Effect of Leptin on In Vivo Goat Embryo Production     

AM Batista  WA Gomes  CCD Carvalho  PLJ Monteiro Jr  FLM Silva  FC Almeida  PC Soares  GF Carneiro  MMP Guerra 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2014,49(3):476-480

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leptin administration during superovulation on in vivo goat embryo production. Ten mature does were superovulated with 133 mg follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) i.m. in six descending doses at 12‐h intervals. The goats received 4.8 μg/kg human recombinant leptin s.c. (leptin group, n = 5) or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) (control group, n = 5) with the first and second FSH doses. The does were mated and subjected to embryo collection by transcervical technique 6 days later. The total number of cells per embryo and the number of cells with fragmented DNA were assessed in selected blastocysts by combining Hoechst 33342 and terminal dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) staining. Plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P₄) were determined by electrochemiluminescence from the day of FSH treatment, on the day of superovulatory oestrus and on the day before embryo collection. Compared with the control group, the does that received leptin had a higher number of transferable embryos (p < 0.005), fewer embryos classified as degenerated (p < 0.001) and fewer TUNEL‐positive cells/blastocyst (p < 0.001). The number of transferable embryos was positively correlated with E₂ concentrations on day of oestrus (r = 0.562; p < 0.01) and P₄ concentrations on the day of embryo collection (r = 0.912; p < 0.001). We concluded that in vivo leptin administration during FSH treatment improved embryo quality and affected ovarian steroidogenesis in superovulated goats.  相似文献   

Percentage of Ubiquitinated Spermatozoa does not Correlate with Fertilizing Capacity of Thawed Bovine Semen     

I Rodríguez‐Lozano  A Ávalos‐Rodríguez  H Castillo‐Juárez  F Borderas‐Tordesillas  JJ Roa‐Vidal  AM Rosales‐Torres 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2014,49(1):27-31

In the spermatozoa of some species, the ubiquitin–proteasome system detects altered proteins and tags them for elimination by the proteasome. In some species' ejaculates, a high proportion of ubiquitinated spermatozoa (i.e. those having ubiquitin bound to the altered or damaged membrane proteins) has been related to infertility. The aim of this study was to assess whether the percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa relates to fertility of dairy bulls and whether ubiquitination increases during protein remodelling that occurs during in vitro spermatic capacitation. Thirty‐two frozen semen straws from four high‐fertility (ReproMax^®) and four normal‐fertility (Normal) Holstein‐Friesian sires were evaluated. Ubiquitinated and capacitated spermatozoa were quantified by sperm ubiquitin tag immunoassay and chlortetracycline stain, respectively. Fertilizing capacity of sires was assessed by in vitro fertilization. No differences were found between Normal and ReproMax^® sires with regard to the observed percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa (42.97 ± 3.69% and 49.68 ± 9.27%, respectively; p > 0.05). Additionally, no differences were found in the percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa as a consequence of spermatic capacitation in either Normal (42.97 ± 3.69% before capacitation vs 44.67 ± 7.5% after; p > 0.05) or ReproMax^® sires (49.68 ± 9.27% before vs 45.05 ± 7.51% after; p > 0.05). The percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa in a thawed sperm samples did not correlate with its in vitro fertilizing capacity; thus, this assay does not prove useful to detect in vivo fertility differences between sires. Additionally, protein degradation occurring during remodelling of the spermatozoon plasma membrane during the capacitation process does not seem to involve the ubiquitin–proteasome system.  相似文献   

Intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality in response to elevated [CO₂] at two sowing times under rain-fed and irrigation treatments     

Nimesha Fernando  Joe Panozzo  Michael Tausz  Robert M. Norton  Glenn J. Fitzgerald  Samuel Myers  Marc E. Nicolas  Saman Seneweera 《Journal of Cereal Science》2014

In order to investigate the intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (e[CO₂]), eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)cultivars were grown at two CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]) (current atmospheric, 389 CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹vs. e[CO₂], FACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment), 550  ±  10% CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹), at two water levels (rain-fed vs. irrigated) and at two times of sowing (TOS₁, vs. TOS₂). The TOS treatment was mainly imposed to understand whether e[CO₂] could modify the effects of timing of higher grain filling temperatures on grain quality. When plants were grown at TOS₁, TKW (thousand kernel weight), grain test weight, hardness index, P, Ca, Na and phytate were not significantly changed under e[CO₂]. On the other hand, e[CO₂] increased TKW (16%), hardness index (9%), kernel diameter (6%), test weight (2%) but decreased grain protein (10%) and grain phytate (11%) at TOS₂. In regard to grain Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations and some flour rheological properties, cultivar specific responses to e[CO₂] were observed at both sowing times. Observed genetic variability in response to e[CO₂] in terms of grain minerals and flour rheological properties could be easily incorporated into future wheat breeding programs to enable adaptation to climate change.  相似文献   

Seeking Mathematical Strategies in Sperm Function Analysis: Between Scylla and Charybdis?     

AM Petrunkina  A-R Günzel-Apel  E Töpfer-Petersen 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2003,38(2):125-133

During the last decades, essential progresses in reproductive biotechnology were achieved, implying development of special spermatological techniques. The major problem was to set up simple, rapid, precise and adequate evaluation methods. The key aspect to be considered in all assays of sperm fertilizing function is capacitation. As not all spermatozoa respond to fertilizing conditions in a similar manner, it seems to be logical to assess samples via their response to these specific conditions. For the spermatological practice, the sensitivity of methodology for assessment and analysis of data with respect to differences in individual response, in heterogeneity of the population, and proper temporal characterization of the response is crucial for the improvement of evaluation procedures. Currently, most used statistical analytical tools in spermatology do not always fulfil these essential sensitivity requirements. We structured our paper concerning different fields of mathematical science (distribution analysis, fractal geometry, functional approximation and differentiation) related to the modern insights in sperm function analysis. The spectrum of methods we are going to review in this paper is restricted to basic ideas to illustrate how the accuracy and sensitivity of sperm evaluation assays may be improved by applying adequate elementary tools of the mathematical analysis.  相似文献   

Dicoumarol toxicity in cattle associated with ingestion of silage containing sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)     

DJ RUNCIMAN  AM LEE  KFM REED  JR WALSH 《Australian veterinary journal》2002,80(1):28-32

A diagnosis of dicoumarol toxicity in a herd of Friesian cattle was made following investigation of the deaths of three mature cows and eleven yearling heifers. Affected stock had been fed wrapped, bailed silage containing approximately 90% sweet vernal grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum ). Sweet vernal grass contains coumarin, which can be converted to dicoumarol, a vitamin K antagonist, through the action of moulds. Most deaths were preceded by lethargy, severe anaemia and subcutaneous and internal haemorrhage. Dicoumarol toxicosis was suspected based on clinical signs, necropsy findings and prolonged prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times. Dicoumarol analysis of blood from affected animals and silage confirmed the diagnosis.  相似文献   

Speciation in the parthenogenetic oribatid mite genus Tectocepheus (Acari, Oribatida) as indicated by molecular phylogeny   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Michael Laumann  Roy A. Norton  Gerd Weigmann  Stefan Scheu  Mark Maraun  Michael Heethoff 《Pedobiologia》2007,51(2):111-122

Despite the lack of universal concepts for species and speciation, both sexual and asexual organisms are expected to diversify into discrete genotypic and morphological clusters. Species-rich clusters of parthenogenetic oribatid mites likely evolved in the absence of sexual reproduction. We used nucleotide sequences of the large and small rDNA genes (18S and 28S) and the coding genes for heat shock protein 82 (hsp82) and elongation factor-1 alpha (ef-1α) for phylogenetic analyses of three morphotypes of the parthenogenetic oribatid mite genus Tectocepheus. DNA sequence divergences of the different morphotypes were similar to those of sexual species in other organisms. Maximum likelihood analyses of single genes and combined data sets were largely congruent in reconstructing the phylogeny of the Tectocepheus species. The results suggest that the different morphotypes of Tectocepheus indeed evolved in the absence of sexual reproduction, and that Tectocepheus minor, Tectocepheus velatus and Tectocepheus sarekensis are best considered distinct species. Further, the results suggest that 18S rDNA, hsp82 and ef-1α are powerful markers for resolving phylogenetic relationships of oribatid mites. Saturation plots indicated that the D3-region of 28S is much more saturated than all other examined genes. This indicates that the D3-region is unsuitable for resolving ancient splits in oribatid mites.  相似文献   

Randomized intervention analysis of the response of the West Bear Brook Watershed,Maine to chemical manipulation     

Venkatesh Uddameri  Stephen A. Norton  Jeffrey S. Kahl  John P. Scofield 《Water, air, and soil pollution》1995,79(1-4):131-146

A paired watershed manipulation study was conducted to study the qualitative and quantitative impacts of elevated acidic precipitation on the chemistry of soils, soil water, and stream water. The Bear Brook Watershed, Maine (BBWM) is drained by two first order streams, East Bear Brook and West Bear Brook. The streams were chemically and hydrologically monitored for two years (1987–1989) and exhibited similar behavior. The West Bear watershed was then chemically manipulated with the bimonthly addition of (NH₄)₂SO₄ (150 mol ha^?1 per application). To assess whether changes in stream water chemistry occurred following the chemical manipulation, and if so when, Randomized Intervention Analysis (RIA) was performed using time-paired data from the two watersheds. RIA, along with autocorrelation analysis, statistically evaluates the behavior of the various analytes under the influence of artificial acidification and therefore provided an objective basis for determining whether changes in the geochemical behavior of West Bear Brook were temporally associated with the chemical manipulation. RIA analysis using weekly data yielded higher probabilities of stream water chemistry effects being temporally linked with the manipulation than RIA analysis using monthly data. Using monthly data, there is a lower probability that short-term excursions in water chemistry related to hydrology can be detected. According to RIA analysis of weekly data for three years of manipulation (1989–1992), the statistically-determined order of impact on water chemistry was (K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, total Al, pH, SO ₄ ^2? , NO ₃ ^? , DOC)>Si>Cl^?. Autocorrelation analysis indicated that several analytes exhibited increasingly deterministic behavior, including SO ₄ ^2? , base cations, and DOC. Both RIA and autocorrelation analysis indicated no temporal relationship between the manipulation and hydrology.  相似文献   

REMOVING INSECTS FROM GREENHOUSE PLANTS WITHOUT SPRAYING AND WITHOUT INJURY TO THE PLANTS     

Emerson P  Norton JB 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1918,47(1202):44

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Early tertiary age of pitchstone in the northern black hills, South dakota     

Redden JA  Obradovich JD  Naeser CW  Zartman RE  Norton JJ 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1983,220(4602):1153-1154

A block of pitchstone in the northern Black Hills, South Dakota, is Paleocene in age, according to potassium-argon dating of biotite and fission-track dating of zircon in the sample. These data invalidate published suggestions that the age is much younger. The pitchstone is not extrusive in its present position but instead is in a volcanic pipe with other fragments that came downward from as much as 1100 meters above the modern surface.  相似文献   

COMPARATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF THE CHANGING COST OF LIVING     

Norton JP 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1913,37(944):159-170

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