ABSTRACT
The thyroid gland, as one of the important endogenous glands of the body, controls the physiological function of other organs by secretion of T3 and T4. Alteration in thyroid hormone concentrations may influence the function of different organs and express various clinical symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of different environmental and physiological parameters on serum thyroid hormones [T4, T3, FT4 and FT3] concentrations of Arab horses in Khuzestan province. Blood samples were collected from 240 horses during four different seasons. The ELISA method was used for hormone assay. The results were analyzed using SAS software. The results indicate that the serum concentrations [Least square means +/- standard error of mean] of T4, T3, FT4 and FT3 were 45.1 +/- 1.4 [nmol/L], 1.5 +/- 0.03[nmol/L], 13.6 +/- 0.31[pmol/L] and 5.5 +/- 0.12 [pmol/L], respectively. The serum levels of the hormones were higher in winter [cold season] than summer [warm season]. There was no significant difference between female and male. Foals had higher serum levels of the hormones than other age groups [p<0.05]. The environmental and physiological conditions significantly influenced the serum concentration of hormones as in pregnant horses it was less than non-pregnant females
Subject(s)
Animals , Horses , Age Factors , Sex Factors , Seasons , Reproduction , Thyroid Function TestsABSTRACT
The effect of heat stress on physiological parameters has been well documented. However, there are reports of a genetic based heat tolerance in some sheep breeds. The aim of the present study was to monitor the physiological responses of an Iranian fat-tailed breed against heat stress and an acute stress insult. A total number of 15 fall-born ram lambs were selected and subjected to direct summer solar radiation throughout the day [May 2009 to February 2010]. Ten lambs were semi-castrated in October to see the physiologic response of animals to an acute stress. The general parameter as well as blood chemistry and cortisol were analyzed during the study. The results showed that all physiologic parameters had significant changes; however, their values were in normal range. The fact that the animals in the present study experienced their first exposure of heat stress and a significant increase in serum cortisol concentration in semicastrated lambs in October, compared to the respected values in the hottest months of the experiment, may indicate a genetic based adaptability of the breed in Iran. The present study shows the dynamic changes of general and biochemical parameters in response to chronic heat stress and an acute stress that raises a possible tolerance of the breed against heat stress
Subject(s)
Animals , Sheep , BiochemistryABSTRACT
Sesame seeds contain large amounts of antioxidants and phytoestrogens, and it has been shown that the leaf extract of this plant may have some beneficial effects on the reproductive parameters of male rats. Thus we tested the effects of the sesame oil on these parameters of re productivity in male rats. Fifteen mature male Wistar male rats were divided into the control and sesame oil groups. For eight weeks the control and sesame oil groups were fed the basic rat diet and basic rat diet supplemented with 5% sesame oil respectively. Following blood collection and euthanasia the epididymal sperm were counted, the morphology of testes was accessed, and leydig, sertoli, spermatogonia and spermatocyts cells were counted in histological sections of the testes. The level of testosterone and estradiol 17-beta were measured. Consumption of 5% sesame oil compared to control group, decreased blood glucose and increased the epididymal sperm count and progressive motility and the number of spermatogonia of seminiferous tubule [P<0.05], but had no effect on weight and testicular morphology. This study showed that the sesame oil consumption improves some reproductive parameters, which may be related to the antioxidative and phytostrogenic properties of the sesame oil or insulin action improvement
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to find the effects of pre and post vitrification taxol treatment on bovine immature cumulus oocyte complexes [COCs]. Bovine ovaries were collected from the local slaughterhouse in a container with 30-37 [degree sign]C physiologic saline and supplemented with antibiotics. The grade A aspirated COCs were assigned to 6 experimental groups; The 1st group was control [n=100] in which the COCs were subjected to in vitro maturation [IVM] in oocyte maturation medium [OMM]. The 2nd group was the COCs [n=51] that were exposed to vitrification and warming solutions and then subjected to IVM. The 3rd group was the COCs which were incubated in OMM contained taxol [1 microM, n=51] for 20 min then transferred to IVM. The 4th group was the COCs [n=50] that were vitrified, warmed and transferred to IVM. The 5th group [n=57] was the COCs which were incubated in OMM containing taxol [1microM for 20 min], vitrified [solutions with 1 microM taxol], warmed and transferred to IVM. The last group was the COCs [n=58] that were vitrified and warmed, then were incubated in maturation medium containing taxol [1 microM for 20] and, finally, were transferred to IVM. The COCs of all groups were incubated in OMM for 24 h under a humified [95%] condition with a temperature of 39 [degree sign] C and 5% CO[2]. Oocyte maturation was not affected by exposing the COCs to vitrification solution or taxol groups compared to control [P>0.05]. Vitrification reduced the oocyte maturation rate compared to control [P<0.05]. Taxol treatment [before and after vitrification] did not improve the bovine oocyte maturation rate compared to control [P<0.05]. The results have shown no beneficial effect of taxol on vitrification of bovine immature oocytes
ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of testis-epididymis cool storage on viability and progressive motility of buffalo epididymal sperm [EP] and to compare the influences of two basic semen extenders on post thaw EP viability and progressive motility. Abattoir collected buffalo testicles were allotted to three storage times [0 h: n = 10; 24 h: n = 10 and 48 h: n = 12]. Following storage, isolated sperm were subjected to cryopreservation with two different cryoprotective media: whole cow milk-7%glycerol [MG] or egg yolk-tris-citrate-7% glycerol [EYG]. Pre freeze and post thaw sperm progressive motility and viability were evaluated. Results indicated that viability and progressive motility of sperm decreased after 24 h cool storage of the epididymis [P<0.05]. There was no difference between 24 and 48 h of storage on sperm viability [P>0.05], but progressive motility decreased across storage times [24 h versus 48 h: P<0.05]. Cryopreservation severely influenced viability and progressive motility of EP [P<0.05]. Milk-7% glycerol protected viability and progressive motility of EP against cold shock more efficiently than EYG [P<0.05]. The results of this study demonstrate that it is possible to preserve buffalo EP within the epididymis at 4°C short term, but that it has poor freezability upon recovery by basic semen freezing protocols
ABSTRACT
During spring, summer and winter seasons, Sistani donor cows, with normal reproductive status, were superovulated and embryos were recovered non-surgically on day 7. Grade A blastocyst embryos were either transferred fresh [spring] or frozen [summer and winter]. Recovered embryos during summer and winter were exposed to glycerol and frozen using conventional method. During spring season, recipient females [n = 70] were synchronized using two consecutive injections of prostaglandin F[2alpha] analogue, 14 days apart. On day 7 after the ensuing cycle, the females were assigned into three groups to receive single embryo, either fresh [n = 14; control; recovered embryos in spring] or frozen blastocyst recovered and frozen in summer [n = 27] or winter [n = 29]. Pregnancies were diagnosed by ultrasound examination, 30 days after non-surgical embryo transfer. Pregnancy rates following transfer of fresh embryos [64.3%] were higher than those that received frozen-thawed embryos [17.86%; P<0.05]. There was not any significant difference between pregnancy rates of recipients receiving embryos frozen in summer [18,5%] or winter [17.2%; P>0.05]