Effect of selenium nanoparticles on the quality and fertility of short-term preserved boar semen.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different concentrations of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in the Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) extender on the semen quality and fertility of Hampshire crossbred pigs. For the study, semen was collected from four boars (10 ejaculates/boar) by the gloved hand method. Each ejaculate was extended @ 1:2 with the BTS extender and split into four aliquots. The control (C) samples were without the supplementation of Se-NPs, whereas the other three were supplemented with 0.5 (T1), 1 (T2), and 2 µg ml-1 of Se-NPs (T3) and stored at 15°C in a BOD incubator. Extended semen was evaluated at 0 (immediately after dilution), 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of storage for sperm motility, live sperm, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, DNA integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The mean percentage of sperm motility, live sperm, and sperm with intact plasma membrane and acrosome, and MMPs were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in all treated groups in comparison to control at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of storage. Sperm with intact DNA in all treated groups increased significantly at 48 (p < 0.05), and 72 and 96 (p < 0.01) h of storage in comparison to the control group. The concentration of 1 µg ml-1 of Se-NPs was found to be the best among other concentrations. In each group, 10 sows were artificially inseminated with the liquid semen preserved for 72 h at 15°C. Supplementation of 1 µg ml-1 of Se-NPs yielded the highest conception rate in comparison to other groups. In conclusion, supplementation of 1 µg ml-1 of Se-NPs in the BTS extender resulted in the best semen quality and conception rate during the short-time liquid preservation of boar semen.

Comparative serum proteome analysis reveals potential early pregnancy-specific protein biomarkers in pigs.

In this study, the comparative serum proteome profile of Day 5, 12 and 16 of gestation, representing three early embryonic events, namely formation, elongation and implantation of blastocysts, and non-pregnant control were explored by a label-free quantitation-based mass spectrometric approach to identify early pregnancy biomarkers in pigs. A total of 131 proteins were identified with respect to different groups, out of which 105 were found to be differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among the DEPs, 54 and 66 proteins were found to be up and downregulated respectively in early pregnancy groups (fold change >2) and the maximum number of upregulated proteins was observed in the Day 12 pregnancy stage. Functional classification and pathway analysis of the DEPs revealed involvement of most of the proteins in complement and coagulation cascades, metabolic processes and immune and inflammatory responses. Proteins such as glutathione peroxidise (GPX), pregnancy zone protein (PZP), thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), α-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and mannose-binding lectin C (MBLC) were differentially expressed during early pregnancy and actively involved in different pregnancy-related activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on comparative serum protein profiling of different early pregnancy stages in pigs and our results provide a set of proteins that can be used as potential biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in pigs.

Morphological and Applied Anatomical Studies on the Head Region of Local Mizo Pig (Zovawk) of Mizoram / Estudios Morfológicos y Anatómicos Aplicados en la Cabeza de Cerdo Local Mizo (Zovawk) de Mizoram

SUMMARY: Zovawk is newly identified breed of pig of Mizoram approved by breed registration committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. This study was designed to provide maximum number of morphometrical parameters of skull and some valuable information on clinically important parameters of Zovawk. The skull of the Zovawk was dolichocephalic according to the cephalic index (53.56±0.11). The supraorbital foramina distance, infraorbital foramina distance, skull length, skull width, cranial length and nasal length of the Zovawk were 3.49±0.01 cm, 6.55±0.01 cm, 28.26±0.03 cm, 15.11±0.26 cm, 13.17±0.04 cm and 13.79±0.02 cm, respectively. The orbital margins were found to be incomplete with bilateral variation among the orbits of both the sides. The distance from the process of alveolar socket of canine tooth to the infraorbital canal and from the latter to the root of the fourth upper premolar alveolar tooth directly ventral to it was 4.77±0.04 cm and 1.20±0.01 cm, respectively in Zovawk. The data are of clinical importance as a guide for tracking the infra-orbital nerve, and necessary for its desensitization during the manipulations in the skin of the upper lip, nostril and face at the level of the foramen. The distance between the lateral end of the alveolus of the third incisor tooth to the mental foramen was 3.57±0.04 cm in Zovawk, which is an important landmark for achieving the location of the mental nerve for the regional nerve block Zovawk. The length and height of the mandible were 25.02±0.09 cm and 10.54±0.07 cm, respectively in Zovawk. The morphometric measurements of the skull and applied anatomy of the head region of the Zovawk provide an important baseline data for further research in the field of applied anatomy.

RESUMEN: Zovawk es una raza de cerdo de Mizoram recientemente identificada, aprobada por el comité de registro de razas del Consejo Indio de Investigación Agrícola (ICAR), Nueva Delhi. Este estudio fue diseñado para proporcionar el número máximo de parámetros morfométricos del cráneo y cierta información valiosa sobre parámetros clínicamente importantes de Zovawk. El cráneo de Zovawk es dolicocefálico según el índice cefálico (53,56 ± 0,11). La distancia de foramina supraorbital, la distancia de foramina infraorbital, la longitud del cráneo, el ancho del cráneo, la longitud craneal y la longitud nasal del Zovawk fueron 3.49 ± 0.01 cm, 6.55 ± 0.01 cm, 28.26 ± 0.03 cm, 15.11 ± 0.26 cm, 13.17 ± 0.04 cm y 13.79 ± 0,02 cm, respectivamente. Se encontró que los márgenes orbitales estaban incompletos con una variación bilateral entre las órbitas de ambos lados. La distancia desde el proceso de la cavidad alveolar del diente canino al canal infraorbitario y desde este último a la raíz del cuarto diente alveolar premolar superior directamente ventral fue de 4.77 ± 0.04 cm y 1.20 ± 0.01 cm, respectivamente, en Zovawk. Los datos son de importancia clínica como guía para el seguimiento del nervio infra-orbital y necesarios para su desensibilización durante las manipulaciones en la piel del labio superior, fosa nasal y cara a nivel del foramen. La distancia entre el extremo lateral del alvéolo del tercer diente incisivo y el foramen mental fue de 3.57 ± 0.04 cm en Zovawk, que es un hito importante para lograr la ubicación del nervio mental para el bloqueo nervioso regional Zovawk. La longitud y la altura de la mandíbula fueron 25.02 ± 0.09 cm y 10.54 ± 0.07 cm, respectivamente, en Zovawk. Las mediciones morfométricas del cráneo y la anatomía aplicada de la región de la cabeza de Zovawk proporcionan datos de referencia importantes para futuras investigaciones en el campo de la anatomía aplicada.