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Present study was carried out to find the effect of combining EGF with IGF, cysteine and sodium pyruvate singly as additive in a medium consisting of TCM-199 + 100 μl/ml foetal bovine serum + 100 μM/ml cysteamine + 1 μg/ml 17β- Oestradiol + 5 μg/ml pFSH + 5μg/ml oLH + 10 per cent follicular fluid and 10 per cent oestrous goat serum on in-vitro maturation (IVM) of caprine oocytes on incubation at 38.5°C for 24 hours in a CO2 incubator maintaining 5 per cent CO2 under humidified condition. The additives comprised 10 ng/ml EGF + 50 ng/ml IGF-1, 10 ng/ml EGF + 600 μM/ml cysteine and 10 ng/ml EGF + 0.2 mM/ml sodium pyruvate. The IVM rate of oocytes on the basis of cumulus cells expansion and nuclear maturation was found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) with EGF + IGF-1 (88.74 ± 1.85% and 61.71 ± 1.61%) than with EGF + sodium pyruvate (82.86 ± 0.97% and 54.62 ± 1.88%), EGF + cysteine (78.58 ± 1.45% and 49.02 ± 1.52%) and without additive (control) (75.27 ± 1.58% and 43.03 ± 1.48%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of different growth factors on in-vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. Ovaries were collected from a local abattoir immediately after slaughter of the animals and transported to the laboratory. A total of 618 type A and type B oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 containing additives with PMSG and hCG for the first 22 hrs and without hormones for subsequent 22 hrs of incubation at 39o C under 5 per cent CO2 level and 90- 95 per cent humidity. The effects of supplementation of different growth factors viz., EGF, IGF-I and EGF + IGF-I in the medium were studied. The rate of oocytes with cumulus cells expansion was significantly higher (P<0.01) when growth factors were added as compared to control but it did not differ significantly between growth factors. The rate of nuclear maturation of oocytes was significantly higher (P<0.01) as compare to control for EGF and EGF + IGF-I but not for IGFI. There was no significant difference in the rate of oocytes with nuclear maturation between the growth factors studied. It can be concluded from the present study that addition of EGF, IGF-I or EGF + IGF and additives along with hormones (PMSG and hCG for first 20-22 hrs) in TCM-199 Medium gives optimum in-vitro maturation rates in porcine oocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to find the comparative efficacy of three extenders to preserve semen of Labrador- Retriever (LR) dogs at 5o C for a short term. The semen samples of LR dogs were collected by digital manipulation method and extended at the rate of 1:4 in Tris-Egg Yolk- Citric Acid-Glucose (TEYCAG), Tris-Egg Yolk- Citric Acid-Fructose (TEYCAF) and Egg Yolk-Citrate-Glycine-Glucose (EYCGG) extenders by split sample technique. Semen was evaluated at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours of preservation. Mean motile, live and HOST-reacted sperm and acrosomal, head, mid piece and tail abnormalities of spermatozoa varied significantly (P<0.01) between extenders and between preservation periods. The interactions between extender and preservation period were also significant (P<0.01) except for HOSTreacted and head abnormalities of sperm. The highest mean motile, live and HOST-reacted sperm were recorded in TEYCAG extender which did not differ significantly from that of TEYCAF extender. Mean per cent sperm acrosomal and tail abnormalities were significantly (P<0.05) lower, and the incidences of mean sperm head and mid piece abnormalities were also lower in TEYCAG, but not significantly from that in TEYCAF irrespective of hour of preservation. Per cent motile, live and HOST-reacted sperm were significantly (P<0.05) lower and sperm acrosomal, head, mid piece and tail abnormalities were significantly (P<0.05) higher in EYCGG as compared to that in TEYCAG and TEYCAF irrespective of hour of preservation. It was concluded that the semen of LR dog sustained good quality during preservation up to 5 days at 5oC suitable for successful artificial insemination and would be preserved better in TEYCAG and TEYCAF extenders than in EYCGG extender, since more than 50 per cent sperm motility and live sperm were maintained up to 120 hours of preservation in the former two extenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assam Hill goat (AHG) is an important goat germplasm found in Assam and its adjoining areas of India. The study was designed with an objective to study the semen characteristics and freezability of AHG buck semen using Tris -Egg yolk-Citrate-Fructose diluent. The mean values of fresh semen characteristics in AHG bucks viz., ejaculate volume (ml), initial sperm motility (%), sperm concentration (x106/ml), live sperm (%), sperm abnormality (%), HOST-reacted sperm (%) and intact acrosome (%) recorded were 0.39 ± 0.01, 77.97 ± 0.73, 3201.00 ± 143.78, 83.02 ± 0.65, 7.66 ± 0.73, 66.95 ± 0.74 and 93.34 ± 0.51, respectively. Mean values for post-thaw semen characteristics i.e., sperm motility (%), live sperm (%), HOST-reacted sperm (%) and intact acrosome (%) were 55.39 ± 0.97, 71.01 ± 0.78, 54.77 ± 0.55 and 82.16 ± 0.43, respectively. It can be concluded that AHG bucks donate acceptable quality of semen which can be frozen successfully in Tris-Egg yolk-Citrate-Fructose diluents for using in Artificial Insemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to assess the variability in the physiological responses of growing pigs on melatonin and vitamin E supplementation during summer and winter seasons.36 nos. of weaned crossbred (Hampshire X Assam local) female pigs were selected for the study. Eighteen (18) animals were subjected to treatment separately during summer and winter. The selected animals were divided into three groups, with six pigs in each group, consisting of the control group (Treatment 1), a second group comprising of animals fed with melatonin (Meloset) @3 mg/animal (Treatment 2) and a third group in which the animals were fed Vitamin E (Evion) @100 mg (Treatment 3), for both the seasons. The rectal temperature, respiration and pulse rate differed significantly (P<0.01) between seasons. There was also significant difference (P<0.01) in the mean pulse rate between treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vivo fertility of frozen thawed boar semen. Twenty ejaculates collected from six mature boars were frozen in a programmable freezer. After freezing the semen was evaluated for different sperm quality parameters. Twenty five sows were inseminated artificially utilizing frozen thawed semen. The percentage of sperm motility, live sperm, live intact acrosome, plasma membrane intact sperm, HOST-reacted sperm, live sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid peroxidised sperm and DNA-damaged sperm of frozen semen utilised for AI were 56.25±0.96, 63.75±1.47, 59.88±1.09, 41.08±1.01, 40.31±1.02, 86.23±1.29, 9.28±0.83 and 4.20±0.29 respectively. The farrowing rate was 44.00 per cent and the mean litter size at birth was 5.91±0.69. It could be concluded that the freezing and insemination protocol of boar semen used in the present study resulted in moderate fertility of frozen boar semen and it would help in further improvement and utilization of frozen boar semen for AI in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to compare the efficacy of different liquid semen extenders for preservation of boar semen at 15°C. Twenty ejaculates, four from each of five Hampshire boars were used to study the efficacy of BTS, GEPS, FEY and LSEEY extenders for preservation of boar semen at 15°C up to 72 h. The mean sperm motility, live sperm and live spermatozoa with intact acrosome were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in GEPS as compared to other extenders. The sperm motility, live sperm and live spermatozoa with intact acrosome differed significantly (P < 0.01) between extenders, preservation periods and interaction of extenders and preservation periods. GEPS was found to be the best extender for preservation followed by BTS, LSEEY and FEY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive performances were studied in goat following synchronization of oestrus with progesterone-impregnated vaginal sponge plus PMSG and HCG. Five Assam goats, 2-3 years of age, at about 45 days post-parturition, reared under semi-intensive were treated with progesterone-impregnated vaginal sponges kept in situ for 9 days. On the day of sponge removal PMSG was injected intramuscularly @ 300 I.U. per animal and also injected HCG intravenously at 6 hr post oestrus @ 500 I.U. The A.I. was done with Beetal buck semen at 24 and 36 hr post onset of oestrus. Five other Assam goats of similar age, reproductive status and rearing condition served as control. All the experimental goats exhibited oestrus following treatment and the mean interval between end of PMSG treatment and onset of oestrus was 34.40 ± 4.16 hr, where as the control animals exhibited oestrus at a mean interval of 68.80 ± 6.71 days after last kidding. The duration of oestrus was recorded to be longer in treated group (40.00 ± 4.60 hr) than in control goats (36.40 ± 3.12 hr), however, the difference was not significant between the groups. The mean body weight of male and female kids born was 0.90 ± 0.04 and 0.71 ± 0.05 kg and 1.00 ± 0.04 and 0.86 ± 0.24 kg in treated and control group, respectively. A total of 12 and 9 kids were born from 5 does each of treated and control group. The sex ratio was 1:1 and 1.25:1 in treated and control group, respectively. It was concluded that progesterone-impregnated vaginal sponge was effective to induce pronounced synchronized oestrus in Assam goats and to increase the litter size by 33.33 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 24 ejaculates collected from two Large White Yorkshire (LWY) boars (Boar-A and Boar-B) were diluted at the ratio of 1:8 using Beltsville Thaw Solution extender. From each ejaculate, one third of diluted semen of Boar-A was mixed with one-third of diluted semen of Boar-B and considered as heterospermic semen. The remaining two-third of each ejaculate of Boar-A and Boar- B and the heterospermic semen were preserved for 72 hours at 180C in a BOD incubator. The mean percentage of progressively motile sperm, live sperm, intact acrosome and HOST-reacted sperm evaluated at 0,24,48 and 72 hours of preservation did not differ significantly between individual boar and heterospermic semen, however, progressive sperm motility and live sperm of heterospermic semen were slightly higher than that of one individual boar semen. It was concluded that although heterospermy had marginal effect on certain seminal attributes, the quality of LWY boar semen did not differ significantly between heterospermic semen and individual boar semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]