Age-related changes in testicular morphometry and function in Egyptian donkeys.

This study aimed to assess the effects of age on testicular morphometry and function in donkeys. Testes and epididymides of 57 donkeys were harvested immediately after slaughtering. The donkeys were grouped: young (1-4 years old, n = 13); adult (5-15 years old, n = 25) and aged (>15 years old, n = 19). Each testis and epididymis were weighed separately. Testicular volume was calculated. Epididymal sperm was harvested by retrograde flushing method, and sperm parameters were evaluated. The testicular parenchyma was immunolabelled for BAX and COX2. Adult and aged donkeys had greater testicular weight and volume than young (p < .05). Epididymal sperm concentration, motility and viability were greater (p < .05) in adults and aged (931.8 ± 39.3 and 858.2 ± 33.2 × 106 /ml) than in young animals (316.3 ± 72.8 × 106 /ml). Aged donkeys had a higher percentage of morphological sperm defects than the other categories (p < .05). Histological examination revealed the presence of age-related degenerative changes in testicular tissue of donkeys. Aged donkeys had higher COX2 protein expression than adult and young donkeys. BAX protein was overly expressed in adults than aged or young animals. In conclusion, advancement of age affects the testicular morphometry and function in donkeys.

Effect of body condition score on the testicular biometrical measures, semen characteristics and testosterone level in jackass.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) on testicle and epididymis biometrics, semen characteristics and testosterone level in Egyptian Jack. This study was conducted on 50 mature Jacks divided according to their body condition score into four groups: Poor (G1), moderate (G2), good (G3) and fat (G4). The complete testis was collected immediately after execution in the Giza Zoo abattoir; then, the epididymis was carefully dissected at the testicular junction. Biometrical measures including length, weight and volume were determined for the right and left testis and epididymis. Also, epididymal sperm was collected from all examined animas and evaluated for sperm concentration, progressive motility, viability and sperm abnormalities. Serum samples were collected for determination of total testosterone level. Results showed that the body condition score of the examined animal affects their biometrical measure of testicles and epididymis. There is a significant decrease (p < .05) in biometrical measures for the testicles and epididymis, sperm concentration, motility, viability and testosterone level in poor BCS animals (G1). The highest values were recorded in Good BCS (G3) Jacks. Conclusion: Jacks with good BCS (G3) should be selected for breeding activity in donkey.

Influence of follicle size, methods of retrieval on oocytes yield and morphology in Egyptian Jennies ovaries with special reference to maturation rate in vitro.

UNLABELLED: This work was designed to evaluate the ovarian follicular development, oocytes morphology, methods of oocytes reterival, and the effect of different in vitro maturation (IVM) media on cumulus cell expansion and nuclear maturation of Jennies oocytes. Experiment 1, the number of small (<6 mm), medium (6 to 9 mm) and large size (>10 mm) ovarian follicles was recorded. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were reterived and classified into 4 Grades based on their cumulus-cells investment and the homogenous of the ooplasm. In Experiment 2, COCs were recovered by using 18-G, 20-G needle or slicing and scraping of ovarian follicles to determine the number and morphology of the recovered COCs. In Experiment 3, Grade A and B COCs were IVM in DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG, DMEM-F12, TCM199, TCM199-F12 or CR1aa media supplemented with 10% FCS+10 µg FSH/mL+10 IU hCG/mL+50 µg/mL gentamicin. Maturation was performed for 36 h at 38.5 °C under 5% CO2 in humidified air. After IVM, cumulus cell expansion and oocytes nuclear canfiguration were determined. An average of 6.40±0.26 follicles was recorded per Jenny ovary, representing 3.37±0.46, 1.89±0.14 and 1.14±0.16, for the small, medium and large size follicles, respectively. Oocyte recovery was higher (P<0.05) in large and medium size follicle than in the small one (62%, 60% and 45.1%, respectively). Small size follicles produced higher (P<0.05) percentage of Grade A COCs than large or medium size follicles. A higher number of oocytes was recovered by slincing and scraping of follicles (4.86±0.67), then aspiration of follicles using 18-G needle (3.14±0.36 COCs/ovary, P<0.05). Aspiration using 18-G needle or slicing and scraping of follicles using produced a significantly higher (P<0.05) percentage of Grade A COCs compared to aspiration of follicles using 20-G needle (56.6%, 46.7% and 32.0%, respectively, P<0.05). IVM of COCs in CR1aa and TCM 199-F12 media significantly increased (P<0.05) Grade 3 cumulus-cell expansion compared with TCM199, DMEM-F12, DMEM-LG and DMEM-HG (65.5% and 64.0%, 52.8%, 32.1%, 0.0% and 7.4%, respectively). The proportion of IVM oocytes reaching the M II stage was significantly higher (P<0.05) for oocytes matured in TCM199-F12 or CR1aa media than TCM199, DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG, DMEM-F12 (69.1% and 62.2%, 55.7%, 45.8%, 39.0% and 40.7%, respectively). The proportion of degenerated oocytes IVM in TCM199-F12 (10.3%), CR1aa (11.3%) or TCM199 (13.1%) was lower (P<0.05) than that matured in DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG or DMEM-F12 media (23.7%, 29.3% and 22.9%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Slicing and scraping or aspiration of follicles using 18-G needle increased the number and percentage of Grade A Jennies oocytes. TCM199-F12, CR1aa and TCM199 medi are more suitable for IVM of Jenny oocytes by promoting cumulus cells expansion and nuclear maturation to M II stage.