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Sperm transcripts aside from providing genetic material have an eminent role in post-fertilization events and embryonic development. The current study was carried out to study the gene expression in Osmanabadi buck (Capra hircus) supplemented with organic minerals. Organic minerals alone or in combination with different concentrations were fed to the treatment groups (T2- Zn 20 mg, T3- Zn 40 mg, T4- Zn 60 mg, T5- Cu 12.5 mg, T6- Cu 25 mg, T7- Cu 37.5 mg, T8- Zn 20 mg + Cu 12.5 mg, T9- Zn 40 mg + Cu 25 mg, T10- Zn 60 mg + Cu 37.5 mg) along with the concentration mixture and roughages; whereas control (T1) group was fed concentrate mixture and roughages. The sperm samples were processed for gene expression studies of Ras Homolog Family Member A (RHOA), Mesoderm Specific Transcript (MEST), Nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X motif 6 (NUDT6), Protamine 1 (PRM1), Protamine 2 (PRM2) and Heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA) using qRT-PCR and the protein-protein interaction analysis was carried out through String database version 11.0. Supplementation of trace minerals has enhanced the gene expression at a significant level (P

Bioactive compounds with varied functional properties found in microalgae such as Chlorella vulgaris can serve as antioxidants supplement against free radicals causing oxidative stress in food animals, but there is a need to quantify these antioxidants in the algae for effective applications. Therefore, this study quantified antioxidants in Chlorella vulgaris and derivatives prepared with the microalgae biomass for enhancing its application in animal nutrition. Eight derivatives prepared using the Chlorella vulgaris biomass were subjected to in vitro antioxidant supplements in animals for attenuation of oxidative stress to improve performances and productivity because of their antioxidant potentials. Antioxidant assessments including ferric antioxidant power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging potential, total antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content. The results showed that the mean total capacities of the preparations were 621.83±36.41 µmol/g ascorbic acid equivalent, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was 1.28±0.09, while the hydrogen peroxide scavenging (HPS) potential was 34.04±3.18%, and the total phenolic content was 30.54 mg/g ellagic acid equivalent. It was concluded from these observations that the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and its derivatives as prepared in this study could be used as antioxidant supplements in animals for attenuation of oxidative stress to improve performances and productivity because of their antioxidant potentials.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of calcium and magnesium supplementation on the skewing of sex ratio and placental genes expression in New Zealand White Rabbits. A total of 25 rabbits were allocated to 5 groups; each treatment group was supplemented with Ca and Mg; T1 (0.4% and 0.01%), T2 (0.6% and 0.02%), T3 (0.8% and 0.03%), and T4 (1.0% and 0.04%) respectively, while the C group was provided with regular feed and subjected to three breeding. The T3 group produced a female-biased litter and hence, the F1 female kits (n=12) of T3 and C group was provided same supplementation management. At 21 days of gestation, three animals from each group were sacrificed and placental samples were collected, the remaining animals were allowed for full-term delivery. The selected F1 produced female-biased litter with elevated serum Ca and Mg concentrations and reduced sodium and cholesterol levels. A total of 15 genes related to mineral absorption, placental development and immunity were selected to study the influence of diet on sex and placental gene expression. The expression of genes such as PEG10, SOD1, SLC30A, TLR4, AR, and TRPM6 was high in the treatment placenta compared to the control. RTL1, ESR2, CALM2, and TRPM6 upregulated in the treatment female placenta. The study concluded that the intake of 0.8% Ca and 0.03% Mg could lead to the production of more females and upregulation of some placental genes could serve as the molecular mechanism in response to intake of the minerals and fetal sex.

The great expectation of the dairy owners from the frozen semen industry is quality semen with high fertility. Many researchers concentrate in this area to produce frozen semen of high quality and fertility. However, the problem still exists to minimize or reduce the cryoinjury related damages that occur during the process of cryopreservation with the use of all kinds of semen additives. The success rate of the additives added semen is variable at a larger scale. Therefore, any new molecules which can effectively prevent or minimize the cryoinjury are warranted and it could be low cost substances. Our incidental finding and protein identification with molecular weight ≈ 19 kDa (cold-inducible RNA-binding protein CIRBP) in goat spermatozoa seems to be effective in minimizing cryoinjury. The identified CIRBP was confirmed via Western blotting. In future, further studies are needed to confirm the molecular mechanism of the CIRBP on the cryoinjury as semen additives, and application of this protein added semen in the field to improve the level of conception rate in cattle.

Oxidative stress negatively affects animals during gestation period and this condition is almost inevitable in the Tropics because of temperature elevation; therefore, objective of this study was evaluation of antioxidant effects of Chlorella vulgaris supplementation in pregnant rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (40) were randomly distributed into five groups (n = 8) on day 0 of their gestation and were supplemented with 0, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg Chlorella vulgaris biomass per kg body weight respectively throughout the gestation period. Blood was collected from the animals in the last week of gestation for serum oxidative stress and biochemical profile assessments. There was significant difference in serum malondialdehyde concentration, total antioxidant capacity but protein carbonyl content was not significantly different. There was also significant difference in superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity and glutathione concentration. Furthermore, the results showed that serum biochemical profiles of the rabbits were within the normal ranges for healthy rabbits. The study therefore concluded that supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris significantly protects the rabbits against oxidative stress damage and has no deleterious effects on their organs function; hence, the microalga was recommended as an antioxidant supplement for pregnant rabbits.

Hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) based system is mainly a risk based preventive approach developed to increase food safety assurance level from farm. This program deals with control factors affecting the process and product. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 101 farmers in the adopted villages, covering 134 crossbred dairy cows. The baseline data indicated that based on California Mastitis Test (CMT) the incidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in crossbred cow was 8.21 and 44.78% respectively. The risk factors associated with the incidence of mastitis were parity, level of milk yield, udder hygiene, udder shape, teat length, teat-tip-to-ground distance, animal housing conditions, milking management, post-milking time taken by the animal for lying down, a long gap in tail hair clipping. CCPs identified and developed plan may be suitable for customized and implementation on small-holder dairy farms. This is a logical, effective and systemic approach for control of incidence of mastitis, improve the udder health status and milk quality.

An experiment was carried out to study the electrophoretic profile of sperm membrane proteins in Assam Hill goat (AHG) bucks and their correlation with fresh semen characteristics. Ejaculates (64) consisting of 8 each from 8 bucks were collected by artificial vagina method. Each ejaculate was split into 2 equal parts. First part was used for fresh semen evaluation and the other part for protein study. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) indicated 20 different protein bands with molecular weight ranging from 10 kDa to 75 kDa. Among the 20 proteins, only 6 proteins bands were consistently present in all 8 bucks (100%). Protein bands with molecular weight 10, 14, 22, 28, 55, 57 and 60 kDa showed significant positive correlation with certain parameters of the fresh semen, while 47 kDa protein band presented negative correlation with fresh semen characteristics in AHG bucks. In conclusion, the proteins showing significant positive correlation with fresh semen characteristics might serve to screen semen of AHG bucks for breeding programmes.

An experiment was carried out to study the electrophoretic profile of sperm membrane proteins in Assam Hill goat (AHG) bucks and their correlation with fresh semen characteristics. Ejaculates (64) consisting of 8 each from 8 bucks were collected by artificial vagina method. Each ejaculate was split into 2 equal parts. First part was used for fresh semen evaluation and the other part for protein study. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) indicated 20 different protein bands with molecular weight ranging from 10 kDa to 75 kDa. Among the 20 proteins, only 6 proteins bands were consistently present in all 8 bucks (100%). Protein bands with molecular weight 10, 14, 22, 28, 55, 57 and 60 kDa showed significant positive correlation with certain parameters of the fresh semen, while 47 kDa protein band presented negative correlation with fresh semen characteristics in AHG bucks. In conclusion, the proteins showing significant positive correlation with fresh semen characteristics might serve to screen semen of AHG bucks for breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt was made with 2% calcium and 0.4% magnesium administration to assess the changes in sex ratio skewing in Wistar rat. The results indicated that there was a significant change in sex ratio skewing towards females (11.7% and sex ratio skewed was 1:1.3). There was a significant reduction in serum testosterone levels (P< 0.01) between control (0.35±0.04 ng/ml) and treatment (0.20+0.08 ng/ml) groups and a nonsignificant decrease in follicular fluid. Significant changes were observed in serum T4 level between control (52.32±2.74 nmol/L) and treatment (33.18±3.75 nmol/L) groups. Variation in follicular fluid protein profiles were observed by 2D gel electrophoresis. Differential expression of protein with high molecular weight (52 and 80 kDa) and low pH is not present in treatment group and protein with low molecular weight (10 and 11 kDa) and high pH were observed in treatment group. The expression of transcripts for BMP-15 was 11.5 folds higher and GDF-9 was 3.5 folds higher in treatment group than control. Our results suggested that possible mechanism to favour female offspring could be reduction in serum testosterone and lowering follicular fluid protein molecular weight along with high pH (haemoglobin subunit beta-1 protein (Mr) 15.9 kDa; cytochrome b-cl complex subunit 8 (Mr) 9.8 kDa; asparagine synthetase (Mr) 64.7 kDa; metal transporter CNNM4(Mr) 87.4 kDa) and increased mRNA expression of BMP-15 and GDF-9 in oocyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that assesses the effects of amino acids including L-proline, L-alanine and L-Glutamine on the epididymal sperm in ram during pre-freeze and post-thaw stages.

The article presents a study which focused on the isolation and characterization of heparin and gelatin binding stallion seminal plasma proteins. Semen ejaculates were collected from three adult Marwari stallions and were subjected to plasma separation immediately after collection by centrifugation at 2000 rpm for 20 minutes and stored in -20°Centigrade until analysis. In the seminal plasma the total protein concentration were measured and the heparin and gelatin binding (HB and GB) proteins were isolated using heparin and gelatin affinity column chromatography. The study concluded that among the total proteins, five and four protein bands are having the affinity to bound with the heparin and gelatin - agarose affinity column chromatography.

This article discusses research which examined the effect of calcium and magnesium on mineral and protein profiles in buffaloes. Topics covered include experimental and serum sample collection, follicular fluid collection, and the estimation of the level of minerals in serum and follicular fluid using spectrophotometry. Also mentioned is the 2-D gel electrophoresis of follicular fluid proteins.

The article examines variations in freezability of extended raw semen between individual Marwari stallions and rate of conception with cryopreserved semen. The results indicate that semen of all the stallions do not freeze alike. The researchers recommend at least 2 to 3 artificial insemination (AI) per cycle in mares for optimum conception rate.

The article discusses a study to assess the effect of heparin binding proteins (HBP) and gelatin binding proteins (GBP) from stallion seminal plasma on in-vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction with frozen stallion spermatozoa. It cites the use of a modified Brackett and Oliphant medium for sperm capacitation while the chemicals used came from commercial or registered suppliers conducted on six tests. It concludes that HBPs and GBPs indicate beneficial effects on acrosome reaction and capacitation but suggests further study on proteins individually.