Search

Abstract Background In Japan, Livestock Improvement Association of Japan started commercially producing sexed bovine semen 10 years ago, and sexed bovine semen is currently used for the artificial insemination (AI) in the farms. In this review, the authors introduce the technology for sperm sexing by flow cytometry, the efforts at commercializing sexed semen in Japan, and recent field data on artificial insemination of the cattle with sexed semen. Methods In the procedures of the flow cytometric method, X‐chromosome‐bearing sperm and Y‐chromosome‐bearing sperm were fluorescently stained, separated from each other by analyzing the difference in the DNA content, and cryopreserved. The authors surveyed the conception rates after AI with these sperm and sex ratios of the offspring with the cooperation from livestock associations, AI technicians, and farmers. Main findings (Results) Although AI with sexed semen was associated with lower conception rates in comparison with AI with conventional semen, the accuracy of sex selection using AI with sexed semen was beyond >90%. Conclusion Sexed semen produced by flow cytometry has the potential to produce offspring of the preferred sex with high accuracy and reliability. Thus, it is expected that sexed semen is used for AI more frequently in the farms.

Background: In Japan, Livestock Improvement Association of Japan started commercially producing sexed bovine semen 10 years ago, and sexed bovine semen is currently used for the artificial insemination (AI) in the farms. In this review, the authors introduce the technology for sperm sexing by flow cytometry, the efforts at commercializing sexed semen in Japan, and recent field data on artificial insemination of the cattle with sexed semen. Methods: In the procedures of the flow cytometric method, X‐chromosome‐bearing sperm and Y‐chromosome‐bearing sperm were fluorescently stained, separated from each other by analyzing the difference in the DNA content, and cryopreserved. The authors surveyed the conception rates after AI with these sperm and sex ratios of the offspring with the cooperation from livestock associations, AI technicians, and farmers. Main findings (Results): Although AI with sexed semen was associated with lower conception rates in comparison with AI with conventional semen, the accuracy of sex selection using AI with sexed semen was beyond >90%. Conclusion: Sexed semen produced by flow cytometry has the potential to produce offspring of the preferred sex with high accuracy and reliability. Thus, it is expected that sexed semen is used for AI more frequently in the farms. In Japan, Livestock Improvement Association of Japan started commercially producing sexed bovine semen 10 years ago, and it is now commonly used on Japanese farms. In this review, the authors introduce the technology for sperm sexing by flow cytometry, the efforts at commercializing sexed semen in Japan, and recent field data on artificial insemination of cattle with sexed semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on the motility of the papillary sphincter, pancreatic duct pressures, and exocrine pancreas were studied. Acute administration (n = 5) significantly reduced the peak pressure of the papillary sphincter from 84.2 ± 19.6 to 15.8 ± 3.0 mm Hg (p < 0.05) and increased the frequency from 0.041 ± 0.002 to 0.067 ± 0.005/s (p < 0.01). Chronic administration (n = 5) significantly increased pancreatic duct pressure and frequency of the papillary sphincter from 8.6 ± 2.9 to 22.1 ± 2.9 mm Hg (p < 0.01) and from 0.039 ± 0.002 to 0.071 ± 0.004/s (p < 0.01), respectively. However, it reduced the peak pressure of the papillary sphincter from 84.8 ± 15.1 to 21.1 ± 2.8 mm Hg (p < 0.05). Electron microscopy showed dilation and a concentric arrangement of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the acinar cells. The exocrine function test showed an increased concentration and output of bicarbonate, protein, and amylase. These findings suggest that chronic alcohol intake may cause papillary dysfunction and pancreatic exocrine hypersecretion, which could play a role in increasing pancreatic duct pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of dorsal pancreatic hypoplasia complicated with atresia of the vagina, type-A chronic atrophic gastritis, duodenal papillary dysfunction, and insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus, in a 32-yr-old woman. The laboratory data showed elevated hepatobiliary enzymes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed a slightly dilated common bile duct and a short major pancreatic duct connected with a minor pancreatic duct. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography could not identify any pancreatic tissue in the region of the body or tail of the pancreas. The pancreatic tissue weight calculated by the serial thin slice of computerized tomography was 43.1 g, approximately 45% of the standard Japanese adult pancreas. Reevaluated pancreatic exocrine function based on this weight showed a hypersecretory state. The pancreatic ductal pressure was slightly increased, and the motility of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) was abnormal when measured with a 4Fr. microtransducer inserted through a duodenoscope. These findings suggest that dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi may play some role in the pathophysiology in the hypoplasia of the dorsal pancreas and pancreaticobiliary diseases associated with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We endoscopically measured pressures of the pancreatic duct (PP) and the sphincter of Oddi (SO) in patients with alcoholic (ALCP, n = 10), gallstone-associated (GSCP, n = 7), and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP, n = 21), and in 20 controls. The PP was significantly higher in the patients with ALCP (55.7 ± 28.9 mm Hg), GSCP (33.6 ± 16.2 mm Hg), or ICP (44.5 ± 25.8 mm Hg) than in the controls (16.2 ± 8.7 mm Hg), but there was no significant difference between ALCP, GSCP, and ICP. There was no significant difference between control subjects and ICP in the motility of SO. In ICP, there was no correlation between the PP and the motility of SO. In ALCP and GSCP, the frequencies of the papillary sphincter waves were significantly higher than in normal subjects, and there were correlations between the PP and the motility of SO. These data suggest that increased pancreatic ductal pressure in GSCP with papillitis or ALCP may be due in part to papillary dysfunction, but not in ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese monkey has a common ampullary channel. By a continuous injection of sterile saline (1 mL/min) into the pancreatic main duct, the pancreatic main ductal pressure increased from 8.4<±1.0 (mean<±SD) to a plateau level (16-25 mmHg) in 5 Japanese monkeys. The frequency and amplitude of the slow wave in electromyography of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) were significantly decreased from 14 to 2/min and 0.06 to 0.04 mV (p<0.01), and the frequency of the spike component significantly decreased from 53 to 14/min (p<0.05). As soon as infusion of saline ceased, the electromyography recovered to the original level. The mean value of the minimum loading pressure affecting myoelectrical activities of the SO was 19.8<±3.0 mmHg. When the pancreatic duct was obstructed at the head, there was no significant change in the SO myoelectrographic activities in spite of increased pancreatic ductal pressure by infusion. These findings suggest that a homeostatic mechanism of pancreatic ductal pressure exists when the activity of the SO is regulated by the distending pressure in the pancreatic ductal system. This reflex regulation seemed to be mediated by the distension of the ampullary duct itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the significance of manometric pressure of the pancreatic duct in patients with alcoholic and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, we used a microtransducer inserted through a duodenoscope to measure pressures in the papillary sphincter zone and pancreatic main duct in 20 control subjects and 31 patients with chronic pancreatitis without papillary stenosis including 10 cases of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ALCP) and 21 cases of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP). The pancreatic main ductal pressure was significantly higher in the patients with ALCP (55.7±28.9 mm Hg) or ICP (44.5±25.8 mm Hg) than in the controls (16.2±8.7 mm Hg), but there was no significant difference between ALCP and ICP. There was no significant difference between control subjects and ICP in the motility of the sphincter of Oddi. In ICP there no were correlationships between pancreatic ductal pressure and the motility of papillary sphincter zone. In ALCP, the frequency of the papillary sphincter waves was significantly higher than in normal subjects and there was a correlation between the pancreatic ductal pressure and the motility of the papillary sphincter zone. These data suggest that increased pancreatic ductal pressure in ALCP may be in part due to papillary dysfunction, but not in ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]