Effects of resveratrol in bull semen extender on post-thaw sperm quality and capacity for fertilization and embryo development.

Resveratrol, a potent antioxidant, can be an alternative semen extender constituent to protect spermatozoa against reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, effects on sperm quality post-thawing and sperm function is not well understood. This study, therefore, was conducted to investigate effects of resveratrol supplementation to semen extender on sperm quality post-thawing. Bull semen was cryopreserved using extenders not supplemented or supplemented with 0.05, 0.1, or 1 mM resveratrol. Supplementation of extender with resveratrol at 0.05 mM resulted in greater (P < 0.05) sperm progressive motility, average path velocity, straight linear velocity, linearity and straightness when compared with no or 1 mM supplementations. Furthermore, effects of 0.05 mM resveratrol supplementations on plasma membrane and acrosome integrity and sperm fertilization capacity using in vitro procedures were investigated. Supplementation of semen extender with resveratrol resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) proportion of frozen-thawed spermatozoa with an intact acrosome and plasma membrane. Results from in vitro fertilization studies indicated there were no differences (P> 0.05) when there was no supplementation or supplementation with 0.05 mM resveratrol on embryo development to the cleavage and blastocyst stages. In conclusion, addition of resveratrol to bull semen extender resulted in greater sperm quality post-thawing in a dose-dependent manner, with values for variables related to sperm quality being greater when there was resveratrol supplementation at the 0.05 mM concentration. Proportion of embryo developing to the cleavage and blastocyst stages after in vitro fertilization was not affected by resveratrol supplementation to semen extenders.

Uso do cloprostenol para tratamento de infecção uterina em vacas sem corpo lúteos / Use of cloprostenol for treatment of uterine infections in cows without corpus luteum

Os objetivos da pesquisa foram caracterizar a ocorrência de infecções uterinas pós-puerperais em vacas leiteiras e avaliara eficiência do cloprostenol sódico para tratamento de infecções uterinas pós-puerperais em vacas leiteiras, sem atividade ovariana luteal. Foram usadas 111 vacas de diferentes rebanhos com infecção uterina, associada ao útero totalmente involuído.O diagnóstico e classificação das endometrites foram baseados na característica da descarga vaginal por vaginoscopia. A mesma medida foi utilizada para avaliação da evolução do processo e eficiência do tratamento. De acordo com o grau de infecção, os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos e receberam via IM os seguintes tratamentos. T1 (n=15): 2 ml de solução salina; T2 (n=32): uma dose de 0,530mg de Cloprostenol; T3 (n=32): duas doses de 0,530mg de Cloprostenol com 24 horas de intervalo e T4 (n=32) duas doses de 0,530mg de Cloprostenol com 48 horas de intervalo. As vacas foram novamente avaliadas por vaginoscopia 15 a 20 dias mais tarde. A eficiência dos tratamentos foi comparada pelo teste de qui-quadrado (χ2). A eficiência geral dos tratamentos, considerada a cura dos sinais clínicos foi de 6,67; 31,25; 50,00 e 37,50% para os grupos T1, T2, T3 e T4, respectivamente, sendo que todos os tratamentos foram igualmente eficientes (P<0,05) em relação ao controle. Os resultados mostram que o cloprostenol pode ser utilizado no tratamento de infecções uterinas pós-puerperais em vacas sem corpo lúteo,estimulando diretamente a imunidade uterina.

The research aims to characterize the occurrence of uterine post-puerperal infections in dairy cows and evaluate the efficiency ofprotocols of Cloprostenol administration for the treatment of clinical post puerperal uterine infections in dairy cows with and without luteal ovarian activity. 111 cows of different herds were used, all presenting clinical endometritis, associated with an involuted uterus. The diagnosis and classification of the endometritis was based on vaginal discharge characteristic by vaginoscopy. The same measure was used to evaluate the evolution of the process and efficiency of treatment. According to the infection degree the animals had been randomized in four groups, and received IM treatments: T1 (n=15): 2ml of saline solution; T2 (n=32): only onedose of 0.530mg of Cloprostenol; T3 (n=32): 2 doses of 0.530mg of Cloprostenol 24 hours apart and T4 (n=32): 2 doses 0.530mg of Cloprostenol with interval of 48 hours. The cows were evaluated by vaginoscopy 15 to 20 days later. The treatments efficiency was compared by the chi-square test (χ2). The general efficiency of treatments regarded as the healing of clinical signs was 6.67;31.25; 50.00 e 37.50 for groups T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. In relation to the Control group T1 (not treated), all groups were more efficient (P<0.05). The Cloprostenol can act in a direct way, in this case of animals without corpora lutea stimulating the uterine immunity. The results demonstrate that cloprostenol can be used in post puerperal uterine infections treatment in cows with absence of corpus luteum, directly stimulating uterine immunity.

Post-biopsy bovine embryo viability and whole genome amplification in preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the biopsy of 8-cell to 16-cell bovine embryos on their subsequent development and the effect of whole genome amplification (WGA) on removed blastomeres. DESIGN: Randomized study. SETTING: Molecular genetics and animal reproduction laboratories. PATIENT(S): Cow ovaries obtained from slaughterhouses. INTERVENTION(S): The ovaries were punctured, and the oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro. On the fourth day after fertilization, 8-cell to 16-cell bovine embryos were biopsied, one quarter of each embryo being removed. The blastomeres were submitted to WGA followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The embryos were returned to culture for evaluation of their development. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Subsequent rate of blastocyst development, embryo cell number, WGA efficiency, and sex determination. RESULT(S): A total of 92 embryos were submitted to biopsy. The blastocyst production was 53.3%, with 44.9% of hatching rate. These results were similar to those of the control group (66.0% and 42.6%) of 103 embryos. Overall, no impact was detected on embryo quality in blastocyst cell number between the two groups. Removed blastomeres were submitted to WGA, resulting in 98.2% of efficiency. However, only 59% of the samples were sexed by PCR. CONCLUSION(S): Biopsy of 8-cell to 16-cell bovine embryos did not affect their subsequent development. WGA was successful in removed blastomeres.

Desempenho de bezerros filhos de vacas F1 Holandês Zebu submetidas a diferentes sistemas de alimentação e manejo / Performance of calves from F1 Holstein x Zebu cows under different feeding systems

A viabilização de modelo de produção no qual o bezerro é componente econômico torna-se muito relevante para todo o setor produtivo. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento de bezerros 3/4 Zebu Holandês filhos de vacas F1 Holandês Zebu, submetidas a diferentes períodos de ordenha e alimentadas com diferentes volumosos. As 30 vacas F1 Holandês Zebu, mães dos bezerros, foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em três tratamentos: T1 – Pastagens, mais 1,250kg de proteinado por dia e ordenhadas até o final da lactação; T2 – pastagens, mais 1,250kg de proteinado por dia e ordenhadas até o 200o dia de lactação; T3 – volumoso em cocho e ordenhadas até o final da lactação. Os bezerros foram criados em piquetes, e sua alimentação constituída de leite até 90 dias de idade e como volumoso silagem de milho na época seca e pastagens no verão. Os bezerros do T2, após o 200o de lactação, permaneceram com suas mães. Nos primeiros 200 dias de lactação, período em que todas as vacas foram ordenhadas, não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos (P>0,05) sobre os ganhos médios de peso dos bezerros. Bezerros do grupo T2, mantidos a pasto com as respectivas mães, a partir do 200º dia de lactação até a secagem definitiva das vacas, apresentaram maior ganho de peso. O manejo alternativo de ordenhar vacas até o 200o dia de lactação e posteriormente mantê-las com os bezerros até a secagem definitiva, sem que sejam ordenhadas, promove maior ganho de peso dos bezerros em relação ao manejo tradicional.

The viability of production system in which the calf is an economic component is relevant for the entire production sector. This study was carried out to evaluate the growth of ¾ HZ calves, progenies of F1 HZ cows submitted to three milking periods and fed different roughages. Thirty F1 cows were randomly allotted to three feeding treatments: T1 – Pasture plus 1.250 kg of supplement/day; T2 – Pasture plus 1.250 kg of supplement/day; T3 – Roughage offered in feedlot. The cows were milked daily to the end of the lactation period, except for cows of treatment T2, which were milked during 200 days of lactation. Calves were fed milk until 60 days of age and corn silage during the dry season and pastures in the rainy season. The T2 calves remained with their mothers from 200 days to the end of the lactation period. No difference (P>0.05) among treatments for calf weight gain until the 200 days of lactation was observed. After 200 days of lactation, T2 calves, remaining with their no milked mothers, showed higher weight gain (P<0.05) in comparison to calves of the other treatments. Calves allotted to the alternative system in which they remained with their no milked mother from 200 days of lactation to the end of lactation period show higher weight gain, in comparison to calves from the traditional system.

Efeito do número de ordenhas diárias sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas mestiças Holandês-Zebu / Effect of the number of daily milking on reproductive performance of crossbred (Holtein x Zebu) cows

Avaliou-se a influência do número de ordenhas diárias sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de 63 vacas mestiças (Holandês-Zebu) com boa condição corporal ao parto, distribuídas em três grupos (G) experimentais: GI – vacas ordenhadas uma vez aodia; GII – vacas ordenhadas duas vezes ao dia; GIII – vacas ordenhadas alternadamente a cada 14 dias, uma ou duas vezesao dia. O retorno ao estro (84,3 dias; 81,7 dias e 71,2 dias); a taxa de manifestação de estro (80,9%; 80,90% e 80,90%); operíodo de serviço (99,0 dias; 114,0 dias e 93,1 dias) e a taxa de gestação até 120 dias pós-parto (66,7%; 57,1%; 66,7%) nãoforam influenciados (P>0,05) pelo aumento do número de ordenhas diárias

This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the number of daily milking on reproductive performance of 63 crossbred(Holstein-Zebu) cows, with good body condition score at calving, allocatted into three groups (G) according the number of dailymilking: GI – cows milked once a day; GII – cows milked twice a day; GIII - cows milked alternating once or twice a day, everyfourteen days. The return to estrous (84.3 days; 81.7 days and 71.2 days); estrous rates (80.9%; 80.90% e 80.90%); serviceperiod (99.0 days; 114.0 days and 93.1 days) and pregnant rates until 120 day postpartum (66.7%; 57.1%; 66.7%) were notinfluenced (P>0.05) by the number of daily milking