing, soft pressing or knotting procedures, fixed in 10% formalin solution, embedded in paraffin, and stained with eosin and hematoxylin. Intestinal villi in each slide were observed to determine height, surface area and cellular desquamation of each villus. Results: Villi height from duodenum and ileum knotted samples was higher (p<0.05) compared with samples from the other procedures in the same anatomical portion, which were similar to each other (p>0.05). Villi from knotted jejunum samples were the shortest (p<0.05) compared to the other two procedures, which were similar to each other (p>0.05). Knotted samples from ileum had larger villi area compared with the rest of the procedures and intestinal portions (p<0.05). Villi desquamation was similar among procedures and portions of the intestine (p>0.05). Conclusion: Knotting is the recommended procedure for intestinal cell morphometry evaluation, as values of villi height and area are higher. Desquamation in the three procedures may be related to epithelial restoration processes.

Resumen Antecedentes: La morfología y función de las vellosidades afectan la capacidad de absorción del intestino delgado. La mayoría de los tejidos son frágiles y su morfología puede cambiar con una manipulación excesiva y técnicas de muestreo inadecuadas. El muestreo intestinal incluye metodologías tales como el corte longitudinal o transversal, conservando el contenido intestinal y conservando todo en una solución de formol al 10%; lavado de la muestra de intestino en solución salina mientras se vacía, presionándola hacia abajo con dos dedos, conservando la muestra en solución de formol al 10% y anudando ambos extremos de la muestra, introduciendo en ella formol al 10% y preservándola en la misma solución. Objetivo: Comparar la altura, área y descamación causada por el lavado, presión y anudamiento utilizados en la toma de muestras y técnicas de conservación utilizadas en vellosidades intestinales en cerdos. Métodos: Se obtuvieron 270 muestras de duodeno, yeyuno e íleon de 30 cerdos cruzados Landrace × Yorkshire de 7 a 8 meses de edad, y se sometieron aleatoriamente a procedimientos de lavado, prensado suave o anudado y fueron fijados en solución de formol al 10%, procesados por inclusión en parafina y teñidos con eosina y hematoxilina. Se observaron las vellosidades intestinales de cada muestra para determinar su altura, la superficie de cada vellosidad y la descamación celular. Resultados: La altura de las vellosidades de las muestras anudadas de duodeno e íleon fue mayor (p<0,05) que las muestras de los otros procedimientos en la misma porción anatómica, las cuales fueron similares entre sí (p>0,05). Las vellosidades procedentes de muestras de nudos de yeyuno fueron las más cortas (p<0,05) en comparación con los otros dos procedimientos, que fueron similares entre sí (p>0,05). Las muestras anudadas del íleon presentaron mayor área de vellosidades que el resto de los procedimientos y porciones intestinales (p<0,05). La descamación de las vellosidades fue similar en todos los procedimientos y porciones del intestino (p>0,05). Conclusión: El procedimiento de anudamiento es el recomendado para la evaluación morfométrica de células intestinales, considerando que los valores de altura y área de las vellosidades son mayores. La observación de la descamación en los tres procedimientos puede estar relacionada con un proceso de restauración epitelial.

Resumo Antecedentes: A morfologia e função das vilosidades afeta a capacidade de absorção no intestino delgado. A maioria dos tecidos são frágeis e podem mudar sua morfologia com um manuseio excessivo e técnicas de amostragem inadequada. A amostragem de intestino inclui metodologias tais como corte longitudinal ou transversal, conservando o conteúdo intestinal e mantendo tudo em uma solução de formalina a 10%. A amostra do intestino é lavada em solução salina enquanto se esvazia pressionando para baixo com dois dedos, após isso a amostra é submergida em uma solução de formalina a 10% e atam-se as duas extremidades do intestino, mais formalina 10% é introduzida no mesmo e é preservado na mesma solução. Objetivo: Comparar a altura, área e descamação nas vilosidades do intestino delgado em porcos, causada pela lavagem, pressão e colocação do nó y pelas técnicas de conservação. Métodos: Duzentos e setentaa mostras de duodeno, jejuno e íleo de 30 porcos de cruzamento de raças Landrace e Yorkshire de sete a oito meses de idade foram submetidos aleatoriamente a procedimentos de lavagem, prensagem suave ou colocação de nós e foram fixados em solução de formalina a 10%, processados para inclusão em parafina e corados com hematoxilina e eosina. Foram observadas as vilosidades de cada amostra para determinar a sua altura, a superfície de cada célula vilosidade e descamação celular. Resultados: A altura das vilosidades nas amostras de duodeno e íleo com nó foi maior (p<0,05) do que as amostras de outros procedimentos na mesma parte anatómica, as quais foram semelhantes entre si (p>0,05). Amostras de jejunos com nó apresentaram vilosidades menores (p<0,05) em comparação com os outros dois procedimentos, que foram semelhantes entre si (p>0,05). Amostras de íleo com nó apresentaram maior área nas vilosidades do que outros procedimentos e outras porções do intestino (p<0,05). A descamação das vilosidades foi semelhante em todos os procedimentos e porções do intestino (p>0,05). Conclusão: O procedimento de colocação do nó é o recomendado para a avaliação morfométrica das células intestinais, já que os valores de altura e área das vilosidades são mais elevados. A observação da descamação nos três procedimentos poderia estar relacionada com um processo de restauração epitelial.

Lambing rate and prolificacy in inseminated hair sheep treated with bovine somatotropin.

This study evaluated whether the administration of 50 and 100 mg bovine somatotropin (bST) at the start of estrous synchronization and at the time of artificial insemination improves lambing rate and prolificacy in hair sheep. Four hundred eighty adult hair ewes (Pelibuey, Blackbelly, Dorper, Katahdin, and their crosses) were synchronized with intravaginal sponge containing 40 mg of fluorogestone acetate. On the day of sponge insertion, ewes were assigned to three treatments: the bST-100 treatment (n = 156) received 100 mg bST at the start of synchronization (d 0) and at the time of insemination (d 14), the bST-50 treatment (n = 159) received 50 mg bST in the same schedule as the previous group, and the control (n = 165) did not receive any bST. Lambing rate and percentage of multiple births were analyzed using the GENMOD procedure of SAS. Prolificacy data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. The IGF-1 and insulin concentrations were analyzed with ANOVA for repeated measures. The bST application did not affect the lambing rate (P = 0.06). The proportion of ewes with multiple births (P = 0.01) and prolificacy (P = 0.04) were higher in the bST-50 (54.3% and 1.57 ± 0.1) than the bST-100 (18.2% and 1.25 ± 0.1) and control (33.3% and 1.28 ± 0.1) groups. The IGF-1 and insulin concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in the bST-treated groups, but the insulin concentration was higher (P = 0.001) in the bST-100 group than in the bST-50 group. The administration of 50 or 100 mg bST at the start of synchronization and at the time of artificial insemination does not increase lambing rate. However, the dose of 50 mg increased the proportion of multiple births and prolificacy.