Search

The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis supplemented diet on follicular development and related endocrine parameters, such as estradiol and progesterone levels as well as ghrelin levels in pre-pubertal gilts. Twenty-one 60-day-old Danube White gilts, randomly divided in three groups—control and two experimental—were involved in the experiment. The diet of experimental animals was supplemented with 2 and 3 g of dry biomass/capita daily of the micro alga A. platensis (SP), respectively, during 120 days. Pigs weighing between 109.3 and 114.7 kg were slaughtered at the age of 180 days. The visual macroscopic and histological analysis of removed ovaries was done. Progesterone and estradiol levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and ghrelin by ELISE methods were measured. The presence of corpora lutea in the ovaries of animals from all three groups as well as the progesterone and estradiol levels indicated that the animals were cycling and puberty had started at the time of slaughtering. In the SP 3-g group, the number of large follicles and corpora lutea was significantly higher compared to the control group and the corpora albicans were found. A positive correlation was observed between ghrelin and progesterone among all groups as well as between estradiol and ghrelin in the experimental groups independent on dosages of SP. Arthrospira platensis-supplemented diet provoked a successful follicular development and an earlier ovulation during sexual maturation of pigs between 60 and 180 days.

Objective: To investigate some blood biochemical parameters in anoestrous dairy cows with cystic ovarian follicles (COF) during the first two months post partum and the effect of hCG-PGF2α -GnRH treatment on their reproductive response. Methods: The investigation was performed on 20 lactating Holstein cows, divided into two groups: control group (n=8) and treated group (n=12). All animals had cystic ovarian follicles, detected during the two consecutive transrectal ultrasound examinations at 7-day interval. Blood samples from each animal were collected on the day of second ultrasonography (Day 0) and subjected to a hormonal and biochemical analysis. Treated cows were subjected to another ultrasound examination on day of prostaglandin injection and the presence of corpus luteum was recorded. The control animals were not treated, while the treated group received 1 500 IU hCG on day 0, PGF2α 500 mg on day 7 and 100 μg GnRH 48 hours latter. Eighteen hours after GnRH administration animals bearing corpus luteum on Day 7 were artificiallly inseminated. The last ultrasound examination was made forty days after start of the threapy. On the base of the obtained results, cumulative oestrous activity, cumulative ovulation rate, pregnancy rate and COF persistence were determined. Results: The blood analysis in the both groups on Day 0 showed significantly (P

The aim of this study was to determine the time taken for complete uterine involution in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes following normal parturition and oxytocin stimulated milking; and to establish the time course of the change in size of the uterine horns, the cervix and caruncles between parturition and involution by means of ultrasonography. There were 17 animals in the study aged 3-6 years and average parity of 2.17 ± 0.18. They were administered 20 IU oxytocin 15 min before each milking. Rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasonography were performed at 3 d intervals from Days 1 to 34 post partum. The involution of the non-gravid and gravid uterine horns, and the cervix was complete by Days 22 and 25 post partum when their diameters were 2.7 ± 0.4 cm, 2.8 ± 0.3 cm and 3.12 ± 0.4 cm, respectively. Caruncles underwent rapid regression until Day 10 post partum. It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the caruncles after that time. The cumulative percentage of animals whose uterus was located in the pelvic cavity increased from 24% at Day 10 post partum to 100% at Day 34 post partum. The combination of rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasonography provided a reliable method of evaluating changes in the uterus over time and determining the time of uterine involution. The present study showed that complete uterine involution, with the uterus located in the pelvic cavity, was achieved by Day 34 after parturition in all 17 Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes treated with oxytocin before milking.

To study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and progesterone (P) production by human granulose luteinized cells (GLC) in vitro and to elucidate their role on the survival of cultured cells.Human GLCs were cultured in HAM's F10/10% FCS as monolayers for 24 h. Subsequently GLCs were treated for 24 h with 0.5 mM Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP, NO donor) and 0.5 mM Aminoglutethimide (AG , P450scc inhibitor). The levels of ANP and P were measured in supernatants of cultured cells by proANP(1-98) kit and RIA, respectively. Caspase-3 activity was determined by Ac-DEVD-pNA as substrate.The production of ANP and P was increased by NO as compared to control cells (p0.05). AG diminished the production of P compared to SNP (p0.05). The caspase-3 activity was significantly lower in SNP treated cells (p0.05) and increased significantly after AG treatment compared to control cells (p0.05).NO generated by SNP in human GLCs culture stimulated the production of ANP and P. The higher levels of ANP and P were closely related to significantly lower caspase-3 activity thus showing the role of ANP, P and NO on the survival of preovulatory human follicle.