The effects of different PMSG doses on estrus behavior and pregnancy rate in Angora goats

Artificial insemination protocols depend on efficient behavioral estrus detection and insemination time in Angora goat. Therefore, we aim to determine the accuracy of an estrus scoring system in Angora goats with different PMSG doses during the breeding season. Does (n: 260) were randomly divided into three groups: group-1 (n: 93), group-2 (n: 85) and group-3 (n: 82). All animals received an intravaginal sponge on day 0 for 11 days, and on the day of sponge insertion 150 μg prostaglandin F2Α was administered. Pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin was injected 300, 400 and 500 IU intramuscularly 24 h before sponge removal to groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Estrus signs were detected with a teaser buck, 24 h after sponge removal according to a visual scoring system. Artificial insemination was performed with 0.25 ml fresh diluted semen at 43 to 45 h after sponge removal. Differences were observed within PMSG groups in terms of standing, tail wagging, courtship behavior, vaginal discharge and vaginal hyperemia (P<0.001). Nevertheless, the most accurate indicators of estrus that result in pregnancy were tail wagging and courtship behavior followed by standing estrus (P<0.05). According to the results obtained, 300 IU PMSG dose is sufficient, both to inseminate at a fixed time (43 to 45 h after sponge removal) and to record the estrus behavior by teaser male 24 h after sponge removal. Higher PMSG doses (400 to 500 IU) altered the timing of ovulation; specifically, 500 IU dose shortened the duration of estrus behaviors. In conclusion, even though the different doses of PMSG displayed similar effects on estrus synchronization and pregnancy rates, we concluded that tail wagging, courtship behavior and standing heat are the most reliable estrus signs for artificial insemination in Angora goat.     

Determination of adenosine triphosphate in human semen to estimate the fertilizing potential and to quantify sperm antibodies

The measurement of the ATP content of fresh semen is as accurate as the estimation of sperm motility by conventional methods in discriminating between semen of fertile versus subfertile men. The ATP content of frozen thawed donor semen is correlated with the probability of conception per cycle of insemination. Exact quantification of cytotoxic sperm antibodies in serum is possible with the adenosine-triphosphate-release-cytotoxicity test, since measurement is free of the bias of microscopic examination. The procedure has been simplified by testing only one serum dilution and calculating the ‘sperm toxicity index’.     

Electron microscopic study of the in vivo zona pellucida binding ability of epididymal ram spermatozoa

In the ram, spermatozoa develop the ability to initiate pregnancy only after reaching the body of the epididymis. To determine the zona pellucida binding ability of ram spermatozoa collected from different levels of the epididymis, sufficient numbers of motile sperm cells of different epididymal origin were inseminated surgically below the uterotubal junction of ewes at the time of ovulation. Intratubal ova were recovered 24 hr later, and those having spermatozoa attached to the zona were examined by transmission electron microscopy to assess the characteristics of the bound spermatozoa. Data indicate that the ability of the capacitated spermatozoa to adhere to the zona pellucida depends on sperm egg binding sites that develop on the acrosomal membranes from the apex to equatorial segment during epididymal transit.     

Qualitative and quantitative changes in hemolymph proteins during an ovarian cycle and after insemination in Thermobia domestica (packard) (thysanura,lepismatidae)

Qualitative and quantitative investigations on the hemolymph proteins in the adult firebrat Thermobia domestica were performed during an ovarian cycle in inseminated and noninseminated females. Variations of hemolymph protein concentration were determined by Lowry's method. In addition, the proteins were studied by gradient slab gel electrophoresis using nondenaturing conditions and microdensitometry. Besides five major protein fractions, which are present in both sexes, three female-specific protein bands (vitellogenins) are found in the hemolymph and in maturing oocytes. These vitellogenins have molecular masses of 430, 300 and 240 kiloDalton. In fact, associated with the main 300-kD band, there were two smaller bands (320 and 280 kD) indistinguishable by densitometric measurement. Quantitative changes of vitellogenins are linked to oocyte maturation. These proteins appeared in the hemolymph before ecdysis, at the same time as the first yolk granules in the basal oocytes. They increased after ecdysis during the intense vitellogenic phase and decreased during chorion formation. In noninseminated females, in which all maturing oocytes are resorbed before chorion formation, the level of the 300 kD vitellogenins remained lower than in inseminated females. The quantity of vitellogenins fell only after complete oosorption. Thus insemination caused changes in the relative quantities of the different vitellogenic proteins.     

Modification of the zona-free hamster ova bioassay of boar sperm fertility and correlation with in vivo fertility

These studies were designed to evaluate the ability of the zona-free hamster ova bioassay to detect differences in fertility of boar sperm. In the first study, sperm from two previously infertile boars were compared to sperm from seven previously fertile boars. The percentage of zona-free hamster ova penetrated by sperm from the previously infertile boars was significantly lower than the percentage of ova penetrated by sperm from previously fertile boars (18% of ova penetrated vs. 83%, P < .001). In the 14 ejaculates from the previously infertile boars that had ejaculate motilities of 50% or greater, the percentage of zona-free hamster ova penetrated continued to be lower than in ejaculates from the fertile boars. One of the two previously infertile boars consistently had a normal semen analysis. The only two observed manifestations of his reduced fertility were his zero conception rate and the limited ability of his sperm to penetrate zona-free hamster ova. In the second study, females were inseminated with equal numbers of sperm from two previously fertile males and the paternity of offspring determined at birth. The experiment was replicated with four combinations of six boars. A high correlation was observed between the percentage of offspring sired and the ability to penetrate zona-free hamster ova (R = .89). Neither morphology nor the ability of the sperm to undergo an acrosome reaction during in vitro incubation was correlated with fertility in the competitive mating situation. These results suggest the zona-free hamster ova bioassay can improve the in vitro fertility assessment of fresh boar semen.     

Successful artificial insemination in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at ueno zoo

Successful breeding of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) following artificial insemination was achieved at the Ueno Zoo in 2 consecutive years (1985 and 1986). The first cub, born in June 1985, unfortunately died 43 hours after birth from being crushed by the mother panda; the second cub, born in June 1986, has been growing in good health. Electroejaculation and artificial insemination procedures were performed after immobilization with diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) and ketamine HCL (4.0–5.0 mg/kg). Semen of the male panda was collected by electroejaculation using a rectal probe with a diameter of 2.0 cm and with eight rings as electrodes. Stimulation of the male was given with 3 V (30–40 mA) over a 5-sec period with 5-sec intervals. The female panda exhibited estrus between late February and early March in 1985 and also between mid-january and early February 1986. Increased excretion of urinary total estrogen showed coincidentally at maximum behavioral estrus, and a gradual rise of pregnanediol level was followed by artificial insemination. The gestational length for the first pregnancy was 110 days and that of the second 121 days.     

Production and reproductive function of intercastes inMyrmecina gvaminicola nipponica colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary Many females morphologically intermediate between queens and workers were found in a northernmost population ofMyrmecina graminicola nipponica Wheeler. Dissection and morphological observation revealed that there were three categories of intercastes. Major intercastes were as large as queens in body size, with seven or more ovarioles, but had only one ocellus, unlike queens, which had three ocelli. Medium intercasts had an enlarged mesonotum, one or no ocellus and 2 to 12 ovarioles. Minor intercaste was very simlar to workers in external morphology, but had a spermatheca, unlike workers. Inseminated females constituted 75%, 40% and 28.6% in the major, medium and minor intercastes respectively. Many of the virgin medium and minor intercastes had a small disfunctional spermatheca.In queenright colonies, a single queen was inseminated and had an active ovary. In queenless colonies where the intercastes reproduced, however, some colonies were functionally monogynous, but the others polygynous. The ratio of polygynous colonies to monogynous colonies was lowest in July and highest in September, suggesting that polygyny results from newly inseminated intercastes remaining in their natal nests, although they leave those nests in the season of colonial budding. Queenless colonies containing inseminated intercastes exclusively produced intercastes, while queenright colonies almost exclusively produced queens.     

Timing of insemination in terms of age of new reproductive females of a temperate-zone polistine wasp,Polistes snelleni (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Summary The present study investigated the age at which insemination takes place in Polistes snelleni, a species in which mating begins while new reproductives are still emerging from the nest. Insemination of new reproductive females began as early as 5 days of age, and most females were inseminated by 10 days of age.     

冷刀系统与宫腔镜下能量系统分别联合芬吗通治疗中重度宫腔粘连疗效对比

摘要 目的：对比分析冷刀系统与宫腔镜下能量系统分别联合芬吗通治疗中重度宫腔粘连疗效。方法：选取2020年1月-2022年1月我院收治的中重度宫腔粘连患者80例为研究对象,分为对照组（n=40）和观察组（n=40）。对照组采用宫腔镜下能量系统联合芬吗通治疗,观察组采用冷刀系统联合芬吗通治疗。对比两组临床指标、临床疗效、月经恢复情况、并发症发生情况。结果：观察组手术时间、术中出血量、手术次数、术后出血量均短/少于对照组（P<0.05）。术后12个月观察组临床疗效（90.00%）显著高于对照组（65.00%）（P<0.05）。术后8~14个月两组的月经恢复情况均改善,观察组月经恢复情况较对照组更优（P<0.05）。观察组术后感染、子宫腺肌病、子宫穿孔、水中毒等并发症的总发生率（7.50%）低于对照组（47.50%）（P<0.05）。结论：冷刀系统联合芬吗通治疗宫腔粘连具有显著疗效,不仅对患者的危害更小,还有利于月经恢复,减少并发症,改善预后。